Barn find E30 325i

[Fordkoppie]

So far, my son and I have started to clean up the car inside and out. I'll post some pics of the great wash of 2013 tomorrow. The car cleaned up well on the outside, but it will need a good polish and wax as well as some minor paint repairs to really bring out the shine again. Inside, the car is like new. We vacuumed it properly and waxed the leather and the door panels.

Today, we replaced the 23yr old brake fluid and also bled the clutch, as well as replaced the coolant after flushing the system. Other service items remaining are an oil change for the engine, gearbox and diff, filter all round, replacing the rear silencer, some bumper trim and the electric aerial that needs replacing as it has been broken off. The air intake rubber boot is perished, but we made a temp fix so we could drive the car around the estate for a while. It goes so well, I think I could get into into it tomorrow and drive to Cape Town without any hiccup.

Congratulations!!
1 Thing I would do first if I were you,before driving the car 1 inch further, is to replace the cambelt

 

[Wes]

Wow, just wow.

Congrats bud, and we wanna see pics :rollsmile:

 

[Ram3on]

as 'Fordkoppie' stated......replace that 'cambelt' prior to even starting !!

 

[fiekieM3]

Damn, what a find:inlove:

 

[STREETDREAMER]

What a find if you decide to sell please let me know so it can be parked next to my 4 door that has 52000kms please I would seriously love to add this to that and the IS all the best with the restoration and sell it to me soon :rollsmile: :thumbs: great car

 

[Blue Shirt]

Congratulations!!
1 Thing I would do first if I were you,before driving the car 1 inch further, is to replace the cambelt

Thanks bud. The cambelt was replaced at 98000 km about 5 years ago according to the service records just before the owner passed away. The odo is now at 100748km. Due to the passage of time, I will replace it again just to be safe. The normal service interval for the cambelt is 100000km or 4 years, whichever comes first, as I'm sure you know.

 

[Thunder]

Looks like a great find.

If I were you I`d take it asap.

 

[frs1]

I don't think they came out with an OEM radio, the dealers used to install pioneer systems in them. I've got an 1984 323 i ex and my dad had a pioneer kex 60 component system installed. If you are interested I've got one with the amp in the original box what used to be in my 320 those years.

 

[Blue Shirt]

I don't think they came out with an OEM radio, the dealers used to install pioneer systems in them. I've got an 1984 323 i ex and my dad had a pioneer kex 60 component system installed. If you are interested I've got one with the amp in the original box what used to be in my 320 those years.

You may be correct. There is indeed a vintage Panasonic radio /tape deck installed. Its been a long time since I owned my last E30, and I cannot remember what radio was installed in that one.

The reason I asked is that the Panasonic has green lighting which looks silly against the red instrument lighting of the car, and I was hoping there might be an OEM radio that also had red lighting on the front panel.

 

[Devzo]

Congrats on an awesome find!:thumbs:

 

[bmw325i]

Great find. Waiting to see the restore. :thumbs::thumbs:

 

[Hubblyking]

The best radios of the time was the alpine six button.You will find it at marabastad at ANS cycles .

 

[FaSTandFurious]

great find. many happy miles

 

[Blue Shirt]

Here is my son starting the big wash to get rid of 4 years worth of dust on the car.

The paintwork needs a good polish and wax, which we will get started on this weekend.

Mechanically, I just need to replace the cambelt to be able to drive it. We have already flushed all the brake fluid, clutch hydraulics and engine coolant, replaced the battery and rear silencer box. Otherwise, it is almost perfect. The interior really is pristine and unmolested.

I will post better pics over the weekend.

 

[Blue Shirt]

Update: mechanically the car is now close to perfect. The cambelt was replaced, all other drive belts, fluids, filters etc. Brake fluid and clutch hydraulics flushed and replaced, coolant flushed and replaced. A/C leak checked and re-gassed, it now blows cold air like a fridge can't. I even replaced the antenna with an OEM electric antenna.

The interior required very little work, we just waxed the leather and cleaned the carpets.

On the outside, I started with a good polish using Meguires Condition as a start. I need to finish it off with a good polish and wax, but here are some pictures of the end result.

 

[Prev]

:bravo: well done

 

[bmsportzn135i]

The best radios of the time was the alpine six button.You will find it at marabastad at ANS cycles .

Yes, thats the same radio i had in my 323i coupe.

@blue shirt, damn man, thats one nice find youve got there. Enjoy it.

 

[UpNcOmiNg!]

This car is so beautiful! I want it so much!

 

[Sabretooth tiger]

Damn it is looking sweet. You a very lucky man.

 

[Rocco]

WoW, a real beauty, well done and do take good care of her :bravo::bravo: