New to Me

2 wheels is the right number of wheels however, as you grow up, you realize the need for a car because not everyone has a moto (but they should!). Eventually, your moto-friends end up in relationships, and grocery shopping on a motorcycle riding two-up might sound romantic, but the reality is that it's much more of a hassle then it is fun. That’s how I ended up with my last car, a 5 speed Saab 9-3 that was fun to drive, but an electrical nightmare. I got rid of it and welcome the new to me….

1990 BMW 325i E30

This car isn’t exactly exotic, nor hard to find. In fact there are plenty of them still out there driving themselves into the ground in some third world country. That’s sort of the beauty though. The car is time tested in rally racing, the unmaintained streets of third world countries, and even race tracks all around the globe. Adding on top of its legendary longevity, is the supurb handling of a lightweight unibody car. Unlike modern cars with a flat frame, the E30 feels like a rigid tank that’s as nimble as a butterfly and handles with just a slight bit of oversteer.

All cars have their own problems

Unfortunately, the car has two big problems, the first is it’s age. As with anything, time tends to corrode things, but the corrosion really hasn’t taken place on my new to me E30. The body is physically in great shape and the car’s interior is unmolested, save for a tear in the driver side seat and a cracked dash.

The paint’s original clear coat looks like the surface of a crack rock sold by a prostitute on the corner of east New York, but that’s a problem that can easily be solved with some elbow grease and a paint job. The 2nd problem is that the car is underpowered. At 2400lbs, the 325i’s 2.5L 169hp motor does 0-60 in god knows when and the car can barely get out of its own way. Perfectly acceptable for daily driving, but like any sensible human being with a lead foot, you’ll want to bump up the power…that will be a key point in this project.

My goals

My plan for this car is to first give the exterior a refresh by sanding of the old clear coat and throwing some new color on the body. Once the car looks the part, I’ll go over the mechanical with a fine comb to address any longevity issues. Then tackle the climate system (AC/Heater), before going to the motor to address the power issue.

The reality is that I paid next to nothing for this car, and while I could buy a brand new car and put up $600 a month in payments and insurance (then cry over the $1,000 bill when a sensor blows out within the first year), I much rather spend my time working on a car rather than working for the money to buy it. I would of spent less over all time working to pay for the car, and more time learning and enjoying a restoration job.

So join me on this adventure. I have never worked on a car before, so there will be plenty of screw ups along the way. I’ll be posting updates each week on my progress with the car and hopefully I’ll be able to give you guys an entertaining ride along the way!