Editors Note: After having the epitome of the perfect OEM+ 318is, this is the perfect OEM+ 325is. Oddly enough, or not depending on your view of things, these guys are buddies! I felt it would be great to feature them back to back. I love Lewis’ car, its what I would picture as the perfect E30 that can be daily driven, enjoyed at the track and oogled at C&C. And now its our turn to oogle it and get a closer glimpse into how it got here. Congrats Lewis, you’re R3Vs September 2018 Car of the Month
Build Info:
Type – AA23
Model -325is – USA
Engine – M20 – 162K miles and plenty more to go
Drivetrain – HECK
Transmission – AUT (Originally an auto, 5 speed swapped)
Production Plant – REGENSBURG
Production Date – 1990-01-05
Options:
209 – Limited Slip Differential (25%)
226 – Sports Suspension Settings
240 – Leather Steering Wheel
281 – Lm-rad 6 1/2 X 14
324 – Front-und Heckspoiler
401 – Sliding/vent Roof, Electric
410 – Window Lifts, Electric At Front
481 – Sport Seats F Driver/front Passenger
530 – Air Conditioning
540 – Cruise Control
551 – On-board Computer Ii W Remote Control
562 – Map Reading Light
675 – Bmw Sound System
841 – Aussensp.in Wag.fa.u.325is Sch
925 – Shipping Protection Package
Color:
Sterlingsilber Metallic – 244
Interior color:
Originally – Silber Leder – 0292 (Swapped for black sport leather and houndstooth door cards & rear panels)
Engine modifications:
Mishimoto E36 Aluminum Radiator
Wrinkle finish painted valve cover (black) with sanded BMW logo
AC converted to R134
BMP Chip
Race Skids – Skid Plate
Exhaust:
Stromung
Transmission:
5 speed swap – Replaced original swapped 5speed with a NOS Getrag 260 directly from BMW sitting in a warehouse in Germany where there were only 3 left
UUC EVO3 SSK w/DSSR and Delrin carrier bushings
Differential:
Limited Slip Differential – Retained the 4.10LSD originally paired to the auto trans vs a 3.73 that came with the factory 5 speeds
Suspension/Brakes:
H&R Sports
Bilstein Sports
E90 Drop Hats
Rogue Engineering rear shock mounts
E46 ZHP steering rack
Offset E30 M3 CABs
Ireland Engineering 22/19mm adjustable sway bars
Garagistic reinforced & adjustable sub frame
Garagistic reinforced rear trailing arms
ALL suspension components (except H&R Sports) and bushings replaced within the last 2 years
Bimmerworld Heavy Duty trans & motor mounts
Hartge strut tower brace
OEM Front Rotors w/Hawk HPS pads & rebuilt calipers
Rear drilled Zimmerman rotors w/Hawk HPS pads and rebuilt calipers
Stainless Steal brake lines front & rear
Wheels/Tires:
BBS RS003s 16×7 ET25
The rebuild was based around Nogaro Silver Euro Weaves
Original Lips and Hexs Brushed & clear powdered
Centers and Waffles – Nogaro Silver & clear powdered
Bolts and Barrels in Satin Black Powder
Dunlop Direzza ZII Star Specs 225/45R16s
Exterior modifications:
MTech I rear spoiler
Bosch Euro Smileys
New ZKW Fogs
IS side skirts
Euro bumper trim
Garagistic bumper plugs
OEM US Plate Filler
Ti/E36 antenna
Euro grilles
Abraham’s smoked turn signal lenses
Driver’s side OEM blind spot mirror
All red tails by Bimmerguy91
BMW Motorsports handles
Genuine BMW Metal Painted Hood Roundel
Interior modifications:
Black Leather seats and Houndstooth front and rear door cards
Mtech II 370mm steering wheel
Husco Armrest – with NOS Husco pad
SFGadget cupholder
ZHP Knob
Pedal Haus – black and silver pedals
Pedal Haus – clutch stop
E30 M3 leather handbrake boot
E28 leather brake handle
OEM door coin holder
Dual trunk lights
LED interior lights
Story behind the car…aka Madeline:
I bought my first E30, an 89 Lachsilber 325is, in January 2012. It was a great car, but 4 years later I debated overhauling the car which had fractured clear coat and required a full respray and all around refresh vs finding a clean car. In 2016, after shopping around and not really finding what I was looking for, I posted a WTB add on R3v to test the waters for a late model 325is. I had always wanted a Sterling Silver E30, but finding a Sterling 325is manual was a long shot. I received several posts and PMs, however the moment I saw SER1992’s Sterling 325is I knew I had to have it.
It was a West Coast car and it was obvious how well it had been cared for. This was backed by a stack of receipts that later I filled a 3 inch binder with all the records going back to the mid-90s. The last 4 owners were all BMWCCA members and it shows. I have actually talked with 3 of the previous owners. One of the things I love about this car is people’s reactions when I tell people it is original paint. It gets even better and they are more shocked when I then tell them I am the 7th owner.
Once I got the car I wanted to go the OEM+ route. Over the past two years the car has been gone through from bumper to bumper to refresh anything that was needed and made several upgrades along the way. Some of my favorite upgrades since I bought the car: ZHP rack, IE sways, RS003s, MTech I spoiler, IS skirts, Euro trim, and of course the suspension overhaul/refresh. As many others have posted, it is amazing what fresh bushing all around will do to an old car.
I got into autocross last year which led to signing up for the season this year. It wasn’t long before I jumped on the chance to do my first HPDE. I ran two HPDEs this summer and signed up for two more before the season is done. I was instantly hooked, but knew the E30 was too nice to track regularly even with track insurance. So I picked up another car for the track so I could retire the E30 to autocross duty. The E30 is a blast to drive on the track, but I would beat my own ass if I wrecked it. But I could still see myself taking it out every once in a while on the right track/event. Why have it if I don’t drive it? This is another reason I will continue to autocross and go on mountain runs in the E30 as I don’t want it to turn into a car that I just drive to C&C events, it’s meant to be driven.
I would love to do more work on the car myself, but living in the city without a private garage or a driveway big projects can be hard to tackle in a day. So a big shout out to Levent at Guten Parts and to RRT for the help to get the car to where it is today. Also to all the friends I have made over our love for vintage BMWs, autocrossing, racing and of course to the Squad. And last big thank you to Dan (danielmp) for throwing me the keys to your E30 for my first drive, you knew exactly what you were doing and I owe you.
Journal located here
HPDE and Autocross Videos – https://www.youtube.com/user/MrZeemz/videos