allow me to introduce bella (e30 content)

bored on a sunday night and thought Id show off the progress of my e30. this was the first car I purchased myself after college and been trying to restore this vintage sex machine since. this month would mark my 1 year of ownership. The car is a 1990 325is Sterling Silver (rare color). came with a LSD, sport seats, 13 feature OBC computer, and every gasket leaking. Bought it as the 3rd owner because it was a good template to work with, silver and no rust, large folder of service records with contacts to previous owners avail. never modded.

warning! I'm a horrible photographer

Car when first bought and getting stripped for paint. Can't see it but paint was oxidized clear coat peeling off. and was attempted to be painted once with a single stage paint (no seperate clear coat), few dings here and there.









Car being painted






Car brought home after paint ready to be reassembled











(Before) Interior:

grey leather interior being held together with duct tape and cracked dash.












(After) Interior

New black leatherette interior to go in and crack free dash







Old Dash Out



New Dash in



New interior









heading to my buddy's bmw shop (he's an independent e30/bmw master tech)









My mechanic's M3:





Back on topic: Overhauling everything mechanical, engine head rebuilt, all known seals replaced, AC system upgraded, new factory suspension, exhaust etc.









Car as she stands right now: paint matched mouldings, IS side skirts, extrude honed intake manifold, stainless steel exhaust, dinan chip, untinted windows with and mtech wheel around the corner this month hoping to finish the car up

Nice e30. Very cleanly redone. I miss mine. I recognized Ryan's shop and then I saw your sig. I assume that you are on Baye30?

looks like a great build thread. why you paint the fogs though?

yup thats Ryan's shop. He's been a great help for helping me rebuild this car. He's my mech for all my cars and a totally awesome guy. I am on Norcale30 (formerly known as Baye30)

Originally Posted by mvrk10256

looks like a great build thread. why you paint the fogs though?

I removed my fog lights. Those are fog light delete covers that came in 318is The car came with busted fogs and new ones were too expensive and are made of glass (prone to be easily cracked), plus the gasket surround for the fog light is NLA so sourcing was a big issue. I figure I might as well do away with it.

nice build. That m3 you should us is so sexy

Originally Posted by remshot11

nice build. That m3 you should us is so sexy

http://www.forum.norcale30.com/showthread.php?t=10566

Originally Posted by DangerousMind

http://www.forum.norcale30.com/showthread.php?t=10566

thats just the beginning. I was over there last week to do work on my e46 and he's in the process of dropping an s54 in there

San Luis Area aye? Are you going to Cal Poly?

I live there with my brother who goes to school there. I actually graduated from Davis however I am planning on applying to SLO for my master. Met with some of the instructors and they have one hell of a business program. I travel between norcal and socal every other week for work.

I really love the wheels on that M3...

hmm bump for some opinions outside of the e30 forums. Should I get black trim/mouldings again? I initially wanted a cleaner look by having them paint matched but am now having 2nd thoughts

Color matched looks years more modern imo-keep it that way.