TLC for my neglected '81 320/6, - lots of pics, enjoy...

[-fm-]

Hi guys :biggrin:,Slowly but surely i'm starting the rebuild process of my e21. After not giving her much tender loving care for almost 2 years, i'm giving her the attention she deserves. Actually, i did quite a lot of mechanical work in '09 to prepare for puspakom checks n owner name transfer. Sorry, no pictures for those previous work.Well, I bought parts from fellow forumers, window glass (broken because of stone throwing children), bought from eau-rouge, and solex 4a1 spare carbs from e21manic :top: . Where are you guys!, how's your cars? Been so quiet the e21 forumers...Now, I'm doing it myself mostly for mechanical bits (DIY), except for welding and paintwork which will come last. As I'm in Shah Alam and she's in Muar, I'll be doing the work on weekends. Hopefully i can update this thread every weekend. And another thing, my budget is small. I'll prioritise which will be done first, but I'll try my best to do good quality work. Your advise are welcomed. Before the spring change to original. The ride height is wrong, too high.

Smooth body, not wavy, the chrome trim on the door has been removed.

what do you think? still ok :top: ? hehe

normal rust spot on e21- the b pillar

I have not manage to find a good mudguard, if not this will be repaired

springs I bought from a "potonged" e21, so this will restore the ride height, the ride on the car is harsh,perhaps they were from a e28. The other one is being installed when I took this pic

my mechanic doing it, i don't have the spring compressor, i'm cheap heh

fronts, left e21 spring, right i don't what model, but there is a bmw logo on it, see the height difference...both the front absorbers have been changed, bilstein

rear original e21 spring, see at one end the coil gets thinner, yet to be installed

Latest purchase, bilstein for the rears and one of the handbrake cable, the one on the rightwheel which got stuck-rust, yet to be removedhttp://farm6.static.flickr.com/5266/5609662044_88a7ecee40_z.jpgthe old rear, dead Boge, see the oil leakhttp://farm6.static.flickr.com/5308/5609656890_7bdf11f06d_z.jpgPresent for her, for being so patient with me :biggrin:http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5022/5609082161_228d2a92c1_z.jpgI think that is all for now, I'll update again soon, thanks

 

[ALBundy]

It will be a long and tedious process to restore this classic to it's former glory. Looking forward to it getting fully restored

 

[Eggie86]

Nice work carried out on your ride bro. Would love to see the end result. It will be great!

 

[-fm-]

Yes, you're right ALBundy. I hope it won't take too long. I'm not turning her into a garage queen, just a usable daily driver.
I think my total budget will not even be 10% of bro Mizhan's...hehehe

Thanks ALBundy, Eggie86

 

[-fm-]

Hi, been busy with work, and procrastinating also :sleep: hehehe

just a bit of update, i serviced the rear brake pumps (L&R) and changed one of the handbrake
cable. unfortunately, no time to change the rear absorbers and springs, hopefully next week.

under a mango tree :top:

the pump has been changed but got stuck due to corrosion, lack of use. the brand is
febi i think

hehehe anybody know this shop? sticker still attached to the broken handbrake cable

Rgds

 

[arifazman]

nice job bro..im rolling with e21 too..just done with engine part and aircond..still need a lot of changes..paint job,interior,brake system..btw,i've been to boon ming with my auntie to get my thermostat...it is a bmw parts shop..

 

[-fm-]

hi arifazman, pictures of your car would be very nice.
where is this boon ming shop? near first division/bomin/css?

all 4 brake hoses are bad. i'm going to jln ipoh this week to buy replacements.

 

[ICEMAN 68]

interesting to see this journey of this machine ..keep up with the pictures ...great work there

 

[arifazman]

bro fm,boon ming and bomin lain kedai ka??i thought it is the same shop ;p sorry2..i went to bomin for my thermostat..how to upload the picture bro?saya budak baru belajar laa ;p

 

[Crymson]

Bomin is at 565. It's been there since the beginning.

 

[-fm-]

interesting to see this journey of this machine ..keep up with the pictures ...great work there

thanks iceman 13, i'll try to update often with pictures

bro fm,boon ming and bomin lain kedai ka??i thought it is the same shop ;p sorry2..i went to bomin for my thermostat..how to upload the picture bro?saya budak baru belajar laa ;p

xtaula. bomin to formerly known as boon ming ke? kena tanya ah fai ni.
check it out:
http://www.bmwclubmalaysia.com/forums/showthread.php?27090-How-to-upload-pics.........&highlight=upload

Bomin is at 565. It's been there since the beginning.

crymson, i'm quite new to frequenting jln ipoh bmw spares shops

 

[mizhan]

wish i had the guts to rebuild an E21.. all the best bro, and make her pretty and healthy once again :top:

 

[-fm-]

wish i had the guts to rebuild an E21.. all the best bro, and make her pretty and healthy once again :top:

bro mizhan, actually i prefer 323i as it was top of the e21 model range, but i bought this car because it is:

1. very cheap - price i couldn't resist
2. engine - very good, not consuming any engine oil
3. gearbox, diff good.
4. rust not too extensive - i'll post some pictures on antirust treatment in the structure, chassis cavity.
i think it was sprayed when the car was new. also, no major accident.
5. very original - solex 4a1 in good working order, original interior, seat cover all trims, body never been welded.

i'm trying to DIY as much as possible to minimise cost. having said that, i've spent close to rm5k already excluding purchase price.

 

[mizhan]

-fm-, not many people are willing to part with their 323i especially the last batch that came with power steering. those that are for sale, deserve a dignified proper burial instead of the humility of being kept alive on life-support.

you've made the right choice with this car. a project is only as doable as the quality of your starting point. please share with us your journey.. perhaps, you might just provide me the courage i require to embark on an E21 project. after all, it was the first BMW i drove. love at first whack

 

[-fm-]

my dad now a pensioner, worked at jpj. sometimes he brought me to his office. i think it was my first close encounter with
a bmw, a brand new e21 323i being in the process of registration.still remember it reseda green (resedagrun?) metallic. i think that was way back in '83.

love at first whack? perhaps love at first tailout oversteer hehehe
the 323i in jb, advertised for sale in mudah looks good.

 

[mizhan]

that's right! i tailed-out that 323i at the first traffic light! 25 years ago.. feels just like yesterday

 

[-fm-]

It has a reputation as a tailhappy car, more so the 323i and other more powerful tuned version - c1 2.3, b6 2.8.
the e30 has been toned down a bit i think.

btw, tried to go to first div this afternoon by bike, but it rained. maybe tomorrow

 

[Eggie86]

The E21 is a very tail-happy car? Wow. :top:

 

[-fm-]

yes, easy to oversteer, but mine 320/6 not so powerful. you can search any forum or E21 history. my uncle who drove a 323i said, the power (close to 150bhp)
comes quite suddenly at higher rpm, some sort like when you ride a powerful 2 stroke bike when you hit the powerband. that overwhelm the rear end in corner exit.

bmw improved the suspension in the e30 to reduce massive camber changes during hard cornering

 

[arifazman]

hi arifazman, pictures of your car would be very nice.
where is this boon ming shop? near first division/bomin/css?

all 4 brake hoses are bad. i'm going to jln ipoh this week to buy replacements.

have u found boon ming bro?this is my ride bro..need new paint job. ;p