2.9 M20 into the 323i

[Tom D]

............. 220kmph speedo..........

oxymoron

[amarino]

incidentally mr butte, do you know why bmw uses red?

Something about easier on the eyes at night to not mess with your night vision?

[gabmwdrvr]

only the 1.8 liter cars, the pre-facelifted U.S. cars had 120mph speedos.

True, but those pictured are both late model clusters with the digital clock on the tach

[Tom D]

Something about easier on the eyes at night to not mess with your night vision?

exactly, early studies by bmw determined that night vision recovery was greater when red was used, red also allows the eye to see more detail in low light conditions, more recent studies have shown that blue/green is just as effective. all I know for sure is that the green dash in my toyota is very distracting.

[MortyCrock]

oxymoron

Kilo Meter Per Hour? kmph. I see that It should've read kph, but it definitely wasn't an oxymoron.

[Kevin E21]

exactly, early studies by bmw determined that night vision recovery was greater when red was used, red also allows the eye to see more detail in low light conditions, more recent studies have shown that blue/green is just as effective. all I know for sure is that the green dash in my toyota is very distracting.

Same reason you see red filters used on those old Vietnam war era flashlights.

[tribri]

Same reason you see red filters used on those old Vietnam war era flashlights.

Red light doesn't bleach out the rhodopsin in your eyes allowing for better night peripheral vision. Blue/green lighting is used as it is the next best color spectrum that is compatible with night vision goggles. Red lenses are still used on flashlights for light discipline.

[DougIng]

all I know for sure is that the green dash in my toyota is very distracting.

Exactly why I dim my instrument lights on my Honda.

[jjgbmw323]

so if the UK one is 140mph, and the Germany one is 220kmph, what is the US one? 120mph?

Yes - My current cluster looks like this:

I found two other clusters - I am taking the 140 MPH speedo one from the UK and using that.
The needles are getting painted florscent red, and I have ordered the Metal cluster rings from Ebay in Germany.
You can also see that the gas gauges are different:

I am trying to see if we can fit RED LEDS like this e30 one that he did.

To answer who is rebuilding, this - this is the first e21 one that he has done, but they have done many others:
http://bavrest.com/examples-of-our-work.html
I found him on facebook;
finished product will look something like this once is done.
this is an E30 but you get the picture:

[MortyCrock]

Looks great! cant wait to see it in the car!

[Kevin E21]

Yes - My current cluster looks like this:

Joe wanna trade steering wheel hardware? You can have my silver bolts, for your black.

[BIMMERBOYZ]

Excited to see the result on your cluster Joe. I contacted him a while back, but he said he only did E30's at that time. Good to hear he is taking on the E21.

[jjgbmw323]

Bimmerboyz Yes me too we are waiting on the rings....to get here from Germany.

Kevin no trades to the bolts i like the style I am using, you can find a set like mine

[BIMMERBOYZ]

Bimmerboyz Yes me too we are waiting on the rings....to get here from Germany.

The E30 rings won't work?

[Kevin E21]

Joe, I was joking because you commented on the color of my bolts when you came by the other day.

The last thing I care about is the color of bolts for the steering wheel.

[jjgbmw323]

No they are different...

- - - Updated - - -

Joe, I was joking because you commented on the color of my bolts when you came by the other day.

The last thing I care about is the color of bolts for the steering wheel.

LOL. Thanks funny Man!

[jjgbmw323]

Fitted the rings to the cluster - finally


AND Some where in the process of 7,000 posts, and two decades plus of Ownership I bought this:


Competition E46 M3, to be the older brother to my e21

[Kevin E21]

You have 4 cars Joe, you're worse than me

[tribri]

Nice choice.

[DavidD123]

Competition package, very nice! Avus Blue?

[jjgbmw323]

You have 4 cars Joe, you're worse than me

My Mk2 Vr6 is for sale, so it will get a little body work and be sold.

DavidD123 and Tirbi yes thanks it Interlagous Blue.

I dont consider my e21 as transportation as its been away for four years and its more of a project, car show car...

[Tom D]

i don't think I've ever viewed any of my cars as transportation.

[jjgbmw323]

i don't think I've ever viewed any of my cars as transportation.

Well as an enthusiast most BMW owners bond with their cars. My 323i has been over at the shop for about 4 years now. Its time for it to come home.
In the new year, I promise you all that Kevin and I will shoot a few Youtube videos of it.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year my E21 Brothers.

[lasvegascop]

4 years!?!?!?!......why????????? Holly cow Batman!

[jjgbmw323]

4 years!?!?!?!......why????????? Holly cow Batman!

Ski he needs to wire the e21 323i connector to the e30 fuse harness. If you are not using yours I can buy it from you.

Or can you make me one....