A Rare Bird: The E30 Baur

[Baur]

Jeroen,

B40541 appears to be a good starting point, but it certainly needs a lot of love. Is it yours? I should probably remember, but I don't.

Jeff

Hi Jeff,

I just bought it a week ago, so no problems that you aint sure (my father once forgot that I had sold a car..."He, Jeroen, have you parked the 4-door on the parkingspace down the street?").

It sure needs love, but if it's to much, I will take it apart. This car only ows me €300,- (that's less then $400,-)

About the white TC1; you might be right Tom. But the second picture is to small for me to look at details as the windows or roof.

Gr Jeroen

[tomscat1]

Hi Jeff,

I just bought it a week ago, so no problems that you aint sure (my father once forgot that I had sold a car..."He, Jeroen, have you parked the 4-door on the parkingspace down the street?").

It sure needs love, but if it's to much, I will take it apart. This car only ows me €300,- (that's less then $400,-)

About the white TC1; you might be right Tom. But the second picture is to small for me to look at details as the windows or roof.

Gr Jeroen

Those are Fittipaldi rims by Oz. (Attached)

Sorry I couldn't get that white Baur pic any larger from this PC. It was posted early on in the "Baur TC1 in the US' thread.

[TomDC]

@sammy - I did consider the m5x engine swap, but it was a just enough more expensive and I wanted to stick with a more familiar engine. I do not care about the extra hp. The m50/52 and s50 swaps are pretty straightforward though -- only issue I think is the oil pan clearance. Anyway, I'm planning to take my car to a shop near Baltimore on Wednesday to have work done -- full drivetrain swap from m20b25 swap, trans, different (going from open to lsd).

@jeroen: see attached photos of my old Baur (B40204). I still have the original owner's manual. Ssee attached page showing who I think is original buyer in Germany (the service records show it was serviced until 1984 and approx. 25,xxx km at Autohaus Amelung gmbh). I tried to contact the original buyer to see if he had any interest in knowing that the car was in U.S. but I do not think he understood as I wrote in English!! Anyway, I sold B40204 in 1999 to a guy in college and I think he was from somewhere out west and planned to take it back there.

[BMWtyro]

Alright, I give up on the Bosch spark plug snipe hunt -- UNCLE! KING'S X! Whatever . . .

Let's try it this way: Bosch W8LCR crosses to NGK ZGR5A. Interestingly, Bosch WR8LC crosses to nothing NGK sells.

So: has anyone had any experience with the NGK ZGR5A plugs? Good? Bad? Indifferent? Because, even though AutoZone doesn't carry 'em, those I can find relatively cheap all day long on eBay . . .

Jeff

[TomDC]

Jeff: fwiw, I ran Ngk's on my old 323 only b/c they were less $ and did not notice difference b/t them and bosch. I also see I wrote down Champion WR9LS as an option -- can't remember if I ever tried them.

[Alpinweiss E30]

I'm pleased with the NGK. If the autozone sells them, try giving them this number: 5077
I got mine at O'Reilly's using that number.

[THEPOOLEMAN]

Alright, I give up on the Bosch spark plug snipe hunt -- UNCLE! KING'S X! Whatever . . .

Let's try it this way: Bosch W8LCR crosses to NGK ZGR5A. Interestingly, Bosch WR8LC crosses to nothing NGK sells.

So: has anyone had any experience with the NGK ZGR5A plugs? Good? Bad? Indifferent? Because, even though AutoZone doesn't carry 'em, those I can find relatively cheap all day long on eBay . . .

Jeff

Jeff
Try this WR8DC $1.63 each my cost through the dealership my local guy has them in stock

[BMWtyro]

Thanks, guys.

@Balticblau: thanks, you are right -- 5077 and ZGR5A are indeed the same number. When I click on "details" the description says that it uses a nickel alloy center electrode, not copper. I thought that the presence of a copper electrode was essential; is that incorrect?

@ Pooleman: the Bosch spark plug chart that I have acquired (out of sheer desperation) does seem to show that W8LRC and WR8DC are darn near identical except that the measurement of the electrode tip of the WR8DC is 2mm shorter (5mm vs. 3mm). I wonder if the tip protrudes far enough into the center of the chamber to provide complete combustion; have you used them in your car for long? And do you know the four-digit code for them that everyone seems to want me to use for ordering purposes? It should be printed on the end of the box.

Jeff

EDIT:

This is what research has turned up about WR8DC: its four-digit stock number is apparently 7905 and it has a "yttrium-enhanced copper core center electrode" and a "Tapered, v-profile nickel chromium ground electrode". I thought that I had read elsewhere on BF that the yttrium-enhanced core was bad news for Bimmers (or at least for E30s); did I read wrong? IIRC, somebody reported that a yttrium electrode had actually melted . . .

J.

[Alpinweiss E30]

Not certain if copper is essential but I do know that platinum plugs can contribute to idle and other issues. Also I seem to have smoother idle and acceleration with the NGKs than I did with the Bosch W8LCR+ I put in when I first got the car.

[THEPOOLEMAN]

Jeff here is a link to real OEM that lists the recommended The W8DC the vendor I called cross referenced the part# to WR8DC.
I forget what plug I have in my car they are Bosch and probably the wrong plug I am off Tuesday so I am going to pull them and inspect them
If Balticblue E24 has had good luck with the NGK's I'd go for it after all all there are just plugs

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...97&hg=12&fg=05

Tomscat1
I see you have a E21 Baur project car . did you find that in Attelboro Mass about four or five years ago, because there was one on Craigslist that I called the guy on and he had just sold it. I was all set to get it if it was still available
Is that your project car?

[Sammy7]

@sammy - I did consider the m5x engine swap, but it was a just enough more expensive and I wanted to stick with a more familiar engine. I do not care about the extra hp. The m50/52 and s50 swaps are pretty straightforward though -- only issue I think is the oil pan clearance. Anyway, I'm planning to take my car to a shop near Baltimore on Wednesday to have work done -- full drivetrain swap from m20b25 swap, trans, different (going from open to lsd).

Sounds like we're of the same mind here. My brother used to have an '87 325is and it had enough power. (Certainly more than the 318i we had before and the 320i I have now.)

[tomscat1]

Tomscat1
I see you have a E21 Baur project car . did you find that in Attelboro Mass about four or five years ago, because there was one on Craigslist that I called the guy on and he had just sold it. I was all set to get it if it was still available
Is that your project car?

Hi,

No, my 1979 Euro 323i project car is NOT a Baur. My Baur is the 1982 323i.

I think I know the car you are thinking of.... a friend of mine bought it from the guy in Mass, and has since sold it to another guy in Mass. It is now located in Concord MA. The new owner owns a beautiful cranberry Baur also (pic attached), and he is in the process of shipping a THIRD Baur over from Ireland, as we speak!

I believe the Baur you are thinking of is Baur #A000917, which we have actually been able to trace back through 5 owners! Here is the story:
http://baurspotting.blogspot.com/201...-baur-917.html

I nearly did buy this car from my friend in Mystic two years ago, but I decided against it. I bought my Baur in Virginia that same week instead.

[THEPOOLEMAN]

Hi,

No, my 1979 Euro 323i project car is NOT a Baur. My Baur is the 1982 323i.

I think I know the car you are thinking of.... a friend of mine bought it from the guy in Mass, and has since sold it to another guy in Mass. It is now located in Concord MA. The new owner owns a beautiful cranberry Baur also (pic attached), and he is in the process of shipping a THIRD Baur over from Ireland, as we speak!

I believe the Baur you are thinking of is Baur #A000917, which we have actually been able to trace back through 5 owners! Here is the story:
http://baurspotting.blogspot.com/201...-baur-917.html

I nearly did buy this car from my friend in Mystic two years ago, but I decided against it. I bought my Baur in Virginia that same week instead.

The car I was referring to was nothing more than a shell I think the owner wanted $1500.00 for it,
It may be the car in Concord, which by the way is where I born and raised.
Any chance of you making it to German car day day @ M O T Boston this year it's Sunday June 17th if you can get the guy in Concord to go we'll have three Baurs there..
http://larzanderson.org/events/lawn-...man-car-day-2/

[tomscat1]

The car I was referring to was nothing more than a shell I think the owner wanted $1500.00 for it,
It may be the car in Concord, which by the way is where I born and raised.
Any chance of you making it to German car day day @ M O T Boston this year it's Sunday June 17th if you can get the guy in Concord to go we'll have three Baurs there..
http://larzanderson.org/events/lawn-...man-car-day-2/

June 17 is a tough day for me. It is Father's Day, and I am a new grandfather. That also means that my oldest son will be celebrating his First Father's Day, so I am sure family activities will take a priority.


I do want to do a Boston area show this year , if possible, and it would be great to get together with you and possibly some other Baurs. June 17 just isn't going to work, I am afraid.


Are there other events this summer that you know of? Connecticut Valley Chapter BMWCCA will be hosting an event in Manchester, CT in early July, relatively close to the MA border. My friend, Afonso, brought his Baur last year:
http://baurspotting.blogspot.com/2011/07/two-e21-baurs-at-connecticut-valley.html

And the Chapter put us in their magazine!
http://baurspotting.blogspot.com/2012/01/two-connecticut-baurs-make-it-into-die.html

[THEPOOLEMAN]

Red E30 Baur spotted in Burlington VT area by Forum member MBULSA I pm'd him to see if the car had a VT tag on it however, he did not catch it, he said that the driver was a guy in 20's Any ideas on this car?
I am still actively looking for that E21 here in NH as seen on Baurspotting.

[tomscat1]

Red E30 Baur spotted in Burlington VT area by Forum member MBULSA I pm'd him to see if the car had a VT tag on it however, he did not catch it, he said that the driver was a guy in 20's Any ideas on this car?
I am still actively looking for that E21 here in NH as seen on Baurspotting.

Thanks for the info. I know of a beautiful cranberry TC1 Baur in Concord MA, but this is the first I have heard of a red E30 Baur in those parts. It would be great to get another New England Baur to one of the events this summer!

That white E21 Baur in NH is a beauty also. Is there a NH BMW club? They may know of this car.

Keep your eyes peeled, Baurhunters! Springtime is when the bears and the Baurs come out of hibernation!

[THEPOOLEMAN]

tomscat1
The state of New Hampshire has a vanity plate search on it's web page so one can see if the desired plate is available I did a search for the plate on the local E21 Baur and the plate is NOT available which is a good sign that car is more than likely still registered.
I'm on it.

[tomscat1]

tomscat1
The state of New Hampshire has a vanity plate search on it's web page so one can see if the desired plate is available I did a search for the plate on the local E21 Baur and the plate is NOT available which is a good sign that car is more than likely still registered.
I'm on it.

You are A Good Man, thepooleman!

A funny thing happened this afternoon regarding the .... ummm .... white NH Baur.... I think you will get a kick out of it!

I am still chuckling!

It is, indeed, a Small Baur World!

Check this out:
http://baurspotting.blogspot.com/2012/05/its-small-baur-world-defined.html

[THEPOOLEMAN]

You are A Good Man, thepooleman!

A funny thing happened this afternoon regarding the .... ummm .... white NH Baur.... I think you will get a kick out of it!

I am still chuckling!

It is, indeed, a Small Baur World!

Check this out:
http://baurspotting.blogspot.com/2012/05/its-small-baur-world-defined.html

Yes indeed It is a "small Baur world " and I did get a chuckle out of it.
Thank you Tom !

[BMWtyro]

NO LONGER NEEDED.

Jeff

[tomscat1]

5/9/2012 Craigs list Westminster Colorado


Hot off the press!

1985 BMW Baur TC 323 I - $6995 (Westminster)

Date: 2012-05-09, 1:42PM MDT
Reply to: kdjhg-3005895028@sale.craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]


Purchased new in Germany in 1985. Toured Germany for 5000 miles then brought the car to the US. Exterior in good condition and interior is excellent shape. Currently has 131,000 original miles. Asking $6995 obo. Call Dale @ 720-319-1679 No emails please.











http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/3005895028.html



Always more Baurs here:
http://baurspotting.blogspot.com/p/baurs-for-sale.html

[Sammy7]

$7k for a Baur with no rear top and primer on the fender???

[BMWtyro]

I find it interesting that we aren't allowed to actually see the "excellent interior" . . . or the engine.

Something tells me that this one will be looking for a new home for awhile. I hope that it isn't stored outdoors . . .

Jeff

[TomDC]

It's pretty impressive he's the original owner and actually picked it up in Germany.

Yes, 7k sounds high but we should not discourage -- indirectly, it raises the value of all Baurs!! (said with some sarcasm)

[tomscat1]

In case anyone is interested in learning about a fascinating guy, I just did a Baurspotting post on Lothar Schuettler, who has received numerous awards for his 1956 BMW 502 Baur and 1937 BMW 328 Roadster that was Best In Show at the Hilton Head Concours recently.
http://baurspotting.blogspot.com/2012/05/lothar-schuettlers-garage.html

Lothar helped us out recently with one of our E21 Baurs, you may recall.... the widebody in VA.

Amazing story. Great stuff. Enjoy.