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Thread: 1982 BMW 323i... a Story in the Making.

  1. #26
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    1982 323i 2003 325it
    Quote Originally Posted by austin8753 View Post
    Can't wait to hit that ascot gray with the buffer and see how it looks!
    Haha I think it'll be a while before we're at that stage...


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    Past, Present, and Future

    1974 BMW 2002tii (RIP)
    1995 BMW 325is w/ FULL S50 swap, track prepped (SOLD)
    1988 BMW 325ix Zinno/Black (RIP)
    1988 BMW 325ix Alpine/Black (Sold)
    1988 BMW 535is Alpine/Pacific Blue (Going Away...)
    1982 BMW 323i (Current Project/Paper Weight)
    2003 BMW 325i Sport Touring (Daily Driver)

  2. #27
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    Feb 2016
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    1979 E21 320i
    Any updates?
    -John

  3. #28
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    Jul 2007
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    1982 323i 2003 325it
    Hello! Been awhile, and the car has been in hibernation mode for the last few months... between remodeling our kitchen, to being gone for the last two months for work. Still have to sell my e28, which will finance getting all the rust fixed, which will hopefully start later this month.

    Still pining away for the Matthes car, but I think it’s gonna take more money at this point.

    Heres the car currently!

    2A383BFA-8830-425E-8C4C-769F663F6843.jpg

    6A5CE19A-4AB1-4B05-A07C-0ECADB0F1386.jpg
    Past, Present, and Future

    1974 BMW 2002tii (RIP)
    1995 BMW 325is w/ FULL S50 swap, track prepped (SOLD)
    1988 BMW 325ix Zinno/Black (RIP)
    1988 BMW 325ix Alpine/Black (Sold)
    1988 BMW 535is Alpine/Pacific Blue (Going Away...)
    1982 BMW 323i (Current Project/Paper Weight)
    2003 BMW 325i Sport Touring (Daily Driver)

  4. #29
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
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    Boise, ID
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    1,420
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    1980 e21, 1985 323i
    so the guy wants more money for the matthes car, but he will sell it to you?
    btw, car is looking good in the garage all nice and warm.
    jm

  5. #30
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    1982 323i 2003 325it
    Quote Originally Posted by 2002jm View Post
    so the guy wants more money for the matthes car, but he will sell it to you?
    btw, car is looking good in the garage all nice and warm.
    jm
    Long story short, the car doesn't belong to my friend. The guy it does belong to hadn't talked to my friend in over 4 years, and the car had been at my friend's shop for over 7, almost 8 years. When the initial negotiations for the Matthes car had been agreed upon, my friend was gonna lien the title, and just give it to me, cause he wanted the car gone. Low and behold, between the time it took for me to get the Ascot car out of his property, and get the rest of the money together to retrieve the other car, the owner miraculously materialized, said he still wanted the car, and promised to get my friend money for "storage" fees. That was back in.... May I believe. So now, in December, 7 months later, the car is still at my friends property, and he's itching for it to be gone. Needless to say, owner dude has disappeared again, and I'm hoping if I offer a little more money to my friend, he'll just lien the title (finally) and I'll walk away with the car.

    Fingers crossed.
    Past, Present, and Future

    1974 BMW 2002tii (RIP)
    1995 BMW 325is w/ FULL S50 swap, track prepped (SOLD)
    1988 BMW 325ix Zinno/Black (RIP)
    1988 BMW 325ix Alpine/Black (Sold)
    1988 BMW 535is Alpine/Pacific Blue (Going Away...)
    1982 BMW 323i (Current Project/Paper Weight)
    2003 BMW 325i Sport Touring (Daily Driver)

  6. #31
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
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    Tulsa, OK
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    641
    My Cars
    76 2002, 82 e21, 83 e21
    Morty,

    Great stuff...I love the car with the forest growing on the top.
    Anyway, waiting to hear more of what you have gotten yourself into...Thanks
    Last edited by SilverPuddle; 01-15-2018 at 10:19 PM.

  7. #32
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
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    Sacramento, California
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    4,704
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    1980 BMW 320i E21 M10B18

    Cool

    Each of these cars have there own background story . Car is looking good Mort.

    Randy

  8. #33
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
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    Portland, OR
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    641
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    1982 323i 2003 325it
    Thanks, guys! Things are slow right now, but they’ll ramp up soon!


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    Past, Present, and Future

    1974 BMW 2002tii (RIP)
    1995 BMW 325is w/ FULL S50 swap, track prepped (SOLD)
    1988 BMW 325ix Zinno/Black (RIP)
    1988 BMW 325ix Alpine/Black (Sold)
    1988 BMW 535is Alpine/Pacific Blue (Going Away...)
    1982 BMW 323i (Current Project/Paper Weight)
    2003 BMW 325i Sport Touring (Daily Driver)

  9. #34
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Providence, Rhode Island
    Posts
    1,979
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    E21, E30, E91
    Wow. Great finds, both of them. Hope you walk away with the other car for a song!

  10. #35
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    1982 323i 2003 325it
    Quote Originally Posted by K20RI211 View Post
    Wow. Great finds, both of them. Hope you walk away with the other car for a song!
    Appreciate it, man, thanks!

    Still hoping for the best, but my hope is dwindling... slowly.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    Past, Present, and Future

    1974 BMW 2002tii (RIP)
    1995 BMW 325is w/ FULL S50 swap, track prepped (SOLD)
    1988 BMW 325ix Zinno/Black (RIP)
    1988 BMW 325ix Alpine/Black (Sold)
    1988 BMW 535is Alpine/Pacific Blue (Going Away...)
    1982 BMW 323i (Current Project/Paper Weight)
    2003 BMW 325i Sport Touring (Daily Driver)

  11. #36
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
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    Portland, OR
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    1982 323i 2003 325it
    Starting to just give up on that Matthes car... I need so much off of it, but I also realize that my friend drags his feet too much, and in his older age, he's starting to get angry whenever I bring it up.

    So! All that being said... need to start looking for other options.

    -Gonna swap in a stock m20b25 for now, just to have a power plant
    -Need to source long tube headers, as I (stupidly) ditched the mid section on my car in favor of the Supersprint I bought from JBD
    -Need to source cat-back exhausts... originals were rusted through, so I tossed em. Was planning on using the ones on the Matthes car, but that isn't gonna work out anymore. Probably have custom ones made? Which begs the thought... should've hung on to the rusted ones for mock up purposes... oh fun.
    -Suspension! this one is huge, cause I was planning on using the NLA Bilstein Sports on the Matthes car... so! Short of spending $1700 on GCs, are there any options out there for a 323?

    This is a lot, and I need to start making plans to get things rolling... or I'm afraid this project it going to get sidelined, and then never finished. I refuse to let that happen!
    Past, Present, and Future

    1974 BMW 2002tii (RIP)
    1995 BMW 325is w/ FULL S50 swap, track prepped (SOLD)
    1988 BMW 325ix Zinno/Black (RIP)
    1988 BMW 325ix Alpine/Black (Sold)
    1988 BMW 535is Alpine/Pacific Blue (Going Away...)
    1982 BMW 323i (Current Project/Paper Weight)
    2003 BMW 325i Sport Touring (Daily Driver)

  12. #37
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
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    lots
    When you're ready for an engine...
    '72 2002 pickup | '88 M5 | '89 330is | '89 M3 | '01 Z3M | '11 328xi-t

  13. #38
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    Having experienced Abazal's car before, the CATuned set of coilovers is(are?) amazing. Well worth their weight in gold. Down the line when I have more of a budget I wouldn't hesistate to grab those.
    -John

  14. #39
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    Quote Originally Posted by austin8753 View Post
    When you're ready for an engine...
    Oh, go sell the car in your signature or something...

    Quote Originally Posted by Somjuan View Post
    Having experienced Abazal's car before, the CATuned set of coilovers is(are?) amazing. Well worth their weight in gold. Down the line when I have more of a budget I wouldn't hesistate to grab those.
    While doing something like that would be an easy fix, I'm also looking to track my car in the future... and something Chinese made wouldn't be my first choice... or my second or third. I don't doubt that they're great for "stancing" or "static", I wouldn't trust them during track events.
    Last edited by MortyCrock; 02-01-2018 at 01:07 PM.
    Past, Present, and Future

    1974 BMW 2002tii (RIP)
    1995 BMW 325is w/ FULL S50 swap, track prepped (SOLD)
    1988 BMW 325ix Zinno/Black (RIP)
    1988 BMW 325ix Alpine/Black (Sold)
    1988 BMW 535is Alpine/Pacific Blue (Going Away...)
    1982 BMW 323i (Current Project/Paper Weight)
    2003 BMW 325i Sport Touring (Daily Driver)

  15. #40
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    central hell, FLA.
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    '87 535is Thruxton
    Hey there, my friend.
    E30 M3 front struts will fit the standard 323 strut tubes.
    AMHIK
    -Joel

  16. #41
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    Quote Originally Posted by Greenfield View Post
    Hey there, my friend.
    E30 M3 front struts will fit the standard 323 strut tubes.
    AMHIK
    -Joel
    Well that's good to know! Just got to work on options for the rears now...
    Past, Present, and Future

    1974 BMW 2002tii (RIP)
    1995 BMW 325is w/ FULL S50 swap, track prepped (SOLD)
    1988 BMW 325ix Zinno/Black (RIP)
    1988 BMW 325ix Alpine/Black (Sold)
    1988 BMW 535is Alpine/Pacific Blue (Going Away...)
    1982 BMW 323i (Current Project/Paper Weight)
    2003 BMW 325i Sport Touring (Daily Driver)

  17. #42
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    central hell, FLA.
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    '87 535is Thruxton
    Bilstein?

  18. #43
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    Sep 2014
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    E21 323i, E36 M3
    You can also get adapter nuts to run 320i bilstein shocks in 323i struts.


  19. #44
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    Quote Originally Posted by Greenfield View Post
    Bilstein?
    Quote Originally Posted by hotdish View Post
    You can also get adapter nuts to run 320i bilstein shocks in 323i struts.
    It was originally my desire to use the NLA Bilstein Sports off of the Matthes car, but that ship has apparently sailed, and I'm left struggling to find other options.

    Are the rears for the 323 the same as the 320? I'd gladly do that, if its an option. I'd probably use the e30 M3 fronts and the 320 rears, if that'd work.

    Joel, do you know if springs from the E30 M3 would work too? or just the struts?

    thanks guys.
    Past, Present, and Future

    1974 BMW 2002tii (RIP)
    1995 BMW 325is w/ FULL S50 swap, track prepped (SOLD)
    1988 BMW 325ix Zinno/Black (RIP)
    1988 BMW 325ix Alpine/Black (Sold)
    1988 BMW 535is Alpine/Pacific Blue (Going Away...)
    1982 BMW 323i (Current Project/Paper Weight)
    2003 BMW 325i Sport Touring (Daily Driver)

  20. #45
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    Quote Originally Posted by MortyCrock View Post
    It was originally my desire to use the NLA Bilstein Sports off of the Matthes car, but that ship has apparently sailed, and I'm left struggling to find other options.

    Are the rears for the 323 the same as the 320? I'd gladly do that, if its an option. I'd probably use the e30 M3 fronts and the 320 rears, if that'd work.

    Joel, do you know if springs from the E30 M3 would work too? or just the struts?

    thanks guys.
    I am 95% sure the rears are the same fitment. I got them assembled with springs and mounts from a local guy. The springs appeared to be the same diameter, but my rear setup could have been 320i parts for all I know. (I had red 323i Konis in the front with black lowering springs and Boge shocks with red progressive lowering springs in the rear)
    Last edited by hotdish; 02-15-2018 at 07:39 PM.


  21. #46
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    E21 327i, E46 325iT/5

    1982 BMW 323i... a Story in the Making.

    Are the E30 fronts a different length than the E21?

    EDIT: found my app guide.
    E21 320i B8 front: 519/633mm
    E30 B8 front: 515/594.5mm

    Collapsed/Extended lengths.

    1.5” shorter in droop length sounds like a lot. It means you might lift the inside tire during some corners. And the suspension will not droop as much with the car on a lift. Is there a need for the extra droop?

    The E30 B8 is also about 15% softer in rebound and compression.

    They used to offer custom lengths and valving too if you spent extra.
    Last edited by DougIng; 02-16-2018 at 08:40 PM.

  22. #47
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    Billy Sports are the same for the rears 4cyl/6cyl.

    Front HD/Sport struts for the e30 M3 and all 6cyl e30s fit the 323 strut tubes, 4cyl did not.
    Don't use the 4cyl struts with an adapter nut.
    Joel
    Last edited by Greenfield; 02-17-2018 at 09:13 AM.

  23. #48
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    Quote Originally Posted by Greenfield View Post
    Billy Sports are the same for the rears 4cyl/6cyl.

    Front HD/Sport struts for the e30 M3 and all 6cyl e30s fit the 323 strut tubes, 4cyl did not.
    Don't use the 4cyl struts with an adapter nut.
    Joel
    Thats exactly what i needed to know! Thanks a bunch, Joel.
    Past, Present, and Future

    1974 BMW 2002tii (RIP)
    1995 BMW 325is w/ FULL S50 swap, track prepped (SOLD)
    1988 BMW 325ix Zinno/Black (RIP)
    1988 BMW 325ix Alpine/Black (Sold)
    1988 BMW 535is Alpine/Pacific Blue (Going Away...)
    1982 BMW 323i (Current Project/Paper Weight)
    2003 BMW 325i Sport Touring (Daily Driver)

  24. #49
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    Quote Originally Posted by Greenfield View Post
    Don't use the 4cyl struts with an adapter nut.
    Are there disadvantages to using 4cyl shocks? I went with adapter nuts since I got used billie sports cheap from a local e21 owner clearing out his garage, but I haven't noticed any problems with my setup yet.
    Last edited by hotdish; 02-17-2018 at 01:52 PM.


  25. #50
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    ...it has been a decade since I last visited this subject, but even then BavAuto stressed that the e21 4cyl struts were not ideal as they are valves for the weight of the 4cyl engine, not the 6cyl.
    Additionally, as no strut fills the strut tube diameter so closely a strut cannot slip in, a narrower strut held in place by a lock nut will not be ideal for the wider diameter as the lock nut now does the lion's share of locating the strut in the tube.
    I wish I still had pictures of all the different struts I tried 4cyl/6cyl before discovering the Billy Sport e30 M3/6cyl struts, but the archives do not keep images for that long..

    - - - Updated - - -

    Also, unless BMW has begun making the e21 Sport springs again, your only bet is the aftermarket for springs and sways.
    My setup was H&R sports all around with e30 M3/6cyl Billy Sports and K-Mac adjustable hats in the front, e21 Billy Sports in the rear, stock sways with urethane everywhere.

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