E21 Project

[unun]

Hello forum members. I am starting a new e21 full restoration project. The car is in Thailand and i'm doing it with on of the BMW dealers here in Bangkok. Currently stripped the body and doing the rust removal process. Since not a lot of people do these kind of projects here, I thought i'd share it on here. Parts are so hard to find too and I thought this would be a good place to ask for help.

Anyways, the car is a 1982 BMW e21 with the big bumper, the body is still OK for it's age and some small rust here and there. Luckily this car was kept in a garage for most of it's life, preserving the metal. So here here goes the build project everyone.

So this is the first picture I took at the BMW dealership that will do the restoration. Luckily I know the owner so at least I can conduct the project myself. Parked next to the e21 is my 1984 e30 coupe that I restored about 12 years ago.

[MauiM3Mania]

Wow! I look forward to your progress.

[Cruz]

This will be great. I don't think most people will hardly ever bother restoring a e21.

[autox320]

Hello forum members. I am starting a new e21 full restoration project. The car is in Thailand and i'm doing it with on of the BMW dealers here in Bangkok. Currently stripped the body and doing the rust removal process. Since not a lot of people do these kind of projects here, I thought i'd share it on here. Parts are so hard to find too and I thought this would be a good place to ask for help.

Anyways, the car is a 1982 BMW e21 with the big bumper, the body is still OK for it's age and some small rust here and there. Luckily this car was kept in a garage for most of it's life, preserving the metal. So here here goes the build project everyone.

So this is the first picture I took at the BMW dealership that will do the restoration. Luckily I know the owner so at least I can conduct the project myself. Parked next to the e21 is my 1984 e30 coupe that I restored about 12 years ago.

Subscribed! People may not realize how big the car scene in Thailand is for euro/imports. Keep updates coming man

[Rushfan1]

Welcome! Nice photos! We look forward to your updates.

[unun]

Getting ready to take out the engine. Luckily the mechanics are free of work during that period, so three guys and one engine took about 2 hours to get it out.
These old engines have nearly next to nothing to disconnect. The wiring loom is so small. Surprised to see that the engine harness is sill in good shape...no cracks or any signs of rats chewing on the loom at all.

[unun]

Here's the engine out of the body. I was debating to do a restomod or just keep it original for a while, but in the end, I decided that original was the way to go as I have other BMW's that's done restomods, so this one will try to keep it original as possible.

The engine does look better than expected.

[Thecatmilton]

That's an interesting car. Is it RHD with US 5 mile per hour bumpers? You have the good air conditioning compressor bracket too. It accepts a sanden 508 or a sanden 709 compressor. Good for r12 or an r134a conversion. Any interior pictures?

[HeliosE21]

Such a great project! and you are getting it done at a BMW dealer, very cool. Really looking forward to witness the progress of your restoration. Thanks for sharing and saving another E21. Cheers!

[unun]

Yes it's a domestic market version which has those bumpers. Still debating on to keep it original or change it to a Euro conversion. Choices choices.....

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The bracket was also locally made as back then, it was way more expensive to have an A/C installed from the factory. If I remember correctly, most of the cars in Thailand used the Sanden 508 compressor. I will be converting it to a r134A when done. I'll post pictures of the interior later on, it's in quite good shape, except for the A/C panels.

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Thanks. I really don't know about the parts. Most of them are NLA. What I had planned is to change all the chrome and rubber trim as well as lights. What I know for sure is this is going to be expensive! LOL

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Thanks. I really don't know about the parts. Most of them are NLA. What I had planned is to change all the chrome and rubber trim as well as lights. What I know for sure is this is going to be expensive! LOL

[unun]

Here's some pictures of the car before stripping anything. The body is in good shape for it's age. Apart from rust in the rear boot, there's not much in other places.

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[okieflats]

All original is the way to go. Even leaving the bumpers as is. I see it has a carburetor. What type is it? A Solex?

[unun]

I was thinking the same as I should go all original like what it came out the factory.

The carb is a solex 2 barrel, can't find the model though. It's pretty small since the engine is only 1.6l

[unun]

Been a little busy preparing the car for sanding process, but managed to get some pictures of the car during the disassembly stage. Here are some pics.





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And the front end...
Seems that this car was in an accident sometime in it's life as the front end was a little bent, but not too much. Not a lot of rust too since the PO did fix most of the rust. But....from what i've seen is the rear tail light panel and trunk will have a lot of rust.





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Interior pics as requested. That radio makes my eye twitch every time I look at it LOL

[unun]

The front console and seats were surprisingly in good shape, normally I would see them have a huge crack in the middle. I'm guessing that the PO didn't park in the sun that much. 149K Kilometers...not sure if it's original mileage or not.