E21 Registry

[jrettenmeier]

Photos by Neato Photography
www.neatophotography.com

New here, but lurk on other forums. It's old, it's noisy, it's quick.

1977 BMW 320i
100,XXX miles

Current:
S50 (1997 M3)
Getrag 260 Transmission
3.91 Differential

Future Plans:
...only time will tell.

[MortyCrock]

Dang! Post pictures of that S52!

[ShaftyVonHelmet]

1982 277,+++ been in the family from go, mine to drive the torch now. uploadfromtaptalk1451352112707.jpguploadfromtaptalk1451352131738.jpg

[MortyCrock]

your car looks good upside down!

[serspec]

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Hey all new to the forums here. Just picked up this '79 320i a couple weeks ago. Got it up and running tonight so figured I would post a couple pics and say hi! I've already got a few of you to thank for getting me this far with all the info on the forums here. Looking forward to being a new E21 owner.

[mtnroyalty]

82 320i $2000 6/2013
mettalic saphire blue
tan/black interior
1.8 liter m10
251000 odometer stopped turning
5 speed manual feel i paid little too much due to interior needing future work
head cracked on me little over a year later.

removed front bumper
fixed cracked cylinder head
replaced few valves few rockers
painted wheels/tint

recently stumbled on m20 2.7 liter researching where to go from here
any positive info helps
thinking about going the turbo route
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[Emperor E28]

1982 BMW 320i

Description
Original Kastienrot Metallic paint
black comfort interior
5 speed
AC

Mods and stuff
Engine:
aFe performance filter
BavAuto 8mm performance wires

Suspension:
Eibach Sport Springs
Bilstein Touring Shocks

Exterior Styling:
front plate holder btw fog lights
3 piece Epsilon wheels, 14x6

Interior Upgrades:
BavAuto floor mats
1990s JVC 12 disc changer system cassette head unit
///M shift knob

History
Car was bought brand new in Ohio from Cain BMW. Sold to second owner with 58k on it. Second owner upgraded and repaired most of the car in 1994. Sold it in 2010 to third owner who moved to Richmond, VA. He then sold it to me in Feb 2016 where it now resides in Va Beach.

[MortyCrock]

That's a gorgeous color! post pictures in the picture thread!

[Bonsaibacker]

Picked up an '83 320i with 376K miles! It is in great condition- only rust is on the driver's front quarter panel- standard and small and none in the trunk. Yes it is high miles, but I didn't even hesitate- it's like dancing with an older woman, they just want to be held!
It is my second e21 and I am pumped to be back in the saddle.
There is plenty of work to do, but it is currently behaving well as a daily driver.
Already pulled the bumper.
Air conditioner is next.
Gotta get some new seats.
Detail the engine bay.
Fix the sunroof.
Too much more to mention, but I have a spreadsheet and it grows daily.
Give it attention everyday- I am confident that it will reward me with pleasure for years to come!

[jaredmac11]

376k miles! Damn that is impressive.

[HEIS83]

Just bought a 1982 320i off of CL with 70k original miles. I am the 4th owner and overall it appears to be in good condition. Mods done by prior owners were: Weber carb and fuel pump, koni shocks with ebay coilovers, battery relocated to trunk with sound system/sub, style 5 wheels (still need the took to remove the covers), custom center console. As it sits now it known issues are:

cracked windshield (already scheduled)
blower motor toast (ordered)
no washer fluid reservoir (already ordered)
possible blown shocks. Sits a little low for me (and my driveway) so I may adjust the coilovers or replace the suspension as the shocks may be blown.
has a badly cracked dash and the interior console is custom. I have been looking around to find a replacement for the console, may just live with the dash for now.
turn signals don't work at all.
needs new paint
fuel pump in back makes a ton of noise
lots of play in the shifter

but overall its good and driveable around town. this is my first project car so I am excited to work on it.

[cgifool]

I bought this white 1979 323i for $5000, it's been advertised on Panjo for quite some time. I'm sure I may have overpaid, but it's pretty much everything I was looking for in a project. This poor car hasn't been driveable in several years now for various reasons and desperately needed loving. Truck just dropped it off last night. There's an unpleasant number of small rusty areas and a few pieces missing (like the exhaust and fan), but I'm still pleased with my purchase. Long ago I had an '82 320/6 that I totally loved, but had to get rid of due to emissions hassles in VA, and really missed it ever since.

This one pretty much checks all the boxes for my ideal 323i (except not being opal green). .. a/c, cloth recaros and rear seat, sport steering wheel (came with a momo, but the original one was in the trunk), nice carpets, good headliner etc, front & rear stress bars, 9 gal extra tank in the trunk, bbs front spoiler, etc etc.

PLENTY of things for me to deal with, but the very first is getting it up and running.. the previous owner evidently abandoned an s52 swap after the motor was already pulled, then had the original motor put back in, but the job was never completed.

so the intake and exhaust manifolds are on, but the radiator, airbox/fd and fuel lines were all in the trunk. the exhaust is disconnected, the fan seems completely missing unless there's an electric one I didnt notice yet. there's an MSD box and i'm a little afraid of what electrical butchery lies in store for me..

oh, and the dozen small areas of rust bubbling in the most typical of areas, wouldnt be surprised if there was a perforation or two among them, lying in wait for me to discover.

annnd the 3 14" e30 325 "bottlecap" wheels and one likely original spare 13x5.5 "turbine" wheel.

but hey, like all these cars, at least the hood and trunk emblems are new! LOL.

Fortunately, my wife and kids all approve and there's no real surprises here except maybe that next paint job will happen sooner than expected.

I'm a big fan of how these cars looked right from the factory, so I'll be getting rid of the BBS spoiler, swapping the MOMO wheel for the perfectly awesome original Sport wheel, and finding another 4 good turbine wheels with 13" tires. Probably will go for the full stock exhaust, but I'm tempted to try one of those cheap stainless headers from eBay..

I just love a project, don't you??

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[Kubsiol]

Hi Guys,

Lucas from Poland here.

Own an E21 since February 2016.

315 model. Basaltblau.

Since that time did the paint job, a complete new interior and all new parts in engine, suspension, brakes, exhaust, etc. Basically some small details to do. Mileage 195k when bought, now around 198k.

Running on restored Fondmetal 15x7 with 10mm spacers in rear and suspension lowered 60/40.

























Working now with some audio. Kick panels (don't want to mess the door panels). But my idea is to put an AC middle panel and speakers in mdf box inside.



LOOKING FOR AUTOPLAS REAR WINDSHIELD LOUVRE - had one in Poland in excellent condition for 200Euro and missed it...

[SilverPuddle]

Sweet car Kubsiol. Nice touch on the blacked-out window trim. I love the wheels!

Look forward to seeing more of your car.

[Kubsiol]

thanks, nice to hear a positive feedback

[virafp]

Just back from a full window and glass out respray. Ascot Gray Metallic. Drove this car when it was new, as it belonged to a very close friend. Then, took it over 10 years ago. Current mileage 148K.

[Bmwfantic221]

Mine is a 83 320i:
Purchased brand new by my father 1xx,xxx miles i believe
its had 4 m10 engines in it
2 clusters
15x7 bbs rz's
205x45 toyo tires
8mm spark plug wires
2 new sparco racing seats
beige interior swapped to black and some blue

Future plan coilovers, new sway bars, and eventual engine swap,and to put on european bumpers i have

[GeneE21]

1983 320i
95,788 on the clock
In original condition, original paint, color - Delphin, Black interior (also original)
1 owner, purchased new by me in February 1983

Leaving the 2012 Bavarian Auto Show-N-Shine
LeavingBavAuto.jpg

[CanuckE21]

Hello everybody long time forum reader and I finally but the bullet and joined
my ride is a 1980 BMW E21 320i
originally Baltic Blue I bought it with lowish Km's 89xxx
its the good old m10 paired with a five speed and an limited slip.
Factory recaro seats and som other good stuff.
Ive done a front bumper tuck and I'm in the process of doing body work getting her ready for a respray.
I have some Basketweaves off a friends old E30 that I'm refinishing for her.
Shes a work a work in progress but I absolutely love her!

https://www.photobox.co.uk/my/photo/..._id=9296927020
if the pic didn't upload there is a direct link

[failssafe]

Hey guys! Been lurking this forum for repair help and stuff like that, but figured I should make an account.

http://imgur.com/gallery/1K6gA

Here's my Edelweiss. A 1982 320i that I purchased late July. So far I've done some minor stuff on her. I took the stickers all off the back window and put a couple of my own on. Don't have any recent pics, but might post some soon. Currently she's up on a ramp, waiting for my girlfriend and I to finish installing a new heater core. While we're finishing that up, we'll probably replace the radio, too. The owners before me had some problems with the antenna breaking, so I'm going to have to buy a new one. I'm also perfectly happy listening to CD's. :-) Hopefully soon we can take care of that large rust spot under the tail light, and take care of the smaller rust spots as well. All the rust is like 95% surface rust, aside from the tail light part. Some rust converter and touch up paint could fix the smaller stuff quite nicely. I'd also love to take off the American bumpers at some point. They're a bit big for me. The interior is the thing that needs the most work, tbh. The seats desperately need to be reupholstered, and the dash has some cracks that could do with filling. Also there's a faint cigarette smell from the previous owner, but so far I'm just keeping a bunch of vent clips in the car to make it smell pretty until I can give her a good, deep clean.

She's a fixer-upper, but nothing that my car buff-girlfriend and I can't handle with some elbow grease and internet tutorials! Pretty sweet first car, huh? B-)

[cgifool]

Hey guys! Been lurking this forum for repair help and stuff like that, but figured I should make an account.

http://imgur.com/gallery/1K6gA

Here's my Edelweiss. A 1982 320i that I purchased late July. So far I've done some minor stuff on her. I took the stickers all off the back window and put a couple of my own on. Don't have any recent pics, but might post some soon. Currently she's up on a ramp, waiting for my girlfriend and I to finish installing a new heater core. While we're finishing that up, we'll probably replace the radio, too. The owners before me had some problems with the antenna breaking, so I'm going to have to buy a new one. I'm also perfectly happy listening to CD's. :-) Hopefully soon we can take care of that large rust spot under the tail light, and take care of the smaller rust spots as well. All the rust is like 95% surface rust, aside from the tail light part. Some rust converter and touch up paint could fix the smaller stuff quite nicely. I'd also love to take off the American bumpers at some point. They're a bit big for me. The interior is the thing that needs the most work, tbh. The seats desperately need to be reupholstered, and the dash has some cracks that could do with filling. Also there's a faint cigarette smell from the previous owner, but so far I'm just keeping a bunch of vent clips in the car to make it smell pretty until I can give her a good, deep clean.

She's a fixer-upper, but nothing that my car buff-girlfriend and I can't handle with some elbow grease and internet tutorials! Pretty sweet first car, huh? B-)

awesome to have this project to work on together and to always have someone nearby to help! I love how affordable and available the parts are, a real poor (hu)man's sports car and a great way to stay out of trouble.

my car has the same sorts of rust ailments, mostly minor, only a couple spots that will need welding, so i'll look forward to seeing your progress.

[SirPerson]

Car - 1980/320i
Owner since - last Tuesday
Mods - Working on it

Car needs so much, I just want to honor the original design and add a few tasteful comforts and upgrades.

[marin k]

hello

my name is marin, come from zagreb, croatia.

this is my '81 315.
all stock for now, except momo indy...melber l141 15x7 sandblasted and waiting for the paint job, bbs front spoiler arriving soon.

[Mihajlo]

no, lepi je
I like brown interior !

[George Mac]

Hey there
Been reading E21 thread for a few months & bought 1981 E21 stock with 107,000km / 65,000miles original owner.
Plans:
- have Eurometric bushings: steering rack & outer control arm bushings
- replace front & rear springs & shocks. Think my options are H&R springs, Bilstein HD or Sport, I'm leaning to HD because the HD's sound a little too stiff for drivability
- add rear sway bar

That's all for now, will look through the forums for performance ideas for M10 engine, I am planning to use this car for fun non-daily driver & a few autocross each year.

Appreciate anyone's suggestions or comments on the suspension plans.