e21 blog

I thought I would start a blog here that covers the use of an e21 as a daily driver so here goes...

I sold my 2002 lux about 2 years ago as it was an auto and I prefer a manual gearbox. I had only ever bought the 02 as a stop gap while I regained the strength in my leg after a serious car crash. Once it had gone I realised just how hard it was going to be to find a replacement with the kind of budget I had. In truth, despite having owned several e21's over the years, it was pure fluke that brought me to the advert for a 1983 Baur 320. I had never been a fan of Baur cars as the conversion always seemed a little clumsy but with the money I had condition was going to be everything and this little Baur was a cracker. Added to that, I bought it in early Spring and a Summer of open-top motoring beckoned.
In nearly 2 years of ownership that car never let me down once. I put my own stamp on it with uprated suspension, alloys and an LSD and when I did finally sell it, I recouped every penny it had cost 2 years prior.

The main reason for selling my Baur was the desire for a range topping 323i. It was obvious that values were starting to rise and when I spotted a fully restored car within my budget it took me all of 10 seconds to make a decision to buy it.

My car is a 1981 323i which has been converted to run a 2.5 with Motronic injection, from a later e30. It also runs a Racing Dynamics ECU and a free flow stainless exhaust by www.christullettexhausts.com which has made quite a difference to performance aswell as sounding awesome. There is a BMW LSD although a swap to a Quaiffe item is due and the suspension is now fully adjustable coilovers from GAZ with 4 way adjustable roller top-mounts. Brakes are Brembo drilled / vented discs and I am about to fit 4 pot callipers and EBC greenstuff pads. Wheels are Fondmetal 7Jx15's with Toyo888's. The interior has also been spruced up with leather Recaro's - originally from a Ford Cosworth - and an e30 leather rear seat. Finally, I have just fitted an Alpina front spoiler, swapped to single headlights and a single wiper conversion. I also have a rare Motorsport rear spoiler waiting to be fitted.

I would have loved an e30 M3 but I just couldn't afford one but I like to think that my e21 has a hint of M3 flavour about it.

In the 6 months I have owned this car it has only let me down twice. Once when the clutch slave cylinder popped a seal. A new one was just £16 and was fitted in just 10 minutes. The second was a misfire where I must have changed every sensor on the car before finally spotting a short on an HT Lead. Doh! Lesson to learn? Check the simple stuff first! I'd love to be able to garage my car and bring it out at weekends but the fact is this is my daily driver in all weathers. It's a very capable car on the road and just last week I had to rack up 612 miles in just one day going to Cornwall and back. It never missed a beat. As you can tell, I enjoy tinkering with things and the simplicity of the e21 is one of its greatest virtues. It feels like a real drivers car and every journey is an event. I love the sound of that engine and tunnels never fail to make me smile.

Anyway, the idea is that I'm going to update my blog each week in an effort to show life with an e21 BMW. Meanwhile, here are a few shots showing the past 6 months.





















My old Baur.



Edited by Mark Brown - 16 Feb 2010 at 10:01am

It does look like a prison van but no, they are stables and its a horse box.

I should be there - fingers crossed.

I managed to source a nice looking wiper arm for the single conversion - eventually. In fact, it came from the first people I had contacted about a full conversion but they only do e30's onwards. I think the fuller look is much nicer than the standard arm anyway.





The guys over at RPM in Essex are doing my brake upgrade for me. The usual mod of ''slotting'' the caliper bolt holes is not going to be a solution I use so they are going to engineer a more satisfactory solution. I'll post more details and some pictures when I get the car back.They are also going to fit the top mounts while they're at it.



I also need to give my wheels some attention as the winter has really taken its toll on them. I am going to have to remove them and polish the alloy lip using a polishing compound. I'm dreading it but I know it'll be worth the effort. I'll be buying some winter wheels for next time though!

I have a chap coming to see my 316 at the weekend with a view to selling it. I really don't use it and now the Mrs has got another MX5 it really is one car too many. I'll be making sure it goes to a good home though.

Is that the same Dave as at Gaz

mark - that may make sense as Dave Kear works for himself as far as I know and the Dave at Gaz is more suspension focused....Jimmy Cuthbert (he helps with the PBMW yes)  as I understand is RPM but if anyone needs the sorts of bits they sell bigger discounts are available through the BMWCC discount scheme...so dont blow your well earned if you dont have to...speak soon

Thats fair

Well I got the e21 up on a ramp yesterday and sure enough, the offside steering rack bush has failed. I rang Bavarian Autosport in the USA as I couldn't find any nearer supplier of a poly replacement and despite the stupidly expensive carriage, I ordered the bushes. $30 for the parts and $70 delivery!!
Anyway, they were despatched immediately and hit the UK landing strip in the early hours of today.

Well my 316 looks to be going to pastures new on Sunday. I'm sure it's going to be well looked after but I'm still sad to be saying goodbye. It has to make room for the 525e I have bought as a more comfortable daily drive. I have some medical issues with my leg and really need an auto - well for some of the time anyway.

I gave the headlights the ''Euro'' look today.



Just the weekend to go and then it's an e28 daily.

Well having recovered from the shock of $30 becoming $123 with postage, I finally got round to fitting the nice new steering rack mounting bushes. The transformation is marked to say the least. I've always preferred the ''feel'' from non PAS e21's and there is even more in the way of feel since fitting these new, firmer bushes. I know they were expensive but they were worth it.
I am trying to obtain a UK supplier should anyone else be interested in a pair to improve the steering of their own e21?

Now I am usually pretty good when it comes to basic maintenance and safety checks but I got a shock yesterday. I last checked my tyres about 4 weeks ago and there was nothing that stood out. However, yesterday I saw this...



I'm lucky to have spotted it before the Police or worse than that, before a blow out or accident. Anyway, I'm off out to get some fresh boots and I'll be checking weekly from now on.

Spoke to the guys at Superflex today and they have hooked me up with the full range of e21 bushes. I'm hoping that I'll be able to get the steering and suspension side of things as good as it gets. Especially combined with Toyo888's which are incredible tyres.

My car is going for a full health check at Northampton Motorsport on Tuesday and it'll be interesting to get their opinion on things.

Off to Northampton Motorsport tomorrow for a thorough suspension and engine check. I'm looking forward to getting my car on the dyno and seeing if I can find a bit more performance.

Next week should see the brake upgrade being fitted along with this lot from Superflex. The TCA bushes are bespoke items and I already have the uprated steering rack bushes fitted.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FavawYsJUSg

Just heard my car is to be in the next issue of Total BMW Magazine.

I've decided to up the performance stakes so bought myself a 2.7 with a dyno proven 201bhp. As my car only weighs in at 1 140Kg it should go quite well with an extra 32bhp and all the extra torque of a 2.7.

I'm off to the West Country for a couple of weeks on Sunday so work will begin once I get back. I meed to fit the brake upgrade, poly bushes and uprated ARB's too, so lots to be getting on with.

Well I had a great week or so in Cornwall. I even managed to squeeze in viewing another e21 and picked up a strut brace. Well it would have been rude not to.

Seeing as there is finally some Spring sunshine I think I'm going to have a go at bonding on my Motorsport rear spoiler today. I also want to tidy things up under the bonnet and paint the servo.

Apart from that I am just waiting on the arrival of my new adjustable Anti Roll Bars so that I can have them fitted along with the Volvo brake upgrade and all the poly bushes from Superflex. As soon as the courier brings the box I'll be booking the car in with Dave over at RPM.