Keith's 323i
Keith's 323i
So now I have worked out how to post a few pics on here I thought it was about time I told you about my love affair with BMWs, concentrating on e21's of course.
This is where my love affair began in 1982 when my father bought a new 320 from Bavarian Garages in Bedford Street Belfast. Polaris silver, blue cloth, five speed, boot spoiler (to become my trademark), mud flaps, Malhes and front fogs. As he drove it home I told him I wanted it when it was time for him to change up. In 1986 after much saving I sold my XR3i and became the proud owner of DRO832Y.
By 1990 I was working in central London and the 320 wasn't getting much use, so I sold it, a decision I regret to this day. If DRO832Y came up for sale I'd take it back but I think it's long gone now.
A succession of lesser cars followed, Sierras, an A6, 190e but then I went back to BMWs, there have been many, I have owned over 100 cars, most of them BMWs. I went through a succession of e30s, e34s, e39s, e46, an e90, Z3.... ntil 3 years ago I decided I had to go back to my roots and get an e21 again, but this time it would be my dream spec, manual, 323i, PAS, boot spoiler and leather, as close as possible to factory spec but with some very subtle suspension mods and Alpina rims. The search was on and I had to buy a total of 3 cars to get all the bits required, two of them were rotten and could barely support their own weight so I cut up the shells and deposited them at the local dump, but the third was as rust free, in fact it's better than the '82 model I sold in '90.
This is where my love affair began in 1982 when my father bought a new 320 from Bavarian Garages in Bedford Street Belfast. Polaris silver, blue cloth, five speed, boot spoiler (to become my trademark), mud flaps, Malhes and front fogs. As he drove it home I told him I wanted it when it was time for him to change up. In 1986 after much saving I sold my XR3i and became the proud owner of DRO832Y.
By 1990 I was working in central London and the 320 wasn't getting much use, so I sold it, a decision I regret to this day. If DRO832Y came up for sale I'd take it back but I think it's long gone now.
A succession of lesser cars followed, Sierras, an A6, 190e but then I went back to BMWs, there have been many, I have owned over 100 cars, most of them BMWs. I went through a succession of e30s, e34s, e39s, e46, an e90, Z3.... ntil 3 years ago I decided I had to go back to my roots and get an e21 again, but this time it would be my dream spec, manual, 323i, PAS, boot spoiler and leather, as close as possible to factory spec but with some very subtle suspension mods and Alpina rims. The search was on and I had to buy a total of 3 cars to get all the bits required, two of them were rotten and could barely support their own weight so I cut up the shells and deposited them at the local dump, but the third was as rust free, in fact it's better than the '82 model I sold in '90.
Re: Keith's 323i
In the 4 years I owned DRO832Y I had very little trouble, just the usual consumables plus a master cylinder.
The day I took over ownership I worked overnight at a well know building on Wood Lane in West London, when I left in the morning there was a couple of inches of snow. I drove over a lump of snow in the middle of the road that turned out to be a big lump of concrete, punching a hole in the sump, I was so upset but luckily the sump could be removed with the engine in situ, so having worked all night I removed the sump and brazed it, perfect repair.
It was rear ended by a van at one point and I had the repairs carried out by a BMW main dealer in Guildford. Unfortunateley they didn't carry out the repairs themselves and contracted it out to a third party, the results were terrible, after three attempts to sort it out I took the car away and refused to sign a letter saying that I was happy with the repair, in the end the repair was OK, but way short of what I expected from a BMW dealer.
My current 323i is work in progress, pics to follow of the before and it's just back from the bodyshop, so plenty of updates as I re-assemble it over the following months. Everything will receive attention and be rebuilt to original spec except the suspension which will receive some subtle mods. I will need to build an engine and contemplating whether it will be OE or a 2.7 Alpina spec as I have all the bits to build one. either way it will be running the original K-jet.
Pics to follow....
The day I took over ownership I worked overnight at a well know building on Wood Lane in West London, when I left in the morning there was a couple of inches of snow. I drove over a lump of snow in the middle of the road that turned out to be a big lump of concrete, punching a hole in the sump, I was so upset but luckily the sump could be removed with the engine in situ, so having worked all night I removed the sump and brazed it, perfect repair.
It was rear ended by a van at one point and I had the repairs carried out by a BMW main dealer in Guildford. Unfortunateley they didn't carry out the repairs themselves and contracted it out to a third party, the results were terrible, after three attempts to sort it out I took the car away and refused to sign a letter saying that I was happy with the repair, in the end the repair was OK, but way short of what I expected from a BMW dealer.
My current 323i is work in progress, pics to follow of the before and it's just back from the bodyshop, so plenty of updates as I re-assemble it over the following months. Everything will receive attention and be rebuilt to original spec except the suspension which will receive some subtle mods. I will need to build an engine and contemplating whether it will be OE or a 2.7 Alpina spec as I have all the bits to build one. either way it will be running the original K-jet.
Pics to follow....
- gerrit323
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- Posts: 4544
- Joined: Wed Dec 22, 2004 8:44 pm
- My E21(s): '82 e21 323i hartge
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Re: Keith's 323i
+2 .. keep those updates coming
1992 Mazda mx5
1994 e36 m3
2015 Renault Mégane RS 275 trophy
2019 Abarth esseesse
2020 caterham 310R
2021 ford custom sportvan
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Thielema ... 1227513195
1994 e36 m3
2015 Renault Mégane RS 275 trophy
2019 Abarth esseesse
2020 caterham 310R
2021 ford custom sportvan
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Thielema ... 1227513195
Re: Keith's 323i
Been busy putting the shiny bits back on, all the glass in and trim on the outside except rear bumper grilles and headlights, I'll post some pics when I can get the car outside. Also fitted my replica refurbed 15' Alpinas (Alpenis) rims. Looking good.
All the interior back together so here's a pic of my Recaro LS's. The seats were a bargain £100 on eBay a couple of years ago as some had them listed as from a Toyota Hilux but they are from an e24. The runners were less of a bargain from Germany and turned out to be incomplete but luckily the seatbelt spacers and brackets required are still available from BMW. The interior will be going for a matching blue leather retrim, so the seats are just trial fitted and the runners etc will be powder coated.
Also fitted the Sport steering wheel.
All the interior back together so here's a pic of my Recaro LS's. The seats were a bargain £100 on eBay a couple of years ago as some had them listed as from a Toyota Hilux but they are from an e24. The runners were less of a bargain from Germany and turned out to be incomplete but luckily the seatbelt spacers and brackets required are still available from BMW. The interior will be going for a matching blue leather retrim, so the seats are just trial fitted and the runners etc will be powder coated.
Also fitted the Sport steering wheel.
- gerrit323
- E21 VIP
- Posts: 4544
- Joined: Wed Dec 22, 2004 8:44 pm
- My E21(s): '82 e21 323i hartge
- Location: Belgium
- Contact:
Re: Keith's 323i
Nice upgrade Keith
1992 Mazda mx5
1994 e36 m3
2015 Renault Mégane RS 275 trophy
2019 Abarth esseesse
2020 caterham 310R
2021 ford custom sportvan
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Thielema ... 1227513195
1994 e36 m3
2015 Renault Mégane RS 275 trophy
2019 Abarth esseesse
2020 caterham 310R
2021 ford custom sportvan
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Thielema ... 1227513195
Re: Keith's 323i
Quite surprised to find the BMW badge that goes in the recline knob for the seats is still available from BMW, so I ordered a pair from Germany.