1982 318i - the last and final E21

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ZenderE21
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Posts: 72
Joined: Thu Jan 13, 2005 7:07 am
My E21(s): '82 318i
Location: Melbourne, Australia

1982 318i - the last and final E21

Post by ZenderE21 »

(Direct copy pasta from another forum)

I've had a sickness now for far too long, madness, torture, love? call it what you will but the lust of the e21 is an itch that has to be scratched.

This one dropped in my lap from another long term member here niall, has a workshop with too many other cars laying about and knowing I've always been looking offered to me for mates rates. I duly agreed and sent the sheckles and had a raging hardon knowing I would soon have another sitting in my car space.

So what is it, 1982 (one of the last) 318i, saphirblau metallic, 4 cyl m10, 5 Spd. Runs on BBS 15" basket wheels. Completely standard car, no sunroof. Has little rust (not in the normal places on these) which will be a no hassle fix, drivers door may be a paint problem or from another car unsure. Interior is reasonable for the age, dash has limited cracking, cluster is good and everything works.

Plans are to tidy up the rust, paint, freshen the wheels and any little typical fixes. I want to eventually play with it in motorkhana type things so will do the Volvo brake upgrade and suspension to make it stop & turn better. Would love to do a very basic rebuild of the M10 as a start point and later down the track do a period inspired turbo setup, carbs and all.

I've never been completely sold on the single headlights, will make up my mind on whether to convert to twins or not, I just feel that the evolution from the 2002 to the e21 it needed to run the twin lights for the whole range. Also will source a BBS front splitter as soon as one pops up. Another body mod I want to do if I can find the bits is the wing mirrors, the bulky black plastic ones are junk and ruin the car, will get the small stainless ones mounted on the door like the early e21s.

Anyway the car gets picked up from CEVA Brisbane this Friday so will see it when I see it and waffle on more in the thread.

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1983 318i - Sapphireblau Metallic, 5spd
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ZenderE21
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Posts: 72
Joined: Thu Jan 13, 2005 7:07 am
My E21(s): '82 318i
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Re: 1982 318i - the last and final E21

Post by ZenderE21 »

Picked up today, drove 64klms in traffic from CEVA to home and no worries at all, happy as a pig in shit to be back in an e21. Got it home and first mod removed the 20+ yr old window tint and gave it a vacuum. Took nopics and kids for a run around the burbs and parked it up. Starts first hit of the key hot or cold and runs smooth, doesn't get hot.

So tomorrow I'll start a list of things to do, I'm not a complete piss taker like most with the club reg so will tidy up a few things prior to getting it registered, new bushes front to back, wiper blades and needs a new exhaust, if I can find a 323 twin exit I'll throw it on. Lights all work, drives straight and stops.


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1983 318i - Sapphireblau Metallic, 5spd
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ZenderE21
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Posts: 72
Joined: Thu Jan 13, 2005 7:07 am
My E21(s): '82 318i
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Re: 1982 318i - the last and final E21

Post by ZenderE21 »

So did some e21 related stuff today while had Bathurst going. Service the daily’s first then starts to do the front bushes, post is slow so only got the inner LCAs done but a start. Also found that someone has cut the front springs at some point and they haven’t been seated properly I’m guessing the source of front end noises, still steers straight though surprisingly, fixed them best I could, re packed the strut top bearings with grease and put back together. Left the swaybar out until the postman shows up with rest of the fronts. Will add springs to the todo list.

Trolling eBay and gumtree not a lot of parts in oz anyway come up. There’s a wrecker about a hour from my joint that have a dozen 21s so next rdo will go down and throw some cash away
1983 318i - Sapphireblau Metallic, 5spd
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ZenderE21
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Posts: 72
Joined: Thu Jan 13, 2005 7:07 am
My E21(s): '82 318i
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Re: 1982 318i - the last and final E21

Post by ZenderE21 »

Been plugging away slowly on this thing, mainly sourcing parts I’ll need and scouring eBay/scumtree/nopics fb sale groups.

I’ve got a place to get suspension stuff I am chasing that is unobtainable in Oz (cheers Leo) and have finger on the trigger for some pieces for the injection to carb swap. Got a pair of doors sorted so won’t have to rust repair the current ones, along with the armrest and map pockets I’m missing and same guy has the old style chrome wing mirrors. Next major thing will be the rust patching in boot well.

Also joined an old fart old car club here in melb, need to sort out a pair of front seats before I go for the roady, am looking to buy Mk4 golf gti fronts, they suit the 2 door plus don’t appear too big so will be ok. Once on the road with club permit I can at least keep the battery charged and make life easier moving about to get stuff sorted.

Anyway, today removed the last of the a/c from engine bay and rewiring the headlights to swap from single to double, unbelievably easy and I forgot you can pretty much pull these things apart with a screwdriver and 13mm spanner.

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1983 318i - Sapphireblau Metallic, 5spd
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ZenderE21
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Posts: 72
Joined: Thu Jan 13, 2005 7:07 am
My E21(s): '82 318i
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Re: 1982 318i - the last and final E21

Post by ZenderE21 »

Finished, ended up making some new loom due to old age and I needed new plugs for the lights too. Lights aren’t in yet I’ve got the lenses off cleaning them up and resealing

Bought the m10 carb head from bloke in SA so will hopefully have that in a week or so.

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1983 318i - Sapphireblau Metallic, 5spd
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ZenderE21
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Joined: Thu Jan 13, 2005 7:07 am
My E21(s): '82 318i
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Re: 1982 318i - the last and final E21

Post by ZenderE21 »

New bits purchased this week- m10 carb head, Ireland manifold and DHLA40s

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1983 318i - Sapphireblau Metallic, 5spd
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ZenderE21
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Posts: 72
Joined: Thu Jan 13, 2005 7:07 am
My E21(s): '82 318i
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Re: 1982 318i - the last and final E21

Post by ZenderE21 »

So thats it, havent touched the car at the moment. I have replacement doors on the way, couple of interior bits but my next big thing is the rust in the boot.
1983 318i - Sapphireblau Metallic, 5spd
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uwbuurman
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Re: 1982 318i - the last and final E21

Post by uwbuurman »

Nice to see this car on your hands, as you are improving it! Great write up. Looking forward to the next steps.
It's the man next door!

1978 BMW 323i
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Jeroen
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Re: 1982 318i - the last and final E21

Post by Jeroen »

Congrats mate, well, well above average condition, nice work performed already, and nice plans, too! Keep us posted! :thumbsup
Regards/groeten, Jeroen
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ZenderE21
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Posts: 72
Joined: Thu Jan 13, 2005 7:07 am
My E21(s): '82 318i
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Re: 1982 318i - the last and final E21

Post by ZenderE21 »

Jeroen wrote:Congrats mate, well, well above average condition, nice work performed already, and nice plans, too! Keep us posted! :thumbsup
Thanks Jeroen. These are getting very hard to come across here in Oz nowadays. Back when I joined up the forum you could buy a running one for $3-500 aussie dollarydoos any day of the week. Now I see them advertised, 3-4k for a rough one, there is one currently advertised for 14k, another for 20k plus with full resto!! Crazy.

I am intent on giving the M10 a good go, I went to an event in Adelaide recently and my aim is to enter that in the next 3yrs. Awesome weekend that utilises some of the old F1 track, if I get time Ill throw some pics up in a separate thread.
1983 318i - Sapphireblau Metallic, 5spd
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Jeroen
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Re: 1982 318i - the last and final E21

Post by Jeroen »

Oh yeah pics please!
Regards/groeten, Jeroen
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