What did you do to your E21 today?

[rob0r]

Also been pondering power upgrades in the slug, tow cars, trailers and whether to go and look at a 330i coupe or a 330d tourer. Driving a Focus is very boring, although with fuel prices where they are my current average of 62.5mpg is a reason to keep it!

I'm debating the same magical car that has high towing limits and does massive MPG. In an ideal world I'd be getting an E39 530D touring, but these cost money I don't have. However I do have an E34 520i touring with LPG and the factory detachable tow bar (I think you saw it one time Jim on one of my visits, burgandy). I also bought recently a manual E34 535i for not a lot, I could end up with an E34 535i touring on LPG... Though real world costs it would probably be the equivalent of 35-37mpg I guess...

[Orjan]

Put on amber blinkers and winter wheels...since I doubt the MOT-guys will approve my 7 and 8x15" summerwheels

[pistonheader]

went for a 100 mile drive around brecon beacons for no reason at all, other than some fun!
(yes, the car is in need of a wash!)




and some tarmac...

[Jacko]

I pushed mine out of the unit, then some time later i pushed it back in again. Ohh the joys of E21 ownership


Jim - I'm also after a tow car after just buying a car transporter. I've got to get rid of this coupe as i just can't fit anything in the stupid thing, i was seriously contemplating removing the rear and front passenger seats just so i could move some stuff!!

I need a replacement and after weighing up the options for a tow car i think a 4x4 suits the job better than a car and thought about a few different makes an model such as the disco, defender, toyota surf and landcruiser, etc etc but i think i'm settled on getting a Jeep Grand Cherokee LTD (around a 1996-97) 4.0 straight 6 on gas. I think its an ok compromise of comfort (leather, full electrics, good hifi, modern looks, etc) but you can pick them up for around the £1500 mark and this is about my budget right now. After driving defenders, series 3s, discos i can honestly say that a daily they can get a little tedious and getting a good one with a td5 costs a fair whack and they sup fuel like no bodies business. A petrol, on gas seems a much better idea - better power delivery, same sort of torque but should be a little more cost effective to run. If you do get an estate, and are looking to two with it i'd check what its max weight is first as you don't want the VOSA to be overweight.

Anyway, just my 2p - hope to get something sorted in the next couple of weeks and then i'll be able to get the windows dropped off and rest of my stuff off your racking as its been too long. Wish i never had sold the boring but practical estate / touring in favour of coupe - nudge nudge. (if that wasn't enough of a hint i'm telling you not to bother with the coupe if you ever need to move stuff around - they are useless) Also, if you ever need to borrow the trailer (and if i get one, the Jeep) just give me a shout.

[DC]

tow car? -> BMW


I am in the middle of changing flex disc

[drjim]

Jacko

If you do buy a cherokee 4L, I have a Haynes manual you can have. Remember I nearly bought that one in the unit - well I bought the manual first!

Jim

[e21-Mark]

I had a Cherokee 4 litre. My god that thing had a thirst! The PAS pump failed and even a used one cost me £150 and the belt is the longest I've ever seen on any car. My 2 cents - buy a transit van as a tow vehicle!

[DrGonzoPOW]

Thanks to Mr Murran coming up to the fantasy factory and putting a shift in, the new clutch, water pump, sump and gaskets were sorted on the 325 engine! Pretty much ready to go in after i sort a weld or two out now

[murran]

I had a Cherokee 4 litre. My god that thing had a thirst! The PAS pump failed and even a used one cost me £150 and the belt is the longest I've ever seen on any car. My 2 cents - buy a transit van as a tow vehicle!

4l jeep? my mum had a '98 4l wrangler "sahara soft top" about 8 years ago as part of her mid life crisis....... im sure it never did more than 20 mpg. it could pull a house down tho!
i drove it a few times too.... it was fast, like a 4x4 shouldnt be.

[murran]

thanks for bigging me up dave. apart from scaring you in my car....... i didnt really do much!

[DrGonzoPOW]

Nah man, you helped me out a load. Thank god for toyo 888's though!!!

[drjim]

After spending most of the day at work then a family dinner and persuading the kids into bed, I went to the unit and fitted the gearbox/flywheel cover plate and the manifolds/front part of the exhaust. Was about to start connecting up the backboxes when work rang me, and I realised it was 11PM thus better get home anyway. Currently hoping not to have to go back to the hospital tonight but we shall see.

Baur is hopefully being painted in the next week, I need to sort out the top of the drivers sill, and strip down the spare passenger door ready for painting - original door has a big dent in it that has bent the swage line, barely visible but I know it is there!

[rob0r]

Drove the 323i-M50 for the first time in two weeks after the states - it's all good

Currently got buckets from Mark and the paddle clutch on order, and I'm currently wondering what the E21 will look like on 17"s...

Also today I will be writing "what needs to be done before the 8th April PPC shoot"...

[nas80]

i kind of been on with the same thing - what to sort out before the april PPC shoot.

I worked out that my engine bay looks shit, but nothing I do will negate the fact i used the e34 loom instead of an e36 loom - i cant do the e36 loom cos thats wasting money (im going m52b28 soon) and will require re-routing of all the other wires. (im worried i might break something / or miss something out and not be able to go!)

The e34 loom puts the ecu in a stupid place when you put it in an e21. Before I had a heatshield wrapped around the ecu - it didnt provide enough water proofing and so I decided to stick the ecu and 3 relays into the smallest size generic waterproof junction box I could fit all this crap in.

Problem is that it sticks out a mile. (its the box next to the drivers side turret)



Im worried people will laugh at this, cos it might seem to look like a bodge. When i go m52 ill be able to change the loom for the e36 one which puts the ecu into the glovebox.

Anyway the scuttle panel beneath the windscreen has been touched in once before - im hoping that previous owner / someone fixed a rusty bottom edge of the screen, but just didnt paint it properly (colour match wrong / no lacquer!) so I tried to take "before" pics but my camera is wank so I took some of during and after (see engine bay pic above).



I also changed the fuel filter, as i thought I may as well. no pics of this, although i am glad I wore some safety glasses - I got a face full of fuel when i pulled the pipe off - cos like an idiot i forgot to take the pressure out of the lines by pulling the fuse while the engine was still running.

[murran]

im currently thinking (for the ppc thing)....... to do...... absolutly naff all!
its tatty with rusty holes and dints atm.

warts and all, thats what i say!