Uwbuurman: 1978 323i polaris: almost done

[uwbuurman]

We timed the enigine auaig, drove it around the block and at August 4 2018 I drove it to the MOT station. Master Mechanic Mark tuned it at 3,5% CO. We got the car picking up good at full throttle. It idles ok at 850/900 rpm. Valves a bit wide, but that is ok for the first km’s. Letting it run in, 500km and change the oil and filter and adjusting the valves again.



Mondaymorning 6 Augustus, exact 39 year and 8 months after this e21 323i got on the road I got the new MOT. So I paid the taks and it was roadlegal. Finally. Of course it was proper insured and appraised.



And so this 7 year and 10 month restauration got to an end. What started as a great adventure quicly became a full size drama. A blown up engine, lots of rust, hidden misery, almost everything falling apart or just missing parts… Nothing kept me from restoring this car, prevented me from ending this project in boxes on ebay. Were there times that I got close? Hell yeah. Blood, sweat and tears. There were times that I wanted to torch the whole damn crap, workshop included and go on with my life. This forum helped me through those times. People coming to help, saying the right words at times, encourage me. You all gave me new energy to get it done.

Many many thanks to all who helped me. Suppiers of parts, fans in the background, topic followers, to my family who saw me in the struggle, but gave me all the freedom to get it done. THANK YOU. Keep your eyes open, when on the road. You might see mee passing by. Wave, I like that.

[Jeroen]

[uwbuurman]

It was great to have the e21 323i ready, because a week before we went to the Eifel for our yearly trip, the e30 325i cabrio broke down, blew the automatic gearbox out. So I had to take the 323i.

Jeroen took an action pic.

[uwbuurman]

[uwbuurman]

This takes us to April 2019. Well, since the trip to the Eifel in September ’18 I wrote down some remaining points. After a few kilometers, some 2250, I have the following points to pay attention to.

- swra doesn’t work right
- Front window leaks between glass and rubber
- front right wing does not fit straigt enough, uneven gap
- Door left front has a lot of play on the hinges
- 2.7 seems in need of an oilcooler
- bootcarper has schrunk over the years.
- minor oilfilm on the front of the oilsump
- vibrationdamper and pulley ran of in the Eifel, assess damage.

All-in all not to shocking. So I thought of what to do.

- SWRA is of no essence. Will be a job for when time is free available at the supermarket
- Windscreen and rubber have been changed for new parts, again.
- Wing will be placed all over, when the doorhinges are fixed
- Hinges will be changed I recently bought a set of new hinges and a couple of a breaker.
- Working on an oilcooler of an e30 325i. Very tight fit.
- working on a small batch of new reproduction bootcarpets.
- researching where the oil comes from, suspect is crankseal, after running loose of that vibrationdamper
- Taking of vibrationdamper and pulley to assess damage, replace all damaged parts

When? Family in need of attention, so I hope the majority is done before the Sharknosemeeting 2019…

[uwbuurman]

[uwbuurman]

Woke her up and started on changing that window and seal.



Large box…



Green tinted window



Fitted



Looks like it is dry on the inside now.

[uwbuurman]

[uwbuurman]

Before I can test the window seal I started on the oilcooler. This is an e30 setup, pretty straight forward, on the block it is the same adapter, only the fit of the cooler itselve needs fabrication

Grinded off the original mounting brackets and made new ones, dry fitting here.







Coolerfan fitting





Well, it fitted in front of the fan, but not behind the plastic grille. So I had to adjust those.







To continue on the new brackets.

[uwbuurman]

Fitted custom made hoses and adjusted the oilpipes. I used the space for airco hoses, so I did not have to cut or drill holes. Everything can be taken off without leaving so much as a scratch.







All fitted



And some extra damping, fitting two rubbers.





And of course, last time fitting, I pulled of one of the couplings. Hardly any damage so I wonder how well this was fitted in the first place.





So I reattached it using a expoxy glue.





Hoses fitted



And done

[uwbuurman]

When the cooler was ready, I removed it again, to gain access to the vibrationdamper. See the different bolts after a field repair in the Eifel.



The pulley is bent out, the round like dent between the two bolt holes is the fitpin from the damper on the crankshaft. It should not have been able to hit eachother. That is the amount of force generated.

Damper itselve has oval holes now, also that small hole for that fitpin.





Ready for the scrappers. New parts off the shelf.



New parts fit like a glove, without any play. Ofcourse brand new BMW 10.5 bolts.

[uwbuurman]

Which brings us to project #3. Front bumper an valance needed to be off anyway, but also the wing and door. #3 is to get rid of the play in the hinges. There was minimal play when I fitted the door, but after some use over the last few months the play became huge. But a bit scary to start this repair on a freshly painted car…



The pin in the upper hinge has broken years ago Never noticed it before. A lose pin can’t be bougth, new hinges are type 2.
So I took a new Apilar, got the pins out. From breakerparts I salvaged the flaps. And a while later:





New hinge, new pin





And some paint



Done



Finaly tight gaps. Still unhappy with that wing, so that will be replaced.



And I got a hold of the pretty hard to find rubber on the bonnet lock.



And that is how my 323i, present at the first ever Sharknosemeeting in 2010, finally after 9 years was on display in the Autotron Rosmalen for the 10 and anniversary edition of the Sharknosemeeting.

[majkl]

Hi, this is a very inspiring topic, all the respect for the effort. I we been "using" the content with my restoration for years now. I am now a the point of repainting the e21 in the same original polaris silver. Do you maybe know the colour code of the colour and was the metalic silver originally a one stage paint or a colour base with a clear coat over it? Many thanks, Miha

[uwbuurman]

Hi Miha,

It is Polaris 060, and it is Metallic, so with clear coat finish. Great to read that you found my topic to be helpfull!