1980 323i daily driver

quattro · Post by **quattro** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 7:22 am

Good job mate!! I still have some smiley headlights at home, but still i've too much respect doing that conversion.

cheers

butternut · Post by **butternut** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 4:37 pm

where abouts are you based in the uk? i recognise the car for some reason, don't suppose your ever in the Loughborough Leicestershire area??

Hey Ritch

I'm based in the West Midlands but more Wolverhampton way. I have been over that way a few times in the car, more Coventry than anything else as I have a mate that lives there with a Red E21 323. Where bout you based then?

As soon as my other project is finished (should hopefully be done by April May time) I'm going to take the BMW off the road for a full respray, and possibly the fitment of a E12 rear diff and E36 M3 motor and box that I know about....

e21_ritch · Post by **e21_ritch** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 11:57 pm

butternut wrote:Where bout you based then?

As soon as my other project is finished (should hopefully be done by April May time) I'm going to take the BMW off the road for a full respray, and possibly the fitment of a E12 rear diff and E36 M3 motor and box that I know about....

I'm in Loughborough just got a 316 82 plate shell and I’m a little unsure as to what to do with it.
What you have planned sounds very interesting and I’d love to know how you get on with it. I was thinking maybe the 318is engine from the E30 but not sure on which box and diff to use. I’ve got a lot of thinking to do as I literally just have a rolling shell with only 55k on the clock. Any ideas would be much appreciated.

butternut · Post by **butternut** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 3:37 pm

Update,

Hey all, the car has continued to be used every day and as such it's starting to wear a little around the edges. I am in the process of collecting parts for it so when I have a spare bit of space in the garage (read other projects finished) she will be restored/modified.

Just thought I'd show you what I was up to at work this morning (other than work that is

). Knocked up a rear aluminium strut bar in a couple of hours. Not bad concidering its been nearly a year since I last TIG welded any aluminium. I'm in the process of making the front, tho it's a little more complicated as I'm going to have to kink the bar so it does hit any thing. Still it should be made by this time next week.

I'll either polish them when I get some spare time or I'll give them a brushed finish, depends on what I feel like at the time. I reckon by making them myself I have saved my self the best part of £250 which is the big bonus.

drjim · Post by **drjim** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 5:24 pm

That rear strut bar is just what mr Alpina is after, and I would quite like one too - can you produce them for sale?

Jim

olivewoo · Post by **olivewoo** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 11:22 am

Looks great, the titanium guard will be a nice touch too...

Simon · Post by **Simon** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 1:26 pm

Yes very interesting

bmw-mad · Post by **bmw-mad** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 8:28 pm

Out of curiosity did you come to me (jimmy) in birmingham a while back to check a 323i lsd from a blue e21 i was breaking at the time. only asking as i am sure i have seen the car and liked it as it looked very smart

e30turboed · Post by **e30turboed** » Wed Nov 14, 2007 8:35 pm

nice

superj · Post by **superj** » Wed Nov 14, 2007 11:10 pm

i think a few people would be interested in the strut bars

butternut · Post by **butternut** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 6:18 pm

Heres my car with its new winter rims on, 14" alpina style rims that cost me under £100 , including having them blasted and repainted. Admittedly the tyres aren't the best in the world and it shows when driving, it slides around a lot more than when it had the 15" Toyos on.

Theres also a shot of the home made front strut bar, not bad for a mornings work.

Unfortunatly the car will be for sale in the new year as I need to make way for an E28 that to good to pass up, but I will be keeping the 15" BBS rims and the front and rear strut braces as I do want another E21 in the future, only next time it will be M54 powered

OLE97P! · Post by **OLE97P!** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 11:51 am

Very, very nice! Looks just like my two which were both silver. The first was a 78 S plate four speed, the second a 1980 5 speed. Sadly both are now dead/. The 78 just fell to bits with rust, the second one caught fire and burned out thanks to some iffy stereo wiring.