My 1977 E21 the story so far............

Alan · Post by **Alan** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 3:44 pm

This is where I found it. Stored away in a garage for around 12 years.

I had to give it a tug out of its hiding hole, but this was the first time it had seen light for a while!!

The trailer home.

40.000 Miles since 1977

Plastic still on the back seat

The strangest seat belt arrangement I have ever seen.

I'm not too sure about the white wheels!!

The front end is still in progress.

In the last 2 weeks I have managed to:-

Good wash outside
Good tidy up inside, mostly removing mouldy and mustyness, interior is perfect.
Half rebuilt the front end, just the bumper, indicators and grill to go on.
Replaced all electrical ignition parts (except HT leads)
Replaced fuel pipes
Had it running and moving about
Fit a new battery
Lube most moving parts.

Things still to do:-

Oil and filter change.
Fit a new exhaust
Brake overhaul
Wheel refurb
Refurb underbonnet parts like airbox etc
Fit HT leads
MOT

Once its on the road I will then get the bodywork sorted. The rear panel is damaged and the lower parts of the car need tidying up.

Hope you enjoyed the pics. I will follow up with more as I get them.

Alan.

mr edd · Post by **mr edd** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 5:56 pm

excellent find! Have you tryed boundary garage , burnley road, loveclough,rossendale, for the parts you are short tel 01706 215588/224555 they sell used parts for older bmw,s

Alan · Post by **Alan** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 6:35 pm

mr edd wrote:excellent find! Have you tryed boundary garage , burnley road, loveclough,rossendale, for the parts you are short tel 01706 215588/224555 they sell used parts for older bmw,s

Cheers for that. I will give them a bell at some point. I may require your assistance with them leads too. I will let you know.

Jeroen · Post by **Jeroen** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 6:50 pm

The wash and shine pretty much turned the car into new!

Funny things... center console without the clock, never seen. And the seatbelt locks this style are a first for me as well!

--ALPINA-- · Post by **--ALPINA--** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 7:28 pm

Jeroen wrote:The wash and shine pretty much turned the car into new!

Funny things... center console without the clock, never seen. And the seatbelt locks this style are a first for me as well!

good ponts. very early e21 veeeeery retro!! maybe where the clock should have been, its a satnav fitted in from the 70`s, (not)

J

1980_S · Post by **1980_S** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 8:45 pm

Who needs a clock when you have a 12,000rpm tach?

Serisously tho, nice find. Glad to hear it went to a good home...

mr edd · Post by **mr edd** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 8:54 pm

The good thing about the early style seat belts is that they do not have a buckle on them that can get jammed between the door and b post ....

ac/dennis · Post by **ac/dennis** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 10:18 pm

Jeroen wrote: Funny things... center console without the clock, never seen. And the seatbelt locks this style are a first for me as well!

Took the words out of my mouth J.

Wow, what a nice E21 specimen man. The interior looks like its never been used.
You need to store the car in your living room and put al your furniture outside

Alan · Post by **Alan** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 8:46 am

Cheers for the comments boys!

I'm loving the seatbelt clips, I was a little concerned that when I take it to the MOT station they may tell me to change them. We will soon see

e21-Mark · Post by **e21-Mark** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 9:33 am

The seatbelts should be fine mate. Some VW's have that style of clip.

Nice car btw. What sort of wheels are you going for? Wide steels would look good with a drop in ride height.

MadMax · Post by **MadMax** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 11:19 am

I am REALLY feeling this ride, glad you got this one and not the blue runner. I had a '78 Golf with the same seatbelts. Love the poverty spec dash, hope you're going to leave it like that, maybe put a CD player in the glovebox?

Little bit OT, but here's some inspiration for you-

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mercedesmotoring/page3/

Alan · Post by **Alan** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 10:11 pm

RetroBeemer wrote:The seatbelts should be fine mate. Some VW's have that style of clip.

Nice car btw. What sort of wheels are you going for? Wide steels would look good with a drop in ride height.

I'm looking to get the car through its MOT and totally standard for now. Once its proven to be reliable

I will think about a drop in height and a tasty set of wheels (maybe!) I actually like the steelies! My 83' 320 E30 had a set of steelies that I refurbd and they looked cool, but I will have a wheel choice with this car so something else will be going on there too.

Alan · Post by **Alan** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 10:15 pm

Steelies rule

Alan · Post by **Alan** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 10:25 pm

MadMax wrote:I am REALLY feeling this ride, glad you got this one and not the blue runner. I had a '78 Golf with the same seatbelts. Love the poverty spec dash, hope you're going to leave it like that, maybe put a CD player in the glovebox?

Little bit OT, but here's some inspiration for you-

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mercedesmotoring/page3/

I'm glad I got this one too. I'm not too sure about the colour but 'it is what it is'

Yes the car will stay pretty much as it is. I found out who supplied the car back in 1977, it was a BMW dealer call VALE in Rawtenstall, Lancs. I found the pre delivery stamp and 1st service stamp in the book. I also spoke with the people who used to work there over 30years ago. The dealer closed down in 1979 but some staff set up a business of there own and are still dealing in BMW parts today. I'm off to see them sometime soon, apparently one of the guys will remember the actual car. but we shall see.

I'm loving it

Gotta make the most of it as the wife is pregnant so I have until December to get it on the road!

That Merc is tasty but my original BMW fuel cap is cleaner than their original merc cap!

Alan · Post by **Alan** » Wed Sep 09, 2009 9:28 am

I managed to fit the front bumper yesterday. I just mounted it and nipped up the bolts for now. Its starting to look a lot better at the front end. The kidney grill is hanging on there, its off a later model so it doesnt fit correctly for now.