What are your plans this winter?

[Jeroen]

Especially for us Europeans the period October-March means cold weather, lots of rain, snow, salt on the roads, many reasons to keep your car in. Does your car go into hibernation? Any winter projects?

For me: over here the first salt is on the roads already so the E21 won't be out too often any more. I don't have any huge projects planned but there's always something to be done:

- replace the headlights, well all 4 front lights, for new and clear examples, including all the mechanicals
- replace the bands under the Recaro drivers' seat as I'm almost sitting on the floor, or at least if feels like it
- there is a dent in my trunklid after a bird dropped a stone on it, and I want to get rid of the rear spoiler, so I guess I'll go for another trunklid and keep this one as a spare

In spring I might have my Baur softtop replaced as the current one starts to age and slowly but surely falls apart

[Mihajlo]

Last week I put my e21 in a garage next to my brothers AE86 and wish them a pleasent winter.
My daily drive is pug 205 so until february bmw will remain home at dry place.

I have MOT in february and after that, M20B25 is comming in and bushings replacing will be done...

[nas80]

over the winter im fitting my new 2.8 24v in and hopefully ill have time to make some chassis strengthening bars.

i need to build a new double garage first thouugh!

[Reck]

Daily driver. Get a decent set of winter tires fixed to some steelies, make sure I've got some tire chains in the boot (as I live at the top of a very steep hill!), top up antifreeze ratio, tighten fanbelt, replace any blown bulbs/fuses. Not sure if there's anything missing? I'd like to get the bottom waxoiled/dinatrol'd before winter really sets in though. Oh, and replace my front windscreen rubber as I could currently open a swimming pool in my glovebox. And learn to have a softer accelerator foot on corners unless I want to end up wrapped around a tree.

[Jeroen]

Even though I can't complain much about our fall up to last week, now the weather is deteriorating and temperatures are dropping. For many European E21 owners that means that the cars are going into storage for the winter. That is also the opportunity to start planning some larger projects with nice upgrades or major maintenance rather than selling, Nas . So this may be a good moment to revive this old topic... tell us about your plans!

[nas80]

Haha what a topic revival. In the last two years a lot has happened. I have built 4 cars and now I'm on my fifth.

I think I will take the car off the market if it doesn't sell this month, as its close to Christmas theres no point in entertaining it as i dont fancy driving it on icy roads for test drives.

over winter I am going to be building up this. http://www.bmwe21.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=22749

at one point while Arshads' car is getting sprayed, I have to take out Recks screens and see how bad the rust is and fix that.

Other than that I think after Arshads' car I might take a break from building and perhaps go on holiday or something.

[Jeroen]

Pretty sure you won't be sitting still! And yes for selling your car, spring time probably is best...

[LeeLee]

Cars been tetrosyled/waxoiled mot'd got all the bushes changed diff bushes left to do,im working on my bbs and saving for body work and a daily driver,As soon as it's not needed for daily use im fitting the twin carbs and from the sounds of it there gonna run ruff so gonna spend a while making it run nicely once there fitted,I have a garage now so I've been giving it a wax couple times a week and a wash each time it goes back in

[jimbob]

I will be building my car this winter. The body shop owner whos painting my car has kindly let me build the whole thing up in his workshop

[Jeroen]

Nice, keep us posted!

[jimbob]

Will start a new thread in the next few days. its just gone to the bodyshop on dolly wheels so will go and get more
pics as it goes

[TopCat]

Not much action on Herman the Alpina- am on the look out for a OEM front kidney grill and will have the wheel centres painted and the new (correct ) stripes fitted

Holding back a major body restore on Big Red the Hartge - because of everything going on below!

On other cars
The Camper has at last passed Manx Test and cab is due to be painted, the whole thing has had a rewire with modern systems so we can watch TV on AC or AC/DC

Camilla has had back axle rebuilt with Posi LSD 3.07 gears (10 bolt) and the boys at Scott Racing are shortly to rebuild engine keeping the numbers matching - also need new heater matrix which is en route.

Butch needs a gearbox rebuild- I have booked ferry and Butch and trailer to drop it off later in month to Scott Racing. Having had such success in the Manx this year- I know the competition is hotting up with some hot (real) Cobras due to enter and I really do need to find 2 gear more or less first time! Am worried that the c 600 bhp is too much torque for the gearbox even if it is Tex Racing's best Super 101. I don't want a Jerico Nascar thing as long longer historic.

I have now found a replacement for my beloved MG ZT-T which should arrive in March - hopefully before my skiing trip to Meribel as it is 4WD

Off to South Africa in January/Feb without car - I might get a drive in others' as before.
We are in Scotland over Christmas/New Year with all 6 children- should be fun (and expensive) snow is forecast- it is going to be a hard winter.

Had huge flood here last week- stream had blocked and poured into kitchen and vegetable garden and driveway washing it away we were up 3-5 am clearing up! Stream now cleared of ivy and brambles and boiler fixed (fused in water)

[Jeroen]

Enough going on there then! Hope the dame of the flood is limited! And you ordered a fresh 4WD then?

[TopCat]

Have yet to fix drive! But water running OK now

Yes I have ordered an Audi Allroad with non spivvy windows and non spivvy wheels- which the second hand ones all seem to have - not to mention the usual spivvy colours- grey, black, sliver white etc as I got £10k discount

Mine will be Blue since they no longer make the green one and will not have a DSG! Worth the wait I hope.

Friends tell me that their Audis leak oil and have airbag troubles- so here's hoping that mine will be OK...................

[nas80]

its actually the gearboxes that give the most grief on the A6 Quattro.