bmwe21.net forums

Here she is. Spent my first weekend driving her around cotswolds, after a week in the garage for some welding, bearing replacement, service etc. Now, I read somewhere that these E21's were "fun" to drive, well that's one word for it. I think this must be an aquired taste, or my one needs some serious work on the suspension systems (do they have a system or just a couple of shocks?).

Anyway will be posting some queries on technical forum about all this.

Rochester wrote:...Now, I read somewhere that these E21's were "fun" to drive, well that's one word for it. I think this must be an aquired taste, or my one needs some serious work on the suspension systems (do they have a system or just a couple of shocks?).

Welcome here John, sweet car!

Regarding the suspension of you car... it looks like it's on stock suspension that may consist of some rather tired shocks and springs. Combined with these 13" balloon tires that doesn't exactly make a track car. All stock and don't misinterpret, I am an originality freak. But considering age and originality I would be surprised if it handled like an E30 M3.

There are several options to improve the cars' handling, but that depends how keen you are on keeping the car stock and what you want to use it for. With some new springs, good dampers, a check on trailing arms and sway bar o-rings for example the car will look the same but handle a lot better and you can even go much better from there.

IMHO a stock E21 already handles a lot better than comparable contemporary cars in terms of feel and balance, but there's a lot that can be renewed or upgraded as with any other car.

Just my two cents...

She's looking pretty good there John. What is it about E21 emblems getting dented, my last 318 had a dent in the roundel on the front exactlywhere yours has! Freeky! Nice house btw!

Yeah nice car, enjoy the drive, out inthe sticks... must feel real good.... but mind the livestock, im sure they roam free, also you never know you`ll find a farmer munching carrots driving his tractor ... looks like a beautyfull location where your car is.. peacefull..

Excellent

regards

Jimi

Nice...

Looks like theres still a few clean looking ones around
I must admit my 21 does have a slight boat feeling to the handling also, but I also take into account era the car was made and I remember bumming around in a MK5 cortina years ago from the same era and the bimmer is far superior...

Big steering wheels dont help, when I first got into the car I thought I was driving a BUS!!

Ah so you were the lucky winner of this car. I was watching it on eBay earlier this month. Hope it serves you well.

kam wrote: What is it about E21 emblems getting dented, my last 318 had a dent in the roundel on the front exactly where yours has Freeky! Nice house btw!

ha I was thinking the same thing, both my 232i and 316 have dents in exactly the same place, incidentally does any one know where the best place is to get a new kidney grill?

oh and john if your looking to sharpen up your ride I might have a set of Bilstein touring shocks with 40mm lowering springs for sale shortly, only covered 2000 miles on my car.

Ritch.

Thats one sweet looling E-21 youve got there! Hope youll have as much fun with it as we do .
Can you share more pics of the interior, engine bay and boot please?


Dennis

Ritch,

Yes, could very well be interested in your shocks and springs. I really need to do something about the ride, but as a complete novice, I feel I need to do some research to know what my options are before I just buy first set of shocks offered. I accept that this is an older car, but my other drive is a 12 year old peugeot 306, and the road holding and cornering are leagues apart. The description Simon used "boat feeling" just about sums it up! And yes it was on ebay, but I purhased it from the seller bya negotiated sale, probably paid too much at £680!

Dennis, will load up some pics of engine bay , interior and boot if you like, but have to say interior is showing its age, and someone has installed a mock walnut dash by using some sticky back plastic over the black vinyl!

John

Well from what I've seen of your car John, I think £680 is quite a good price. I've seen UK cars in worse condition and the buyer expecting a lot more money for them too!

yeah i would agree 680 does seem like a good price if its as good as it looks in the pics.

and as for the ride you might want to look into replacing the bushes as 24 year old original ones would be getting pretty tired now. the shocks i have are Bilstein tourings which give a slightly firmer ride but still retain originality, and with a 40mm drop the car will just have a slight edge to its look with out looking modified.

not 100% sure i'm selling them just yet but if i do i'll let you know.

Just thought I'd keep a running commentary on work/restoration of this car to discourage other fools from going down this path! (You all know what I mean).

10/11/06 Purchased for £680, mileometer reads 97,500 miles.

14/11/06 Full Service at independent garage £186 (mechanic runs E21)

14 - 17/11/06 - welding of rear outer sills and under arches and nsf front chassis leg. Adjust front wheel bearing, renew nsf track rod end and adjust tracking, renew radiator £447

29/11/06 - rattle develops on rear of exhaust, rubber bands replaced £10
29/11/06 - 4 new tyres, 205/60HR 13 inch Federal Kumho tyres £172

Wish mine was that cheep!

Buy £410
Tax disc £95
Trailer man to collect (I had a sprained ankle, so couldn't go myself) £140

Braided brake hoses £40ish
Replacement fuel tank £35
New door/boot rubbers £25

Service, fit brake hoses and tank, new pads, contacts etc £325 with labour (not happy with this, they didn't replace the breather hoses so the tank leaks, carb was bust - choke jammed, fixed it myself. Will be speaking to garagiste RE refund)

Alloys £50
Wheelbolts/locks £35
Stereo/Speakers £60

Tools from screwfix £150
Bits from Halfrauds etc £40

New tyres - £190 Michelin
New front pipe - £95 fitted. Could have got one from W&N, but ramps make it easier to fit!

Now the bolts won't fit the wheels (see other thread), so will need some longer ones.

Panels (2x wings, 2x rear under bumper) £100 W&N
And I'm looking at a £2k respray/welding session in January.

Then I want a 5 speed box, maybe a different engine.

Ordered new springs/shocks via eBay man - £300

And I need new wishbones, so rear subframe bushes at the same time, why not a couple of strut braces too! £250 W&N

Then I'll play engine games, there's a nice e30 318 on eBay starting at a tenner!

Good things that have happened - £1.99 for a DIY throttle cable, the £12 eBAy stereo works!

Jim

Gentlemen, all i can say is welcome to the money pit that is E21 ownership. Don't you just love it, I do!! I won't even begin to embarass the both of you with how much I have spent so far on the engine alone, with more to come!

Driving the car makes it all worthwhile though. I went out last night to stretch the old girls legs and got looks from a couple of guys in new BMW's in the Shell station when I pulled in to fill up. I was well chuffed as you'd imagine.

My shed got admired on Sunday - even in what can only be described as "the state it's in"

Looked OK to start with, but driving around fires gravel etc at the rusty wheelarch edges! Hope John doesn't get that - his car looks great.

Mind you after all the money I have/will spend, it should be right for another 27 years. The ignition coil I took off today looks to be original!!

Nice car !

Watching your thread