bmwe21.net forums

So after buying this 1982 3206 2 years ago (2018) I've finally got it back to my house to see how rotten it really is!
It came with no interior, no gearbox, no bonnet and a very seized engine with no sump and many bits missing. On the other hand parts it did come with included BBS Mhale wheels, BBs splitter and rear pop outs
I knew it would need extensive welding if it was ever to see the road again but I'm up for the challenge. Im very new to welding but have watched many videos and been practicing and finding my best settings...... so far so good!


935E4FCE-63B1-4451-BCED-F83D71FFC8B4 by Iain Bell, on Flickr

C4B06A2E-B9DF-4668-804B-E1A16CB4E5E3 by Iain Bell, on Flickr

8CEE62E9-A29A-4021-8675-351689474CB8 by Iain Bell, on Flickr

In the 2 years since i bought the car I have been collecting parts including an engine which i have fully rebuilt! This was my first ever engine rebuild and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Everything has been stripped and cleaned, Its had a full gasket set, big end bearings, piston rings, valve stem seals, water pump/timing belt, a couple of new valves, cylinders honed and head skimmed. The originak solex carb ditched replaced with a Webber 38 DGAS

6BF991A2-0BA9-4C95-87A8-A3AEBBF8E63D by Iain Bell, on Flickr

4372D55B-BAF0-4EC2-9E70-2FF34EC10E5B by Iain Bell, on Flickr

9BF52823-2C3C-4A56-B0E9-15057244C0CC by Iain Bell, on Flickr
205FD3B0-C78C-4FA4-BA78-84652A91B701 by Iain Bell, on Flickr

916936EA-2128-49A8-8A88-0CA2955729AF by Iain Bell, on Flickr
This spurred me on to weld up a jig to test fire it. so out came the welder......

AA5C984A-354C-41E9-A4DC-F64CFC04FDAD by Iain Bell, on Flickr


21F6B02E-2D60-412F-8E85-8038E482928E by Iain Bell, on Flickr

On the Jig ready to ... or so i thought It totally slipped my mind that the starter needs the gearbox to bolt to and i didnt allow for this in my jig design

More to follow....

Defenetly going to follow this build.

I also did a rebuild/overhaul of a M20B20 engine without knowing it's history, bought the engine in the first place for parts for a carb to injection conversion, which i did a few years ago (megasquirt).
This year the refurbished engine took place in my car and it's running great.

Good luck with welding the cas

Mee too, looking forward to your progress!

so for last couple of weeks I've been stripping and assessing exactly how much needs to be done to the e21
The list so far....
Repairs to valence (although I have another one coming now)
Repairs to front panel
Repairs to bulk head
Repairs around front windscreen
Replace both outer sills
Possibly replace drivers side inner sill
Repair/replce front floor pans
Rear inner arch tub repairs
Replace boot floor
Repairs to rear panel around drivers side rear light

Its a pretty daunting list for someone with limited experience in welding but taking my time and starting at the front with the easier repairs that wont be seen and lots of practice pieces on scrap

Ive also started the first repairs to the front panel I still need to get pictures of this but very pleased with the result so far
Ive been treating a lot of surface rust in the engine bay with Dimitrol 800
I cut the drivers sill off to reveal... another sill and some horrible repairs

108FD680-06A0-421F-A6D9-DEE1FCEEDAAA by Iain Bell, on Flickr


44F91D52-823B-4E4E-AAE8-04CAA4EA6446 by Iain Bell, on Flickr

0E6A5CE7-5699-4389-966B-9AD1FED10A1B by Iain Bell, on Flickr

D0ED5C6E-70D5-4753-AC89-8FC71C145610 by Iain Bell, on Flickr

4D26E80B-4A71-4E5A-AD5E-012ADFD2332F by Iain Bell, on Flickr

F8DFFA14-A298-45DE-B252-308BDE3F8636 by Iain Bell, on Flickr

7AF5D77B-58A1-4622-B040-0E3725EFC18D by Iain Bell, on Flickr

824D9DFB-8704-4A79-8394-31C5939E5156 by Iain Bell, on Flickr

This week I got a chance to have a look at the engine and bolted up the gearbox and starter motor for a test fire
Unfortunately it didnt start and further investigation revealed there was no fuel getting to the carb. maybe lack of pressure??
The mechanical pump seems to be operating as it it should so going to have another go this week with a submersible pump from the jerry can to get get some pressure

3BB081A5-8382-4F63-AB21-0CBC2E9FB843 by Iain Bell, on Flickr

a couple of pics I forgot to add of the bare engine bay and some rust treatment on the front panel

5F291657-3610-4B26-8320-3AED70114D2A by Iain Bell, on Flickr

764ED946-19DD-4AAF-9773-D04ADD9C2B87 by Iain Bell, on Flickr

All to familiar. I guess you've seen my 323i topic? May come in handy, for some details.

But, nice work so far!!

Bertjeconti mentioned it already and when my car was in a slightly smaller overhaul I decided to take the step. You learned already to weld and you don’t seem to be afraid of a challenge. What about converting the engine from carb to injection? Bertje made about 140hp out of his M20B20, might be even more out of his freshly built new engine.

I left stuff a bit less original and I should have somewhere between 140 and 160 out of my M10B18.

"Uwbuurman" didn't have any welding experience when he started his 323i project, he learned and learned and did a great job in the end, which resulted in a stunning like new car.

take your time, don't rush.

Uwbuurman yes I’ve seen your build... very impressive and I’m sure I’ll be using it as a reference

Wilmo, I was looking for m20b25 engine as it seemed an easy swap but can’t seem to find one at a reasonable price.
I’ll stick with stock for now but not put off exploring other options at some point

Thanks for sharing all your findings and experiences sofar, much appreciated! I agree with the speakers above, take your time to figure it all out and do things right, the car deserves it! We'll try to be there for you for technical and moral support

Thanks will definitely need the support!!

Hopefully I’ll get a couple of evenings on it this week

Quick up date......

Ive not had a lot of time on it over the last few months but the time I have had Ive been finishing up the front panel repairs and practicing welding

you'll in the pictures my first go at a repair with lots of holes burnt through. More practice and adjusted setting on the welder then i cut that piece out redone.


not brilliant quality but getting better, by the time I got to the passenger side of the front panel my fabrication and welding skills were improving

F8E5BE33-7299-4D22-89F2-8F46C91CD399 by Iain Bell, on Flickr[/img]

[7237E3AF-D85A-46D8-9D2D-72313FDFFC31 by Iain Bell, on Flickr][/img]

I was getting a lot of holes in my welds which turned out to be not enough gas and contaminated metal. got this sorted and welded on new brackets for the plastic inner arch trims and a couple more small patches

more rust treatment applied and completly stripped the front end as my wife bought me a roll over jig for my birthday

Doors are now off and the whole loom front to back is out, jst back end to strip and she will be ready to go on the jig

F4B0F27B-20A1-4D4D-BF4C-670186964C90 by Iain Bell, on Flickr[/img]

A32994F1-701D-4A79-851E-388BB6B9BC6C by Iain Bell, on Flickr[/img]

E08A491F-59B5-4CDA-AC84-EA94E574115E by Iain Bell, on Flickr[/img]

9E455C86-6472-4924-BE6F-E1ABCB92D4C3 by Iain Bell, on Flickr[/img]

[16ED7B8E-EE64-45AC-87A3-182647D76DA8 by Iain Bell, on Flickr][/img]

[AB0DB380-5303-4D11-AEE4-A8FA41B245E3 by Iain Bell, on Flickr][/img]

Nice to see some progress.
"my wife bought me a roll over jig" so you have full support which is great.