This E3 just looks better all the time! Nice, it has certainly found the right home
High output bulbs on their way, Robert. I think you will be pleased; I know you are excited.
I have three lights (exactly like yours, only different) in the shop at the moment. Your lenses look PERFECT, mine are a bit less so... But mine came out of a junkyard. Wish I had better lenses to show what the new "Mirror-Bright" restoration does with a set of new high output bulbs. I have been using this restoration process on other cars - two E9 Coupes, a 2002 round tail and a 1972 Porsche 911! The P-car fell in my lap - it's local and should be quite nice when done. I am trying to get the owner to bring the lenses over so I can take some before and after pictures. Your aluminum tape looks like it is about as good, though I'd have to compare a sample. I will contact you off line with an idea I have.
Now that you have rekindled my interest in these lights, I am going to clean and re-silver a pair for purposes of illustration - in case there are other folks out there needing the kind of attention you have given yours; good work! I am also going to set up one or both with the dual brake lights, dual tail lights upgrade for larger and brighter lights for comparison. You have a working rear fog light, how about a picture of that one ON, with the tail lights ON as well, for comparison? This is a useful feature - US cars came without, but could sure use the help.
It's also a good place for another brake light if you like that sort of thing (just saying). ANYTHING to help idiot drivers see you well.
Absolutely stunning! Which rear stabiliser did you fit? Do you happen to know the part number and its size?Finally got the car detailed, brought out some shine and depth to the color. Also put on the 7x14" and installed a rear swaybar. Drives like a charm!
View attachment 119542
View attachment 119543
View attachment 119544
Absolutely stunning! Which rear stabiliser did you fit? Do you happen to know the part number and its size?
I don't know how I missed this thread over the last month? Great car! I had an Atlantik 2002 for a brief period of time. It had a salvage title so I sold it.
I agree, Atlantik looks good on any vintage BMW model. I LOVE that interior, I don't think I've seen that before. Interesting bubbling at bottom of gas tank..... looks like? Kind of unusual bubbles, maybe gas leaked and reacted to paint and primer over the years? First time seeing that. Amazing detail job, looks like a new car. Love the ownership history too! That's always cool.....keep up the great work! I realize it's automatic, but what are your initial thoughts driving this vs. the coupe? Biggest thing I notice is the ride height is higher.. Sitting lower in a coupe makes it seem like you are driving faster than the e3 where you sit higher.
I thought the rear sway bar made a big difference on my e3. I bought a set of the ST bars, rear is 7/8" diameter I believe. I found it really helpful at speed on the freeways especially, didn't "sway" around as much...LOL. Cornering noticeable too...there are a lot of E3's here in the states that don't have them, I've heard different stories as to why that is but they were obviously meant to have them from factory.
Thanks for the detailed response. The ST sway bars are solid, I also have the 1-1/8" up front. So yes, big difference. Might want to consider but for a cruiser and what you are doing, maybe not. They aren't too expensive though. Curious, what is "Looking into swapping for a 4hp22 but that's just an idea for now?" Another kind of auto trans? Yes, most of the auto trans I've driven in have that "horse kick" you are talking about. But amazingly, especially if you have injection 3.0S they can "get up and go!" But you have to say, "Yah Mule" first! Then kick it in the side with your spurs!Thanks!
The bubbles on the underside of the car + tank is the Tectyl rust preventive coating that the car has gotten several treatments of, so it's quite thick at places and looks like bubbles. It's a nightmare when you need to do any kind of maintenance on the car, as it's very soft, sticky and oily = quickly becomes a mess but at the same time that's what kept the car from rusting all these years.
It's difficult to compare, my coupe sits on basically brand new suspension with stiffer shocks, springs. Then you have the manual vs automatic gearbox as well.
My coupe feels much sportier than the e3, but I'm sure new bushings, shocks and springs + rebuilt carburetors + a manual gearbox would make the e3 feel pretty similar to the coupe.
While new Bilsteins and a carb rebuild kit are on the way for the e3, we do not intend to make it much more sportier in any way, it's a really nice cruiser and will stay that way.
The automatic gearbox is undoubtedly a bit of an anchor, don't know if it's a little tired (probably after all these years) since the gearshifts are ..ehm.. not very smooth going first gear to second gear, it's more like getting a horse kick to the back if you step on it, but it's okay as long as you don't stress. Maybe they always were that way? I don't know. Looking into swapping for a 4hp22 but that's just an idea for now.
Regarding the swaybars, I'm not sure if ST bars are solid or hollow, but 16mm vs 22,2mm (7/8") is worlds apart when it comes to stiffness, the ST bar is probably 3-4 times stiffer than the original 16mm bar (without doing any calculations). So I understand that the ST bars made a big difference. We considered going to aftermarket bars both front and rear, but that's not the point of this car for us, at least at this moment
Thanks for the detailed response. The ST sway bars are solid, I also have the 1-1/8" up front. So yes, big difference. Might want to consider but for a cruiser and what you are doing, maybe not. They aren't too expensive though. Curious, what is "Looking into swapping for a 4hp22 but that's just an idea for now?" Another kind of auto trans? Yes, most of the auto trans I've driven in have that "horse kick" you are talking about. But amazingly, especially if you have injection 3.0S they can "get up and go!" But you have to say, "Yah Mule" first! Then kick it in the side with your spurs!