1973 Polaris 3.0cs in Canada

[DavidE9]

1973 BMW 3.0CS



Hello from Canada. Here is my 1973 BMW 3.0cs project. Originally this car was delivered to Switzerland, then spent some time in California, and finally ending up in Alberta, Canada. 109,000 original KM, original interior and windshield. It definitely is a good start and I am extremely happy with it but there is a few issues and a few changes I want to make! Would love to make it a little lower and purchase some 16” Alpinas! I am assuming the drivers side Marchal headlights are original and am struggling to find a matching passenger side. Love the dome look of this lights!

Took the grill apart and painted the slats black. It looks good but now I feel like something is missing. Does anyone know why bmw kept the kidneys in Aluminum? Which do you guys prefer?

 

[Stevehose]

Beautiful car, the black grills were anodized black for CSL's, silver for CS and CSi. I annodized mine black because I like the look better also. Marchals are not original but are a welcome period correct addition and getting more expensive daily. My 4 headlights are Marchals and I love the look. Hella and Cibie are also good. Looks like you are idling a little high

 

[DavidE9]

Well had some time and decided on making the E9 road worthy! Had to do some work and got carried away with a few little things! It didn’t run when I bought it but after a quick check up and change of oil and fuel it ran and drove. The front wheel bearings were quite sloppy and the power steering was whining a bit. Overall it seemed like an easy project! I was surprised to find that three of the four rear brake caliber pistons were seized and two of the front pistons. I rebuilt the brakes completely and installed new pads and rotors. The shocks were toast and I replaced them with Bilstein sport shocks. I have heard these can be too stiff and actually damage the towers if im driving it hard. I don’t think I will be driving it hard but I am curious to hear what others have found. I also purchased the Carl nelson springs. Also I was unreal lucky to find a set of 1979 16” Alpinas locally. These are definitely my favourite wheel for these cars! Because I have the Alpinas I decided to get an Alpina steering wheel as well which I think looks great!

 

[DavidE9]

Sunroof time! There was no seal and everything was super dry. The little adjustment plates were actually upside down and the sunroof didn’t fit at all before. Spent a bit of time to adjust it and am quite pleased with the result! Been driving the car a bit and the sunroof always seems to be open.

 

[HB Chris]

I bought e9 struts and shocks last summer for a friend and although listed as Sports they were B6, Carl Nelson alerted me to them. Now called Performance and Performance Plus instead of HD and Sport.

 

[Stevehose]

Check your rear shock tower condition:

Heartbreak-broken rear shock mount

So I pick up Luis A because he's in town and we're going to cruise to dinner but on the way we hear a loud bang from right rear, first sounded like a flat tire but then realized it's likely the shock. Pulled over and verified. Limped home. Am bummed most about the elephant skin cover which was...

e9coupe.com

 

[gazzol]

Nice car and nice work. Keep us posted.

 

[DavidE9]

Got my licence plate lights working and installed the correct chromed base for the C-pillar badges. Quite the difference between these and the aluminium ones! Gathered all my badges which include two of the reproduction enamel ones and they are a different color and don't even fit in the original bases.

 

[DavidE9]

Drove the car to Monterey for car week! 6,907KM roadtrip. Here is a few pictures.

 

[DavidE9]

Decided to add a wind deflector for fun. Had one in the parts bin. Also cleaned up the rear badge!

Also have been using an Oil cap as my fuel cap as my E9 cap is locked and I have no key. Thought I might try my 2002 looking gas cap keys and they are a reflection of the key I need. Look closely at the two key holes.

I have this gas cap as well and am curious what it is out of?

 

[HB Chris]

I have two of the e9 style locks as they fit the NK as well. On the e9 you can’t remove the key when it is unlocked, on the NK I can keep it unlocked and not use the key, much easier, otherwise identical. The older one could be for the older V8?

 

[DavidE9]

Replaced the heater motor! Burnt out the old one last year and found a NOS Motor and fan. The plastic is so much lighter in color. All the hardware and mesh screen got plated since it was apart. Sent the cover to the powdercoaters and bought a new hood seal as well. Works great now! I first thought I was going to just change the brushes. These little projects always snowball!

 

[DavidE9]

Changed the seals on the aluminium trim in opening. Amazing how much a difference it makes!

 

[DavidE9]

Hood strut bar finally gave up. It had been welded once on the bar and I luckily sourced a nice original one. Got it powder coated and plated the hardware. Check out the windshield washer hose clips. There is too different sizes it seems. One for each part of the mounting arm. Whole assembly was definitely a little tricky to install. There is a tremendous amount of force on this bar. I can see why they always seem to fail! I greased this up pretty good so I’m hoping it will last.

 

[DavidE9]

More plating goodness. It is addicting! Swapped the gas tank hose clamps for freshly plated original ones as well. I may have a problem

 

[DavidE9]

 

[DavidE9]

Got it dry ice blasted!

 

[adawil2002]

That is so sweet looking!

 

[craterface]

Looks like a very solid car for one that started life in rainy Switzerland. I have seldom been colder and wetter than when I was backpacking in the Alps in my 20s.

 

[DavidE9]

That is so sweet looking!

Thank you! It turned out better than I thought.

Looks like a very solid car for one that started life in rainy Switzerland. I have seldom been colder and wetter than when I was backpacking in the Alps in my 20s.

I have a feeling it didn't spend much time in Switzerland. It got reflectors and big turn signals when it went to California which makes me think it went there fairly early in its life.