Spectacular. You will have the finest Bavaria on the planet!! And I might know how mine goes back together. 
Sierrabeige 1977 3.0Si Restoration in the UK
- Thread starter E3-3.0Si
- Start date
E3-3.0Si
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All the suspension components were shot blasted and then powder coated in black satin. I think that this is the most durable finish.
E3-3.0Si
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Spectacular. You will have the finest Bavaria on the planet!! And I might know how mine goes back together.
Thank you! We have a long way to go, but we're getting there. I'm sure that your car will be awesome too!
E3-3.0Si
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E3-3.0Si
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There were plenty of other things to get on with too:
E3-3.0Si
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I also started to turn my attention to trim and electrical items. The majority of these parts were in good condition, and certainly good enough to be reused, but some had seen better days. The indicators were a case in point:
Fortunately I managed to find a NOS pair for a very reasonable price. The difference is startling:
Fortunately I managed to find a NOS pair for a very reasonable price. The difference is startling:
Those corner blinkers really take a beating, mine were not as bad as yours but the corrosion monster eats them up. WN had some nice Italian ones for a lot of money!!
E3-3.0Si
Well-Known Member
Yes it’s incredible how they degrade but then they are over 40 years old so maybe not unexpected.
All the new indicators I found for sale were very expensive, but then I found these new old stock ones for a far more reasonable price. I think that’s part of the ‘fun’ of restoration; hunting down all the obscure parts!
How did you bent the brake lines? By hand or with a pipe bending device?
E3-3.0Si
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These were done by hand by the guys in the restoration workshop, not me.
E3-3.0Si
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So, back to more fitting up. The front and back axles are coming together really well:
E3-3.0Si
Well-Known Member
Some of you may have read my other post about the front shock absorbers here: https://e9coupe.com/forum/threads/e3-front-bilstein-shock-absorber-lengths.40773/
Essentially, I found out the hard way that E3s were fitted with three different types of front shock absorbers, and as my car is a very late one (January '77) then it has the E12 type dampers. These were listed everywhere as being available, but as soon as I ordered them I was told that they were on long backorder - even from BMW and Bilstein direct. So the only other option was to track down some old ones with the view to having them rebuilt by Bilstein. After a LONG search, I stuck gold. I found a NOS pair of the correct Bilsteins for sale in Greece. Needless to say I bought them straight away:
I was pleased to confirm that they are the correct part number, and even more pleased to find that they came with the retaining collars and the fitting tool:
Essentially, I found out the hard way that E3s were fitted with three different types of front shock absorbers, and as my car is a very late one (January '77) then it has the E12 type dampers. These were listed everywhere as being available, but as soon as I ordered them I was told that they were on long backorder - even from BMW and Bilstein direct. So the only other option was to track down some old ones with the view to having them rebuilt by Bilstein. After a LONG search, I stuck gold. I found a NOS pair of the correct Bilsteins for sale in Greece. Needless to say I bought them straight away:
I was pleased to confirm that they are the correct part number, and even more pleased to find that they came with the retaining collars and the fitting tool:
Attachments
E3-3.0Si
Well-Known Member
This of course meant that the remainder of the front suspension components could them be assembled and installed:
I chose not to re-install the UK and US spec front shock absorber top mount spacer:
I chose not to re-install the UK and US spec front shock absorber top mount spacer:
E3-3.0Si
Well-Known Member
The underbody fitting up has also continued:
E3-3.0Si
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And the fuel tank and sender is also now back in:
E3-3.0Si
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The next major bit of work will be rebuilding the M90 3.5 litre engine. This came from a 1981 E12 M535i, and was a bit of an unknown as it hadn't run in many years. Fortunately, the bores are good. Unfortunately the pistons aren't really suitable to be reused so I've ordered a custom set. They have an 8 to 10 week manufacturing lead time!
E3-3.0Si
Well-Known Member
So whilst we wait for the pistons, and consequently to complete the engine rebuilt, the body trim fitting up continues:
And it's beginning to look like a car again! A lot of the trim, lights, grilles etc were in very good condition so I am very happy to re-use them. The 7x14 Mahle wheels are just being used to roll the car around. The 7x14 Alpinas will be refitted once the car is ready to go back on the road.
And it's beginning to look like a car again! A lot of the trim, lights, grilles etc were in very good condition so I am very happy to re-use them. The 7x14 Mahle wheels are just being used to roll the car around. The 7x14 Alpinas will be refitted once the car is ready to go back on the road.
E3-3.0Si
Well-Known Member
We just need to get an engine in there now.....
Like digging gold!!
E3-3.0Si
Well-Known Member
It really is! And then when you actually strike gold and find that really hard to source part, it’s like you’ve hit the jackpot. All part of the 'joy'.....
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