The One That Didn't Get Away [100K Mile E30 325is]
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How many miles on the s52?
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I know this isn’t the right thread, but doesn’t seem worth it to revive the old one. Motor should be out tomorrow, everything is disconnected, just sitting on the motor mounts. Don’t have anything going on, so should have all day to work on it. Going to try and swap the suspension tomorrow.
Current shop status:
I don’t know why the quality of pictures is getting butchered when I upload them.
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Swapped the suspensions on the cars last night. Took awhile as I was essentially doing the job twice. Ball bearing separator is a tool everyone must own, best $20 I’ve ever spent. Think the height is just about perfect, need to get a spacer for the rear, maybe a 5 or a 10. Running a 5 in the front, having a little bit of running when turning going over inclines so will need to roll the fenders as I do not want to raise it.
Found a little pool of oil under the car this morning. Knew it was leaking a little bit from looking under the car, but must have loosened it up a bit when I jacked the car up. Guessing it’s the oil pan gasket based on how it looks.
JOMs ride pretty well for the couple of times I took it up and down the frontage road. Planning to run these for next summer and maybe the following as this car won’t be getting a ton of miles out on it and I’m not gonna be setting any hot laps soon. Money can be better spent else where at this time.


@YoungCR, picture quality looks good. Thank you.
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Well, after a long hiatus, the car will be finally getting some attention again. Here's your dumb fuck move of the day(well, 5 months ago now). After pulling the JOMs off the Calypso car in preparation to swap them onto the red car, I broke the oil pan. In my haste I jacked the car up by the oil pan instead of the subframe. I know, stupid, I just completely over looked this and put the jack on at nearest flat spot I found to put the jack on when it went under the car.
Fast forward to now, I contacted Auto Clinic in Neenah, the place where the previous owner had the car maintained the entirety of her ownership. To add to that, the two mechanics that have worked on the car the entire time she has owned it still work there. And on top of that, the one guy is also an E30 guy(wanted to buy this car as well). I would normally do this job on my own, but dropping a subframe to replace the oil pan on the floor, on jackstands, with the motor suspended in the air above just sounded like a better idea to pay someone to do it. I've talked to this guy on a couple of occasions and had gotten a quote on the labor to do the job(will be supplying the pan myself, thanks @patsbimmer1) and was very pleased at the price I was quoted for the work. Just glad I can have the car worked on at a business that knows the car and has people who knows the cars.
To conclude this long winded post, I'm hoping to trailer the car over to them next week at sometime. Either dolly it and take backroads or have my insurance flatbed the car( @ChrisO hopefully no issues). Helps to be friends with a guy who rents them to me after hours for a "discount". I just want it to be ready for when the weather starts be nice on a regular basis.
I'm stupid.
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Well, after a long hiatus, the car will be finally getting some attention again. Here's your dumb fuck move of the day(well, 5 months ago now). After pulling the JOMs off the Calypso car in preparation to swap them onto the red car, I broke the oil pan. In my haste I jacked the car up by the oil pan instead of the subframe. I know, stupid, I just completely over looked this and put the jack on at nearest flat spot I found to put the jack on when it went under the car.
Fast forward to now, I contacted Auto Clinic in Neenah, the place where the previous owner had the car maintained the entirety of her ownership. To add to that, the two mechanics that have worked on the car the entire time she has owned it still work there. And on top of that, the one guy is also an E30 guy(wanted to buy this car as well). I would normally do this job on my own, but dropping a subframe to replace the oil pan on the floor, on jackstands, with the motor suspended in the air above just sounded like a better idea to pay someone to do it. I've talked to this guy on a couple of occasions and had gotten a quote on the labor to do the job(will be supplying the pan myself, thanks @patsbimmer1) and was very pleased at the price I was quoted for the work. Just glad I can have the car worked on at a business that knows the car and has people who knows the cars.
To conclude this long winded post, I'm hoping to trailer the car over to them next week at sometime. Either dolly it and take backroads or have my insurance flatbed the car( @ChrisO hopefully no issues). Helps to be friends with a guy who rents them to me after hours for a "discount". I just want it to be ready for when the weather starts be nice on a regular basis.
I'm stupid.
If you buy AAA they have 3 free tows a year for what 90$ a year? But you need a week for it to go into effect.
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If you buy AAA they have 3 free tows a year for what 90$ a year? But you need a week for it to go into effect.
If I am not able to get it through my insurance and just call for a tow with a flatbed.
I can always help to around town with my suburban too if needed, just need a trailer or dolly. The body shop in Greenville usually has at least one u-haul trailer.
I appreciate it. The only real issue with towing the car is finding the right trailer for it. I am able to use my parents to tow the car, it's just getting a hold of low car friendly trailer that isn't a dolly.
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AAA is great, 4 tows a year up Thew will tow to your home or any shop. Not always fast to get there but oh well.
Saved me last fall when my fuelpump went out in my E36. And saved @DSMDane at road america last year when his ECU blew up. Although it didn't quite get him home and they wouldn't pick his car up from the racetrack either. Ended up costing over 500$? if I remember correctly. But it would have been more if it wasn't for AAA.
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AAA helped when I blew apart my axle at a WIBimmers meet. They also helped on the way back from Road America when the trailer tires decided to fuck off into a low-earth orbit.
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If I am not able to get it through my insurance and just call for a tow with a flatbed.
I appreciate it. The only real issue with towing the car is finding the right trailer for it. I am able to use my parents to tow the car, it's just getting a hold of low car friendly trailer that isn't a dolly.
Gotcha, If anything you can load the trailer from a curb to level out the ramps or build some small ramps out of 2x6's.
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I’ve loaded many an e30 onto uhaul trailers. Just get the tongue as high as you can and you’ll be ok
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I’ve loaded many an e30 onto uhaul trailers. Just get the tongue as high as you can and you’ll be ok
I’ve transported mine with UHAULs before, haven’t had an issue, but that was only across town. While this is only a 10 minute haul, it would mostly be on highway. I’ve contacted my insurance as I get roadside assistance, don’t think it should be that expensive. Having it flatbedded would just give me the peace of mind.
If the pan gets here this week, I’ll try to schedule a pick up to have it dropped off later this coming week.
Just want to drive it. Especially when premium is less than $2 currently.
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I usually pull those trailers at like 80mph
flatbed is cool and all, just make sure they don’t trash your valence/lip/stuff
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Here's your dumb fuck move of the day(well, 5 months ago now). After pulling the JOMs off the Calypso car in preparation to swap them onto the red car, I broke the oil pan. In my haste I jacked the car up by the oil pan instead of the subframe. I know, stupid, I just completely over looked this and put the jack on at nearest flat spot I found to put the jack on when it went under the car.
Oof, I remember telling you that probably cracked it. You were still under the impression that it sprung a random geyser leak. Glad to hear you're getting it fixed though!
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It's home, running and driving.
Can't say enough good things about Auto Clinic in Neenah. They've taken care of the car for the past 20 some years for the previous owner, so I felt comfortable off the bat brining it to them. Walked into the building for the first time and I knew I was in the right place. Porsche ALMS Spyder posters, 964 poster the size of a door, CART posters, flat 4 motors on stands, V12 Jag XKE, what looked like a 356 under a cover, a Willys Jeep, among other things. Got it to them late Friday, drove it home this afternoon.
Things to do:
>Correct paint further(would prefer to have this done by someone who knows that they are doing)
>Roll/pull fenders(same as above)
>Black out window trim?
>Replace brakes front and back, do a stud kit on the rear
>Cat back exhaust(I have an old exhaust from a buddies S52 car that has a Vibrant resonator and muffler. Wondering if an exhaust shop can cut these off the old exhaust and use them on a new one)
>Other general maintenance
Time to drive no where because everything is closed and Road America season is probably cancelled...
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Time to drive no where because everything is closed and Road America season is probably cancelled...
Don't say it...
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Don't say it...
Probably EAA as well...It's incredibly depressing.
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