e23 progress...

[SF-535is]

18" style 5s?

^^^^^^^
I wish my car could be a shop buddy.

[cddallara]

18" style 5s?

^^^^^^^
I wish my car could be a shop buddy.

If you want to forget about it for 6-8 months...

[SF-535is]

18" style 5s?

^^^^^^^
I wish my car could be a shop buddy.

If you want to forget about it for 6-8 months...

I usually forget them for about that long any way

[D Unit]

Our cars are shop buddies!

I knew that was your car! What's Gmo doing to the shagwagon?

18" style 5s?

^^^^^^^
I wish my car could be a shop buddy.

If you want to forget about it for 6-8 months...

I actually sold my staggered 18" set Style 5s to help fund for this project. The wheels are BBS replicas but I'm going to build these up real soon...

[cddallara]

It's getting a little refreshing, going back to its original color. And some maintenance stuff that I don't have time for.

[D Unit]

The m30b35 and 5 speed g6265 are in! Much thanks to Chris and Yar from German Auto Sport in Berkeley from rescuing her from a local mechanic. Live and learn but ALL IS GOOD now that she's back!!! More updates to come as I slowly get her back into shape...

[leadphut]

The m30b35 and 5 speed g6265 are in! Much thanks to Chris and Yar from German Auto Sport in Berkeley from rescuing her from a local mechanic. Live and learn but ALL IS GOOD now that she's back!!! More updates to come as I slowly get her back into shape...

was the mechanic not cooperating?

car looks great!

[D Unit]

Had a bit of issues with a local mechanic that I'd rather keep private for now... That being said, German Auto Sport (GAS) took over the project and have been phenomenal. I am deeply grateful they rescued my e23.

[offroadkarter]

How's it drive?

[D Unit]

How's it drive?

The b35 with Motronic 1.3 feels much faster than the tired b34 it replaced. I don't think I'd call her quick, but she's no longer severely underpowered. The stick shift is a major plus and definitely adds to the fun factor. Car drives great but does have an exhaust leak somewhere I still need to track down. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to properly push the car yet because one of the front calipers is slightly seized and making a horrible grinding noise at low speeds. I ordered a rebuilt caliper from Turner a couple of days ago, but it won't get here till next week. I did manage to drive it 50 miles from Berkeley to home and the suspension felt very comfortable on the freeway cruising from 60-70 mph. This was also my first time driving the car on its new suspension. I'm not looking to be stanced, but definitely wanted to be lower than my previous mtech setup.

Front e30 ix Bilstein HDs custom valved for 350 lbs springs... strut housings were sectioned 1.5"...
Rears are running 375 lbs springs using e28 Bilstein Sports.

I also had Jeremy from Ireland Engineering build me some custom camber plates. I still need to get an alignment but I have other things I need to take care of first.

[cddallara]

Any chance of making it to San Diego for St Paddys Day?

[four2zerohero]

Great Job

[D Unit]

Any chance of making it to San Diego for St Paddys Day?

Not likely Corey. My daughter turns 17 that week. Maybe next year.

Great Job

Thanks!

Not a fan of the red turn signals, but the rest of the car looks well done.

Looks like you were right... I went back with the ambers. Looks much better.


Also got a euro wiper system from Ivo. When I run power to the motors I hear a "click" but nothing moves. I believe they are seized but I'll probably mount them Anyway and keep the others as spares. I mounted the lights up but still need to replace the city light bulbs and tap the wire from the parking signals.


Next big phase is the interior. When I received the car, the shop only had enough time to wire in the driver seat/window switch. I managed to wire the rest of the switches in the car and got the alarm working again except for the siren. The tan carpet will be swapped for a black one. Most, if not all, pearl beige trim pieces will be dyed black. Door cards will also be rewrapped.


The original interior was very nice but I really wanted e28 sport seats. I was fortunate enough to work these out in a trade and scored matching rear black leather seats at Pick N Pull. Front and rear seats have been Leatheriqued. I was also able to find an e24 seat harness at the junk yard. I tested the seats and seat harness outside of the car but realized the driver seat does not go back and forth. I had to use a square drill bit and drill to move it back and forth but am assuming I can replace that particular motor, right?
[/url]
Interior tear down begins...


Gas pedal C clip comes out easily with a small flat head.

Pleasantly surprised to see that almost all of the interior cabin is covered in thick sound deadening. No wonder the car is so quiet on the inside!

This is definitely a NO RUST car. First owner was a doctor's wife who owned it for 20+ years IIRC... It's also nice to see that all the stock sound deadening material is still in good condition after 30 years (not brittle and soft)!

Driver side is complete. Removed old e23 seat harness with memory and replaced it with the e24 one. Cleaned up all the unnecessary wiring after the 5 speed conversion. Lastly re-ran component speaker wiring...


That's it for now. Still need to finish up the interior, recover door panels and deck lid, re-do audio system, repair front seized caliper, fix exhaust leak, re-install front bumper, install BBS rear spoiler, etc...

[Adam W in MN]

Outstanding! I love it when E23's get some love.

[wkohler]

This is great to see!

[leadphut]

This is great to see!

x2

gonna look great with the sport seats installed.

keep us updated please!

[D Unit]

The driver's side seat does not move back and forth. I had to use a square drill bit to manually gain access to the bolts. Can I just replace that motor to make it work (the one that takes the square drill bit)?

[derrith]

Glad to see the car back in your hands, finally. Enjoy!

[86GT635]

It's been a long time since I've had sport seats, but I'm pretty sure that back and forth motor is attached to the frame in such a way that it doesn't come apart. You might just set it where you like it with the drill and it might "wake up" next time you need to move it. I've seen seats that didn't move for years and one day they start working again.

Car looks great man, love the buffalo leather. This is like a 735is now.

[Hffvdbl]

I want you to know that this car has managed to make me want an E23. Bravo!

[ElGuappo]

Looks great!
I can't wait to get our cars together.

[D Unit]

Glad to see the car back in your hands, finally. Enjoy!

Can't thank you enough Logan. If it wasn't for you, my car would've been a goner. You're also the main reason why I got an e23 since yours was the first one I've ever seen.

It's been a long time since I've had sport seats, but I'm pretty sure that back and forth motor is attached to the frame in such a way that it doesn't come apart. You might just set it where you like it with the drill and it might "wake up" next time you need to move it. I've seen seats that didn't move for years and one day they start working again.

Car looks great man, love the buffalo leather. This is like a 735is now.

Thanks. Looks like I'll just set it and forget it. The seat are normal leather btw... not buffalo.

I want you to know that this car has managed to make me want an E23. Bravo!

Get one!

Looks great!
I can't wait to get our cars together.

Me too... One day soon Jay.

Here's some stuff I've been working on. Dyed the door panels black since I swapped the tan carpet to black.


Also got this idea from some dude on bigcoupe forum.



Since I didn't have matching carpet on the center console pieces, I decided to wrap them matching the door panels.


The result was somewhat underwhelming once I combined the middle console pieces with the door cards... Looked way too busy. Long story short, I'm going to redo the whole thing again.



Instead I'm going to re-do the center console pieces in m-rain fabric and wrap the door cards in black faux leather.

[ElGuappo]

OK a couple of things...
where did you get that USB charger? I love it, but since I will be covering my ebrake surround and covering the holes, I'll put it elsewhere.
I see you have your window switches still in the ebrake console, but have the trim pieces with 2 holes installed on either side of the ashtray...wassupwitdat?
That fabric IS way too busy, good call on swapping it out. Doesn't go with the anthrazite carpet anyway.

You do realize MY 7 is Logans 7 that got you into this mess?

[D Unit]

OK a couple of things...
where did you get that USB charger? I love it, but since I will be covering my ebrake surround and covering the holes, I'll put it elsewhere.

Here's where I got the Ebay charger...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/272065255738?_t ... EBIDX%3AIT

I see you have your window switches still in the ebrake console, but have the trim pieces with 2 holes installed on either side of the ashtray...wassupwitdat?

The (4) holes near the ashtray are supposed to be (2) window switches and (2) heated seats. The ebrake console is supposed to have the (2) rear window switches, (1) rear window lockout switch, and (1) mystery switch?
Here's a picture of the mystery switch I can't recall it does???

That fabric IS way too busy, good call on swapping it out. Doesn't go with the anthrazite carpet anyway.

You do realize MY 7 is Logans 7 that got you into this mess?

Yep Jay... Wish it was mine but when I asked Logan about it when my e28 got total'd he said you sold the slicktop to you.

[cddallara]

That looks like the window 'breaker' switch?

[D Unit]

Fixed the window circuit breaker and rear lockout. Also re-did the door panel in faux black leather and replaced the knee panel and glovebox to black... Looks much better now.

[gazm3]

Your e23 looks great. Good to see you give it more loving.

There is just something about the e23 that makes driving fun even with an impossibly tall diff. It must me fun to drive as a manual.

[D Unit]

Your e23 looks great. Good to see you give it more loving.

There is just something about the e23 that makes driving fun even with an impossibly tall diff. It must me fun to drive as a manual.

I've finally been able to drive the car the passed couple of days and the b35 and manual are very fun to drive. The original plan was to turbo the car, but I don't think that may be necessary anymore...

Well... I told you guys I wasn't happy with how the interior came out, so I reluctantly gave it another go... What a fuckin' pain in the ass. I must've taken my interior a part about half a dozen times now... argh.

The old man interior was driving me nuts so the mtech material came just in time...







I am so glad I got the interior over with... I'd rather poke my eye out with a blunt screw driver.


While I was dealing with the interior, I bought a new 5 channel D amp to replace by MB Quartz stuff. I wanted the 5 channel amp to simplify the wiring and be more efficient on my alternator. The amp is so tiny...



First amp rack I've ever made out of velcro...


Amp is well hidden...


This morning I had to re-install my front bumper since the shop only had time to zip tie one of the sides. I've been hoarding a lot of spare parts and Frankenstein my best bumper/chrome pieces...


During the install, I had to cut a piece of the body... Not sure why I didn't have to do this last time but oh well.


Here's the final front bumper... For the life of me, I couldn't figure out how to mount the fogs. I went to Home Depot to try to make some custom brackets but FAILED at that too. I'm going to try the gluing/JB weld technique next weekend.

[ElGuappo]

Looking really really good!
You are correct about what switches were intended for each location, however I have different plans.
I rerouted my rear window switches to go with the front window switches, all in the center dash, on either side of the ash tray.
I have a manual seat console, so no big cutouts and bulges for the seat controls.
Since I have about 1.5 L7 interiors, I'm going to have the manual ebrake console covered in leather and stitched to match the L7 bits. (the L7 console is for power seats)

I really like the all black door cards, looks sleek.

[D Unit]

I need a little bit of help guys... Right now my car begins to bog down when I put it under 50-60% load below 2.5K RPM. Once I gently get it passed 3K RPM, I can keep revving it up to WOT. I swapped to a different AFM and still have the exact same symptoms. I ordered a new TPS and FPR from Autohaus but was told it was better to throw an inline gauge to test the fuel pressure. To be honest, not really sure exactly "how" to do that just yet.

Here's a video I took tonight from a stop. If I load up the car above 50 - 60%, the car bogs down badly.

Once I get the car going, I can rev it up to WOT. This is me on the backroads driving smoothly from 45 - 55 mph. Prior to the video I was cruising on the highway from 60 - 70 mph.



Any ideas? Again, car is swapped with a m30b35 running Motronic 1.3 (179 ecu).