My Christmas present…

[Zephyr]

To myself….

well, 2023 is my retirement year.
it is an early retirement, I have no obligations, children, or whatever type of loans, so why not enjoy life while I still can.
the plan is to be unemployed until I reach the age that I can start collecting my pension plan so I have to be occupied with something.
and since the Z is too good to ruin, ladies and gents, may I present my new project…

E21 316.
The plan is to do a nut and bolt restoration, swap the interior with an E30 sport setup, add two Webbers, lower and paint it white with bmw stripes on the side.
or green with golden rims
or black with JPS livery
Until then, some preventative maintenance will be required and lots of driving whenever I can.
Zero rust, much loved, really sorted, smoothly driving, ripped my pockets (700 € + 510 € road taxes and MOT)…
I know, I know, I paid too much…)

 

[Jam03]

Reminds me of one of the first cars I had, an E12/8 518i from 1984.

 

[GazHyde]

If you’ve not seen this it, might be a useful watch for you.

View: https://youtu.be/29wVH_TLWmQ

 

[Zephyr]

If you’ve not seen this it, might be a useful watch for you.

View: https://youtu.be/29wVH_TLWmQ

Thanks.
actually I am familiar with Sreten, we have exchanged emails, Greece is full of toys for his garage.
he was interested in a rare 7 series and I had some negotiations with the owner. It did not work out, but I am still interested in that car, maybe I buy it and store it, it really is one of one with a great story behind it…

 

[Zephyr]

Just out of curiosity, how much would such an example cost in the UK?

 

[Mus Musculus]

Just out of curiosity, how much would such an example cost in the UK?

If you can find one. The last I saw come up, 58k kms, was at £14,000.00. Surely you haven't paid too much...

 

[Althulas]

Nice restored one here

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Having a quick look over here there’s a selection from a breaker/project for £1.5 or nicely restored ones about £15k. I noted on eBay there a lot of tidy E30 examples.

 

[GazHyde]

I am familiar with Sreten,

He's definitely one of the best BMW channels on the 'tube at the moment. I came across it a few months ago and I'm still binging the builds for each of his cars so far.

 

[DomiMik]

Great project @Zephyr , so many possibilities to individualize it according to your plans and wishes, hope you will enjoy it and keep us updated with lots of pictures

 

[Zephyr]

Mixed feelings so far.
the car starts and drives fine, no issues there.
doors open and close with a click and a thud, engine noise is minimal and generally I can not complain about quality and maintenance.
absolutely no rust or corrosion, except the normal surface rust in some bolts and pieces that can be eliminated with a wire brush and a squirt of wd40.
but…
The steering and suspension are all over the place, it surely needs a steering rack refurbish and the (maybe) original struts and shocks are totally shot. Not a gram of oil in them.

so… why I am disappointed?
It lacks power. Seriously. Even for someone like me who drives like a snail with nerve paralysis this car is seriously underpowered.
overtaking at legal speed is a leap of faith, braking from 80 is a death-wish experience and handling… lets not judge yet but it seems that it will not be a life changing experience after replacing the suspension.

i really want to keep this pure and original, but it makes absolutely no sense to do so.

I am sure that with an M4-X this car will be enjoyable, but seems quite a lot of work to do by myself and thinking of fixing steering and suspension, giving it a thorough clean and detail and selling it.

….. maybe an E30 is a much better option and maybe there is a reason E21s are so undervalued and unloved…

 

[the Nefyn cat]

It lacks power. Seriously. Even for someone like me who drives like a snail with nerve paralysis this car is seriously underpowered.

Nothing an LS3 swap won't sort out.

 

[Zephyr]

Nothing an LS3 swap won't sort out.

Throwing an LS3 to that poor chassis would be like an elephant doing buttsex to an antelope.
and it could be… interesting….

 

[the Nefyn cat]

There's a lot to be said for interesting.

 

[Fender2004]

Best of luck with the refurbishment, as with most there will be ups and downs in the process. Great project.

 

[Zephyr]

Unfortunately this was sold today.
Being in this part of the world availability of parts, shipping prices and my lack of enthusiasm for such a big project made my initial decision to be reconsidered.
just for mechanical parts and shipping the sum climbed to a whopping 2.200€ and then I would have to pay more or less that for upholstery and paint.
not that fond on this specific model to spend all that. It was THE most undesirable car in my garage, so slow, riding like a supermarket cart with broken wheels and smelling like a dead fish. For a 323i maybe I could spare the money. For this… definitely not.

so sold with a small profit as I already had done some maintenance to it, and looking for another project that will have some more meaning…

 

[Althulas]

No point in doing a project that you have no heart investment for. Good thing though is geared up for something you really fancy. Good luck in the search.

 

[Ianmc]

I had an E30 touring some years ago now. A 325I would be a great project.

 

[DomiMik]

When talking about something with more meaning, do you already have something specific in mind @Zephyr ?

 

[Zephyr]

When talking about something with more meaning, do you already have something specific in mind @Zephyr ?

https://www.car.gr/classifieds/cars/view/2020745-bmw-740

i have this on my radar and had a discussion with the owner last year. My offer is still on the table and he is still thinking about it.
when these were new, I always wanted one, but my life failed miserably and I had to relocate, change continent, find a new job and start over from the beginning.
now that I have somehow reinvented myself I think I can enjoy this along with the Z.
these were the two vehicles that I intended to buy back then before some most unfortunate events smashed me to the ground. (and I moved to Greece that almost gave another heart attack with that Grexit issue, but somehow I also survived this… hahaha).

 

[Mus Musculus]

Love Greece, but can't speak the language...

Is that a car phone in the centre console? I had one in the 90's and also remember travelling for work to Ghana and carrying around a satellite phone (suitcase sized).