Project: R3D3MPTION?

[*insertusernamehere*]

Well I messed up the last BMW, so what can I do with this one? Come with me on this massive journey as I try to create, yet again, a nice BMW.

As some of you already know I got a crashed M3 from a fellow NASA-MA-er about a month ago. This is the car:





The frame just may be bent and I don't want to deal with that kind of body work. So after a week or so of contemplation and just letting it all sink in... a plan was devised. Dave and I have joined forces!

He has a broken e30 318is

which could arguably be my fault but arguably not :lol:

I have a broken OBD1 M3, so why not combine them both and overtime turn it into something like this?


LETS GOOOO!! :thumbup:

Step 1: Completely strip the M3 and scrap whatever is left
Step 2: Remove E30 M42
Step 2&3: Find array of parts from various BMW's necessary for swap and source someone to do some exhaust fab and minor welding
Step 4: Get parts + E30 to RVA
Step 5: Install S50 into E30.

Each step of the way will get more details as I get to them. I just know the Step 4 needs to happen by mid December and Step 5 needs to be complete by the end of December.


Last Wednesday the project was officially on a roll when Matthew Craig and I made a late night trip to grab the engine hoist from DJ (thank you). I was very worried it wasn't going to fit and be waste of time but the Protege5 came through ftw.



Last Friday we began the wrenching! Taylor and I removed the seats from the interior and...that was all haha. Simon came over and we spent the time fixing his horrific exhaust rattle.



The 2 big days! Saturday and Sunday


So Saturday I had James and Simon helping which helped alot. It was the most work I've ever gotten done in 4.5 hours. 6 hands makes such a difference. Thanks guys! We had the driveshaft, exhaust, main wiring harness, intake, radiator and front clip all removed.




We had some fun trying to remove the radiator support on the drivers side. So first we started freaking out cause we didn't have any torx bits and ofcourse, those are the screws used here. When I checked the toolbox we had one and only one bit anD IT WAS RIGHT SIZE...for the passenger side only. The driver side used a different sized torx bit..and after further inspection had some washers underneath it..hmmm, I think this front fender has been before! Anyway, it's not like I was gonna save this fender so BREAK OUT THE BREAKER BAR!


GOT IT!


I believe for Saturday that was as far as we had gotten... TIME FOR HALLOWEEN FUN!


So we return Sunday, in a bit of pain, a little tired, but ready!
Looking back now we spent a crap ton of time on Sunday just dealing with wiring and hoses. We drained the block of coolant, removed the shifter linkages, cleared the AC, unbolted the engine mounts (and learned that one was actually broken! Looked like it was sheared in the accident) intake manifold and then spent an ungodly amount of time pulling wires, grounds and hoses.

Finally we were ready to pull the engine and all is going relatively well but this is where my roadblock is. The oil pan is being blocked by the steering rack. We have tried every which way to try and get some angle to swing the engine past it. From using the load balancer, to not using it, to adjusting the load balancer, to bringing in the jack and jacking various points to try and pivot the engine. It was getting late and thanks to daylight savings (which hasn't saved shit) we were also out of light. Neither of us really wanted to even try and think about how we were going to back in through the mess of wires to find the bolts for the steering rack. I fear pulling it may be the only way to get it out. Ugh, well everything is coming out at some point anyway right?

So we packed up and rested the engine back down and so she sits until Wednesday. I could try for tomorrow, but I think I will use that time to crank out homework instead. I don't want to unnecessarily overwhelm myself. I'd rather this project to continue to be fun as it has proven to be so thus far. I do, however, need to keep up with my deadlines so this actually gets done. If anyone has any tips for ANYTHING you can predict along the entire journey feel free to post up. I know BJ said he's done one of these before and Sexy Rexy got close to doing one. The more brains the better! Also accepting physical help, multiple hands really helps to save lots of time.

Miscellaneous pics:
Herro Taylor


Is this how you racecar? 8)


Safety first?


Who needs a seat when you can float?


Best. Support. Vehicle. Ever. I think I'll always own a wagon after this

[Jake]

I love this. It's very MM of you and everyone who's helping. Been a while since Pheasant Run has had the likes of a complete car teardown in their Visitor spots... I think the last one was when I helped Jon Combs pull the motor out of his 240SX and put it in his kitchen.

Re: steering rack. Get under the car (about where the front wheels are) and look for where the steering column attaches to the little rubber/metal coupler. You can unbolt that coupler (13mm I believe), then two 15mm bolts hold the steering rack to the subframe. You need to have a wrench on the one side as it's a nut/bolt combo. Just undo the rack and pull it toward the nose of the car so you can disconnect the steering column, and then you ought to be able to move it around enough to get the oil pan to clear.

[JPolen01]

This is awesome. Wrench days in Pheasant were the shit. Lincoln and I use to work on our busted shit piles in those exact spots. Bravo.

[ispoonwithmugen]

Let me know whenever you guys need help! I love ripping stuff apart

[Beej]

Holy shit, you've made a lot of progress - well done! Love a swapped e30. When this project does make its way down to RVA, I'd love to come check it out, turn some wrenches, whatever.

I bought my car swapped, but spent a long time being anal and trying to get it to run perfectly (and a long time doing absolutely nothing to it). And hey, looks like I documented my headache pretty well: <!-- l --><a class="postlink-local" href="http://www.mmsports.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=5248">viewtopic.php?f=6&t=5248</a><!-- l -->

Homegirl was also red:


I dunno if those are Ronals or BBS RZ's or Style 5's in your 'target' e30 shot, but I love them all well enough to remember their names. Sharp looking car.

[BLINGMW]

whoah ok nice! :thumbup: :thumbup:

[EclipseTurbno93]

Great way to spend a weekend. Also hooray for whoever thought exhaust bolts only need to be hand tightened!! :thumbup:

[EclipseTurbno93]

Also, not bad for a few hours worth of work

[Senor_Taylor]

I really planned on coming back Saturday and Sunday but I was ... out of commission all weekend. Try not to lose all of my tools if you can

[D_Eclipse9916]

Like Jake said, pull the rack, its just a couple easy bolts and let it hang.

[CaptainHenreh]

I approve of all of this.

[D_Eclipse9916]

PS Dont forget to pull the brake booster and master cylinder, those are pricey items you can get surprisingly more than you thought for used.

[Goodspeed]

I approve of all of this.

[*insertusernamehere*]

absolutely nothing to it). And hey, looks like I documented my headache pretty well: <!-- l --><a class="postlink-local" href="http://www.mmsports.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=5248">viewtopic.php?f=6&t=5248</a><!-- l -->

It's soooooo moot point right now but are you suuuuuree it wasn't just your CPS for rough idle?

PS Dont forget to pull the brake booster and master cylinder, those are pricey items you can get surprisingly more than you thought for used.

Oooohhhh :thumbup: :thumbup:

[*insertusernamehere*]

Let me know whenever you guys need help! I love ripping stuff apart

Wednesday? Today? 3pm?

[Jewels]

This is awesome. I'm busy Saturday, but would be happy to turn a wrench or two on Sunday.

[RawrImAMonster]

Awesome project, keep up the good work. I've got a set of E-torx sockets you all can use if you end up needing them for anything.

[.RJ]

E-torx

God dammit, Germany.

[.RJ]

E-torx

God dammit, Germany.

[Jake]

E-torx: great for not stripping bolt heads as easily as a traditional bolt.

Less great when you lose one of the stupid-expensive sockets in the rear quarter panel of your convertible and can't find a cheap replacement at Harbor Freight.