Project E30

[bimmerboodle]

nice looking car. nice clean engine bay.
Welcome to the E30 addiction.

NUMBER 1 Priority!!!!!
If you have no proof of when the timing belt was done, do it now and while in there, tensioner, cam seal and H20 pump

Start planning for lower control arms (eap4parts.com)
offset CA bushings (bimmerworld)
bilstein sports
HR Race springs
tie rods (bavarian autosport)
check for cracks in the intake boot(the underside)
clean the idle control valve with brake cleaner
buy the Bentley manual
Definitely adjust the valves
only use the Bosch W8LCR plugs, the platinum ones are not your friend
the cooling fan uses a viscous coupling that wears out. If it gets hot when idling, see if you can stop the fan with a pencil, you should not be able to, it is a 32mm REVERSE thread nut, bust it loose with a cckisle in the proper direction anfd buy an el cheapo flea market 32mm wrench and grind it thin to get it to fit.
how is the clutch (clutch city), it is a pain to change out due to access difficulties with the top mounting bolts
the flex disc on the drive shaft shoud be replaced if you need to do the clutch and rebuild the shifter at the same time

Tons of fun!!!!that engine loves >4K rpm's

cool thanks for the advice, although I'm shaking my head while reading through your list wondering what on earth I've got myself into!

t-belt, all other belts, water pump, tensioner, etc will be done asap

That is about the whole list though. bmp design in TX has a great parts catalog to keep around.
If you like to drive, the E30 is a drivers car...you get great feedback from the car.

The A/C systems are very expensive to repair. If yours works consider it lucky