Filomix 82' E21 320/6

filomix
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My E21(s): 1982 E21 320/6

Filomix 82' E21 320/6

Post by filomix »

Hi!

My name is Pedro, I'm portuguese and I've got my BMW E21 320/6 for almost 2 years.
The car was buit in 11/1981 and was matriculated in Portugal in 01/1982. It's an original M20B20 engine, with Getrag 5-speed gearbox, Zypressengrun-Metall color, and cloth interior in 0094 - Pergament color.
The car has only 70500 Kms and I've managed to know almost its entire history in the 37 years old...
The interior was in very good shape, but the drivers seat lower cloth was a bit weared out so I managed to find 1 meter of the original cloth in France that I used to substitute the lower center cloth of the front seats.
In order to maintain the original cloth (that I learnt that is extremely rare) I made and installed some seat protectors, with the same factory pattern and design.
The car was never restored, only resprayed because original painting was in bad shape because of the year it has been stopped.
Other goodies that I installed after I bought the car were the BMW Petri Sport steering wheel and 13 inch original BBS Mahle wheels (I'm a great defender of the original spec..., although I like all good taste upgrades!)...
Mechanically, I've overhauled the Solex carburator with the complete restore kit, and substituted rubber stuff like cooling system tubes, brake lines and fuel lines. I've also substituted the fuel pump and central and rear exhaust.
In the future I'm thinking in the possibility of an Eibach Prokit in order to lower a bit the car, and maybe a Weber conversion carburator...

Here are some pics of it:
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and the original seat cloth:
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Last edited by filomix on Sat Feb 09, 2019 9:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.


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uwbuurman
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My E21(s): 1978 type 1 323i 5speed dogleg Polaris
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Re: Filomix 82' E21 320/6

Post by uwbuurman »

Very nice and well conserved car!! Seats look like new!
You have the normal 5 speed eco gearbox, not the sport gearbox, or the plate on the shifter is wrong. Sport gearbox has the 1 below the R. So the 2 and 3 and the 4 and 5 are opposite of eachother, to be able to shift faster.
It's the man next door!

1978 BMW 323i
1980 BMW 528i maior restitutio
1987 BMW 325iA cabriolet
2006 BMW 320d touring High Executive
2015 BMW 320dA touring xDrive High Executive ///Msport
filomix
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My E21(s): 1982 E21 320/6

Re: Filomix 82' E21 320/6

Post by filomix »

Hi!
Thanks for the correction! I've been wrongly told that my gearbox was a sport one and I believed because gears are very short...
But I've read about dogleg gearbox and it makes sense that dogleg is the sport one.
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uwbuurman
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My E21(s): 1978 type 1 323i 5speed dogleg Polaris
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Re: Filomix 82' E21 320/6

Post by uwbuurman »

Yeah, dogleg is the sport gearbox. I have one of those in my 323i.
It's the man next door!

1978 BMW 323i
1980 BMW 528i maior restitutio
1987 BMW 325iA cabriolet
2006 BMW 320d touring High Executive
2015 BMW 320dA touring xDrive High Executive ///Msport
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Nick1984
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Re: Filomix 82' E21 320/6

Post by Nick1984 »

What a beautiful original car! :driving :thumbsup
[img]https://i.imgur.com/NwLeGXT.jpg[/img]
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Jeroen
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Re: Filomix 82' E21 320/6

Post by Jeroen »

Hi Pedro, welcome here and amazing car indeed!
Regards/groeten, Jeroen
filomix
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My E21(s): 1982 E21 320/6

Re: Filomix 82' E21 320/6

Post by filomix »

:thumbsup Thank you for the compliments!
It's indeed a good car and it is in good shape...
But I'm in a dilemma. In order to retain its value I must maintain it's characteristics, but at the same time I'd like to improve it in some key areas like suspension, brakes and carburetor.
I must figure this out :wink:
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uwbuurman
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Re: Filomix 82' E21 320/6

Post by uwbuurman »

As long as you don't go over the top, keeping original parts, the value even improves.

- brakes: convert to vented 323i brakes in front, and 323i discs (complete swingarms) at the rear, maybe even with e30 calipers. (How to on the forum here)

- suspension: bilstein b8 shocks, eibach springs for a much better handling suspension, 15" Alpina or BBS Mahle

- Carb: weber conversion, but modify the original air intake, so it looks original. Keep the original carb with the car.

For more suggestions: take a look at Peter V. his 320/6.
It's the man next door!

1978 BMW 323i
1980 BMW 528i maior restitutio
1987 BMW 325iA cabriolet
2006 BMW 320d touring High Executive
2015 BMW 320dA touring xDrive High Executive ///Msport
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BuschBertl
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My E21(s): 323i S-Edition E21, 325i E30, M3 E46

Re: Filomix 82' E21 320/6

Post by BuschBertl »

Nice pics - Looks great!
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BMW E21 323i S-Edition 1982
BMW E30 325i Cabrio 1991
BMW E46 M3 Coupe 2001 ... sold 2019
BMW F87N M2 Competition 2018
filomix
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My E21(s): 1982 E21 320/6

Re: Filomix 82' E21 320/6

Post by filomix »

uwbuurman wrote: Sun Feb 10, 2019 6:52 pm As long as you don't go over the top, keeping original parts, the value even improves.

- brakes: convert to vented 323i brakes in front, and 323i discs (complete swingarms) at the rear, maybe even with e30 calipers. (How to on the forum here)

- suspension: bilstein b8 shocks, eibach springs for a much better handling suspension, 15" Alpina or BBS Mahle

- Carb: weber conversion, but modify the original air intake, so it looks original. Keep the original carb with the car.

For more suggestions: take a look at Peter V. his 320/6.
My idea for the Weber conversion was the direct fit Weber 38 DGES, that includes the adapter for original air filter case.
The 3 side Webers kit is a dream, but way too expensive for me right now :shock And almost as important as the cost, having someone locally that's able to tune them up correctly...
Suspension wise, Billies B6 or B8 and Eibach springs seems the best setup right now.
And brakes, well, that's really difficult to get 323 material here, at least at reasonable prices...
filomix
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My E21(s): 1982 E21 320/6

Re: Filomix 82' E21 320/6

Post by filomix »

To be honest, I'm beeing a little picky with the original Solex 4A1 carburetor...
After its restoration it just works normally apart from random low idle at normal temperature (most of the time around 500 rpm). Sometimes it just works like a charm around 800 rpm, but most of the times it's just low (although the M20B20 manages to stay alive without shaking the car!).
Other thing that bothers me a bit is the exhaust smell. It's very very strong! When I bought it, it was obvious that was carburetor related because the mixture was way too rich, and at MOT the CO value was high. But after carburetor restoration, the mixture has been adjusted, CO has lowered, but the smell keeps strong :shock:
Here I can't compare with other 320/6 because there aren't many (at least near the state of mine), but 323i don't smell roses, but a lot better compared to mine.
And it doesn't burn oil, at least in a measurable way...
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Peter V.
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Re: Filomix 82' E21 320/6

Post by Peter V. »

Very nice car. Just keep it like original but modify only what gives you a better drive.

Since my car is mentioned.... The eibach with bilstein B6 has made a big improvement, even with 13 inch wheels.

The solex carb is rebuild as you said. I think you know that you have two mixture screws in it which must be in balance. The 320/6 always smells a bit richer from the exhaust then a 323i. If you have more questions about the 320-6 just tell and there is always someone here to help.
Gr Peter V.

.Some say he eats nuts and bolts for breakfast, all we know is he is called the carburetorman.

BMW E21, 1981 320/6 Ascot Grau.
BMW E85, 2004 Z4 2.5i Sterling Grau.
BMW F31, 2017 320dA EDE Luxuryline Mineral Grau.
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Jeroen
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Re: Filomix 82' E21 320/6

Post by Jeroen »

By the way, where in Portugal do you live?
Regards/groeten, Jeroen
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Re: Filomix 82' E21 320/6

Post by gerrit323 »

Fantastic car in a beatifull color !!!
1992 Mazda mx5
1994 e36 m3
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2019 Abarth esseesse
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https://www.facebook.com/pages/Thielema ... 1227513195
filomix
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My E21(s): 1982 E21 320/6

Re: Filomix 82' E21 320/6

Post by filomix »

Peter V. wrote: Mon Feb 11, 2019 8:26 am Very nice car. Just keep it like original but modify only what gives you a better drive.

Since my car is mentioned.... The eibach with bilstein B6 has made a big improvement, even with 13 inch wheels.

The solex carb is rebuild as you said. I think you know that you have two mixture screws in it which must be in balance. The 320/6 always smells a bit richer from the exhaust then a 323i. If you have more questions about the 320-6 just tell and there is always someone here to help.
Thanks Peter!
I really apreciate the exchange of knowledge :thumbsup
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