Australian 323i Build

[paulstledger]

Hello all,

So, the last time I posted to this forum I was a pimple-faced 17 year old with a BMW I bought for a $1000 who hardly even knew how to change oil. Well, a few years has passed, a licence suspension, a long list of other cars (BMWs, Mercs, VWs blah blah blah) and a great time living with a mechanic for a number of years. During this time I picked up enough skills to maintain my car properly, add a little maturity into the mix and here I am, showcasing a build of a car I should have never got rid of in the first place. A new found appreciation for what I owned has dawned over the last year and finally, I am able to build the e21 of my dreams.

So I begin... well... actually it started a few months back now with the purchase of a well optioned parts car. I bought it initially for the interior and the wheels and found a brilliant 5 speed and LSD as well!! So far, I've stripped the parts car, wrapped and labeled everything to store and use for the resto.

The best bit?? Tomorrow at 0800 AEST I get to meet the base car... a Chamonix White 323i/A. One Owner, full documented history and not a SPEC of rust. It was an inland country car from Dalby in Queensland. More update tomorrow.

[Jeroen]

Welcome back Paul! Keep us posted on the white one!

[Grewham]

Hi Paul, welcome from up over! Just like to say if that's a parts car how good is the white one!! How bad was the blue car, as I'm going to try and rescue the black in the thread below this one. Any way looking forward to more instalments, good luck Graham

[garyw51]

The parts car does look good. What was it like for rust? Good luck with the white car. I am assuming it will become a manual. When you have the parts, the conversion is quite straightforward - I have done it once with my Baur using all factory parts from another 323 that was too far gone in the body.

[paulstledger]

Welcome back Paul! Keep us posted on the white one!

Thanks Jeroen! I remember googling the car when I picked it up from the paper all those years back... and coming across your original website. Great to see you still have the Baur!

Hi Paul, welcome from up over! Just like to say if that's a parts car how good is the white one!! How bad was the blue car, as I'm going to try and rescue the black in the thread below this one. Any way looking forward to more instalments, good luck Graham

Thanks Grewham. It looks great in photos, and yes, it was that great in person. Apart from being eaten with rust. I was completely gone, sills, rails, rear quarters and guards. I don't know if you can make out the pictures but you could put a fist through it. Funny enough my finnish father-in-law looked at it and went "in finland... this car would be rust free!"

The parts car does look good. What was it like for rust? Good luck with the white car. I am assuming it will become a manual. When you have the parts, the conversion is quite straightforward - I have done it once with my Baur using all factory parts from another 323 that was too far gone in the body.

I mate, yes I am already well into the swap. I have to tidy up the interior on the white car first and swap it to blue, all the undercarriage is stripped out and the clutch plumbing is installed

[paulstledger]

Will post photos of the white car and how things have progressed- currently on a poor internet connection!