UK 323i destined for America (Update 2011)

[arshad76]

Hi Jeroen, and all.

This is my first post so hope it works! Just wanted to show a few pics of my E21 323i which has been getting restored for a while now. Its late for me and I'm very tired at the moment so don't feel like doing a massive type-up, but just thought it would be nice to show fellow E21 enthusiasts a genuine restoration attempt. Jeroen might remember the alloys The car has had a substantial body restoration, which I go into more detail on my cardomain.com page if anyones interested. As a summary the first photo is as the car originally was when I bought it, second one is when it was stripped down in the bodyshop, and the last is with the rear arches welded on and blended in. Hopefully the next photos I'll post will be with all the bodywork completed. Thanks for looking!

[rasb1]

Hey, welcome to the one and only E21 forum

Nice job with your car... keep the good times rolling. Looking foreward to follow the progress.

[Mat (of e30 fame)]

Nice work!

I like to see these restorations, they are reassuring for us old car nuts! I've always wanted to be able to do something like that myself, but I'm hopeless with my hands. Doing it yourself means that the job gets done properly and it saves a tonne of money on labour.

PS - I like the car's racing stripes!.....I hope you'll replace them

Regards
Mathew

[Jeroen]

Arshad,

Nice wheels

But feel free to keep us posted and put some more photos up here. What I've heard up to now it's going to be one beautiful car!

[arshad76]

Well thanks for the feedback guys!

I'm not actually performing the job myself Matt, I work as a lecturer for a college so they're actually doing the work for me. If anyone’s interested in doing it through a scheme like this they can save thousands on labour costs, but the work can take ages because its one or two students working 6 hours a week on it (4 years plus in my case!) and they've managed to ruin most of my interior trim. Luckily I've already sourced most of the replacements. I've had to really push the bodyshop as well, but hopefully all the bodywork should be done very soon. The other advantage of doing it through an education establishment is they have to teach the students the right way of repairing the body, so even if it does take longer they don't take any short cuts when repairing.
It's had all the old rust cut out, and new metal fabricated and welded in. A new front wing, new wheel arch sections, new sill, replacement front valance, new doors, new grills, and I still need to find a good replacement bonnet. Apart from that I am assured by the bodyshop tutor my 323i’s body was not too bad!
I really admire the E21's I’ve been seeing in the owners gallery, and when mine is finished it won’t have an M3 engine or 18” alloys, but I hope it will be nice in its own way, a subtle update on a classic I hope. I think the MSW 15” alloys, which I bought of Jeroen years ago enhance the cars looks while still blend well with its overall classic appearance. The car will have lowering springs and the interior and chrome trim restored when it comes out of the bodyshop. As for the stripes I’m going to miss them but I think it looks better without em

[Mat (of e30 fame)]

Hmm, interesting place to do the body work at! That works well in both ways - if you are bad with practical matters, then someone else can do it for you and it still remains inexpensive . I guess if you are patient that is!

It should look nice when its finished - a subtle update is better, I think . Any performance upgrades on the way though?

Pity about the old stripes....although daggy, I reckon they look very 'period' on old Bimmers. I wish my machines had them .

Cheers
Mathew

[arshad76]

Hi Mat,

One part of me ones to put at least a 2.5 engine like in Rasmus’s beauty, but another wants to keep it as original as possible. The main thing is I don’t have the know-how to do such a conversion myself, and at least in England it makes the car very hard to insure. I have a hard enough time as it is, being a left hooker. I do have some sport springs which I will add as well as the 15” MSW’s the cars now on.
I’m actually going to concentrate a little more on luxury. I have most of the bits required to convert the car to Air Con, although I will need some advice on how to install it when the time comes! I’m also hoping to fit an electric window conversion but want to get the proper one made for this car if possible, or at least some from an E30.
I know what you mean about the racing stripes they do have a certain charm, but ah well, maybe I’ll get some more made up afterwards. Perhaps you could give your thoughts again when the cars out of the bodyshop. I also intend to ditch the sunroof visor much to my friends dismay, just want to make the outward appearance is a little less fussy. Anyway thanks for the comments and interest, its given me more motivation to really make this car the best I can.
By the way Jeroen if you’re reading this what happened to your lovely green 323i, or for that matter the yellow one? Last I heard you were taking the green one through the bodyshop too. I hope you’ve not been neglecting them, I'll report you otherwise ha ha

[Mat (of e30 fame)]

Well, its nice to know that my opinions are inspiring your work!

I'm a big fan of originality too, but something inside me always tells me that once you've restored an old car to showroom condition one wants to enhance the engine too, to add that little bit extra. I don't really like big time mods (they are cool though), but if you've made the car look nice and snappy, then it would be nice to make the engine nice and snappy too! Maybe something like an Alpina performance kit would be nice (say C1 or C2), or just some extractors and a racier camshaft - just to give the car that little bit extra would be nice....You know.

But of course, original in theory is always better - how many all original, showroom condition e21s are there in the world?

Anyways, I agree with losing the sunroof visor - it looks too aftermarket. The luxury options inside sound interesting too. And never listen to friends in regards to cars!...Do what you feel; if you're a real BMW fan, then what ever you do, your friends will usually end up saying - "oh yeah, I suppose it does look better like that."

Man, you can't report Jeroen to anyone - he is the BMW police!

Cheers
Mathew

[Pedi]

I really admire the E21's I’ve been seeing in the owners gallery, and when mine is finished it won’t have an M3 engine or 18” alloys, but I hope it will be nice in its own way, a subtle update on a classic I hope.

The car will have lowering springs and the interior and chrome trim restored

I am that 18 inch rim-kinda guy, and love tuned engines - but there is one thing I must say: Those rims you have here are really nice on a E21 with lowering springs. I must admit that the 16" edition of the same rims are even more nice looking, but the 15" are lovely nevertheless !!

And silver E21s are very, very nice!!!!

Keep us updated with pics !

[arshad76]

Hi all,

Having had some serious issues with the bodyshop I was getting the work done by, and almost coming to a situation where the car was going to be returned unfinished, I can gladly say my car is well on the way to being complete. The major rust has been eradicated, and the car resprayed the original Polaris silver to an excellent standard.
I was planning to post photos when the car was fully complete, but I just couldn’t resist. Besides where’s the fun in showing only the end product without at least some of the stages of the restoration?
I still need to source the odd chrome pieces including the door rubbing strips as can be seen, but at least you get an idea of how things are going and the majority of the work is done. Everyone at my Colleges bodyshop put a lot of graft in. It’s rare to find panel beaters and sprayers who actually want to work on a car. Their attention to detail really shows too. For example all the windows were taken out before respraying and all the plastic trim rubbed down and painted satin black to make them look even better than new.
Well, more photos of the outside when complete will be coming soon, followed by the interior (once I sort it out!). Any comments good, bad, or ugly will be appreciated as always.

[E21Dane]

That looks seriously nice mate!!! Looks like they didn't take any shortcuts either - job well done...

Now I can't wait to see the final result - but then again, I'm sure you can't either! I'm sure it's going to be stunning!

[ronaldo]

Yes, very nice and very the details (grill/trim), I first thought they were new
What are you going to do with your "old" striping? Put it on or leave it off

[arshad76]

Hi Anders and Ronaldo,

Thanks for the comments, I can't wait to see it finished either, just the odd niggling bit here and there to finish, at least on the outside, God only knows how the interior will turn out!
As for the striping Ronaldo I'm not sure. I’d have t source a pair if I did decide to replace them, but to be honest, and for all their retro charm, the plan was always to get rid of them. I wanted the car to appear as smooth and updated as possible, hence no sunroof visor, stripes and a debadged rear (don’t worry originality freaks I still have the original spoilered bootlid!).
I’ll welcome any comments, questions etc from anyone who’s interested in the project. Thanks so far.

[Jules]

Superb!!! Have you gone for a black seal around the front and rear windscreens instead of chrome? I like it and for an 'originality freak' that's saying something!!
Can't wait to see the finished result, what's happening with the interior then?

[arshad76]

Cheers Jules!

Actually I have some brand new chrome filling strips for the rubber seals but the guys haven’t got the right tool to put them in so it should be in soon. In black I can kinda see the appeal of dechroming, but doesn’t the car look more complete, almost like its dressed properly with the correct chrome fill? Well I think it does anyway!
As for the inside, the door cards have the odd rip at the bottom where the seatbelt has got stuck between it and the door grrrr! They will be repaired using a smart repair method, so I’ll tell anyone whose interested if that procedure’s effective, or not.

I have been trying to source some new ones that retract properly but W&N are sold out and I’ve been the aftermarket ones are poor.
The rest of the interior just needs a good clean. I’m a little concerned about the carpet, which has some rust stains, maybe someone knows if they are easy to remove? I’m thinking of taking it out of the car and getting it steam cleaned.
Anyway I appreciate the interest so far, will be sure to post more pics when the outsides fully sorted and some photos of the interior too.