E21 320/6 1983 Polaris Silver

[stefanbgd]

Hehehe, there are two different centre console, one with the hazard switch and air vents and the one with quartz clock.
They where used in different markets, and one of them has text above every button that says what the button do and it's in german, so here we tippicaly call it german console or german style console.
The one with hazard switch on central console is more common in this area, in fact so common that this is the first time i've seen the other one in person so that one is considered standard here.
Here are the pics of consoles:
The one with german text:

and the "standard" one:

[Jeroen]

Ah ok, well the one on the first photo is the version before the facelift, supplied up to late 79, the 2nd one is the facelift version that was used after '79. These dashboards were the same all over the world.

[stefanbgd]

Oh, ok.
I tought it was different for some areas, becouse i have only seen the other one here.

[stefanbgd]

A pair of e34 headlights with projectors arrived today to be fitted on my e21.
Now just to figure out best way to install them...

[stefanbgd]

Work continues tomorrow.
2.0 is taken out, and rear axle is near completion.
Hopefully i will complete rear axle, replace dashboard, do some wiring and put el. window opener tomorrow.

[stefanbgd]

Rear axle completed today, only brake lines are left but i am hoping to replace all brake hoses with new ones.
Also removed old windscreen, changed instrument board and few other things...
Going again during next week to put new windscreen, engine and gearbox and to reassemble front axle...
Here's few pics from today:

[Wondermike]

Hi, what kind of rear axle did you mount?

What is the benefit of this setup against a standaard 323i setup?
Keep up the work!

[stefanbgd]

English is my second language so forgive me if i dont get all the pieces names right...
Rear axle on my car is custom made.
At first i wanted to replace it with e30 rear axle but e30 is wider and rear axle carrier is about 15cm wider than on e21.
So i decided to keep original e21 rear axle carrier and original diff. (since diff. is in mint condition) and to change rear wishbone's, brakes and output shaft's (all from e30).
I needed to cut old wishbone mounts from rear axle carrier and than measure everything and weld new mounts for e30 wishbone's.
Main difference is that springs are not around shocks anymore like on e21 323i, instead they are mounted on wishbone's under the body like on e30.

I wasn't really going for any performance upgrade with this, it was more an economy upgrade but i should get better handling and braking in comparison to original.
The thing is that e21 is quite rare here, so second hand part's are hard to find, and new original parts (copies are usualy bad quality) mostly need to be ordered from germany and are therefore quite expensive, while e30 is very popular here so good second hand part's are easy to find and they are very cheap, also most stores have a good stock of new original parts so there is no ordering and waiting and new parts are cheaper.

[stefanbgd]

Front axle mounted, one side left to complete.
Work continues tomorrow, hidroinsulation of trunk inside and out, and some wiring...
Pics tomorrow.

[stefanbgd]

[stefanbgd]

All body work is finally over, no more welding...
Rear end is near completion, only thing left is to place carpet in trunk and reattach LPG tank.
Today we completed front axle, replaced blinkers and wipers switches, maunted driver side el. window opener and few other things.
Next to do is completing trunk and interior, afther that prep. for painting, than painting and mounting new engine.
Hopefully it will all be done soon.

[croma_man]

bilo kuda kiki svuda

i admire the welding work, i dont have the guts to start with such poor state of the car and make everything new

[stefanbgd]

I wouldn't have the guts too, but i also didn't have the money for anything in better condition....

[stefanbgd]

Engine is mounted in today.
Only thing left to do is reataching all wiring, refilling all fluids and rechecking everithinig just in case, and after that painting...

[raseeda green]

Great work, to put shell like this back to being polished and pretty again, I admire your work. Please send us the pictures when she is painted. Thank you