Mark's 316 M52/2.8 + Cat cams & Jenvey ITB's

[e21-Mark]

Maybe use sharknose as a deadline to get the car done??

I'd prefer the end of October tbh.

Single wiper conversion is sorted now. We saved the original BBQ'd one from MIB but anything rubber or plastic was knackered. As a result, it was copied and the original mechanism was modified. If you say it quickly it sounds easy, but in reality it's a PITA to do.



All the sound deadening is now new. Another proper fiddly job in such a tight confine, as around the wiper motor and heater matrix. These are all small jobs that eat up time, but need to be done. On MIB, where the wiring for the wipers passes through the bulkhead, it had worn through and caused an intermittent electrical short. This meant the indicators and wipers would just blow their fuses. It was a real pain in the arse and only solved when an electrician luckily heard the short happen! It was a total fluke and it was unlikely we'd ever have found it. Anyway, we just want to be sure things like that don't happen again.

[e21-Mark]

Saw Mick @ Santa Pod last Sunday and things are moving along with MIB. I should have some pics to upload over the weekend and we're still aiming for my collecting the car by the end of the month.

[Jeroen]

All sounds pretty good! Looking forward to the pics to keep us occupied until the day...

[joe14]

Yes, I'm very keen to see the end result here. Nowhere near as much as you though...

[e21-Mark]

Well the E21 is finally starting on the button and pretty much all the mechanical stuff is finished.

Proof of a fruity sounding 316 can be found here >

The wiring has been a laborious task and the new, blade type fuse box, now lives under a false floor in the passenger side foot well. This has meant that the engine bay is now a totally wire free zone. There's still way too much plastic on view for my liking, but the Jenvey throttle bodies will be going on once the engine (and specifically new Cat Cams) has done a few hundred miles. The new aluminium coil pack / cam cover is also coming along nicely, but has turned out to be quite a significant amount of fabrication. I'm confident it will be well worth all the effort though. We had to chop up a pair of M30 cam covers to use for the BMW roundel and ribs.

Anyway, we are still aiming for the end of the month. Hopefully.

[Jeroen]

Brrrr you need a better phone

[e21-Mark]

Brrrr you need a better phone

It's not mine. I'm living 300 miles away now. Hopefully it won't be too much longer till I don't need phone pics and video anyway.

[nas80]

It's alive!!!! How long till it's done then?

[e21-Mark]

It's taking a while but the new coil pack cover is progressing. A couple of M30 cam covers have given their lives in the quest for a cooler looking M52 engine.

[bumface3]

Thats sounds sweeeet

[e21-Mark]

Went to see MIB briefly yesterday and we are getting close to final paint and refit now. It's actually a running, driving car and starts on the key without issue. The brakes will be complete, as soon as the custom resevoir arrives. I'll be putting a few miles on the cams prior to the Jenvey ITB's going on, along with the DTA management.

The gauges are all in, with just the oil pressure sender to be fitted.





The rad has been modified slightly and the senders fitted. It also runs Evans waterless coolant.



Sadly you can't really see from the photos, but the stance is absolutely spot on. A bit of rake and the staggered alloys, have given it a really aggressive look and it has real presence when sat. I'm really chuffed with the overall look of it.





Flipping the headlight lenses has sorted these, although I still have a pair of clears, should I ever want to revert. I'm probably going to go with the American spec 320is front spoiler and not fit a rear for now. I'll play with the aesthetic details once the bumpers and stainless trim goes on.

It's been a long time coming but we are really getting close now. It'll be great to get it in a few shows next year, but I'm really looking forward to having an E21 daily driver again.

[jimbob]

The new gauge pod looks good

[Jeroen]

Agree, but the overall looks is great... screaming for paint now! Keep moving and get it over for the 2015 Sharknose!

[nas80]

So since two months all they did was stick gauges in?

[jimbob]

you cant rush perfection