bmwe21.net forums

I don't know why the cut up my valance. My front bumper is in good shape. Need a good rear one though

Your valence cutouts look same as E12 USA spec, maybe in the past they ve tried to convert the front to E28 specs.
Or valence isn't original and came from an imported us car.

I thought it was a e28 one, anyway, a new one can be bought at w&n, I think Ill do that, most of them around are rotten...

sump guard test fit and sectioned bumper

Today i fitted the sump guard to the car to test if it fits right, and fitted the sectioned bumper parts.
turns out the brackets for the driving lights are to far outward, so that needs to be corrected.
maximum height of the driving lights is 21 cm when bonnet full opened, so a pair of 180mm Cibie Oscar replicas will fit, but i like the Hella 3000 more these are 225mm diameter, so i'll try to adapt the brackets for these lights.

i'll need to swap the subframe first, this one doesn't have brackets which hold the sump guard firmly in place.

some photos i took today, don't know if ik like the sectioned bumber setup, car looks more agressive without the bumper.

sump guard fitted:





with bumper sections:





available space for the aditional driving lights:



Please vote for me: fit the sectioned bumper or leave it off.

When the bumper goes, the bumper brackets will go also, for a cleaner look.

Looking good! I prefer WITH the bumperparts.

Me too, but why not fit the original one, with some minor modifications?

uwbuurman wrote:Me too, but why not fit the original one, with some minor modifications?

Because i need the free'd up space for the big driving lights, with the original bumper in place the lights come to far forward.
Placing the lights higher isn't an option because the bonnet won't open properly.

As you know, i'm prepping the car for classic rallys.

Did the moustache classic last week and had a lot of fun that day.

Today i washed at least a bucket mud from the car.

Hella 3000 test fit

I tried fitting Hella 3000 driving lamps, without having them, they fit and bonnet still opens. so the Hella Ralley 3000 is a go.





so i did some simple photoshop and i've a pair of hellas at the front:

without bumpersections:



and with bumpersections:



so now its time to fabricate the right brackets

The Hella's look nice retro wise. But why not some modern lamps like found on http://www.autosportcompany.nl/led-lights-214.html

Nice Rob! I would stick on retro.

Peter E12 525 wrote:The Hella's look nice retro wise. But why not some modern lamps like found on http://www.autosportcompany.nl/led-lights-214.html

Modern lamps in classic rallys is a no go Peter.
Conform most rally regulations LED lamps aren't allowed. Just like GPS equimpent isn't allowed also.

And most important i like the retro looks.

Ah I did not know that. I thought a light is a light.

subframe replaced

Today i've replaced the subframe for the modified one, modifications are mounting brackets for the sump guard and relocated wishbone attachment.

Because the engine is laying on the subframe it is nessesary the engine is lifted a little so the engine mounts come free from the subframe. normaly this is done with a engine hoist which i don't have.
I've done the job with a pair of heavy strap winches.
Winthin 2 hours the old subframe was out and the new one back in. it took me anotner 2 hours to attach al the axle support parts and realign the steering rods.

All in all i'm very hapy with the result, the front trackwidth has gained 16mm at each side (at the ground) and the camber is now 1,5 degrees negative, just a little less as the rear wheels.

engine hanging in the straps:







both subframes:



after 2 hours the 'new' subframe was in:



and the sump guard mounted to the subframe (bad photo):

Nice work Rob! And a nice fresh subframe!
I'm curious how it drives now.

bmw e12 e21 wrote:Nice work Rob! And a nice fresh subframe!
I'm curious how it drives now.

Can't road test it till 1 march 2016 because Frans Weekers changed the laws a few years ago
But i think i won't notice the difference in the camber before and now. I'm not a competetive driver. Ofcourse the new shocks, wishbone, rubber and springs i've mounted last summer made a huge improvement i did notice !!


Just knowing the changement would make handling better is enough for me, but mainly the looks how the front wheels were standing before and now makes me happy with it. That little neg camber looks so much better on the car.