Jimbobs graphite 323

[jimbob]

Bought this last year from mark with the intention of putting it back on the road





1982 cypress green metalic 323i, it came with lots of old paper work the original bill of sale

all the service info up to 90,000 miles (current mileage 101,000) and a stack of receipts totaling

more than £14000.

came minus a gearbox interior seatbelts and lots of other little things as it was previously a track car

with full cage dog leg gearbox fire extinguisher system oil cooler and an uprated cam fitted to the 2.3 engine

[uwbuurman]

Lots to do on this one! What are your plans, make it all original of just get it roadworthy? Love the colour on a 323i!

[jimbob]

I had most of the bits and pieces this car needed from my old graphite 323

so i built it up over the last year. its now in the bodyshop being welded then painted

heres the pics from building it up

5 speed gearbox and prop


full black interior and a carpet



stainless exhaust





swapped the 13" wheels onto my other car as i had never driven an e21 on them and i wanted

to see what the green one looked like on 15's





and a bbs spoiler

[jimbob]

Lots to do on this one! What are your plans, make it all original of just get it roadworthy? Love the colour on a 323i!

Im going to do the m52 conversion and a full respay in graphit metalic

yes lots of parts missing when i got it, i managed to put it all together and had it running and its wheels turning before i stripped it right down.

Needs new sills and the footwell corners replacing and a couple of holes where the cage was bolted in



it left on dolly wheels last week for the welding

[jimbob]

Lots of nice little things about this car for me, its registration is my sons initials and his birthdate wich is nice

as one day it will probably be his

The first owner bought it new from my local dealership i used to visit as a kid in my dads 323

the first owner was allso the managing director of a plastics factory i used to pass every day on the way to

work when i was 16. nice little coincidences



Here it is all built up apart from the bumpers

My favourite picture of it so far

[jimbob]

Managed to get hold of an LSD for when everything is put together

[Jeroen]

Nice update! Now at the painter so ready to drive next spring?

[uwbuurman]

Nice! What's the condition on the LSD? I had mine overhauled, with new bearings, seals and plates, last september, so it's even better than new!

[jimbob]

Nice update! Now at the painter so ready to drive next spring?

yes hopefully sooner. All i need is the conversion parts and bumpers .

i have found a suitable donor car and should have the e34 parts by next week

[jimbob]

Nice! What's the condition on the LSD? I had mine overhauled, with new bearings, seals and plates, last september, so it's even better than new!

Ive taken it apart and theres no ware that i can see. i didnt have a socket thin enough to take the input shaft out so i think i

might take it to a local place so they can check that bearing. it feels ok but without seeing it im not sure

[jimbob]

Found a good donor car, low miles bmw service history

The engine seems good and pulls hard no leaks or faults



Ive been refurbing loads of bits lately





Ive filled the cupboard under the stairs with ready to fit parts and my interior is at the bottom of

my bed

[uwbuurman]

Nice e36 cabrio. To bad its bound to die.

[Jeroen]

Yup, E36's have hit rock bottom, the sad phase any BMW reaches at some point...

[jimbob]

Nice e36 cabrio. To bad its bound to die.

I know its sad. i thought this car was going to be in bad condition so i wouldnt mind taking it apart

but everything works and its in very good condition. i got it quite cheap as the roof wasnt working

and the guy just wanted rid of it as its hard to sell a convertible in the winter.

It drove faultlessly on the way home and returned 32mpg, I fixed the roof in ten minutes and even

the air conditioning works, i will feel bad when the time comes to take the engine out

But its for a good cause

[nas80]

Nice work Jim.. it's all in the details. Getting this stuff all refurbished makes a massive difference