So I was at the junk yard today...

[DesktopDave]

Found one single e30, a black 'vert that was massively rear-ended.  Shame was it had nearly-new Bilstein Sports.  I might be back for the rear springs, looks like a pig of a job though.  Front struts were gone and one of the rear shocks was bent.  I'd never seen that before.

Missed out on the ellipsoids, mirror and 13-button OBC.  I'll go back for the harness.  Someone absolutely wrecked the steering wheel trying to pull it...might have cleaned up well.

I found that an e34 shifter boot might work on our cars, but the e-brake handle definitely will not.  If you do find an e34, be sure to pull the trunk liner & tool kit.  It bolts right into our cars.  I wish the wooden trim & dash fit too.  Why dos it seem all e34 dashes perfect?

Scored a perfect HVAC console, now I finally have a spare!  I needed one for the 325i project, but it might be into another 318is if I'm lucky enough to get it.

Also pulled most of a cruise control setup.  Whoever got there first cut the end of the cable off the actuator.  We'll see if it works.

[DesktopDave]

I know I'm posting on my own thread, but I HAD to share this.  I'm sure a lot of you have seen it, but it was a revelation to me.  Makes me want to do all that stuff myself!

Does anyone know the OP?  I see a bunch of familiar usernames out there...

http://r3vlimited.com/BOARD/showthread.php?t=159148

[dvmotorsports]

I know I'm posting on my own thread

I've been known to talk to myself in my own threads too. Nothing to be ashamed of.

[dkbmxer002]

i just went through that, he is a hero... i gotta do so much of that shit..

[DesktopDave]

I've been known to talk to myself in my own threads too. Nothing to be ashamed of.

At least you have some M content...speaking of that, I'll be off to check your thread...

[longtallsally]

Am I a bad person if I've done most of that already?  And yet, you can't see most of my stupid hard work on the car.  

I read his thread a while back and have been in the same boat of the project being slow/on hold due to employment status.

Hopefully in the coming weeks, though, I can have some really good updates to mine.

On the junk yard finds, I got another crazy M tech seat that I'll be using to recover for the front.  I also got a full plastic bumper, even the correct color, for 40 euro.  I just need to order the carpet paint, sound deadening, and heated seat elements to really get my interior rolling.

[DesktopDave]

I just love pick 'n' pulls.  I take a buddy or two and we poke around looking for things we "need."  It's recycling, right?  Better for the planet!

Male bonding.  Can't beat it...

...and next time I'm asking if they're a BYOB yard...

[longtallsally]

From a yard thus far I've scored:

- full 13 button OBC and harness and stalk
- full cruise control setup including throttle cable and actuator bracket
- M tech 1 steering wheel
- full heated seat setup including switches and harness (elements turned out to be bad though)
- full heated washer nozzle setup and harness
- 2 sets of smileys
- 2 sets of fog lights
- 2 sets of grilles
- various clips, relays, fuses
- total rear fog light setup (switch, rear housing, plug for housing.
- complete power sunroof conversion including harness (no splicing) visors, guide rails, overhead console, relay, etc.
- crack free dash
- front bumper
- crack free fuse block cover
- ski pass through rear seat
- 2 IMMACULATE sport seats with looney M Tech pattern material



I think I've done pretty good.  The only cool upgrade I actually bought from a dude on r3v, was the maplight rear view mirror.  I'd say I scored pretty darn good.  There really is very little left that I can get to complete what I want to do.  The expensive stuff like a motor rebuild and paint job are all going to come probably after I get back to the states.

[DesktopDave]

Why isn't there an envy smiley? Yards around here don't have many e30s left.

Love those seats.

[longtallsally]

Yeah, I just couldn't pass them up.  Plus I'll have some spare parts for the seats.

I have a question, though: these seats came from Tourings and thus don't have the flip forward function (and both are passenger seats).  So I've torn down another one that was wasted in getting the heater elements out, but what is the difference between those with the flip forward function and without?

It's a good bit of the reason I'm having to actually pull the covers off the "new" seats and transfer them to the existing seats in the car, but I've not studied it all just yet.  I kinda know but wondered if anyone had some additional insight.

[DesktopDave]

I have flip-up seats in my sedan...but I don't know for sure.  I'm told that it's just the release latch & cables.  I'd be willing to bet that the backs can be swapped straight, but I'd guess some metal work would be required for the release to be installed in sedan style seats.

Wish I could be over there for poking through yards...maybe someday...

[longtallsally]

I have flip-up seats in my sedan...but I don't know for sure.  I'm told that it's just the release latch & cables.  I'd be willing to bet that the backs can be swapped straight, but I'd guess some metal work would be required for the release to be installed in sedan style seats.

Wish I could be over there for poking through yards...maybe someday...

Yeah I was going to start the tear down, but I've decided to work on the rear fog light setup instead.

And don't get too riled up about the yards here.  I've only found one so far locally and even with an extended search can't find any outside the Stuttgart area.  Also, there aren't too many cars there relatively speaking and what it's been good for has been European only parts.  Most are pretty rusted and thrashed.  I guess I got spoiled in CA...