My intro: project or beater time will tell!!

[achtungE30]

Well it took me awhile to get around to this, but hey i'll be updating the pics as progress goes along.

I picked up my Diamondschwarz '91 318is in March 2006 from some shady greek kid who "upgraded" to a 91 MR2 turbo. He claimed to only have driven the car 1mo but according to CarFax it was under his possession for like 6months hmmm... Well I test drove it and checked it out, interior is damn clean, crack-free dash, clean vinyl seats, 2 small tears but nothing big, bolsters still hold pretty well. The body is clean minus a ding on the pass side frt fender and some damage to the rear metal valence when the car was once towed on a 1/2 truck other than that no rust to speak of. He was originally asking close to $3k but I talked him down to about $1900 and I was off.

First thing that needed work was the rear driver wheel bearing. I had this done professionally and off I went.

I found that even with my 3 other cars, I enjoy driving this one the most. Its soo much fun, even with blown suspension. The clutch still grabs well and the shifter is still tight. Steering is a lil loose but I suspect tie rods or CAs which is on my suspension to-do list anyway.

I've since done a full tune-up, replaced the in-tank fuel pump, added Depo ellipsoids ($150 new whatever), IS lip spoiler, and my old Kenwood Excelon MASK headunit for the '90s effect.

Funny enough, I've driven the car more than I snapped pics of it, so here is how the car is currently 6/2006.


after a wash


another after wash shot


quick pic after installing the ellips


my best interior shot to date


My motor sans valve cover

Right now, im waiting on a set of IE Stage 3 springs. I currently have all new coolant/vacuum hoses waiting to go in after I take off the valve/intake manifold covers and powdercoat them while out, Bilstein Sports, new controls arms, bushings and see where im at then.

Long term I will either drive the car as a daily beater and sell it in a year or 2 or if the motor lasts me longer, may respray the car and do a future rebuild. My goal now is daily driveability and spirited driving. Hope you enjoyed the pics.

I will update as I go.


- Frank

[dude8383]

how much did you pay for all of the hoses? im going to be replacing everything this summer.

[M42boy]

Hey that car doesn't look half bad!  :cool:

Looks better than most of our cars in some respects.  Have fun with it.  How much were your elipsoids and where did you get them?

[achtungE30]

how much did you pay for all of the hoses? im going to be replacing everything this summer.

I think I paid around $90 shipped.

Hey that car doesn't look half bad!  

Looks better than most of our cars in some respects. Have fun with it. How much were your elipsoids and where did you get them?

Thank you!

I could do without the 8" key mark on one fender, the bent rear valence, numerous paint chips in places, the big ding on the pass side frt fender....but we'll see. I'd rather not let it go condition wise as I'm handling the major mechanicals first. I really wanted an E36 of some sort but always had something for the E30, theres nothing out there like it.

I paid $150 + shipping for the depos off ebay. I bought it thinking they were the Hellas but ended up trying them out. So far I like them, lots of people hate them due to a concensus of condenation, poor build quality, but I've had no problems with them and they kick ass over my rusty sealed beams I couldnt see 5" from in front of me.

[M42boy]

I paid $150 + shipping for the depos off ebay. I bought it thinking they were the Hellas but ended up trying them out. So far I like them, lots of people hate them due to a concensus of condenation, poor build quality, but I've had no problems with them and they kick ass over my rusty sealed beams I couldnt see 5" from in front of me.

I'm with you on the rusty sealed beams, as that's what I'm sporting!  :rolleyes:

So, who actually makes these?  I know they aren't Hellas, and I should probably hold out and pay the big money for a good set of Hellas, but for $150, if the ones you have are good, I might go for it!

[thumper3ld]

Looking good frank, I think the nyc m42 crew needs to meet up by you so you can take us on them roads you were telling me about.

[dude8383]

Looking good frank, I think the nyc m42 crew needs to meet up by you so you can take us on them roads you were telling me about.

im IN!

[achtungE30]

I'm with you on the rusty sealed beams, as that's what I'm sporting!  :rolleyes:

So, who actually makes these?  I know they aren't Hellas, and I should probably hold out and pay the big money for a good set of Hellas, but for $150, if the ones you have are good, I might go for it!

Depo is the brand. If you go poking around asking fellow e30'ers about them, there is a deep hatred, as if Depo as a company spat on their mothers or something... again, take it from me, I was mislead buying these thinking they were Hellas but that was no fault except my own for assuming and not reading the fine print. I just read "New.....Ellipsoid....Euro....Smiley..." SOLD!

In Depo's defense, I'm satisfied with them, they shine better than sealed, look the part, and are brand spanking new for more than 1/2 a set of euro smoked ellips from Hella are.

Here's a few closeup shots of the Depos..

Looking good frank, I think the nyc m42 crew needs to meet up by you so you can take us on them roads you were telling me about.

Anytime Jay, just lemme know when you guys wanna roll over here. Then we'll see whats up with those race springs of yours!!

[thumper3ld]

Depo is the brand. If you go poking around asking fellow e30'ers about them, there is a deep hatred, as if Depo as a company spat on their mothers or something... again, take it from me, I was mislead buying these thinking they were Hellas but that was no fault except my own for assuming and not reading the fine print. I just read "New.....Ellipsoid....Euro....Smiley..." SOLD!

In Depo's defense, I'm satisfied with them, they shine better than sealed, look the part, and are brand spanking new for more than 1/2 a set of euro smoked ellips from Hella are.

Here's a few closeup shots of the Depos..









Anytime Jay, just lemme know when you guys wanna roll over here. Then we'll see whats up with those race springs of yours!!

My race springs will perform great. Just not sure about the driver.

[Eurospec]

Car looks sharp. Did the IS lip come painted black or did you spray it yourself? Also, were the euro side repeaters installed when you purchased it?

[achtungE30]

Thanks!!

No it came primered ready for paint. I actually got a lil impatient and went to strauss and found truck/SUV black metallic paint which looks damn close to diamondschwarz, although from the pics, i need to buff the hell outta it still to get some gloss. - it will hold me over till i spray the car

Side repeaters were on the car before I picked it up.

[M42boy]

Depo is the brand. If you go poking around asking fellow e30'ers about them, there is a deep hatred, as if Depo as a company spat on their mothers or something... again, take it from me, I was mislead buying these thinking they were Hellas but that was no fault except my own for assuming and not reading the fine print. I just read "New.....Ellipsoid....Euro....Smiley..." SOLD!

I might just hold out for some Hellas, but they don't look half bad.  

Are they plastic or glass lenses?  I want to pull out the drivers side high beam and put in a cold air intake screen anyways, so I don't know if I need the best.

Car looks good!!  

[achtungE30]

thanks man!

yes they are glass.

[M42boy]

If they are a euro design, does that mean they accept an H4 bulb??  That would be worth it right there!

[bmwman91]

If they are Euro spec, they should take H1 bulbs...at least the Bosch ones do.  The Hella individual-beam replacements use H4's, but they are not using ellipsoidal projector lenses.