From the brilliant modders over at Mighty Car Mods comes a new BMW E30 build. This is the first BMW that either of them have worked on, so the learning curve will be steep. But to this new build they bring a wealth of experience and knowledge, so learning on the job shouldn't slow them down.
For the car itself they purchased it from Australia, but before that it had come from the Japanese market, something that is easily identifiable by the official compliance plate. This gives Mighty Car Mods a bit more of a challenge as the tools needed will be slightly different than the European and American versions.
Seeing The Beast Of The '80s
The BMW E30 is seen as one of the most iconic cars made by the German automaker, and the one now owned by Mighty Car Mods is the 2nd generation E30, the last of this body-style. More specifically, they have the JDM-spec 320i, that comes with a standard 2L inline 6 engine, producing 123 hp and 125 lb-ft of torque. This lets the car reach a top speed of 122 MPH.
Visually the car has a rust-free body and was originally painted blue, but was changed to charcoal somewhere along the way. Additionally, the car has an M-Tech 2 body-kit installed to give it a more aggressive look, and some more questionable modifications done to the rest of the body.
Taking Apart The Car Bit By Bit
The current engine that sits in the car is not the original, and even the new one is broken, so Marty and MOOG will have to take the entire engine out. But before that they empty out all the fluids and start taking out the radiators, the heating hoses, and fuel lines, and just about everything else. One comment that they make is that while the BMW E30 is loved by collectors and enthusiasts, parts are becoming less frequent, so it is becoming harder and harder to find them.
Moving Under The Car To Take Out The Transmission
When they move underneath, the focus is on getting the transmission out and detaching it from the engine. By using a bit of prying and wiggling, they are able to remove the transmission and set it onto a jack. This is the final main piece that needs to be disconnected before the engine can be removed.
The Engine Comes Out Intact
The final piece to be removed was the engine itself, with Marty and MOOG disconnecting pieces along the way. The first of these is the brake booster line, followed by the power steering. They methodically continue this format of lifting and disconnecting until they get the engine completely removed. And as they tilt it out, the engine lets loose any remaining fluid in it, dumping it onto their workshop floor. But at the end of the day, the engine is out of the E30 and Marty and MOOG can continue their work.