Project BMW e30 316i auto 2 door.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

This morning I drove to Kings Lyn to collect some " mint" refurbished Bottle Top alloys with new matching tyres. That No.1 daughter wanted for the 316 that we're putting back on the road this week( hopefully)

 

After a terrible 2.5 hour journey ( A1 shut) we discovered they had the wrong size tyres and the powder coating used by the refurber appears to be grey Hammerite.

I was so pissed off I couldn't trust myself to speak to the kid selling them and just got back in the car...

 

Anyway it seems any 4x100 BMW wheels are getting scarce and expensive, anybody got anything suitable in either 14 or 15 inch ? With or without tyres and any condition as long as priced accordingly .

About £200 seems to be average price for presentable 14" with tyres- I expect an MoT'd 325 to be bolted to them for that, apparentlly that's because I'm an old fart.

[ianbmw]

For 200 quid it needs at least half a tank!

 

It doesn't help,but I weighed a set of bottletops in at the start of the year.

 

99p on eBay,not one bid!

 

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[Six-cylinder]

E30 wheels are a pain, I have 17 inch Alpina replicas for mine but one is cracked wide open and I am told it is too bad to repair.

 

Mine had horrid 16 inch after market when I got it and a 14 inch BBS spare.

 

It now sits on 15 inch BBS painted black that look great but I am aware the centre caps are worth a fortune. Following Dollywobbler pointing out how thin one was for the Hubnut test it now has a new set of Toyo Proxes T1R 195/55 15 85V.

 

Yes now you have drawn my attention to it they need a refurbishment, but so does the whole car!

 

Sorry none of this really helps you and don't get me started on the subject of lowering the ride hight!

[bigfella2]

Can't you use anything advertised as MK2 golf or anything 4x100 of that VW era. Same centre bore if 57.1 too. Surely you could find something decent in budget.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

We've found some bottle tops on eBay that look OK in the pictures and the seller has accepted our £160 offer . They've got 195/65 14s on them which should be alright - the correct size is 175/70 14, but there's lots of room in the arches.

Incidentally fired it up, changed the oil and cleaned it up yesterday, all seems ok apart from brakes which aren't terribly efficient. But then it has been parked up since 2012...

If we get these rims today , I'll take it in for an MOT tomorrow and see what needs doing.

[Six-cylinder]

Can we have a picture of the E30 please.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

E30 wheels are a pain, I have 17 inch Alpina replicas for mine but one is cracked wide open and I am told it is too bad to repair.

 

Mine had horrid 16 inch after market when I got it and a 14 inch BBS spare.

 

It now sits on 15 inch BBS painted black that look great but I am aware the centre caps are worth a fortune. Following Dollywobbler pointing out how thin one was for the Hubnut test it now has a new set of Toyo Proxes T1R 195/55 15 85V.

 

Yes now you have drawn my attention to it they need a refurbishment, but so does the whole car!

 

Sorry none of this really helps you and don't get me started on the subject of lowering the ride hight!

If that crack in the picture you've posted is the worst damage , I think that Charlie Eds in Bletchley would be able to repair that. Don't know if you've ever used them but it's an old school blacksmiths and fabrication yard in Tavistock St and they seem to have at least half a dozen alloys every day to weld. The last 18" modern Merc rim I got them to fix looked worse than that (after hitting a pothole!)

[NorfolkNWeigh]

[ianbmw]

I have spare hub caps like that!

 

There is something cool about a e30 in totally standard form......says the man with BBS wheels

 

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[Lacquer Peel]

What's going on with that number plate?

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Id like to keep it on steels and trims, but then I'm not the one that's going to be using it everyday...

Bottletops seem like a good compromise as it could have quite easily have had them specced from new. The lady that bought it new paid for an auto gearbox and metallic paint, but nothing else not even a radio, the second owner had a Phillips cassette/ radio and electric aerial installed in 1995. She was charged £300!! Sound quality isn't great but the aerial still works.

[sutty2006]

Got E30 alloys in the manta. Cost me 250 in need of refurb. Not cheap wheels now, especially in 15 inch.

[Isaac Hunt]

Nice Bee Em.

 

Wheel language is a funny thing. I'm sure BMW didn't call them Bottle Tops in their upgrade brochure.

 

Makes you wonder who coined the phrase.

 

It's like 'Teledials' 'Hairpins'

[gm]

 

It now sits on 15 inch BBS painted black that look great but I am aware the centre caps are worth a fortune. 

 

 

prevent the centres from being nicked thus :

 

https://www.mx5nutz.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=190489

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Update;

Not a wanted ad. anymore!

 

Glad yesterday's were no good, these are perfect with matching Nexens that appear almost new. And only £160, I've been working all day so daughters went to Potters Bar for them, seller had a lot of wheels in a lockup under his flat...

Whatever, seems like a good deal and they also discovered the Audi 80 has a folding rear seat.

 

Just need to check if we need different bolts, then transformation time.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Fitted the new wheels, new wipers and checked all lights. Pity about the brakes and blow on the centre box. Not got time for test today, so tomorrow it will have to be.

[bramz7]

That is really neat, what's the plan with the Audi when this is back on the road?

 

I really regret missing the boat on these old things. On the flip side, my wealthier friend loves all things BMW so I can try out whatever he decides he wants month in, month out

[Amishtat]

That looks bloody gorgeous! I had a 318i twelve years ago when they were banger money. Didn't expect to like it that much but I was in love within the first couple of miles. I'll have another one day..

[Six-cylinder]

If that crack in the picture you've posted is the worst damage , I think that Charlie Eds in Bletchley would be able to repair that. Don't know if you've ever used them but it's an old school blacksmiths and fabrication yard in Tavistock St and they seem to have at least half a dozen alloys every day to weld. The last 18" modern Merc rim I got them to fix looked worse than that (after hitting a pothole!)

 

Now you tell me about another wheel repairer when I have bought a new set of tyres for my 15 inch wheels!

 

I was not aware of Charlie Eds and I will take it along and see what they think, thanks.

[Marm Toastsmith]

Yes! We had a near identical G reg 316i auto around 15 years ago. Dolphin grey, with sports seats and a rear spoiler. Banger money, obvs. Was nice. My wife never forgave me for selling it when a friend of a friend offered us a free MK1 golf...

 

I did the same at the time and replaced the steels for bottletops... They were £40 with good tyres.

 

I also owned a manual 325i later (a touring). Overall I preferred the little 4 pot auto really. 

[320touring]

That looks lovely!

 

And aye, E30 parts are a bit expensive..

[Fabergé Greggs]

Yes! I had my first crash in one of these! Spent many happy hours in the Scottish countryside trying to get all manner of sideways in my mums wheezy 316 touring.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

That is really neat, what's the plan with the Audi when this is back on the road?

I really regret missing the boat on these old things. On the flip side, my wealthier friend loves all things BMW so I can try out whatever he decides he wants month in, month out

Not sure about the Audi, we haven't sorted the hunting thing and it's so economical it might have a place for long distance use. The e30's pretty low geared and not a great motorway cruiser plus Sam's possibly changing her job to one home based but with regular trips to Manchester.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Yes! I had my first crash in one of these! Spent many happy hours in the Scottish countryside trying to get all manner of sideways in my mums wheezy 316 touring.

That reminds me of the 323i 4 door complete with leather and aircon that I paid about £150 for from an auction, in about 1998.

I parked it at my Mums house and my youngest brother (15 at the time) might* have taken it out , hit a roundabout backwards and burst all four tyres, he drove it home parked it up and didn't say anything!

When I found out I weighed it in sharpish.

I suppose these were the Mk2 Escort/ Capri for the next generation to learn about oversteer.