suggestions

[WardJ]

hey guys (new to the site) my grandfather is going to give me his old 325E ('85). suggestions on what i should do to it?

[ldsbeaker]

Just do the normal maintenance, change all the fluids unless you have records that show it has been on a regular basis, and change your timing belt!
Replace water pump while you're in there...

[325eXTATIC]

LDS is exactly right. And to be more literal than him, here is what I would recommend. Distributor Cap and Rotor, Spark Plugs and Wires, (Stick with the STOCK Plugs for your car, NO PLATINUMS!) New Thermostat, Timing Belt and Water pump, Rotate Tires (or replace as necessary), New Headlights (the stock bulbs for your car are about $5 a piece), check the lug bolts to make sure you have them all and that they are tight, check your exhaust from one end to the other with the car running to see if you can see/smell any leaks, check the amount of pad left on the brakes, check to see if the rotors are grooved and replace if necessary. If that isn't enough to get you started, let me know, and I can make the list longer! LOL
Once you get the basics taken care of, then look at getting an aftermarket ECU to reprogram the computer. That will REALLY REALLY REALLY open up the engine. There are chips from roughly $100 up past $250. The chip in my car is a Dinan (www.dinanbmw.com) which is at the high end, but it came with my car, then there is the one that I have heard most people talk about which is Mark D. Just do a google on Mark D performance chip and you will eventually find it. Once you have done all the preventative stuff, then get the chip, you can expect MANY a FUN and (relatively) painless mile!

Hope this gets you on the road to bimmer bliss!

Josh W.

[WardJ]

should i go +1? +2? i live in southern nh and the winters are brutal here

[spiff325is]

I'd say:
Maintance + tires first. make sure radiator and hoses + brake lines and all fluids are good, make sure your shift bushings are nice along with that rubber piece around the shifter(under the boot).

then as far as aftermarket goes:
chip : conforti, dinan, or mark D
LSD: 3.73 LSD is nice
ss brake lines
ssk : short shift kit, www.bimmertoys.com has a good UUC Evo II kit, like 195$, its a good setup, or you can do the more common move and do a Z3 shifter.
then if you want more of an edge, go to some HR/eibach/ireland engineering springs, and some Koni or Bilstein shocks.
all that done should give you a nice solid setup.
also, upgrading your rotors/pads/fluid/lines, is a very good way to improve your braking setup..

-dan

p.s.
as far as rims + tires go, Ronal LS's which are a nice basket weave design with a sweet little lip are 15's and give you a good 7.5inch diameter so you can fit some 225's snuggly. also, offset is perfect so you dun have to mess with anything.

[325eXTATIC]

No bigger than 16's on an E30 if you want it to handle properly. I have 15" ASA 5 spokes, and as soon as I put a drop suspension on the car, it will look KILLER! Anything larger than that and handling goes out the door, but looks (with an H&R Cup Kit or something) can be cool with 17's if that is what you are looking for.