I have chosen well (E21 update)

"vorspringing" (vorspringing) 08/21/2014 at 12:16 • Filed to: PROJECT E21

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So, I finally broke down and had the E21 towed to a mechanic this morning - I've done everything I can possibly do to troubleshoot the electrical issue and I'm stumped. Fortunately, the local BMWCCA's chapter newsletter arrived on Tuesday and there's a BMW uber-specialist (RRT Racing - Dinan authorized, etc. etc) 5 miles from the house. I called and talked to them yesterday, they make positive noises, so I get it towed over this morning.

OMG. Not only do they have an awesome race shop, they have a pristine 2002 being worked on, and an M1. I've never seen an M1 in person. Holy crap. And they're all legitimately excited about my little old E21 because of the shape it's in (extreme lack of rust, original wheels, etc.). My baby is in good hands. And the guy who'll be working on it even owns an E21. :D

AM3R > vorspringing 08/21/2014 at 12:20

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RRT in Northern VA? Yup I've heard great things about those guys. I'm planning on using them in the future.

Just a heads up, Northwest BMW in Maryland changed it's BMWCCA parts discount from 10% to 20%.

vorspringing > AM3R 08/21/2014 at 12:25

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Yep, that's them. And thanks for the heads up on the discount - it'll come in handy.

MonkeePuzzle > vorspringing 08/21/2014 at 12:25

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it's a good feeling to know you've dropped your car off into the hands of an enthusiast. I dropped my car off for a timing belt and the mechanic spoke with me personally for quite some time, talked about his car and similar mods etc.

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > vorspringing 08/21/2014 at 12:31

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How I miss mine. Dad bought it new, mom drove it for years before a trashed knee forced her into a car with an auto. I had it for a dozen years and sold it to a friend. He crashed it, but managed to find one with a dead motor and an auto and transferred all the mechanical pieces to the new one, and still drives it to this day.

I nearly killed it under my ownership, having neglected to change the coolant which resulted in a blown head gasket. I drove it like that for months until I could get the time and money to fix it myself. It ran fine for several more years until it finally started losing power. When I fixed the head I neglected to see if the block was cracked, and that's what put the final nail in the coffin.

I did find a shop to swap the engine, but the new one was as bad as the old one. They got a replacement for the replacement, and that motor is still running strong to this day. Those M10 engines are TOUGH. It's no wonder they used this as the basis of their F1 motor back in the early '80s. I didn't drive the car the last time I visited my friend; it was in Vegas in the summer, and he didn't hook up the A/C. In a black car. No, just no.

vorspringing > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. 08/21/2014 at 12:34

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The previous owner took the AC out of mine - I'm in the process of putting it back in, because otherwise it'd be undriveable here at least 6 months of the year.

AM3R > vorspringing 08/21/2014 at 12:37

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No problem! I just found out about it a few days ago. I guess they've been keeping it a secret.

Keep us posted with the E21! You should bring it out to local meets when you finish it up.

vorspringing > AM3R 08/21/2014 at 12:40

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Definitely! I'd hoped to have it out to Katie's by Labor Day, but that's getting pushed back a bit - maybe by October or so now.

AM3R > vorspringing 08/21/2014 at 12:46

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The showing is still pretty strong in October, I'll definitely try to make it out.