1982 BMW 320is 325i-1 OWNER CAR FOR 35 YEARS. I bought this e21 320i from the original owner on the EXACT day he purchased it 35 years before. This started off as a completely stock HENNA RED 1982 320is. However, its M10 engine (original) was near-death….And….So began the project. Those of you who have modified cars will understand this: It’s been referred to as “project-creep” ie: “I’m just going to upgrade the exhaust.” Which then leads to, “Well I have to upgrade the intake” which then leads to “It really needs a new set of wheels….” Etc, etc, etc…You ONLY say you are going to do one thing and before you know it, you are doing everything. That’s EXACTLY what happened when I purchased this car. Originally I thought to just rebuild the m10 engine…But…Wouldn’t it be really nice if it had a six cylinder like the European e21 323’s? However, I wasn’t going to go with that engine….Soooo, I decided to do a six cylinder swap and found a 90k mile 1989 325i and out came the engine and in it went—no, of course it wasn’t that easy. Sourced the appropriate motor mounts so that the existing subframe could be utilized. Bosch 1.3 Motoronic (adaptable) management with a custom intake (MAF for the m20—name escapes me at this time, but I wasn’t going to do this swap and use an AFM). Battery was relocated to the trunk using a package designed for this e21 swap by TOP END (Digression: They do not exist anymore but back in the day they made all the good stuff for 2002’s & 320’s). The battery tray is smartly-integrated into the rear strut brace. Ditched the mechanical cooling fan assembly for a triple-core BEHR radiator with electric fan cooling. Custom dual exhaust with a BRAND NEW CARB-approved high-flow catalytic converter/brand new 3-wire Bosch 02 sensor. Over-the-counter BMW M Carbon Fiber exhaust tips bought (overpaid) from the dealership. Brand new clutch and shift bushings. AC BLOWS FREEZING COLD: Always a bunch of thumbs up.
