Reassembly & First Drive Ends In DISASTER! | M52 Swapped BMW E30 Build Shakedown Run MOT Fail | 056

I finally took the BMW E30 build on its first test drive, a little shakedown run to check everything was in order in preparation for the car's first MOT since it became a 24v swap project.

Here's what I used in this video:
Arch roller tool: https://ebay.us/kK9Lwg
Seam Sealer: https://ebay.us/2QuFzh
Nice new fasteners: https://ebay.us/qsoyPU
And: https://ebay.us/9Pv5bn
New Wheel Arch Liners: https://ebay.us/2paZs6

To kick things off, I set myself a target with this car to turn it into a running and driving BMW E30 M52 swap street car as soon as possible. To help force this forward I foolishly decided to book the car in for its first MOT since the engine conversion.

The trouble was, the car was nowhere near ready, still dismantled in many pieces in fact. So the challenge was on to reassemble the car and get it ready for the MOT test.

There's something wrong about reinstalling damaged and rusty front-end parts on this E30 when I went to so much trouble with the engine bay and fitting the engine. But in a way it might be really entertaining to rip around in this M52 E30 while it looks like a real banger. Sure to turn some heads.

Off camera, before filming this one, I'd had a difficult time with the project having found out that the fuel tank I previously thought was fixed turned out to still leak where the filler neck connects. I drained the fuel and decided to do a proper job of welding it up rather than a solder repair. This was quite a big unexpected job which I got done off-camera.

I also rolled the arches with a nifty arch rolling tool and packed them with seam sealer to make sure they were protected.

To start off the video, I adjusted my coilovers so they all matched, to give me an even ride height and preload setting so the car can be driven without the suspension settings changing while I go.

I also fitted the front wings (AKA fenders) on the car which are in particularly poor condition. Luckily I'd picked up a much better condition front valance for the E30 so I can throw the original one featuring a terrible repair in the bin. I transferred all the good parts onto the new one and got it fitted up along with the arch liners in the wheel wells.

I also fitted the E30's face back on including the headlights, front grilles, and kidney grille which was nice. Although I noticed the E30 headlamp adjusters are seized which may be an MOT issue.

I refitted the horn and tested all the lighting and indicators which seemed to work great.

I then refitted the windscreen washer bottle and topped it up with screenwash, another MOT item. The test seems to imply it's going to work just fine.

Following that I refitted the E30's bonnet (AKA hood) with the old man, this proved to be quite a faff to do but we got there eventually.

With that, the car was ready for its shake-down test drive, something I was very excited about given how much work I've put into this E30 build so far.

We dropped the car down from the wheel cribs and set off for a little run up the private lane. As we set off a loud and unpleasant jolt came through the steering wheel, one which kept happening when a certain degree of steering angle was reached. Seems connected to the undertray I'd refitted.

Beyond that though the steering was massively out and the car would not drive straight. There seems to be a lot of toe out which makes the E30 steering especially twitchy.

I was also struggling with the throttle pedal which felt like an on/off switch. Certainly not helped by the M20 lightened flywheel I fitted, but there's something not right with the throttle cable routing.

The headlights are far too low, that would be an MOT fail so needs addressing.

Finally, and what ended my hopes of getting an MOT this time around was the clutch. While not technically an MOT item, the fact the clutch is slipping on the E30 really badly says I should stop and investigate that before anything else. No point in getting an MOT test until that's solved.

As for why the clutch slips so bad despite being a high-quality Sachs OE E30 clutch is a mystery to me, as it was in such excellent condition. Defeated I cancelled the MOT pending further work on the car. Gutting.

For more helpful how-to guides and restorations: https://www.spannerrash.com/

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