E30 BMW 325i

Yet another one I have started while I wait for the weather to warm up here before I can do any painting! I am doing this one inthe style of the early 1990's Touring Car racers.

It is the Fujimi kit and I noticed that as with their M3 kit the roof line is way too low. I cut the roof and raised it by 2-3mm (scale 75mm!). Below are the pictures of progress so far!

http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/2929/20100314e30bmw325i0117.jpg

This picture is of the 1986 ETCC racer and shows the sort of look I am after.

http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/8092/20100314e30bmw325i0066.jpg

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/5005/20100314e30bmw325i0063.jpg

These 2 above show what it looked like after I had cut the roof and raised it up.

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/6881/20100314e30bmw325i0071.jpg

This one shows the modification I made to the rear valance which was also not correct.

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/8569/20100314e30bmw325i0105.jpg

This one is supposed to show the new BMW kidney grille that I made from styrene but it has not come out too well. The Fujimi grille was far to square at the corners.

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/873/20100314e30bmw325i0099.jpg

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/1726/20100314e30bmw325i0102.jpg

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/8097/20100314e30bmw325i0106.jpg

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/8302/20100314e30bmw325i0107.jpg

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/5603/20100314e30bmw325i0113.jpg

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/5118/20100314e30bmw325i0109.jpg

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/8303/20100314e30bmw325i0108.jpg

These show where I have got to so far. I used strips of styrene on the front and rear windscreens to straighten the edges which cannot be seen now hopefully! After I glued on the strips I blended them by sanding them gradually back. I am hopeful that I can still use the original glass still for the front and rear screens.

I used some 18 inch 5 spoke wheels similar to the racing M3's of the time. All comments welcome!

I still need to get me one of these kits. I love these old beemers. Keep us updated, btw the roof came out perfect.

I still need to get me one of these kits. I love these old beemers. Keep us updated, btw the roof came out perfect.

Thanks, now that I am happy that I can sort out roofs that are too low I am also going to have a go at restoring my old Fujimi M3 which needs the roof to be increased in height a lot! I have also just noticed that the Mk2 Fujimi Golf GTi's roofline that I am building is too low too, so will also be chopping and raising that one, (must be a Fujimi thing!) all good fun!

Below is a photograph of the old M3 to be restored showing the way too low roof line!

http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/675/20100314e30bmw325i0121.jpg

nice roof work, i love the stance..where did you get those wheels? i want them!!

Excellent work raising the roof! I'd be a little hesitant to cut into a new kit like that.

nice roof work, i love the stance..where did you get those wheels? i want them!!

Thanks, I got the wheels from hlj:

http://www.hlj.com/product/FUJ19181

I just checked and unfortunately they are now discontinued. Hopefully they will get re-issued soon!

Thats my fav livery, i was going to buy the studio 27 t-kit. But it seems like you can get almost same results with minimum work and s27 decals. Keep it going.

Congratulations on making the fujimi E30 looking a million times better!

looking good yet again. nice touches with the roof repairs. keeping an eye on this as well.

good job with the roof!
and nice wheels!

waiting for updates...., any idea how to make new windshield and rear glass??

waiting for updates...., any idea how to make new windshield and rear glass??

Currently carrying out extensive roof, rear window changes etc to my old E30 M3 shown in pictures above (also Fujimi and body shape all sorts of wrong!) so progress on this one on hold for a little while.

I have test fitted and think I can get away with using the original glass for front and rear because it is still just big enough. The M3 rear window is a different story however and I will make my own from clear plastic sheet. Fitting it will be loads of fun I think!

Great work on rectifying that roof!

old-school racing car? I will following for sure...

Looking excellent, much more like the real thing. I know the amount of effort you put in. The effort around the screen pillars is especially good with the plastic card strips.