A Distraction of Sorts: My 1991 BMW 318is

[CubbyChowder]

^^ haha thanks dude.

[smithyyy]

And here's where the e30 sits currently:

first i was like "oh great another person putting on a ugly roof rack..."

then i was a bit like

dat roof rack...

subbed

[CubbyChowder]

This isn't really an update, just wanted to show that the video build is in the works! I think it's going to turn out pretty cool:

[MattyHacks71]

The stain color looks really good, ties in very nicely

[Rob&co]

nice and fucking nice!

[CubbyChowder]

Very good.

I would cut 2" for better adjustability.
You're also going to end up removing your rear adjusters.

I've been told 2" is overkill, are yours cut 2"? I'm not opposed to the idea, I've just heard that it's borderline too much to cut.

I'm not even going to install the adjusters in the rear.

[ak-]

Very good.

I would cut 2" for better adjustability.
You're also going to end up removing your rear adjusters.

[CubbyChowder]

I have all my Coilover bits gathered. My setup is as follows:

- GC kit, 440f/650r
- IX Bilstein HD's for the front, I will be cutting the internal bumpstops in half
- 82-02 Camaro KYB Gas-A-Just for the rear
- Housings will be shortened 1.5"

[CubbyChowder]

I welded on a few hooks throughout the rack to secure tie downs and painted the whole frame and carriage bolt heads black. I also stained the wood, and it's a bit darker now.




Then it was time for final assembly!




And here's where the e30 sits currently:




Coilovers and suspension rebuild are next!

[CubbyChowder]

I see you made a nice update about making a roofrack....


and managed to not turn it into a video.







WHAT THE HELL MIKEY?!


(unless the video is going to be like, at the end. Then whatever)

Haha the video is coming at the end, but I'm still updating with pictures as I go. To be honest, I didn't film any of this. Filming makes everything take twice as long when I'm doing everything myself, which is to be expected, I was just in the zone when I was working on this so I didn't want the distractions. I just received a bunch of coilover stuff though and will be filming all my work when I build those and replace all suspension bushings.

[willis]

I see you made a nice update about making a roofrack....


and managed to not turn it into a video.







WHAT THE HELL MIKEY?!


(unless the video is going to be like, at the end. Then whatever)

[CubbyChowder]

You already start painting it? If not take back the appliance epoxy and get the Stops Rust gloss black. It will hold up mucho bettero outside.

Rack is awesome tho.

Thanks for the input! I'll do that.

[NorCalFocus]

You already start painting it? If not take back the appliance epoxy and get the Stops Rust gloss black. It will hold up mucho bettero outside.

Rack is awesome tho.

[shim!]

dude, that roof rack is the shit. might be stealing that idea in a bit, haha. can't wait to see it done!

[CubbyChowder]

Alright so I started building a custom roof rack yesterday. I wanted one bike tray, and have the rest of the rack be a wooden platform to haul stuff around on considering the e30 isn't really the most spacious car, especially since the seats don't fold down.

So I went to my local metal supply shop, got 20ft. of 1"x1" metal tubing, had them cut it into four 5' pieces and headed up to my dads.

From there, I made some measurements, cut some stuff, welded stuff together, ground some welds down on the surface and ended up with this frame. It's kind of hard to tell in the pictures, but the legs are a bit longer on one side to make room for the bike tray:




So this is how it sits with the bike tray installed:





Made a Home Depot run:




Spent the next few hours making precise measurements so everything is proportional, drilling into the wood, and drilling into the metal on my kitchen floor with shitty drill bits. Drilling through the metal sucked and I'm so happy it's over...



And here's where I'm at right now. I'm staining the wood a dark walnut color and painting the metal frame and carriage bolt heads black so everything goes together nicely. I'm really happy with how it's turning out. I'll probably weld on a couple hooks throughout the frame to attach tie downs/bungee straps etc.