Finally got my 320is

[Poon]

Yesterday I headed over to Vancouver Island and finally picked up my 320is.















Rear sway bars!



In all honesty, I didn't expect the car to handle as good as it does. I drive a 2002 daily, and many people have said that the E21's are horrible handling compared to a 2002, but the E21 isn't bad at all!

Anyways, the car starts up and drives very well. The brakes need a bit of work, but I'm ok doing that. The only thing is the car isn't charging properly.

THe battery is about two weeks old, and the VDO gauge set shows that sometimes it charges at full amperage, and at most other times it doesn't do a thing. The battery warnig light also comes on. If I have the lights on, or the stereo, then it shows negative amperage (meaning the battery is simply draining w/o charging).

Any idea what this could be? My dad said it may be a ground issue, because, the gas level gauge flickers and hardly works half the time.

If any of you guys could help me out, that would be great!

-Andrew Poon

[Initial D.oug]

Nice looking 320is. The paint looks immaculate!!! Definitely need to detail the engine bay though. Oxidation just like I got on mine . As for the battery drain, I would check the ground strap and then start pulling fuses. You'll source out the problem pretty quick that way. Most likely it's a ground problem or perhaps the radio. Check the alternator and the belts to see that they are taut.

Here's some pics of my 320is.

[Mark D.]

Very cool cars. I had a 1982 320i that I crisscrossed BC/Alberta in, put over 70k on it and it was a great little car. Drove excellent with a solid little chassis. The "is" would be perfect!

[carter]

cool!
I envision many a winter donut in th red rocket.

[Poon]

Nice E21!! Looks really clean.

Carter, red rocket will be it's name from now on! Thanks!

-Andrew Poon

[M635]

Looks great Poon! I was actually wanting to buy an E21 over the summer and swap in a 2.5L M20.

So what makes the E21 'iSi different from the regular 320i?

[Polaris78]

Hi Poon,

It looks terrific - I was never a huge fan of the e21 in my earlier days, but its slowly and surely become one of my favorite BMWs, and honestly, I'm more of a fan of a clean e21 than a 2002 - oh and the colour is great too!

If the body is not rusty, is there anyway you could get yet another vehicle for the darkest deepest days of winter? It would be a sure shame to see that machine go back to nature anytime soon...

C

[Poon]

Originally Posted by M635 Looks great Poon! I was actually wanting to buy an E21 over the summer and swap in a 2.5L M20. So what makes the E21 'iSi different from the regular 320i?

Here is a list I pulled off another site:
·Front air dam
·5,5x13” special cross spoke light alloy rims
·Sports suspension with increased diameter front stabilizer bar and the addition of a rear stabilizer bar
·Limited slip differential (25%)
·Dual operation manual sunroof
·Recaro sports seats
·Leather sport steering wheel and leather gear shift knob
·Deluxe tool kit
·Fog lights
·AM/FM stereo cassette radio

My car is very strange though. For some reason it does not have fog lights, ( it has the switch for them, maybe they were removed?), and I do not believe it has an LSD ( Have not tested it yet, but does not have an S on the diff box). Also the 320is was not suppose to have been available till 1981, but my car is a 1980. Perhaps it was one of the very first ones available?

The lady said it was imported from Germany, (doubt it, because no euro bumpers) but there are a bunch of German documents, I do not understand.

Polaris78, as for saving it from the winter. Can't do it. The whole reason behind buying this car was to save my little '76 2002 from the winter. I will wash the E21 VERY frequently though, and do my best to insure that it stays as rust free as I can.

-Andrew Poon

[k-swiss]

Lower mainland winters are a breeze compared to anywhere else. Por-15 and lots of under car washes are your friend...

[Poon]

Kirin,

Could you PM me the phone number to Al's shop? I want to get in touch with him about getting the E21 up on the hoist.

-Andrew Poon

[320iCar]

hey there Poon, recognize me? i switched over so i can see some local's. still lovin the car man

[Poon]

Awesome! Welcome to the board!

-Andrew Poon

[Weeman83]

Originally Posted by Poon The lady said it was imported from Germany, (doubt it, because no euro bumpers) but there are a bunch of German documents, I do not understand.

Like I mentioned in the other E21 guy's post, this can be a car previously owned by a Canadian serviceman when serving in Germany, and brought it back when his posting was over.

don't know if the car had to be made compliant to NA laws at the time, or was it exempt. I know many from my days of working at the army garage in Chilliwack - Wesfalia, 325i, 520i, 190D yadda yadda.

[Al Canuck]

Originally Posted by Weeman83 Like I mentioned in the other E21 guy's post, this can be a car previously owned by a Canadian serviceman when serving in Germany, and brought it back when his posting was over. don't know if the car had to be made compliant to NA laws at the time, or was it exempt. I know many from my days of working at the army garage in Chilliwack - Wesfalia, 325i, 520i, 190D yadda yadda.

Looks like a pretty bog standard 320is to me. Very very very few of the Canadian army imported Euro cars were federalised. Most kept all the Euro goodness.

Andrew, some of the 320is's, had strange options in Canada, especially the early ones. I once owned a 1980 320i that was Resedagrun(not an is colour), but it had LSD, sport wheel, Recaros, BBS wheels, rear sway bar, etc. It was also missing the large tool kit.

Nothing was ever set in stone, as far as ordering a new BMW back in the day. And most of the info about these cars, comes from US websites, where things were quite a bit different.

Car looks great! I guess I'll see it on Wednesday.

Al

[Al Canuck]

As for the imported from Germany bit, well, I hate to state the obvious, but ALL BMW's back then were imported from Germany! Aside from that, it may have been a Euro delivery car.

Al