In a moment of clarity, I devised a constructive solution to the noob-related frustration going around. I know everyone likes to get creative with their, "use the search function" replies to a noob thread, but I thought we could sticky a "common mod" thread. We could post in all the common searches for the common questions and even post the not so common mods such as swaps. I know there will still be ultra noobs that don't go there, but if we put a good title on the thread like "E21 Common Mod Registry, New Forum Members Must Comply" or something to that effect, maybe we can save the stress of telling the noobs how to search and use that effort constructively to create a good database of e21 modding. With this all noobs should get a good start and if they have questions beyond that, then they'll at least know what they're talking about. Ultimately, I plan on seeing alot less griping about newbs and more informed forum members, cuz I've been on this forum long enough to know that sometimes the search isn't all that great. What do you think guys?

It sure wouldn't hurt and might help a lot. I have been amazed lately at the number of un-registered visitors comming around, often there are more visitors than registered members on... Maybe there is begining to be more interest in the e21's than in the past.

ken

sounds like a good idea. I think we should roll with it, but lets get input on what we all think should be in that thread, then you can start it, get a mod to sticky it, and we'll all chime in with our input. Here's a few things that I think should be covered:

-Links to any and all E21 resources, including parts suppliers and other forums. here's a few:
Parts:
bavauto.com
bmpd.com
e21parts.net
wallothnesch.com
racetep.com
2002ad.com
europeanautomotive.com
bmw2002.com


Other forums:
e21.tricord.be
bmw320i.com
bmwe21.net

-Differences between pre and post 80 cars/m10's (should be complete and all inclusive)

-Common wheel/tire sizes, correct offset, etc.

-common suspension upgrades

-The E21 shimmy and how to reduce or fix it

-Cold start issues and common CIS problems (I answer questions on this several times a week and would be happy to write up a trouble shooting DIY article)

-Volvo brake swap (been covered, can just post a link to the DIY)

-Rear disk swap

-Body Kit availability

-cheap engine upgrades

-Possible motor swaps

i think that's an excellent idea as well. as after the new year i hope to start modding my car, but dislike taking it to shops to pay more for installation than the costs of the parts themselves. a thread that can cover all the basic mods and upgrades would be most helpfull to myself, and to other e21ers wishing to make their car look and perform a little better. i know that between everyone who is registered to and visits this forum has some great input on what to do, where to get it, and how to do it. this is a very good idea for this section. lets get it going.

Great idea!

Especially with all the links to other forums, and parts suppliers, in one place. That would be extremely helpful.

I am not so much a noob anymore, but I still have a lot of questions. I don't mind searching, but it's so hard to find a clear answer in the other threads, because some go off topic, some have a completely useless title, etc. Hving all the common mods, issues, and DIY article in one place is great.

Damn this is a good idea for a thread!I wish it was here when I was first getting into it.Ill go ahead and knock out a couple of my favirote and cheapest visual mods you can do to the e21.I always thought that the yellowish amber french highbeems looked really badass. but they can kinda be a pain to get a hold of a good set and not everyone has the green to go buy new lights when the ones they have work just fine for them.So one option i figured out was to go down to the local craft store and ask for the stained glass section.they sell small individual bottles of stain in just about any color your heart could imagine.pick a color that suits your taste best. The bottles can be had for about 3.00 dollers a piece,while your there pick up a bottle of black as well.The black works good for darkening the mixture up a bit and for the next thing you might want to do.There are two diferint kinds of stain one that has to be baked on and one that you just brush on,both are waterbased,get the bake on(if you get the brush on and you wash your car say goodbye)we wont actually have to bake your gas filled headlights dont worry:).
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j21/kristassc/lightshowto6.jpg http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j21/kristassc/lightshowto4.jpg Heres the stains and the heat gun(yours dosent have to be purple) and a hairdryer will do just as good!
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j21/kristassc/lightshowto3.jpg http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j21/kristassc/lightshowto2.jpgFirst clean the lights of any dirt and bad JUJU. If you dont have painthinner or something of that nature fall back on warm water and soap. Be sure there dry too.We will be useing the empty light bucket to set the lights in after dipping them in the stain then hit it with some heat gun or hair dryer for 30 seconds.
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j21/kristassc/lightshowto5.jpg http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j21/kristassc/lightshowto7.jpgSince the stains are water based we will dilute them with what WATER..ding ding ding.Theres no real science to it just keep mixing till you get a color you ar satisfied with I added black to darken it.
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j21/kristassc/lightshowto9.jpghttp://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j21/kristassc/lightshowto8.jpgOk here we ar dipping the light then set it in the bucket throw ion some heat and repeat.I did about 15 coats.
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j21/kristassc/lightshowto11.jpg aded sparkles to make em pop http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j21/kristassc/lightshowto10.jpglet dry for about 24 hours
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j21/kristassc/lightshowtooh.jpgbefore:(
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j21/kristassc/lightshowtoo.jpgafter:buttrock
I have done this to my turn signals with the black. Works good for tailights too.If you a real pimp you can take red and do the tailights it will kinda fade out the white and amber to make em all red,looks extremely nice its my fav.Make sure when doing signals and tailights to do it from the inside or it will eventually fade off.Heres the best part if you dont like it get some hot water and soap and scrub away or with a cleaner. It wont come off when washing the car or in rain but if you want it off you can get it off fairly easy. My lights have been yellow for like 6 months in rain and my daily car wash epidemics and havent faded at all.also If you want clear signal lights get em from wallothandnesch. You can not fade the amber ones to white I repeat you can not fade then to white!!!unless they are from an early model I know the 80 and up models wont work.have fun P.S i dont wana see any rainbow or lavender lights posted on here:nono lets keep the rice outa the e21 scene

^^awesome plan, they look like they were bought that way. if i was a fan of yellow high beams i would definately do that. good write up... its stuff like this that make this thread all the more of a good idea, keep bringin them in. we'll get this stickyed in no time :-)

Probably one of the first things a newbie is going to want to do to there e21 is improve the car handlles.

There is a few good options there are bilstien hd and sport shocks that can be had fairly cheap,you can also have them valved from bilstien to match whatever spring rates you will be running.koni also makes shocks that fit the e21 i am not as familiar with the konis as the bilstien but ive heard nothing but good about the yellows.umm a closer to stock replacement would be tokiko prety cheap but bter than the 20 somethin year old coroded ones that are probly on the car.as far as lowering springs there is Eibach,H&R,Spax,Dobinson,suspension techniques,I think mabey another.i know the H&R and Eibach are both prety stiff and will give the car a decent ride drop of about 1-2 inches front and rear.if you want to go low low then dont bother with just shocks and springs youl probly be disapointed in the drop,the ride quality and handlleing will be there but that lowerd car drop you all think of wont.you will probly need to go with coilovers Ground controll makes a set to work with bilstiens and i think the konis as well just specift which set you have on the phone,they can be had for about 400-500usd,also check out racetep.com they have a ton of suspension goodies for the e21 and can help you get it all set up.ive heard great things aboud ledacoilovers a bit pricey but worth every cent around 2000usd.beefy sway bars are a good idea suspension techniques makes after market set i believe 25mm front 19mm rear. strut tower braces hartge makes a front you can get from wallothandnesch,theres also quite a few diferent aftermarket ones out there,racetep has a rear with a battery relocation tray. also polyurathane is good stuff. if you ever have to replace any bushings this is for sure the way to go!

What is best is really dependant on what you want I mean everyone on here might argue that one spring is better than the other but that just might be better for them it all depends on what you want to use the car for and what you want to put into it. so search around do some gogleing and have fun.

usefull links as far as suspension goes
this should get you started
bmpdesign.com
racetep.com
vacmotorsports.com
e21parts.net
bilstien.com
ground-control-store.com
wallothnesch.com
suspension-techniques.com
ebay.com

heres a link to a how to i did on the pacific northwest bimmer bratz site. prety cool little swap not to expensive a little gain in performance a good gain in sound!

http://pnwbb.com/forum2/index.php?showtopic=296

good writeup and cool idea, but we already have a misunderstanding. This is not the actual thread, you are not posting common mods, and your punctuation is so bad it's difficult to read.

The information you post needs to be easy to decipher. Use at least 1 space after periods, use paragraphs and organise your content so it flows logically, or use lists.

Edit: And in the actual thread, make sure you're posting actual hyper links (http://www.bavauto.com), not just typing "bavauto.com".

Yeah, It was pretty clear to me that this was just a discussion about making the topic. Not the actual topic, I guess some people misunderstood.

The actual thread needs to be very organized.

The first post should be an explination on what the thread is, basic info and stats about e21s, along with the links to vendors, writeups, and other useful info.

Then the following posts should be writeups/DIYs or other info people have to share.

I'm glad there's lots of interest in this idea. I guess I gotta do some homework on how to set up the thread and make sure that everything is in good grammar, proper format, etc. I'm goingto work on a template for organizing this. My first instincts would be to have a main link page that links a person to a separate section for certain mods or information. Otherwise the list will get nasty, just like this thread has. I want to avoid OT posting as much as possible because this will only work well if it is kept clean and organized. As well, I'd like to keep it quite compact in the sense that you cannot directly post into the thread, but you can post a link to your post on a topic. That way only a set of list I need to talk to a moderator about how to keep the format straight. If anyone has ideas about this, you can post in this thread, but I would appreciate a pm about it as I'm dedicated to making this happen for the forum and want pertinent format information expressed. As for actual information to be posted in it, I don't need it as much as I do set up information...

I'm glad there's lots of interest in this idea. I guess I gotta do some homework on how to set up the thread and make sure that everything is in good grammar, proper format, etc. I'm goingto work on a template for organizing this. My first instincts would be to have a main link page that links a person to a separate section for certain mods or information. Otherwise the list will get nasty, just like this thread has. I want to avoid OT posting as much as possible because this will only work well if it is kept clean and organized. As well, I'd like to keep it quite compact in the sense that you cannot directly post into the thread, but you can post a link to your post on a topic. That way only a set of list I need to talk to a moderator about how to keep the format straight. If anyone has ideas about this, you can post in this thread, but I would appreciate a pm about it as I'm dedicated to making this happen for the forum and want pertinent format information expressed. As for actual information to be posted in it, I don't need it as much as I do set up information...

Good idea... for write ups and other projects people have to share, they should definately not be posted directly in the thread, but like you said linked to their own seperate thread. Definately come up with a template so it's easy for people to follow.

I definately will try to contribute. I don't know how to do a ton of DIY stuff, yet, but I plan on documenting some of my projects with pictures so I can make a write up.

You can always edit the original post so that it "lives" with whatever additional info is posted. A general outline table of contents format should work fine. Any time someone adds a link to a DIY you can just add to the original post where ever it fits in the table of contents.

maybe a little crazy, but why dont you design a webite, it doesn't have to be fancy, i'm no genius at computers and web building, but www.freewebs.com is extremely easy to use. and instead of moderating the forums all the time, you can just have a link to the website in a stickyed thread, and post all the articles and whatnot on a seperate website so there's not random information everywhere. if you want i can help creat a website. on the home page, have pics of peoples rides, and then have seperate pages for each category of work.

(Example)
[nav bar]
Home
Suspension
Engine
Wheels and Tires
Exhaust, Headers, Intake
Electrical (lighting, wiring, switches, relays)
Interior
Exterior

The m20 swap, and other swaps like the m42 (nic) or S14 can be covered as well.

Converting USA bumpers to euros...

As a noob, I say GREAT idea! I think a database format based around specific systems might be nice...i.e. "would _____fit on an ______?" or for example:

M10 mods known to fit with no fabrication-> link to table
M10 mods known to fit with little fabrication-> link to table
M10 mods known to fit with much fabrication-> link to table
M10 mods known not to fit/be compatible -> link to table

and then within the tables, things could be organized by relative cost/effort. Does that make sense/is it a useful suggestion?

any suggestions people give will be usefull. unless theyre dumbwitted, but i think we are all smartwitted ppl here (well me sometimes anyway)

I like the idea.
You could call it: "Guide to E21 mods"
Noobs should get that title no prob.

I like this idea. It takes alot of work and effort so whoever does this prepare yourself. I'm willing to help anyway I can, and I got a buddy who makes tons of money off building websites, and I know he will help me out if we go the webpage route. We could make a sticky about this topic and just link the various links thru a table of contents for a clean and uniform look.

I also have some webdesign skills. I'm not too big on coding anymore, but I can come up with some sweet designs.

There is also lots of free database software available, to allow uploads and whatnot. I will have to find the link, but I found a neat php program not too long ago.

Thought I'd pitch in. E21bmw.net has this FAQ. Each topic (indicated by *) is a complation of emails, but isn't summarized in any way. I thought the organization was good though.

http://e21bmw.net/faq/index.php

BMW E21 Digest - FAQ ver 3.14

Last Updated - December 14, 2002
© 1998 Phil Clark / 2001 Brandon Whitehead

* New & Noteworthy
o Ellipsoid Light Conversion
o M20 Rebuilding
o Large Displacement M10 build-up
o Clutch Slave R & R
o E21 Stereo Installation (basic)
o Sunroof Intallation (incredibly long)
o Arne's Comments about Shocks/springs
o Unleaded vs Leaded fuel
o Euro City Lights / Euro Spec lighting
o Cold Air Intake
o Using ZYMOL
o Starter Remove and Replace
o BMW M10 4-cylinder head information

* 323i Specific
o 323i into a 320i
o Stock 323i parts
o 323i differences
o Euro rust

* Brakes
o Brake lines
o General Brake Upgrades
o Soft pedal / drum adjustment
o Vented rotor upgrade

* Electrical
o 323i Electrical problems
o Battery Relocation
o Dash Bulbs
o Diagnostic Connector
o Hazard Switch repair
o Headlamp upgrades
o Malfunctioning ebrake lite
o Power Mirror Problem
o Reverse lights

* Engine
o Carbon Buildup
o Checking K-Jet parts
o Compression testing
o Fuel Pump location
o Hard Starting
o Idle Problems
o Misfire / Hesitation at light throttle
o Pinging
o Setting K-Jet w / Lambda
o Surging Idle - Lambda
o Timing Chain
o Valve Adjustment

* Engine Performance & Upgrades
o Bolt on Modifications
o Camshafts
o Engine Performance results
o Engine Upgrades
o General Upgrades
o Ignition and Wires
o K & N Filterchargers
o Oil and Additives

* Exhaust & Emissions
o Catalytic converter
o EGR Reset
o Mufflers
o Oxygen Sensor (O2)

* Exterior
o Bumper modification
o Euro bumpers
o E30 Trunk Spoiler
o Windshield Replacement

* Heating & Cooling
o A/C Repair
o Coolant Tank Repair
o Electric Fan Rapair
o Overheating
o Radiators and Waterpumps
o Thermostats

* Interior
o Carpet & Pad removal
o Cluster Removal
o Leaky Trunk
o Seats
o Sunroof Drain Defect
o Water in Glovebox / on Floor

* Miscellaneous
o Autocrossing
o Buying - Selling - Restoring Tips
o Cosmoline / Waxy Residue Removal
o Difficult to Categorize
o Firewall Pad
o Jacking Points
o Lighted Key
o Model Differences
o Race History
o Spoiler Theft
o Winter Storage

* Suspension
o Bilstein part numbers
o Front End R&R questions
o The Notorious SHIMMY
o Spring Compressors
o Suspension Modifications
o Swaybar Bushings

* Transmission & Driveline
o Changing Transmission Fluid
o Driveshaft to Differential bolts
o E30 Getrag 240 Info
o Guibo Replacement
o Limited Slip Differential (LSD) Identification
o Redline MTL (manual transmission lube)
o Stiff Shifting and Grinding

* Wheels & Tires
o 15 inch Rim Info
o Alignment
o Interpreting Tire Wear
o Tire Info
o Wheel Fitment (non stock wheels)

did this idea go down the shitter? cuz i dont think it should.

this idea rocks, will become useful for me

Damn. I have been working on a full thread for as many mods as I can think of for weeks. Hope this isn't the Major thread. I have been formating mine to be very neat and detailed.:( I'll keep working on it anyway...

OK. I acctually have been working on this for a couple months. Just embarassed that it's not finished yet.:rolleyes

thanks for you work barry, i was just making sure noone forgot about it, as it is an excellent idea.