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Overdue Update: Jeff’s Farm Find 320/6

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You may recall (and I don’t blame you if you’ve forgotten) that I acquired a 1980 BMW 320/6 earlier this year, hidden on a farm in Connecticut. I bought it from the second owner, who purchased the car from the original owner when he lived overseas. Well, the motor has been removed and collecting dust in a machine shop for close to six months, but fortunately, the rest of the project is moving ahead thanks to the team at Oxford Motorcars, where I’ve stored the vehicle until it’s time to come home. Over the last few months, the following projects have been tackled:

-New suspension installed (shocks, springs, mounts, bushings, tie rods, control arms)
-New front rotors and pads; new rear drums and shoes
-New fuel lines installed
-New stainless steel brake lines installed
-Gas tanks removed and professionally cleaned
-Axles rebuilt

The team at Oxford will be wrapping up the rear suspension in the next few days, along with re-installing the gas tanks, sending unit, new exhaust and rebuilt driveshaft. Fingers crossed that the engine shop will *hopefully* be ready to begin their phase of the work so we can have the motor buttoned up before the end of the year. I also have a set of gorgeous 15×7 basketweave wheels ready to go on, and I can’t wait to see how they look when the 320’s suspension settles with the new lowering springs and Bilstein shocks.

I’ll keep you guys updated on the 320 along with some new projects showing up soon!

Comments

  1. Jamie Palmer Jamie Staff

    Cool!!! Be sure to keep us informed of progress!

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  2. Josh Staff

    That’s awesome Jeff! Thanks for the update!

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  3. Todd Zuercher

    Following.

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  4. Scotty Staff

    Nice work, sir!

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  5. rdc

    Still a modern looking car.

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  6. Preston

    Very Cool

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  7. KO

    I’m chomping at the bit, can only imagine what you’re going through Jeff.

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  8. Jeff V

    My first car outta the Navy in ’79 was a first year new body design ’77 320i, it had the 2L motor (later used a 1.8L for the 318i & ’78 I believe). Luved it. Got side-swiped by an 18 wheeler cruising around Dallas on business, made it back to WI. though. They still use that basic shape today!

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  9. Rich

    Nice find! Of course, I may be biased as to my choice of cars, lol

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    • Jeff Staff

      Very nice! What front valence / air dam is that?

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  10. Craig

    Classic lines, my faves though are the e39, the vin on these starts with WBAD. I have a 2000 540Msport 6 speed manual with about 160k that I dearly love but my wife won’t let me put any more money into. It needs a new home, I’m considering proposing a reverse barn find, some one who wants a weekend warrior and would restore it. All major work has been done. Recent timing chain and alternator, she is a beast, a real handful and fun to drive. Silver with titanium finish tuning fork rims. As close as you can get to an M at a fraction of the cost.

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    • Clinton

      One day I will own an E39 M5 but if you are looking for someone to care for the 540 6spd I’d be more than happy to do so.

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      • Craig

        Clinton, email me, vudutu@yahoo.com, where are you located? We got a 2011 328 until I find our unicorn, a 330 wagon that’s any color but black with Dakota tan leather interior. Good luck with your project Jeff!

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  11. TdF 83

    What was the 323 then if this is a 320i 6?

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    • Jeff Staff

      323 was a bigger motor and fuel injected. This is a 2.0 with a carb. Both inline sixes, however.

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      • TdF 83

        Looks like the 323 had a 2.3 six with injection, the 320 /6 2.0 with a 4 barrel carb from Wiki
        320/6-1977-1981,2.0 L M20 carb,90 kW (121 hp),Twin 6-cylinder, Solex 4-barrel downdraft carburetor
        323i 1979-1981,2.3 L M20 injected 105 kW (141 hp),Twin 6-cylinder, K-Jetronic fuel-injection

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  12. Curtis J Henshaw

    Looking good!

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  13. Curtis

    I am curious. Was this “320/6” a hot rod or was it an economy play like the “E”.

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    • Jeff Staff

      Not really a hot rod but not an economy model, either – my interpretation of the marketing strategy was to provide more entry-level buyers with access to the smoothness of an inline six. Get ’em hooked and then graduate them to the more powerful models. There were plenty of poverty spec options in Europe, like the 318 (that didn’t come stateside).

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  14. Woodie Man

    After the Shah of Iran was ousted in 1979, all of the Shah supporting folks seemed to turn up in SoCal spreading their …..umm…wealth around. They all seemed to drive these 320’s and their variants….we called them “Iranian War Wagons”………….there were so many of them on the freeways.

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  15. Kevin Brennan

    Cool…really nice car!

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    • Jeff Staff

      Thank you sir!

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