Welcome to our BMW E30 based Marlin Sportster Build Site,
we hope you will find this documentation interesting and helpful.
The site has grown massively since its inception in 2005, I hope to one day soon improve the navigation as it's a bit overwhelming to start with. The main areas of interest to builders will be:
The rolling chassis build
Bodywork Fitting
SVA Issues
Final Assembly
If you would like read about the build in date order then have a look at his page.
It took 2.5 years to build the car and pass SVA and a lot longer to get to where it is now! To see the Sportster out on the road have a look at one of the videos here.
During 2008 we rebuilt the BMW engine from 2.5 to a 2.8 creating an M20B28 stroker engine. It uses the crankshaft from the later BMW M52B28 and the conrods from the M20B20. Not much more work is needed other than a clean up, slotting those bits together and a crank spacer. To read about the engine build click here (very picture heavy!)
Finally in March 2009 it was painted, a full set of images is here.
To read the whole build from the start click here.
28/06/2005
Wheel
27/06/2005
Ball joints
Steering Wheel should be here soon, all that is needed now is the steering rack and front shocks to test fit the front and get everything in the right place.
Having some issues with the brake lines. I have finally figured out where all the braided hoses are supposed to go, but none of the copper tubes seem to have the correct connectors on them. That means I will need a joiner, if such a thing exists, or get new pipes made up.
19/06/2005
Rear test fit
The AVO rear dampers are working very well. Although I had to use the standard plastic covers as the ones that came with the dampers were not quite long enough.
11/06/2005
Construction begins
The spring seats don't line up - going to have to talk to Marlin about this.
New gallery to go with the start of construction: Click me
10/06/2005
Bushes
01/06/2005
New bits!
30/05/2005
Restoration & new clutch
26/05/2005
New parts ordered
Also ordered new bushes for the rear swing arms, new links for the rear anti roll bar and a gasket for the throttle butterfly.
Need more carb cleaner for the intake manifold as well!
Still need to decided if I am going to replace the water pump or not.
Should be getting more stuff from Frost soon as well.