Barn Find - The Original BMW 3 Series: E21 323i - Project Castellón: Part 1 

The only RU-vid channel where a 42 minute video isn’t long enough

This is actually the first channel I've considered buying merch for

My uncle got me into cars and this is the very first BMW 3 series he had, but it was a 320. I loved it. Peppy engine, manual, built like a tank and felt like the ultimate driving machine, from the passenger seat at least... He later had a 528, 733 and a fabulous manual red 535i which I had the chance to drive. He's the best uncle anyone could have. I was just 18 when he threw me the keys for his 733 and told me to get some cigarettes for him. He must've already have cigarettes but he knew I loved his car. Imagine, 18 and driving around in a new 733 with my brother. Let's say I took the long way home... I could go on talking about him but I dont want to bore you... GOAT uncle. Love u Andre.

I hope you get 1M+ subs and all the money you need to develop this channel further. It deserves way more attention.

This is like waiting for a new episode of the Clarkson Top Gear back in the day. One of the best channels on RU-vid.

This is, hands down, the best car channel in all of RU-vid. The amount of work you put in those videos is astonishing! It's a pleasure to watch such a through job being executed on old "turds"! Also, respect for keeping everything OEM and not going to town on the modifications. These cars deserve to be kept as clean as when they left the factory. Greetings from Bulgaria!

As a truck driver myself, thank you for letting the man sleep. Even tho you talking around the e21 is probably what woke him up haha

Me: Time to go to bed, it's midnight RU-vid: M539 Restos has a new 42-minute video Me: Aw fuk

My father owned a 323i. I grow up in this car. Every 1000km we noticed where we are with it. When he came home in the evening I heard the motor from far away. When he sold it for a E30 325i I was in tears. A wunderful car.

Your channel is addicting because of your hard work, love and passion for what you do. You live up to the challenges that come your way in life. I salute such a man. Positive thoughts from the mountains of Utah in the US.

I'm 51, and when i was young dreamed of this car. Go ahead!! , car worth it

Best restoration channel on YT. You can tell when Sreten is really excited about a car - he forgets to be sarcastic 🤣

when the key for the ignition worked i literally felt happy lol

This going to need a lot of carbon fibre towels to clean I see.

Drive Tribe need to interview this guy.. they need to throw an enormous light on him and show the world just how good he is..

Massive respect to the delivery driver, delivering his best times, being woken up and helping to push before carrying on with his day, incredible. Top tap for top tip to him too @M539 Restorations, you're the best.

Yeah!!! i love to work on e21´s! the sound of the engine is amazing! If you want i can send you a pdf with old service manuals for the e21 cheers from Argentina!

Hey Sreten, concerning the K-Jetronic. It is most elegant and probably dreaded injection system at the same time. ;-) Totally mechanical except for fuel pump and every part of it is interconnected so it is nightmare to debug. There is nice introduction manual from Bosch that you really need to read to figure out what is going on where and why. Do not try to move the air flow meter flap by hand on dry fuel system. There is precisely ground piston in the fuel distributor and you can score it if it is dry. Rebuild of distributor and warm up regulator will be probably necessary after 26 years. It did not work for me but it is worth a try. I have older cast iron V8 version of the system that in the end needed remanufacturing from company that has the original test bed and plans from Bosch. Good luck with the K-Jetronic life. It can be .... fun. :-)

Good to see something “old “ in the Chanel a proper BMW , Cheers you will enjoy this one !

After watching one of M539 Restorations videos: "Now I´m truly motivated. I´m gonna replace my front anti roll bar droplinks right now!" 15 minutes later: "I don´t know how to jack up my stupid car..." Congratulations. Your work, besides of being phenomenal, is really inspiring for us.

42 minutes of goodness.. This little 3 series is gonna be a pocket rocket.. #SleeperAlert 😎

That car comes from my land, Valencia. I hope you enjoy it and we will be attentive to the restoration. Whenever you want, you are invited to Valencia to taste a good paella.

This is THE BEST CAR CHANNEL on the net.

I owned a 320i 1981 in the same exterior color, so this color was offered for at least two years 1980 & 1981. Mine had dark brown glass and also a dark brown color theme for the interior. Had that car for a few years and have always regretted selling it, they were well built cars. Greatly appreciate your channel.

I'm Charles and this is my favorite YT channel on the Citadel!

Sreten: Are you excited? me : Hell yeah !!!

Wow, the Dodge is awesome. It is the kind where the engine sits between the front seats under a wide cover. A guy I know had one with a Hemi V8, and it could do wheelies. He used to show it off at the race tracks. The coolest thing about this old Dodge is that since the front is flat, and you sit close to it, you feel like you are going faster than you really are. That is a good thing, because, unless they have a V8, the are not fast.

The 1984 323i was my first BMW that I bought brand-new. Euro delivered in Zurich and broke it in on my way to visit my elderly mom in Finland. I had a Helsinki BMW dealer perform the first service and I couldn't wait to open up the throttle on the autobahn...smiled all the way while cruising flat-out at 125 mph for 45 minutes. Mine had all the sport options (steering wheel, seats, rear spoiler) plus dealer installed 15" BBS wheels...awesome car! Prost!

*notification that another M539 Restorations video is uploaded* Sreten: Cooooooming up! Me: *brings snacks and beverage to enjoy best minutes of my day* As always, excellent video, just keep going and keep it OEM ;). Cheers from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

This is the car that made me love BMW when I was about 14.

this reminds me of my 1977 320i that i purchased as a fixer upper back in the 80's. loved that car. wish i had it today.

Where the glory of the 3 series ignited. Best desicion you made to make it your own BMW legend. Wish you all best with this beauty...

The remote idea of restoring an E21 323i made me look for specific YT content. This made me hook up with Sreten. Now this. I am as happy as one can be. Thank you for choosing your way Sreten, well done!

Prices of e21’s in Germany after this video: *stonks*

Man, I fell off the chair when I saw the gearbox... do you know how RARE the 5-speed option was on the E21? Check it out, there can't be more than a handful of these still around! The fabulous "dogleg" 5-speed 'box is reason enough to give this beauty a full restoration!

I want an old BMW like this one so bad for a tasteful restomod/oem+ build. A light and small-ish RWD car like this must feel amazing on the road.

This channel only gets better and better, no boring staff, I love you my friend.

Nice 👍 What a lovely green ‘Nissan’ you’ve found.

My roommate had one of these when we lived in “West Germany” back in the late 1980s. What was weird is, it was a 1978 and he had it in 1988..seemed like an old car then.....but now, we would not consider a 2011 BMW an “old” car. Lots of Air Force guys had these cars then..I remember them well. Good stuff.

My favorite car youtuber

Holy, that merc truck with the bmw on the back looks so damn amazing

I have a soft spot for this car in my heart, growing up in Lebanon this car was (and still to this day) very popular esp for speed lovers, you can still see them occasionally on the roads, feeling nostalgic when I see one, thanks for saving this one.

I find all of your projects very exiting, but this one is the most exiting for me. And that is because this is the car that learned me to drive properly and fast. I was 19, and not many people could afford a car like that. But one of my friend's dad did, and sometimes, my friend and I, "borrowed" it and drew it. We got caught one day, and we were afraid of the consequences. But he, luckily for us, was a greater man than us, and said: "I will let each of you drive me downtown and back. If I am satisfied with your driving I will let you borrow the car "legally" this time. If not, I will make your lives a living hell!" We were undescribable happy to find out that we passed the test and from that day on, we were try guys passionate about cars, and continued to be friends. This car was a pretty fast car at the time (it kind of still is today) and if you were to have fun driving it, you had to learn how a fast car should be driven. I really hope that you will succeed in fully restoring this car. I know you have the passion, and you are just the right guy for the job, and I hope that you will also have the necessary means to be able to carry out the project. Good luck to you, and my best regards 🙋‍♂️😎🚘

Such a nice weekend for a new M539 video, don't leave us hanging!

I'm super excited for the project! I even became a patreon for the first time in my life because I love your quality and your content so much 😀. Best RU-vid channel I've ever came across. Been here almost from the beginning.

My parents had a 1980 BMW 318i in the same olive green when I was a kid. I grew up driving it. You brought so many memories back :)

I saw Nissan on the tarp and was a bit bothered. Thank goodness you did not fall away from our beloved BMWs. Excited to see how this one works out.

My dad had a 316, collected from the factory in Munich, and we always lusted after the 323i - this is fucking cool - put down the cologne, this is restoration for men...................more shit like this man!

This is time-travel for BMW fans…thank you for your passion! I hope the Sweden car is an e28 M5…

I can't wait to see what car you bring from Sweden, though I'm mostly excited to see what part of Sweden it's from because I can guarantee everyone reading this that it won't be nearly as sexy-sounding as your other projects... Coooming up: Project tRolLHäTtAN

Netflix, you're dismissed. You just have nothing to offer that's more entertaining than M539. Not gonna lie: I was hoping this for a long time. So relieved this showed up from underneath the tarp!

I have so many memories aboard this wonderful car that I bought second hand in 1997 in mouse gray color in Toulouse, and which was unfortunately stolen and destroyed a few months later ... I dream of driving one. again someday! Thank you for saving these mythical cars from destruction! Respect and good job Bro!

Stumbled across this channel couple weeks ago and haven’t stopped watching it since and subscribed right away!

Good luck restoring this gem! Nice to see something new here, not just V12s ;)

This car came out when I was a freshman in college. At the time I was driving my first car which was a 1979 Volkswagen Scirocco. Colibrí green metallic. I loved German cars then and I still do. I currently have three BMWs. One of which is a 2009 E 90 which I now do fixes on because I got inspired by this channel.

I had a E21 six 320 carb model. It was over 20yrs old and in great nick, I bought it for £300.00 and used it for 6 months whilst on a long holiday in Europe from Oz. Drove it all over, France, Spain etc. The engine just purred along, I loved it.

Ah, receiving the notification on a new video from this channel is something else ! 👌 Greetings from Croatia 👋

I've pulled apart a couple of old engines that put up nearly perfect compression and leakdown numbers, burned no oil, and seen cylinders in about that condition, including an old NSX Motor that had pitted rust in some cylinders at TDC and still did 225psi+ on compression test! So I'm hoping we'll be pleasantly surprised!

This is bringing back sweet memories. I used to own one of these. Actually that's when BMW did infect me with it's dna. Once BMW, always BMW. Even if it drains your wallet completely ... Thank you Sreten for bringing such plesant feelings watching your videos!

The best channel on youtube. I haven't skipped a minute.

The eclectic mix of American cars that end up in your area is fascinating.

I don’t know how it works, but when I see news from this person - I always smile and know that I will get quality content.

My favourite BMW, and I love BMWs. My Dad had an E21 when I was growing up, I spent many many hours in the back on long journeys. Absolutely love them, I'm going to watch this with great interest!

Really excited about this project. As a kid visiting Stuttgart every summer, I’d see them all over the place in the 80’s.

I'm really excited for this one! Back in the early '90s, I bought a 1977 320i. I live in Arizona, so the car had zero rust on it. I fixed it up and painted it ruby red and it looked like you could dive into it and go swimming! I was a blast to drive. I like the Euro spec bumpers better than the ones that are on the North American cars like mine, though.

YES! YES! YES! M539 YOU ARE LEGEND!!!!!!!!! This was my the first car I ever bought - absolutely in love with these old e21's!! you just upped your level from LEGEND TO LEGENDARY!!! Can't wait for this series!

This my friend is going to be the wicked and coolest build ever on the Internet. Absolute brilliance in those days BMW. The 323i and then the mid eighties 325i . My favourite one ever. I'm going to be glued to this.

Yes! Finally an oldie. E21’s are so rare in UK now, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a 323 manual, always autos. Really looking forward to this resto!

ok im jealous . ok ja im super happy for you . now please begin to restore this legend

What a fantastic car! Good luck restoring this one. This channel never fails to pick up everyone's mood during the week

When you are accustomed to working on modern BMWs and you have a classic E21, it is nice to see that you are also working on a classic BMW since you are a BMW mechanic technician, thank you for saving a classic BMW which shows you can work on any type of BMW,👌👌👌👌👌👍👍👍👍

Shit! This channel is so fucking underrated You deserve AT LEAST 1 million subscribers I always share your videos with my friends and they love them Keep it up, man

Much love from South Africa 🇿🇦

this is one of the few channels where i first like the video then i watch

Better than any Nissan out there! Good you kept the BMW rescue tradition...

I'm 44 by now and bought this car for around 2000 German Mark back in the mid 90s. I often think about the time when i drove the 323i. One thing: the K-Jetronik is a pain in the ass to get properly working 😄 can't wait to see the next episode.

Yesterday: Car Trek/Tavarish Today: Sreten/M539Restorations Best 2 days in the row ❤️

Svaki auto-entuzijast voli gledati i raditi na dobrom projektu a ovo je definitivno jedan od tih. Želim ti puno strpljenja sa ovim projektom i da što više objavljuješ ima nas dosta koji uživamo gledati ovakav sadržaj. Pozdrav iz 🇧🇦

Thank you for it not being a Nissan I was so uneasy but was still going to watch with 1 eye open

I love this channel so much, I need 12 hour videos as 42 minutes is not long enough. I also will be ordering a hoodie 👍 Can't wait for this 323i episodes. Just wish I had a garage with 10 lifts I could let you use and help you with your work, best restorer on RU-vid 👍

I love the 323i. Such an amazing looking Piece of History. Can´t wait for more Content!

I'm from Argentina and I'm obsessed with your channel lol

Oh man... What a beauty

Its because he is authentic. You can share the enthusiasm. Even the commercial plugs aren't painful and seem authentic too. Perhaps because they lack the common US overkill, honestly not trying to be offensive. Like when you watch a movie that isn't typically Hollywood, can be so refreshing

Ooooooh my DAYS! Could I BE any more excited?! Beemers ✅ Being Restored ✅ Old Beemers ✅ Old Beemers Being Restored ✅✅✅ 😍 I haven’t even watched it yet and I just *know* this is going to be my fave of all the series you’ve done! 😍 Both the E21 and E28 adorn the walls of my studio, someday one of them might adorn the driveway too! Thanks for rescuing this beaut! 😎👍

Fantastic!!! Another video from Sreten! The next 41 minutes and 34 seconds are going to be *AWESOME*, I just know it! Salutations from halfway across the globe and along the Equator (Kenya).

Cool Bimmer ! Hope you get that fully restored. Glad it's getting a full respray in original colour too. BTW that Dodge only had 3217.6 miles! The white number is the fraction of the mile

Found this channel during the lockdown. Really enjoy it. Thanks so much

Kind of a nice birthday present for me lol this video. My dads first car was a e21 323i as well, which is going through restoration at the moment as well. Have fun with it!

I lost it when touching the sunshade yielded a sound similar to the one you get when you squeeze a potato chip bag. LMAO She really was a thing of glory, hope you'll make a nice restauration!

Great. My first car was a one-owner E21 323i. Blue-Metallic with BBS- Front- and Rear-Spoiler and the same Rims. My was a Chrome-Mirror model. I'm so happy to see this car at your Chanel.

I don't know anything about this legend, glad you bought it, share every research and lesson learn on the way to resurrection! Pam pam pam pam.....

Welcome to the Classic BMW scene. This comment is one more to congratulate your passion for cars, thee BMWs. And because i am a classic car fan, having owned 2 BMW 2002s and a E12 525, it is with immense pleasure to watch you working on an E21! P.S. Glad you are keeping it! Decision well taken.

Your channel motivates so much to work on cars by myself. Full support to you and keep up these thrilling projects!

Olive green one of those classic, rare colours that look so good,

I was excited to see you begin an E21 project. I bought mine new in 1979, a 320i which was my daily driver up here in Maine. I owned an insurance agency business and traveled throughout this large state year round in those days to see clients. In winter I fitted steel wheels with studded tires: absolutely necessary in that car in deep winter. In two and a half years I put over 100,000 miles on that car and loved it a lot. It was expensive as I made sure the dealer's service department was VERY thorough as I did not want the car to fail somewhere a hundred miles from the nearest stop light in the middle of the night. The car could have been used for years, but the first signs of body rust were appearing and because I also insured the Audi dealer, I bought a new (1982) Audi Coupe (NOT Quattro) which proved to be a terrible car for driving around this rural state with it's rough and uneven road surfaces. The E21 was resold to someone who lived in the central part of the state and I saw the car about three years later. At that point the rust had developed so that virtually all panel lines appeared outlined in red from the rust. That was my last BMW that I loved. I replaced the Audi Coupe with a new 1983 BMW 318i and that proved to be the worst car that I have ever owned, with transmission synchros that BMW never did get repaired and a totally unreliable cylinder head design that apparently pushed fuel over the exhaust valve. With the gasoline available here, the head was forever developing carbon and the head AND transmission in my car were both rebuilt twice by BMW under warranty before 60,000 miles. Good luck with the 323i as back in the day one of those was something that I was really hungry for although here in the US it was never available.

This is actualy a really great time capsule for its age

When I see a notification from this channel I leave my work and I sit down and watch no matter what. We all can say that Sreten makes us happy. Keep on😊👍😎

I had the identical car when i was 20yrs old (now 55) it was a right hand drive & mine had front & rear BBS bodykit & rear rubber boot spoiler, i loved that car so much.

Looking for more vídeos of this e21. I also own a 1979 320/6 e21, you are going to love the driving of it. Very responsive engine, and low weight car. Just need better brakes, and some decent lowering springs, since you already have those yellow bilsteins. Greetings from Portugal. Love the content of the channel. You are a bmw sorcerer 😁😁