derBayerische September/October 2024 - 20
T O T A L T R A N S F O R M A T I O N : A 1 9 8 6 3 2 5 E T H A T T U R N S H E A D S
Valega explains, " A friend called me at 2:00 a.m. and
said he found an original M-Tech I kit in Europe.
It was the whole kit-front and rear bumpers,
chrome, side skirts, and trunk spoiler. And it was all
original parts-not a replica. In that time, it was
expensive, but I think I got it for a good price. "
Valega laughs that when attempting to send money
for the kit, PayPal locked his account and wouldn't
let the transaction go through, so he spent the next
four hours on the phone to get it resolved and make
the purchase. The M Tech I kit arrived, it was painted
to match the 325e's Alpine White paint, and
installed on the 325e. The previously installed " iS "
front valance and Kamei kit were sold and transferred
to a friend's car.
To achieve the desired stance, Valega has gone
through a few suspension systems, ultimately
picking a set of Godspeed adjustable coilovers.
" They're cheap, but they're good, " he says. However, don't count on this being
the last suspension swap, as he is already exploring new options.
The adjustable suspension lowers the E30's bodywork over some of the
finest rolling automotive jewelry available: a set of Ehrlich Wheel Works threepiece
BBS RS317s measuring 17x8 " ET26 in the front and 17x9 " ET13 in the
rear. Valega couldn't be more pleased with the quality and fitment, saying,
" I'm super happy because no spacers are required. They're just perfect. "
While seventeen-inch wheels sometimes look out of place on the E30 chassis,
these EWW BBS 317s look as if the car was
originally designed with them in mind. You can't go
wrong with a set of BBS weaves on an E30 chassis,
but these are truly next level.
This 325e isn't just a garage queen as it has
made appearances up and down the East Coast, at
events like the East E30 Picnic, the Vintage, and the
Cherry Blossom Run, in addition to the regular
weekend stops at local Cars and Coffee gatherings.
Valega has certainly taken his love of the
marque to a level beyond most. Having owned over
30 BMWs in the last decade and a stable that
currently consists of an E39 M5, E39 540i, E53 X5
4.6is, E46 M3, and E82 135i, his 1986 325e is still
the favorite and the keeper. He smiles and says,
" I love how the car looks. You know, when you park
your car and walk away, and turn back to look at it?
I say, 'Wow, my car looks nice.' " He added, " I told
my son, if something happened to me, you can sell all my cars, but not this
one. This one is promised for my granddaughter, Antonella. "
Bringing this full circle by referring back to the E30-era cartoon Captain
Planet, perhaps the most important element in the show, and any successful
automotive project for that matter, is heart. Given Jerry Valega's love for his
family, which extends to the BMW community, it's no wonder how a bone stock
1986 325e was totally transformed into the jaw-dropping piece of automotive
art that it is today.
■ (Above) Jerry Valega, or " Abu Jerry " as his granddaughter calls him, proudly displays a tattoo with his granddaughter's and grandson's names.
(Below) Jerry standing next to his 325e at the Cherry Blossom Run.
20
derBayerische
derBayerische September/October 2024
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of derBayerische September/October 2024
derBayerische September/October 2024 - Intro
derBayerische September/October 2024 - Cover1
derBayerische September/October 2024 - Cover2
derBayerische September/October 2024 - 1
derBayerische September/October 2024 - 2
derBayerische September/October 2024 - 3
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