STATUS UPDATE: WE ARE BACK! (NOV 2025)

It was quite funny, realising that the last status update was posted ONE YEAR before here! I can't keep up with the blog, it's true. But, as for 2025, the same can't be told for the little Rolla. 

We will break it on three parts, one for the Rolla, one for the Bimmer and the last, on what comes next. Let's go. 

1. Daily "Issues" 

To be clear, as for the chapter title: Bimmer runs perfect and good. What I see on her as issue, is the lack of power. Acceptable when travelling, nightmare when fun-time intensifies. OK, reliability was the main point on the daily, but there were times (i.e when we visited Meteora, Greece) "screaming" for 100-150 more hp! 

Quite nothing changed on the Bimmer, just the consumables. We completed two big roadtrips with her, 700 kilometres each, one on Trikala for the Greek Youngtimers 7th Meet and a tour on Chalkidiki (N.Marmaras/Sarti/Toroni), with no issues at all! 

As we speak, winter tyres are on and we are ready for snow season. I beleive it is time for a small video here, so keep looking, mountain is calling! 

2. Bucket List 

Yes, exactly what the title says: back on January a long list was made, with full details for what is needed to buy, what is already bought and what has still to be done with the Rolla. And, somehow worked: everything goes under plan and, unless something goes completely wrong, we are racing at 2026! 

The biggest "headache" was the engine. Back on 2023, we had to repair it fast and roughly, in order to just keep moving until the Bimmer was road-legal again. December of 2023 found me without car, because the Rolla broke again. My main thought was that the cheap repair on the cilynder head of the 5E-FE engine did not last, but it was not the time yet to find the true reason. Months later and after an ankle fracture that kept me only shopping parts, the engine was dissasembled, only to find out that everything was perfect! What caused the breakdown issue were more electric issues of the car, finding it out while working on the head removal. She was carefully restored, new sockets and sensors installed were it was needed, new spark cables replaced the NGK blues I used. It was time to bring the engine back on life and this was WILD! 

As an N/A lover, I'd like driving the Rolla with a 4A-GE engine on. On the other hand, it's not the time to blow the budget for a car that moves 3-4 times a year. Also, we have a running engine on, that can be used for expreriment and DIY stuff. An that was exactly what I did, DIY all the way! Port polishing on the head's intake, thinner headgasket, new bolts, some road-illegal(!!!) timing and it was revving again. 

Compression raised from 9.4/1 to 10.8/1 and we expect some 110+- hp. And as I said before, it revs wild. Not higher than before, but wild. Exhaust and intake are the nexts to be done, an Aeromotive-type FPR and bigger injectors will be later installed. Also, we need to do something with the cams, possibly a reprofile, and an ECU (piggyback or standalone) is possibly needed. Other than that, transmission and peripherals stayed as is. 

The biggest transformation is on the interior. I had to re-do all the wiring of the gauges in order to be more "professional", a master switch was installed, the car's battery moved at the back for better weight distribution, custom door cards were made. In order to finish inside, we need to make the seat mounts and refresh the colour of the cabin's floor. I believe the interior needs a standalone post when it is finished, as it turns out sweet! 

Progress was also done on the outside, not so much though as I am leaving it last for some reason. Hood pins and rear door custom locking installed, a new livery is underway and the only parts to finish the look is a front bumper and a custom splitter. 

3. 2026 is coming! 

As I said before, the main focus is to finish the project for now and race the Rolla on 2026. That, of course doesn't mean that we will stop improving her. Lexan windows, a basic roll cage and many more upgrades are considered. But racing her without issues, after 2+ years of absence is the main goal we have to achieve. 

As for the Bimmer, I believe it's time for a change. I'm looking for the perfect replacement, not in a hurry though, as I want a fun to drive car, not something just to move around. I can't decide whether it will be rwd again, fwd or 4wd... What I already decided, is that the next one will be powerful!