E30 bodywork specialist staffordshire/west mids

Fri Feb 18, 2011 11:06 am

Im looking for someone who can sort my rear arches out/ two rear inner arches/ small hole in the battery tray on my e30. Ive been recommended a few bodyshops, but none are bmw specialists or e30 experienced.

Anyone have any recommendations?
Thanks

Sat Feb 19, 2011 12:35 pm

In the same boat myself mate.

A couple of weeks ago I was dropping my girlfriend off to pick her car up from an auto-electricians and noticed across the road a bodywork place. Popped in and a chap there called Steve had a look over my rear arches and boot lip that needs sorting. They're not E30 specialists but he said he'd had one in a couple of weeks ago and I think that was for arches as well.

They had a couple of mark one Escorts in there and seemed to be converting cars for track. They do a lot of welding, installing roll cages etc. Showed me round some of the cars in there and their work looked to be really tidey. He had a Cosworth and a 206 outside that he said they had done some bodywork and respraying on and all looked to match up nicely in respect to paint.

Not sure about pricewise as not had many quotes yet, but for the outer arches he quoted £180-200 per side including welding in new arch and painting up.

Steve gave me a card : AMAGINEERING Motorsport, Unit 1, Mick Baileys Ind Est, Canal Street, Longport, ST6 4LU. 07921 789110.

Just out of interest where else have you found? Have you had any quotes?

Would be good to find more of an E30 specialist around here though. Anyone?

Sat Feb 19, 2011 1:14 pm

try pm'ing DanThe off here, he's around your area, im sure he'll be up for it...

Sat Feb 19, 2011 1:38 pm

Surely a decent body shop is all thats needed? Not a BMW specialist. When it comes to body work arnt near enough all cars the same? Obviously good to see their work before commiting.

Sun Feb 20, 2011 1:08 pm

Bodyshops are very hit and miss. There are plenty of 'decemt' ones about, but when it comes to getting a job done 100% so that it is properly done and sealed so that it won't rot again, only Beardymatt (in Sheffield) on here is worth contacting. You'll probably get a cheaper quote, but that's always the way. It depends on how much you want to spend and how long you're keeping the car for.

Sun Feb 20, 2011 1:25 pm

how many e30s in your city/area do you think ? how many get welded/painted regular/a year ? not that many , so "e30 bodywork specialists" are in themselves going to be a rare thing, just the odd e30 entheusiast who works in a bodyshop whos done a few over the years is the closet youl come, you should just be looking for a retr/classic car/restoration type specialist, not an e30 specialist, but then such a specilist wilol charge more and rightly so than somewhere thats just an every day family car type bodyshop that does more scratches and light repair crash work to new cars

i should imagine any workshop thats got a lot of old fords, mk1 escorts etc and cossies about the workshop, will be a decent enough/expirienced with older motors

Sun Feb 20, 2011 2:05 pm

Thanks for the bigup Andy

It is certainly true that any competent bodyshop should be capable of doing the work but its nice to know the person actually doing the work knows his way around the car well and is enthusiastic about them.

I have undertaken work from several Zoners including The diddler, He30, Dr firefly, BMWe30mtech and billgatese30 plus others i have forgotten about, some of which have threads detailing the work. Diddlers is recomended reading in particular. I also have a thread in zone gold detailing the rebuild of my sport.

I am currently in the process of opening a new bodyshop after splitting with my former business partner and will be in a better position to take on work of this type as in my previous shop we relied heavily on insurance work which always took priority.

Sun Feb 20, 2011 6:12 pm

I can vouch for Matt's work. Anyone who has done bodywork on these cars knows were the cancer can hide. Matt is a excellent fabricator and a welding artisan. Well worth the journey to get a professional job done.

Sun Feb 20, 2011 7:21 pm

I recently got quoted £400ish for a rear arch repair, with me providing the replacement panel (£40) and paint (£??), and them doing the labour, so probably £500 in total.

£180 per side is a nice price.

Sun Feb 20, 2011 7:28 pm

@ Beardy Mat - I'll keep you in mind when I come to getting my chromie done I think... Need someone I can trust and who will do a proper job... How far would I need to go though for a full respray? Complete strip down to a rolling shell or is this something you would do as well? Not sure when i'm gonna have it done, but I really need it doing and ALL the rust sorting on every part...

Sun Feb 20, 2011 7:52 pm

Im in the east midlands, based in Warwickshire. Im currently sticking my Tech 2 back together, but other examples of work are here: http://www.retro-revival.co.uk/

Mods feel free to delete my post if you see it as advertising!

Sun Feb 20, 2011 8:42 pm

If you want the job perfect there is no doubt Beardymat is your man. Take a look at this thread....
http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... c&t=149570

Obviously someone this skilled isn't going to cut any corners. If your looking to make do and mend I wouldn't waist his time.

Sun Feb 20, 2011 9:12 pm

I'm looking for absolute perfection to be honest, so needs to be taken back to the shell, just wondering if he did this aswell or if I would need to strip it down then get it on the back of a truck up to him.

If I get it stripped it here at home then I would consider getting it 'dipped' too before hand to remove any existing rust... Then what ever needed welding, that could also be done here in Leicester, although if Mat is capible then I would prefer him to take it on as a whole rather than just parts....

Anyway, need to see if he is interested first!

Sorry to the OP as I have hijacked your thread a bit.

Sun Feb 20, 2011 9:43 pm

Hi Jim, you should have pinned me and e30topless (steve) down at the mids meet. We are looking at working together on projects like this in future. We are currently undertaking a rebuild on an M3 where steve will strip the car and refurb the mechanicals whilst i get the bodywork sorted. This car may well also be dipped depending on what we find. Working this way suits me on the bigger (full resto) jobs as it leaves me able to concentrate on the body repair.

Stripping and refitting yourself as Diddler did can save you a few quid but isnt recomended if you havnt got masses of storage and a very understanding wife/girlfriend/boyfriend/partner/parents. delete as applicable.

Sun Feb 20, 2011 9:50 pm

Fook me Steve and Matt working your a car for you. Thats got to be better than getting your hands dirty, Stressing about fooking something up or upsetting her in doors!!

Mon Feb 21, 2011 5:24 pm

Poo... Well, you attending http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... highlight=

? If so, you can have a good look over her then and tell me what you think. I have loads of storage so thats not a problem, but depending on the price, I may just want to hand it to you and you send me back a finished product kinda thing...

Probably looking at the end of the year now anyway as I want to keep it on the road for the summer meets etc.

I will collar you though when at a meet and have a word.

Mon Feb 21, 2011 6:36 pm

SpencerLavery wrote:I recently got quoted £400ish for a rear arch repair, with me providing the replacement panel (£40) and paint (£??), and them doing the labour, so probably £500 in total.

£180 per side is a nice price.

£180-200 for a back arch is going to be nothing short of a lash up. It'll be welded on top of the old one and you'll be doing it again in 2 years, only this time the rot will have spread a lot further. To do a pair of inner and outer arches properly means painting not just the back wing but into the door as well, plus clearcoating over both panels. It won't leave a lot of change from £7-800.

Mon Feb 21, 2011 6:49 pm

beardymat wrote:Hi Jim, you should have pinned me and e30topless (steve) down at the mids meet. We are looking at working together on projects like this in future. We are currently undertaking a rebuild on an M3 where steve will strip the car and refurb the mechanicals whilst i get the bodywork sorted. This car may well also be dipped depending on what we find. Working this way suits me on the bigger (full resto) jobs as it leaves me able to concentrate on the body repair.

Stripping and refitting yourself as Diddler did can save you a few quid but isnt recomended if you havnt got masses of storage and a very understanding wife/girlfriend/boyfriend/partner/parents. delete as applicable.

Matt, we've never met, something i was hoping to put right
at the meet on Saturday. Unfortunately work commitments
stopped me making it to Leicester. When yourself and Steve
are up and running i'd appreciate it if you could take a look
at my Cab. Think your'e aware of the crap it went through.

Mon Feb 21, 2011 6:50 pm

beardymat wrote:
Stripping and refitting yourself as Diddler did can save you a few quid but isnt recomended if you havnt got masses of storage and a very understanding wife/girlfriend/boyfriend/partner/parents. delete as applicable.

How true!

It is suprising just how much space a car in bits will occupy...I filled our smallest bedroom and spilled over into the guest bedroom when the cabbie came apart...I was OK with 'er indoors until the front seats took up residence in the dining room...

@ Matt/Steve,best of luck with your new venture!

Thu Feb 24, 2011 5:49 pm

I know a great guy for bodywork. He is based near Telford and knows E30's inside out (he has an Alpina C2 2.7 himself).
He is just finishing my M3 as we speak if you want to give him a shout and go and have a look at the quality of his work. Prices are really good too.
Ian Brittain - 01902 851860.