Keeping my Cab on the road...Help!

[Globulator]

Hi all,

Well my cab (1986, 168k, 325i manual/leather) has been fine for a long time, but the last two winters have taken their toll and I'm wondering what to do .

It failed the MOT on rust on the right front wing going into the sill and floor (12" from the front mount = MOT fail), and also the rear silencer box is blowing..

Then today getting it out the garage I knocked the front dam off

Plus it could really do with a respray as the odd repair in the past has left it a bit multi-toned..

Please help!:
So how much is a new BMW back box and are there alternatives that are as good? Quite liking the sound from the original one.

If I get it welded and resprayed any idea on prices and values? The bodyshop I spoke to suggested to do it properly I get two new front wings and a rear wing put on - are real ones still available?

Where's the best place to get a new front dam?

I'm near Cambridge/CAMBS btw if you can recommend places. Thanks in advance, I like driving my E30.

[Duke137]

It sounds like your car needs a bit of a resto to be honest mate, this will either see you do it properly and spend all your hard earned folded or break it and sell it off in bits. That is the usual outcome

I hope you save it, if you do remember to hide all receipts from the mrs and deny everything

[gooner1]

Rear wings are still available, but not front ones iirc. Pattern ones may still be available.
Without trying to dampen your plans, i can almost guarantee that when you
rear wing is removed that your inner arches are shot.
As for Paintwork, you are going to be looking at 2K upwards.
Use a well known reputable place, view some of their work before hand and get photos of any
work carried out on your car. Here's why
. http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... ht=warning

Good luck with it.

[Rickjw]

I know the feeling, Ive just given in and I'm breaking my 1991 325 under 100k Sea air and the E30 just don't like each other.

[Globulator]

The bodyshop I've known for a while, I know the owners fairly well and their work is top notch (they work on Porches, Lambos and Ferrari too), I suspect the bill will be well above 2k if they do it - I'm more worried about the car becoming a money pit during restoration than their abilities tbh.

Option 2 is for a patch up and get her back on the road, which may make for financial sense. I guess these spec cars is worth about 4-5k tops now?

TBH the front wings are not too bad but the bottoms of them are going, one wheel arch is going around the edges. Shame if I can't get the wings. Doors are sound.

All noted about the mrs - sound advice ;)

[Duke137]

E30's ARE money pits unless you break them. The thing is, you could get a little loan from the bank or whoever if your hard up and just get it done properly?

A "patch up" will almost certainly mean the re-occuring problem within 1-2 years only even worse. Patching it up is only usually done if you are going to find a new victim for it.

You are currently at the stage where most end up getting broken and weighed. If you are brave and are attached to it you will save it but you need plenty of these:

Time
Money
Patience
Space
An understanding wife/partner
A will to succeed
Internet access (for zone help)

Remember these cars are worth saving if they can be, there won't be many left in the not to distant future.... Good luck

[Dezzy]

Scrapping it would be the cheapest option.

If there is that much obvious rot there will be much more hidden.

Time to move on i reckon

[Z3I]

If I were in your position, and had spare funding to restore/part restore your car, I'd sell it or break it, then put that cash together and buy the best E30 that needs no, or very little work.

[hazd31]

Front wings were still avalible last year when i enquired, but at £150+vat

Get a couple on from euro car parts and get a bodyshop to extend the sill.

I welded the non rotton bit from my cabby wingonto a coupe one, it looks just fine!

[gooner1]

Scrapping it would be the cheapest option.

If there is that much obvious rot there will be much more hidden.

Time to move on i reckon

You could be right mate. Pulling my Engine out, soonish,
and if i find any lurking horrors, the lump I'm rebuilding
will go into my touring.
It will then be Z3 3.0 time.

[Topblag]

Front wings were still avalible last year when i enquired, but at £150+vat

Get a couple on from euro car parts and get a bodyshop to extend the sill.

I welded the non rotton bit from my cabby wingonto a coupe one, it looks just fine!

I priced a 2 door front wing from BMW about a month ago (and my mate works in the parts Dept. ) and they were £250 each. Convertible wings are still available but would suggest they'll be the same price or more expensive.

I'm thinking of buying a couple to stash away as my mate tells me that prices are going up on E30 parts, and they will be on a steep incline !

[Duke137]

Its always nice to keep a few spares ex-stock, its good to break a car for that reason, I have done 2 now and got plenty of the stuff that is practically worthless to sell in boxes in the shed.

Having said that the one thing you always think "I'm sure I have one of those" you actually don't or you chucked it away in the past, like interior trims

[Globulator]

It does seem like the choice is between:

1) Small welding to keep it going for another year or two
2) Cut and run (scrap and buy newer one)
3) Throw money at garage for full resto
4) 1) + doing the bodywork myself as time allows the next year or two

Currently I'm in favour of 1) and 4), as 1) allows me to get it back on the road next spring and 4) I can do next winter in the garage.

£150 per wing isn't too bad - my model is the early Cab though so it has the early wing shapes - maybe a cheap donor car would be an idea if I could find a sound coupe.

Managed to rip the old front dam off today too reversing off a ramp that was a bit too steep . Still feel the car is too good to scrap though - will try the 'weld to get through the next year; option first.

Any idea on new back-boxes?