E30 Restoration Question Bodyshop / Garage

[Arsen_Design]

Hey all,

I have a e30 325i in a rather good condition overall, but 'overall good' is not good enough, so Im eying up a restoration...

Now, are there any bodyshops and garages that you would specifically recommend?

There are things which I want to do myself, but body is something I'd rather not play with, so bodyshop needed.

Engine wise...theres a leak which I cant find. From the spots on the ground it looks like its behind front axle. I will be changing blown Rocker Gasket, and will do the Crankshaft front seal too. But it needs a specialist eye for sure too.

Anyone could help with pinpointing a good place to go?
Im based in London so somewhere nearby would be awesome!

Cheers,
Michal

[jbrunouk]

In the same boat with my e30 which needs restore work after sitting for 7 years... but at a loss for a garage as well for some mechanical and bodywork too as need a respray too...

[Royalratch]

Bodyshops are a mixed bag these - especially on resto work.

There are lots of decent painters out there but panel beaters, metal shapers and quality welders are few and far between.

If I had to stay in London I would go to a place called Townley Panel & Paint in essex.

Otherwise I would make my way up north, past the dark rivers, endless fog and the cave dwellers. Push past the heartland of the lawless known as The WorkShires. Then, keep going past the canninbals toward a place called Sheffield and you'll need to seek out the one they call 'Beardymatt.'

He's also a Zoner.

[Arsen_Design]

Does the ground up restoration for 5K sound sensible (too high / too low) ??

[BenHar]

Too low.

Ben

[Acox99]

Double that depending on how much work and how far you are going with paint/mechanicals/ running gear

[Arsen_Design]

That really helps. OK... The hunt for PacerPete begins lol

@diable - its more on a passenger side.

[pony]

Body technics in Slough have a great reputation but that comes at a price ....

[pony]

PacerPete knows his onions but is hard to get hold of especially when your car is with him and even it isn't
But what he doesn't know about E30s isn't worth knowing

[polsta]

Does the ground up restoration for 5K sound sensible (too high / too low) ??

Speak to Polsta about how much he has spent on his restoration or read his thread to get an idea.

I'd recommend PacerPete for the mechanics if you can get hold of him to give the car the once over but he is a busy man.

What side is the oil leak as it could be the power steering reservoir as the pipes harden and the clips don't hold as well.

Aye , have a look at my thread , depends on how far you want to go and what's needed, youl see my car wasn't hanging or full if rust yet still cost a lot of money to do properly and still isn't finished , a restoration is more than just a respray, which alone for a quality job is expensive, then new fittings galore - I'd not putting any rusty screws bolts wrc back on , then trim parts and countless other things, I've got stacks if reciepts totaling a lot of money, and so much more I've bought with no reciepts from traders breakers eBay etc etc and all blasting and powder coating work and various materials and consumables and god knows what

Youl be surprised at the amount of stuff once a car is restored, that you had on it- that you thought was good but just isn't up to scratch ,to fully restore one is big money , and I've only just started on the running gear and mechanics

A proper resto is proper money make no mistake

[polsta]

Does the ground up restoration for 5K sound sensible (too high / too low) ??

All depends in what's needed , but add another grand or 2 on what your initial weigh up is, you can easily do 10k to restore one properly covering everything , even once the big stuff is done it will eat £50 quids here n there /all the time on things , and there are always more things

[G-Bear]

It certainly does add up. polsta's right too, if you just spent loads on it in a boadyshop. Then you're not going to want to put rusty/tired looking ancilaries/trim/nuts and bolts back on. As satisfying as those clear plastic bags from BMW are to look at; they certainly add up in cost.

Over this summer I sorted through loads of little things like timing belt, brake calipre rebuilds, discs and pads, exhuast, a few bushes here and there. I haven't checked the receipts but have easily spent a grand in parts.

As for that leak, I'm with diable. The power steering resoivior is a good place to start. Check for fluid running down the hose to the pump. Whilst you're down there also peal back the boot a the end of the steering rack if its full of fluid, then that might be your leak. You'll need to replace the rack.

[polsta]

i love the bmw bags, speaking of which reminds me ive got to go pick up some more today ! its much better having all them new bits to use, satisfying that knowing when working on the car in comming years, things will be easy to remove fittings wont be corroded or snapped, not cheap, but worth it, ive spent a fair few hours with real oem and a note document, copy/pasting part numbers, walked in to bmw a few times- spent about half an hour reading out part numbers for loads of £2s, £3s, etc, then got at the end bill with vat and just pay it, but great when it all comes

also got a lovely hoard of left overs and bits to last years, even now i come across the odd thing i need or want, have a look and got it there

[Arsen_Design]

i can totally see how that would be extremely rewarding and addicting at the same time. when i got the car i never thought of doing it, but now i feel genuinely proud driving it so i want to ensure it gets some love.

so theres a question for you...
would you rather replace a rusty panel with whole new panel or would you weld?

also how much of the work did you do by yourself and how much did you have done by the garages?

[polsta]

Best thing to do is take a couple of hours to go through a lot of resto threads in the photo gallery section to get a good idea if things and more importantly - start one with your car and lots of pics and of all rust n detail , and prople can give their thoughts, as it very much depends on your issues as to what's best to do

[Royalratch]

There's many different levels of resto.

A tart up.

A mechanical overhaul.

Soon as you get into body it just baloons.

[rh306]

Matt (ex Stratstone BMW) at Body Motor Works in Chesterfield is awesome, here's my now sold E12 which he did:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9087475@N0 ... 912629694/

..plus some pics of the work done:


http://www.flickr.com/photos/9087475@N0 ... 769431608/ (Preview)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9087475@N0 ... 742214337/ (Preview)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9087475@N0 ... 062983803/ (Preview)

[pony]

So how many Gs is the average spend on restorations on here ?
How much have people spent on their E30s mechanically or bodywork ?
SEems like they eat up money real quick.

[polsta]

theres no average it all depends on how far you go, quality of work, if you do yourself or get done, how muhc they charge, gen/non gen panels used, how much else you replace, etc etc, the sky is the limit , if you really wanted to you could easily spend 20 grand doing a full on full restoration i should think, if you had full engine re build full overhaul and refurb of mechanicals inc all new parts, full strip and bare shell resto with bare shell dipped and paint , all new trim , etc, even more than 20 grand if you really wanted to

[hennabm]

Pony

Just ask those guys that have had BMW refurb their cars totally. I think they have done an E3/9 (??) and an 02.
I hear around 100,000 Euros each one but how true I don't know.

Certainly an E30 rebuild will be £10k+for a v good paint job and all rust gone jobbie.

[pony]

Pony

Just ask those guys that have had BMW refurb their cars totally. I think they have done an E3/9 (??) and an 02.
I hear around 100,000 Euros each one but how true I don't know.

Certainly an E30 rebuild will be £10k+for a v good paint job and all rust gone jobbie.

You mean by BMW Park Lane Classic ?

They had an E28 M5 in
I asked the service advisor about how much work being done on that
Don't quote me but I think he said £30k

They do supply new parts plus do restorations catered to your specific needs
Alternatively they can send to Munich and you get done by BMW AG.
The also do services etc on classic BMWs

I don't think other Dealers in UK offer this service.

£20k is a lot of money to spend on E30
Effectively your buying a near enough brand new car getting so many new / reconditioned parts. Well near as you can get new. Plus all those labour costs
And presumably buying parts separately is a lot more expensive than buying a whole new car adjusting for inflation ?

[hennabm]

Hi pony

No I meant by BMW AG themselves.

The cars have been featured in the magazine that BMW produce for owners. It showed each of them picking up the car in Munich after the resto but didn't give any indications of cost.

[pony]

Hi pony

No I meant by BMW AG themselves.

The cars have been featured in the magazine that BMW produce for owners. It showed each of them picking up the car in Munich after the resto but didn't give any indications of cost.

Wow I don't get that magazine.

I would love to know what they cost.

They have done a 2002 some time ago.

I know James May had his BMW motorbike given a full restoration by BMW Park Lane Classic. No idea how much it cost. But I was reliabiliy told on the BMW Car Club tour of BMW Park Lane that exactly how is he on TV is how he is in real life. He loves to know the ins and outs.

From a branding pov is important to bmw to offer the classic service and help keep the classic BMWs on the road as good for the brand and good to show these cars are still around while their contemporaries are not. Though the BMW classic service itself doesn't generate a lot of revenue to BMW AG percentage wise.

Having seen some figures in a presentation I can tell u that bmw profit itself is roughly 50% from sales (new/used) and 50% from Aftersales (Servicing etc)

[bss325i]

Having seen some figures in a presentation I can tell u that bmw profit itself is roughly 50% from sales (new/used) and 50% from Aftersales (Servicing etc)

Maybe for BMW AG but not for franchised dealers, the money is in aftersales followed buy used car sales then new car sales.

[pony]

Having seen some figures in a presentation I can tell u that bmw profit itself is roughly 50% from sales (new/used) and 50% from Aftersales (Servicing etc)

Maybe for BMW AG but not for franchised dealers, the money is in aftersales followed buy used car sales then new car sales.

Sorry I should have edited my post. I was referring to Park Lane's profit. I am assuming that is typical of most BMW Dealers. Big money in Aftersales. I cannot remember what the rough % split of profit was between new/used BMWs.

Is amazing the labour rate of some BMW Dealers is more expensive than private doctors.

[bss325i]

Is amazing the labour rate of some BMW Dealers is more expensive than private doctors.

Difference is private doctors get most of their hourly rate.

Us dealer techs do not get up to £190+VAT PH!

[pony]

Is amazing the labour rate of some BMW Dealers is more expensive than private doctors.

Difference is private doctors get most of their hourly rate.

Us dealer techs do not get up to £190+VAT PH!

When u get master tech qualification then u will be 1 of XX in the country that when someone asks what do u do ? You can say you are a beeping BMW Master Technician

[Royalratch]

£190 plus VAT is taking the pish.

I quizzed a few dealers in Central London as to why they charge that.

Some tried to jabber on about prime location is very pricey etc etc and others simply say 'cos we can.' The service is no better than an indie - often worse.

You'd have to be a loon to go to BMW for any work unless its a new car and you're trying to keep the S/H sweet.

Going to BMW is not a guarantee of quality work or dealing with people that know your E30.

There's even been rumours that they don't use BMW parts if there's a rush job on - ECP / GSF vans making drop offs etc etc.