What to do with this C2 2.5 Alpina??

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un1eash
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Thu Sep 27, 2007 4:48 pm

We have this alpina down at the garage and starting to think its best to just break it for parts. The engine runs but not well, needs looking at. Needs a fair bit of welding as the front corners and drivers sill has gone and my mechanic cant really be bothered with the car anymore. As far as i know everything is original, has the plaque, alpina wheel and gear knob, cream leather etc... heres a few pics....

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The alloys have been put on another e30 and arnt that bad condition.
The car came with the licence plate BMW 48L. So then do you think its worth saving or breaking for parts??
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pnd
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Thu Sep 27, 2007 4:59 pm

it would be a nice thing to restore but it would be more economical to break for parts I would think the engine definitely wants rebuilding as these are good units. good money for this in parts as some people are willing to pay silly money for genuine alpina bits even if they are old and knackered hehe!
ed325i
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Thu Sep 27, 2007 5:05 pm

I would try and sell it as a whole 1st before you break it.
There are to many people on here breaking cars that need a small amount of work.
Ziggy
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Thu Sep 27, 2007 5:10 pm

Looks like it's worth saving to me... depends almost entirely on what it's like underneath though!
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eko
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Thu Sep 27, 2007 5:13 pm

I agree with Ziggy.
If its not totally rotten then its surely worth saving?
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Hyperion
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Thu Sep 27, 2007 5:17 pm

If it was mine i would try to save it. But if you dont have the budget to do so, sell it as a whole car. If people give you crap and dont give you what you looking for, then break her. She looks nice though...
bss325i
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Thu Sep 27, 2007 6:45 pm

Definately worth saving! Another one broken for spares means another one lost and there already been plenty stolen/scraped/broken. Wasn't that many to begin with but everyone knows this all ready. It seems all to common for people to break e30s even if they are worth saving. Its the complete opposite with early rs escorts (mk1s & mk2s)for example, ive seen complete basket cases brought back to life because the rarity of them and alpina e30's were 10 times as rare to beggin with let alone now. It seems most people with e30's see a bit of rust and sh*t them selves, fair enough if its a run of the mill model but not if its a rare or interesting one. If you cant do/afford the work then sell it on to someone who can.
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kingcruizer
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Thu Sep 27, 2007 7:12 pm

bss325i wrote:Definately worth saving! Another one broken for spares means another one lost and there already been plenty stolen/scraped/broken. Wasn't that many to begin with but everyone knows this all ready. It seems all to common for people to break e30s even if they are worth saving. Its the complete opposite with early rs escorts (mk1s & mk2s)for example, ive seen complete basket cases brought back to life because the rarity of them and alpina e30's were 10 times as rare to beggin with let alone now. It seems most people with e30's see a bit of rust and sh*t them selves, fair enough if its a run of the mill model but not if its a rare or interesting one. If you cant do/afford the work then sell it on to someone who can.

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Eddie25
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Thu Sep 27, 2007 7:20 pm

Definately worth saving! Another one broken for spares means another one lost and there already been plenty stolen/scraped/broken. Wasn't that many to begin with but everyone knows this all ready. It seems all to common for people to break e30s even if they are worth saving. Its the complete opposite with early rs escorts (mk1s & mk2s)for example, ive seen complete basket cases brought back to life because the rarity of them and alpina e30's were 10 times as rare to beggin with let alone now. It seems most people with e30's see a bit of rust and sh*t them selves, fair enough if its a run of the mill model but not if its a rare or interesting one. If you cant do/afford the work then sell it on to someone who can.
What he said ^
Simon13
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Thu Sep 27, 2007 7:23 pm

i'll start then whats he looking for the whole car with the wheels?
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Thu Sep 27, 2007 7:24 pm

I'll give you 300 quid for it now.
Last edited by Rosc0PColtrane on Fri Sep 28, 2007 11:23 am, edited 1 time in total.
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un1eash
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Thu Sep 27, 2007 7:45 pm

I'm not really sure what its worth, if anyone is serious about it i would recommend viewing the car. I'm pushing for it to be saved but with most mechanics i know they dont like spending time and money on their own cars. Once the welding is done i'm sure it'll make a great car for someone. It's located in leicester.
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Thu Sep 27, 2007 7:48 pm

if it's not terminally rotton it could be a nice little project for someone. I'd like a nice early car but i've enough on my plate

Any history with the chariot?
beardymat
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Thu Sep 27, 2007 8:08 pm

get it sorted or sell to someone who will. rust is something that can be sorted by a proper body man, dont use a mechanic for rust work in the same way you wouldnt use a builder as a dentist.

it seems an original car so with a little enthusiasm you could end up with something to be proud of. click the link in my sig to see what a proper restoration looks like. not only was it rusty but it was bent too! you never know it might spur you on :D
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snoops
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Thu Sep 27, 2007 8:09 pm

don't break it!
pacerpete
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Thu Sep 27, 2007 11:07 pm

As a chrome four door its future looks bleak ! :eek: Fear not , i am sure a zoner with a wallet as big as his mouth will be along shortly ! :)
Alex
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Thu Sep 27, 2007 11:08 pm

save it!!!
sam325is
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Thu Sep 27, 2007 11:37 pm

for £3000 id sell it ^^^
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Taz
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Fri Sep 28, 2007 4:54 am

it needs to be restored :cool:
Rosc0PColtrane
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Fri Sep 28, 2007 7:07 am

Not worried about seeing it. 300 quid is waiting!!!

You'll make more out of the garage space it creates.
B7
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Fri Sep 28, 2007 7:08 am

pacerpete wrote:As a chrome four door its future looks bleak !
I was thinking the opposite. Maybe as a chrome 4 door it's rarity is greater and therefore, it's rarity is THE thing that makes it worth saving. There can't be many 4 door early C2's about. Itr would be interesting to know the build date.

Si????? know any more?
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whipsey
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Fri Sep 28, 2007 8:26 am

save it if it's as original as you say it is then it will be worth it
Chris-W
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Fri Sep 28, 2007 8:41 am

Worth saving, I'd say.

How much are you after?
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d6dph
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Fri Sep 28, 2007 8:54 am

Rosc0PColtrane wrote:I'll give you 3000 quid for it now.
Rosc0PColtrane wrote:Not worried about seeing it. 300 quid is waiting!!!
Make your mind up mate. :D
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kidsinister
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Fri Sep 28, 2007 9:05 am

Well if the alloys have already gone, it's not looking promising... :(

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JungleGus
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Fri Sep 28, 2007 9:43 am

i couldnt afford the whole car for your asking price before, but would def consider the box (if its a 245) and headers if that still applies.

back to the question though...its a big project to restore, and its not that desirable being 4 door is it? if someone is willing to do so, buy it, else the market dictates...
pacerpete
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Fri Sep 28, 2007 10:35 am

I am not going to hold my breath ! While we wait for a victim, lets have some pictures of the rusty bits, it's friday,i need cheering up ! :(
Rosc0PColtrane
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Fri Sep 28, 2007 11:24 am

d6dph wrote:
Rosc0PColtrane wrote:I'll give you 300 quid for it now.
Rosc0PColtrane wrote:Not worried about seeing it. 300 quid is waiting!!!
Make your mind up mate. :D
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Andyboy
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Fri Sep 28, 2007 12:50 pm

As Pacerpete would say, profit is more reasonable than justice. As a 4 door it's worth jack shit - harsh but true. As a C2 2.5 it's not worth much either. As a rotten chrome bumper 4 door C2 2.5 with the wrong wheels it's worth £500 tops.
The best plan? Don't kill it. Find a tidy 2 door plastic bumper 325i in decent condition and swap all the bits over - that's head/cam (the bottom end is a standard 325i), limited slip diff, suspension, badges, plaque, instruments, steering wheel and modify the front spoier to fit (it can be done with some careful bodging). Write to Sytners telling them that plaque number ???? is now on a different car and they apparently add it to the records they have for that car.
Unless the welding needed is minor (and it's not!), it really isn't worth spending days welding it back together. It would be quicker and much more satisfactory to put all the goodies into a nice late 2 door shell.
kidsinister
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Fri Sep 28, 2007 12:58 pm

Andyboy wrote:The best plan? Don't kill it. Find a tidy 2 door plastic bumper 325i in decent condition and swap all the bits over - that's head/cam (the bottom end is a standard 325i),.
The bottom end is NOT standard 325i; you're thinking of the C2.5.

The C2 2.5 engine is similar to the 2.7 in that it has a eta block, with Mahle pistons.
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SPADGE
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Fri Sep 28, 2007 1:01 pm

I would happily pay 1k+ for that car regardless of the rust as long as its complete.
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Rosc0PColtrane
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Fri Sep 28, 2007 1:03 pm

SPADGE wrote:I would happily pay 1k+ for that car regardless of the rust as long as its complete.
I'll have it for £300, then I'll give you a call mate.... winkeye
SPADGE
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Fri Sep 28, 2007 1:05 pm

Rosc0PColtrane wrote:
SPADGE wrote:I would happily pay 1k+ for that car regardless of the rust as long as its complete.
I'll have it for £300, then I'll give you a call mate.... winkeye
As long as you don't rape and pillage it i don't care who i give my money to mate :P
Morat
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Fri Sep 28, 2007 2:49 pm

what is it with 2 door shells? Are they really that much better to drive?
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SPADGE
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Fri Sep 28, 2007 3:07 pm

Morat wrote:what is it with 2 door shells? Are they really that much better to drive?
Its all about appearance mate feck all to do with how they drive
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