Too original and nice to modify? Get your vote in!

[Alyman]

Help me decide Zoners...

I picked up this car before Christmas with the intention of simply using the shell as a home for my prefacelift ACS kit and my lightly refurbed and upgraded 325i engine/sports gearbox/LSD.

When I got it the 2.0l engine was running a bit crap so i was swaying in the direction of just ripping it out and going for the engine swap. Since then the engine's problems have been resolved and the car has become my daily driver. I've put a brand new -40mm set of 51mm shocks and springs on it (but kept the old stuff).

Some info on the car:

Build date - July 1983. So just a few months into RHD production. It's so old that the gear shifter thing has the letters on the wrong side, a la Left Hand Drive - there obviously wasn't a RHD part in production yet...

320i Automatic. L-Jetronic B20 coupled with a 3 speed auto gearbox.

Just under 73K miles on the clock, with loads of old MOTs to back it up.

Spec: Manual windows and sunroof, digital clock, rear headrests, rear pop out windows, immaculate blue comfort interior, manual aerial , unused jack, 5 x bottletops.

Some pics to give an idea of the car's condition. It really is in amazing nick for its age. Inner arches/scuttle/sunroof drains are all in great shape. There are a few little blemishes on the outside but nothing major, the pictures give a good indication of the state of the car:

















So here is my dilemma:

I don't want a 320i auto. Although this one now runs like a dream, it's just not the kind of car I want to own. However, I'm not so daft as to ignore the fact that this might be just the thing someone out there is looking for.

What I want is to have the only minty fresh prefacelift Schnitzer rep in the country. I have all the bits required to do this bar a decent shell.

So I guess what I'm asking is whether I'd be shooting myself in the foot by modifying this particular car. Is there a market for it in standard condition? What would it fetch? Enough for me to buy another straight/relatively rust free chromer? One that I wouldn't feel so bad about pulling to bits?

Get voting, I'd like to see what the community thinks...

[JungleGus]

can't imagine it being worth anything as it is? mod!

[jonesye30]

how can u mod it or sell on man, its a minty original example

[Alyman]

Oh, forgot to mention - the car still has its original dealer number plates on, and although a radio has been fitted, the blanking plate is in the glovebox.

[rebelcruiser]

Oh, forgot to mention - the car still has its original dealer number plates on, and although a radio has been fitted, the blanking plate is in the glovebox.

in that case then mod it

[Nay]

OOohh, tough call.

Is it worth pulling apart a minter of a 320i auto...?? TBH, she looks pretty damn clean. I recon it depends on what she cost you and how much you could sell it for. An SE wheel and 14" BBS at least could pursuade a nice amount.

Is the ACS kit gonna be sprayed to the colour of the car, or get the whole car and kit sprayed then fitted? If its the latter then maybe you dont need such a minter to start with....

Your call mate.

[Cloud]

Kudos for having the conscience to ask!

Not many minty mint examples like this left, with literally no modification at all, so if I were you I wouldn't mod it, and I'd make sure it got sold to a "purist" zoner who wouldn't mod it either. As for the finance side of things, I'd say it's fairly obvious that you could sell this perfect example, and get something a bit less excellent for less than you sold the minter for.

[town325i]

its a very early e30 some one would buy it for good money there are some strange poeple out there. if it was a face lift car there would be no two ways about it mod it but a chromie thats a different story

[richard-the-nutter]

its boring, get it modded, engine first

[Ziggy]

Try selling it & see if anyone bites! Easy to say that it's too good to modify etc etc, but you've got to find someone with the readies.

[mrLEE30]

put it up for sale asling for offers and vet the buyers (i.e. look for a purist, such a hennabm) if you have not matched car and pureist driver before funds to keep it run out, then throw the M20B20 engine and 3HP22 box in the parts bin, stick the fast bits in, stick the plastic bits on, drift the wheels silly then change em, and enjoy the car for what you would rather it be!!

that way your conscience will be clear as you did make every effort to sell it to a purist before modding.

how long you leave it in the for sale section is up to you and the Scnitzer devil on your shoulder

mrlee

[hubble]

Alyman have you had too many whiskey's up there?

Don't even think about touching that car. It's too nice to modify! Oh crap I might be tempted myself!
I'm looking at another car....NOOOOOO as If I havent spent enough on mine......

What would you want for it? PM me with details. Thanks

[hubble]

its a very early e30 some one would buy it for good money there are some strange poeple out there. if it was a face lift car there would be no two ways about it mod it but a chromie thats a different story

[Blitz]

Lovely chromie.

[ricey46]

See told you, you should ask the Zoners!!

Ziggy and MrLEE30 made a good point, advertise it and see who bites, it's a tough one but I'd be inclined to leave it (yes I know thats a change of view compaired to me saying get that b25 in there earlier ) See who bites and take it from there. Bring it round we'll clean it up!

[eko]

I vote to mod it

[The_Diddler]

if it was me, i'd sell it on to somebody who appreciates it for what it is, and use the funds to buy something else that does'nt have the age/rarity value associated etc etc.

I keep thinking that i should keep my 84 320 auto 4 door standard (some 15" BBS and a little lowered, easily reversed), decisions, decisions, especially now i've just bought a 325 manual to play with.

Once there gone there gone, its a tough call thou.................

[Cloud]

Alyman have you had too many whiskey's up there?

Don't even think about touching that car. It's too nice to modify! Oh crap I might be tempted myself!

What would you want for it? PM me with details. Thanks

Good luck!

[leeparkes]

Id leave it as bmw intended,even if it is a bit boring
chromies are getting harder to find these days in decent original condition.
if it was a face lift it would be another story.

[Simon13]

just mod it it's a 320 auto chromer, a bad card on the best day.

How many people hand on heart who say leave it alone would actually pay/buy it?

Seeing as a 2.5 will bolt in there why not?!

[Ollie_bwoii]

Lovely! I voted too good to mod, but its your car so do as you wish!

[jbh]

tough call but personally if its a chromie your after you need to ask yourself. are you going to get a shell that's as good again? if you sell it and buy another one what you going to spend putting it right? good pre facelift shells are getting hard to find and if that's what your after you've got a good one why sell it to buy another one that could be a rotter? if it was mine id have my 2.5, manual box and lsd fitted already but that's me. your car you make the choice but as i say ask your self how long you planning on running the e30 your going to build with your parts? are you going to get as good a shell again..

[gooner1]

Alyman, your car, your call. But...... modded e30,s are ten a penny. Early chromies like your,s are becoming a rarity. Would be a shame to see one that good "ravaged", and i speak as someone who has just bought a pair of very nice chrome bumbers of another zoners very nice early chromie. Try and punt it on to someone who will be sympathetic to it,s needs. As others have said, if it doe,snt shift, at least you tried.

[E30Gheko]

Nice car mate. I love the old chromies myself and would have been interested in buying this one! I love the colour and it looks fab on the bottletops. BUT

1. It's a 320i
2. It's an auto.

You could sell it, but finding another shell in similar shape would be hard IMHO. Therefore The only conclusion I can reach is that it should be modded. It would be perfect as a base for your project. Good Luck!

[capri_rob]

Very tough call. I'd be tempted to do the engine/box swap, some 15" BBS, Bilstein/Eibach lowering kit, Tech 1 wheel and leave it at that. Wouldn't bother with any bodykit - a non-rusty chromer shouldnt be covered up with a plastic kit !

[barryj]

having just driven a 320i Auto 40 miles (admittedly running a little rough low down) I say mod the fuck out of it, first mod would be to burn the 3 speed auto and the designer, and his family.

Seriously how about a manual conversion and ar 325i motor and some subtle period mods?

[Alyman]

Thanks for all the input. 60/40 split at the moment in favour of me selling it on to a purist.

It's a tough call for sure. Like has been said, there are not very many chromers left in this condidtion - let alone ones from the first few months of production, and with such low confirmed milage. Part of me says this should be in the hands of the Old Colonel so that it could be punted on to a well to do gent in a tweed jacket with a pipe, cap, a fat wallet and a heated garage.

But on the other hand, like has also been mentioned, I might never find another prefacelift shell in this condition. And the car I would be building wouldn't be your everyday average modded E30 - a minty fresh ACS kitted car would be 100 times rarer than a sport (although I fully accept that it would be worth far far less!).

I guess I'll just have to continue running about in it until I've made up my mind. Gino, if I decide to sell I'll drop you a PM mate I'm thinking of dropping Old Colonel a line to see if they can give me a valuation for it, might help me make up my mind...

[hubble]

No worries mate. Take care of it

[320Touring]

get it schlaaaged!

It'll be lovverly, and no rear ARB will make for fun on the backroads

[oakey]

I say tasteful mechanical mods are a good idea. Just don't spoil the look of it. If you want a mint chromie then you've got it, don't sell it and buy another that's not so good! That's just silly.
I say get an M60 in it

[Jhonno]

Thing is.. Yes it is nice, but that is why it is a good base to start from.. Why would you want to start with a rotten turd?!

[mrLEE30]

just a quick point, if you keep all the original parts and then swap the engine/box and Schnitzer bits and look after the thing then you can easily restore it to factory settings any time you find another half decent chromie shell. If you also swap the clocks then the old clocks will be correct for the engine/box. and as you will probably change or re-bush most of the running gear you are effectively getting a great schnitzer but only a day or two away from having a minty 83 chromie.

best of both worlds provided you have a place to properly store all the engine/interior/etc.

mrlee

[djk]

Thanks for all the input. 60/40 split at the moment in favour of me selling it on to a purist.

It's a tough call for sure. Like has been said, there are not very many chromers left in this condidtion - let alone ones from the first few months of production, and with such low confirmed milage. Part of me says this should be in the hands of the Old Colonel so that it could be punted on to a well to do gent in a tweed jacket with a pipe, cap, a fat wallet and a heated garage.

But on the other hand, like has also been mentioned, I might never find another prefacelift shell in this condition. And the car I would be building wouldn't be your everyday average modded E30 - a minty fresh ACS kitted car would be 100 times rarer than a sport (although I fully accept that it would be worth far far less!).

I guess I'll just have to continue running about in it until I've made up my mind. Gino, if I decide to sell I'll drop you a PM mate I'm thinking of dropping Old Colonel a line to see if they can give me a valuation for it, might help me make up my mind...

This was exactly what I was going to suggest - though I would never ask a trader for a valuation - ask for something reasonably high and negotiate downward. It is the history and low miles that make it what it is - rust free chromies are reasonably rare, but you'll surely find one with a crocked engine sooner or later for beans, while Mr. Purist will never find another like the one you've got. Old Colonel would likely aim to sell for north of 2.5k to the right buyer - why not have some of that money in your pocket and find a d-reg chromie with a cracked head?

[E30Gheko]

2.5k for this? No offence meant or intended here but who is likely to pay that for this car? I doubt very much that anyone off the Zone would cough up that sort of money and we are the nation's E30 enthusiasts!!

Like someone has said previously it's a pov spec 320i auto. IMHO There is no way it would fetch anything like that sort of money, unless you store it for another 10 years.

just a quick point, if you keep all the original parts and then swap the engine/box and Schnitzer bits and look after the thing then you can easily restore it to factory settings any time you find another half decent chromie shell. If you also swap the clocks then the old clocks will be correct for the engine/box. and as you will probably change or re-bush most of the running gear you are effectively getting a great schnitzer but only a day or two away from having a minty 83 chromie.

best of both worlds provided you have a place to properly store all the engine/interior/etc.

mrlee

A very sensible suggestion.

[Alyman]

Well, I've sent an email with pictures and a long description of the car to Old Colonels this evening so we'll see what happens with that.

just a quick point, if you keep all the original parts and then swap the engine/box and Schnitzer bits and look after the thing then you can easily restore it to factory settings any time you find another half decent chromie shell. If you also swap the clocks then the old clocks will be correct for the engine/box. and as you will probably change or re-bush most of the running gear you are effectively getting a great schnitzer but only a day or two away from having a minty 83 chromie.

best of both worlds provided you have a place to properly store all the engine/interior/etc.

mrlee

A very sensible suggestion.

I'd already been considering this - the only snag would be the sideskirts.. as far as I know, they require drilling into the sills, so they're not reversible to the original state. Everything is else is bolt on stuff, and I'm sure I could find space in peoples' lofts/garages for the interior/engine/box/bumpers.

Worth considering...