E30 Zone

Hi everyone

You'll have to bear with me, as I'm a total novice at this lark, but just a bit of advice needed really... I have an F reg 325i, South African spec. Basically, she needs quite a bit of work, and I'm not really sure what to do.

As much as I'd love to keep it, there's 190,000+ on the clock, so is it really justifiable?
I really don't want to let go of this car, but at the same time, if I get rid of it, is anyone going to actually want it in the state it's in? Bear in mind, 2 wheels and the exhaust need replacing, the nearside wing is damaged, the upholstery needs doing, it'll need a respray, the steering is getting stiff, and my mum knocked the front skirt/faring/whatever bit off years ago. I'm sure there's other minor things too.

Please make my decision for me, I'm too sentimentally attached to the thing to make one!

if i was you i would get some pics up mate, and do you have a rough price in mind...

As some would say

plus pics help, so that peopel can see how bad it is or not .....

If there's not too much of the old rust bug.....sounds like a project to me! You will probably never be able to justify it from a financial stand point, but you'd have a decent car.

I have a South African 325i more door with Tech 2 front and back and Pfeba sideskirts that is coming along nicely.

I don't have any price in mind, because I haven't decided what to do! I hadn't thought about pics, so I will sort that and add some, thanks.

These cars are very rarely economically viable to restore and it is a labour of love in most cases.

You'll not know the full esxtent of what is needed untill you start stripping it down and find the wealth of nice suprizes these cars usually have.

Thing is, the family is expanding so I'm not sure I can justify it, though I really want to be able to!

Can you post up pics of the car?

The bits you say need replacement are just bolt on parts which are all available second hand on here without too much fuss.

The mileagen is irrelevant on these old cars now, condition accounts for everything.

SA cars are rare over here and are often quite well specced. The main problem with them is rust, they do like to rust, even more than UK cars.

If the shell is very fruity then you are best off selling it as spares or repairs and move on, but if the shell is in decent order then it is worth spending a couple of hundred quid on some used bits to get it back into shape.

Difficult to say without seeing pics of the overall condition

Right, pics it is... I'm on it.

Lookai wrote:Thing is, the family is expanding so I'm not sure I can justify it, though I really want to be able to!

Sounds like you're looking for excuses !

My E30 was stolen and trashed just before my son was born, so I took my time and did a few hours here and there when I could. Took me two years to do some fairly minor stuff compared to the things peole on here get involved with, but I don't regret it at all.

Financially viable? As said, probably not, but as you said the car has sentimental value the faults you list are hardly show stoppers.

I don't get it, what's actually wrong with the car, other than some cosmetic damage? Possibly a leaky rack/dying ps pump and there's a hole in the exhaust somewhere?

Here's some quick pics...
Clipper, that's fab that you did it up slowly. However, as I'm currently looking at another 15 weeks incubating a child, then a good while after attached to one 24/7, it may not be so easy for me. Hence, why I am trying to be realistic. Anyway...

Saga, if you would like to reread, I have explained that I am a novice, therefore looking for advice on how costly and time consuming this would be, and whether I'm better off just getting rid to someone who could realistically spend time and money on it.

Thats a keeper to me. imo.

Lookai wrote:Here's some quick pics...
Clipper, that's fab that you did it up slowly. However, as I'm currently looking at another 15 weeks incubating a child, then a good while after attached to one 24/7, it may not be so easy for me. Hence, why I am trying to be realistic. Anyway...

Sorry to hear about the problems with the little one. And without turning this into a "mine is bigger than yours" thread, my son was born 10 weeks premature and was in intensive care for two months during my E30 "mini restoration", so if I can do it, so can you

On here you'll find all the inspiration, guidance and possibly parts required, no matter how long it takes.

Shit, sorry to hear that Clipper.
I am literally incubating mine though, as in, it's inside me! So I'm shaped like a weeble and unable to manouevre that well. Really, I just don't want this to sit getting rustier while it waits for me to be ready again.
To be honest, I think you're right about making excuses - probably time to get rid, I've had it a year now, and done very little with it like I hoped.

where are you located?

Oh alright then! PM me with your price

RM2186 wrote:Oh alright then! PM me with your price

I'll tell Gill if you get another

She'd find out soon enough Lee Be kind of nice to have two South African E30's.

I'm in Somerset

You have a PM Lookai

Hmm a 2dr in lachs silver with no visible rust?
The vultures will be all over this!

I'd keep that, even if you have to run it on cheap wheels for a while, that is the basis of a nice car.

Tut tut Miles, what grahics card you got in your mega gaming laptop? Its Dolphin Grey

I fear it is my eyes that need recalibrating

The silver 2drs are still sought after....

Lookai wrote:Shit, sorry to hear that Clipper.
I am literally incubating mine though, as in, it's inside me! So I'm shaped like a weeble and unable to manouevre that well. Really, I just don't want this to sit getting rustier while it waits for me to be ready again.
To be honest, I think you're right about making excuses - probably time to get rid, I've had it a year now, and done very little with it like I hoped.

Hmm, OK that changes things a little !

May I suggest the extra tall axle stands ?

You have further PM