e30 renovated?

[316eyes]

Been a member on this site for a while now and as I own 2 e30s in various states of disrepair I find the whole zone interesting, informing and entertaining. I'm not a post whore and rarely bother to look at my post count; I just use the zone to help me keep 2 aging cars on the road and pass on any help I can, which isn't a lot as there are many, many people on here much more knowledgable than me.

But one thing keeps nagging me as I read about the vast sums of money some of the members are spending on their motors.
Ԛ£350 for mega wheels, Ԛ£100+ for strut braces, silly money for Mtech kits and kings ransoms for lowering kits and brake parts are good examples, and I admit that there are some stunning cars on here.

BUT I can't remember anyone coming on and saying "hey guys, just spent Ԛ£200 on cleaning and undersealing the underside of the car".

My 316i is almost ready to have engine and gearbox transplant and then a respray. Before it gets anywhere near a paint shop the underside will be steam cleaned, all suspect pipes/fittings will be replaced and then it will be treated with a rust converter before being fully undersealed.

I don't see any point in spending money and time on the car only to see it
all go to waste when the dreaded MOT man starts poking about with the biggest screwdriver he can lay his hands on!!!!!!!!!

I've looked at a few cars in the scrappies that appear to have pretty good bodies and seem to be well looked after; until you take a really good look and find Mr. Tinworm has been up to the usual tricks.

[appletree]

See what you mean, what engine transplant you going for?

Have you read the e30 restoration bible? very good book loads of tips on how to keep your e30 alive and were those tinworms like to hide! not just m3 and sports either the full range.

[keggy]

wots the e30 restoration bible?

[kam-325i]

Mine is going thru a rust removal stage at the moment before any money is spent on nice things.....

[cheesebox]

yes to undersealing. Not quite the same but my Dad waxoyled under my first e30 - an '86 318 in one of BMW's less inspired colours, beige (or was it "flesh"?) - and for a few years after, the garage guys often commented on its good condition. in an MOT they probably spend a fair bit of time looking under the car, compared to the bodywork (which by the time it died in '02 was looking a bit tired - mechanicals were fine though). My '91 318i didn't get the waxoyl treatment and had to have its brake pipes replaced on its first MOT. Weirdly though, I'm sure I heard someone mention recently that waxoyl was a bit rubbish, not sure why. Anyone have any exciting waxoyl stories?

[316eyes]

316i is being (slowly) restored to near standard spec.



Checkout http://www.rust.co.uk for some good preventative and treatment products.

[appletree]

The e30 resturation bible is a book

Starts off with a e30 history then buying guide then how to keep your e30 alive ( where to look for rust and what to change/how to change things) and goes through engine transplants 2.7 2.8 30 what will and wont fit what you need, all about hoe to tune your suspention,steering, what wheels fit, electric systems. fitting upgrade parts like heated seats, map mirrors,computers and opening rear windows. alot like a hyns manual but instead of it saying just remove the door card this book tells you how to and were those hdden screws are.

Ԛ£20 from www.brooklynbooks.co.uk?com cant remember whitch came out in 2005 and worth every penny if your just getting in to e30s as itr covers the hole range

[CaesarBob]

It's a good point about the value of preventative maintenance. Trouble is, it's the not so glamorous side of owning an older car. Necessary, but lacking in the magical Bling factor.

Never heard of the restoration bible before, maybe Mr Everett will sort out a few subsidised copies if we ask nicely.