E30 Zone

Well, it's been 4 years since I got my 316i. Near mint at first, but with 4 years of my neglect she's looking a little tatty.
It's about time I started making things look a little better. Mechanically she's (does everyone else refer to their car as a female or is it just me?) getting there.

Timing belt guide rollers exploded last year no harm done thankfully. She had all the belt replaced, new ICV etc etc. Cost me nearly a grand in parts labour + insurance last year and she still drove awful.

This year new clutch slave and 5 new tyres. Aaah feels great again Just need to sort that suspect AFM out.

So yesterday I pulled that grotty looking door trim off (it was more metal than black paint), gave it a quick spray and popped it back on.
My god, what a difference

There's so much to do yet. Rusty hole in the back (the arches are as clean as can be thankfully), wacking great hole in the drivers seat (anyone know of a car upholster in or near Basingstoke?), bumpers need a respray and general tidying.

Then I'm thinking about smoked indicators and rear lights. But that's in the future. At least I've made a start.

I've been wanting to make a start for ages but it's been this forum that's really urged me to go ahead and actually do something.

So, thanks for your enthusiasm and expect some really dumb questions from me in the future (cleaning the ICV was the most advanced thing I'd ever attempted. )

i got a spare AFM if your interested bought it for mine, but manuals and auto's use different ones it would appear..

Sounds good.my 316i is starting to beome perfect bodywork wise.When I bought her she was good but needed things doing like a badly blended wing,bad filler etc.Then I went and bashed her into a barrier while avoiding a lorry on my side of the road and dented the arches(was very very lucky).But i had everything done recently and she only has a few tiny bits that need doing.When you get them to the near perfect stage it just great!!!Had a quite a few passers by commenting on it.Proud to drive her around!!! Hope it all goes well.

everyone seems to fear rust in the wheelarches - how much would you be looking at to get them restored/replaced professionally then?

also interested in average prices to get them done

about Ԛ£250 per side to get em done proper

"how much" is that to replace the inner arch or the outer panel ?

just the outer

well i hope the inner is a bit cheeper then ,i just need a peice welded in just infront of the sill

I'm so glad I don't need anything welding.

Jhonno: u got PM

REV I thought you said you had a rusty hole in the back, are you not gonna plate it up. or will it be cut out and fibreglassed ??

tbh I'm not sure. It's about 2.5" across. Just below the towing eye. Actually, it's not a hole yet but there's a lot of bubbling paintwork there.

I was kinda hoping I could put some mesh in then fill it. I dunno though, I'm no expert and I've been somewhat afraid to start sticking a screwdriver through it in case I make it worse