E30 Zone

I am undertaking an huge restoration my my e30 for the second time..this time it's a frame-off job...

In late 2004 I made the mistake of purchasing a brand new daily driver car to use as a beater...cost was $17,000 USD.

in the mean time I was still entering my E30 in concours events in 04 and 05...but my lack of $ from owning the daily driver has hurt the e30 due to it's sitting for 2 years (basically) <800 miles per year EASILY less than that.

So now as I'm getting older and my e30 is getting older..the rocker panels started to show some surface rust. rust on the rear valence too.
It's all underneath the car..not visible unless u are under the car or on the floor. Anyways this is significant enough for a "real" restoration this time.

*Here is the debate: sell the daily driver as it is still worth a solid amount for a nice sale. It's classified as a 2005 model being manufactured in august 2004..
comes with full factory aero kit, sport suspension, spoilers..
stock 16x6 sport wheels, 16x7 OZ multi-spokes, & brand new 17x7 OZ Ultraleggera wheels. 30k miles.

I want to just sell it and use the money I get to restore the E30 and use that againa as my daily driver and concours car. It's been done before ..my work commute is 2 miles from my house I can ride a bike there..so I won't be killing my car...

What do you guys think??

Do it.

Plus upgrade the powerplant.

do it and post some pics mate

I am going to...the car will have to be driven some winter though...
I have a 1992 M20 with 64K miles that was installed May 2003.

The restoration will be mostly cosmetic.. but I will ad deeper front spring hats to lower the front even more.
New Cat.
2.8 stroker? possibly I'll do that.
AC Schnitzer side skirts & Rear skirt
"IS" lip.
Keeping US aluminum bumpers- replacing with new ones (88's are rare in US)
Adding E30 fog lights (again)
Adding Euro grills (again)
Adding Alpina rear deaklid spoiler 88-91

** I Was going to add a Racing dynamics K27 88-91 front spoiler and rear valence....
but I think the "IS" lip and AC Schnitzer stuff will suffice.

My Main concern is body work and having a flawless look.
It's not going to be cheap..and I would be getting rid of my 2005 Spectra with full huge warranty..

-The e30 will be appraised for total spent in restoration...and will be insured for that ammount.
That's the smart way to go. Driving it every day will allow me to take MORE care of it ...compared to the care it gets now sitting for a year! (& me being away from the car to begin with)

I'll post pics of the daily driver 2005 Spectra later.

For now this is how my e30 looks currently.. click the hyperlink below:

http://www.fototime.com/inv/47050470706C5F6

What kind of uprades should I perform in doing this?
I don't know what engine upgrades I can perform doing a frame-off restoration..
the restoration and body work will be very costly.

When I'm done this will be my only car...for atleast 1-2 years.
It will be driven in snow, rain, etc.. daily use. Won't be driven around too much..I have a "small" daily commute.

I can't afford to store it like I wish I can do. I'd be selling my daily driver JUST to undertake this restoration.

Any thoughts?

Still about ready to go on with this!

I've been kicking this idea around heavily
However on the side I have another option...just go buy a 2006 Z4 3.0.

I'd have to ditch the stored e30 and the daily driver though.

I don't want to do this....but it seems like no shop seems "ready" to talk to a "KID" with such a crazy scheme. This restoration project idea has to be flawless and perfect, and I exdpect to spend close to $20,000 USD. To make it right...make it in a position to be show car quality and yet a car that will last 8 years or more (that means no corrosion too)
Most shops in the USA don't cater to enthusiasts...and their work is barely satisfying for an enthusiast.
That's the most frustrating part....that and having MOST all people think I'm crazy for even comtemplating doing something like this on a car "worth 1,000" as some of my mates would say. They think it's old so... it's a junker. Thats the USA for ya.

Any thoughts?

Come on son, do the smart thing, buy a brand new 'stang GT, black with red leather and smile !

your crazy

buy a brand new 'stang GT

and promptly set it on fire

So MR lee you reckon a rusty E30 is a better place to drop 20 bags than a ford dealer ? you need to get out of the heat !

In answer to your request

YOU ARE CRAZY!

Rosc0PColtrane wrote:Do it.

Plus upgrade the powerplant.

hit the nail on the head.

a rusty E30 is a better place to drop 20 bags than a ford dealer ?

yes, and not all E30's are rusty.... you need to get out of the damp

and the only bags i would drop on a ford dealer would be full of Semtex or similar, that way i may rid the world of quite a few american cars

your crazy

you are indeed crazy. i mean who the hell would want to waste money on such an old banger

fuzzy wrote:you are indeed crazy. i mean who the hell would want to waste money on such an old banger

even more crazy if you put a ford engine in it.

Yeah It sure is a crazy thing to do...I've had lots of good times in this car over the last 12 years...
I don't want to just quit on it...so I'll weigh the options...A newer 06 E85 or the favorite e30 I've grown up with!

All scarcasm aside....
Currently the E30 is the choice to make...will still be about $11,000 or 12,000 USD less then my E30 fully restored into the "as new" condition.

I'll upgrade the 1992 M20 B25 powerplant too..
Slight enhancement Plans:
AC Schnitzer Side Skirts (already have)
AC Schnitzer Rear Apron (already have)
Alpina Type 162 Front Spoiler (89+)
Alpina Type 159 Rear Decklid Spoiler
Alpina 16x7 and 16x8 rear wheels OR BBS RGF Forged 16x7 wheels.

Ok..SEVERAL months later I am replying to say that the project is slightly underway!.
I've realized that the Alpina spoiler will get damaged in 1 month time.. especially since I have spring hats/perches in the front mated to H&R springs and Bilstein sports. Result is front is "slightly" raked ..a tad lower in the front.
SO I'll opt for a body color painted "I" lip. That's it..I don't want to be replacing "IS" lips every year and be dealing with the horrors of matching metallic paint when I get the lip repainted.

So "I" lip..raked stance. Alpina Type 159 rear decklid spoiler is coming, obtained (preserved hardly ever used BBS weaves. "As new" condition. 14' Gold/Polished lip. Not a oem bmw wheel..purchased from BBS 1986 catalog.
It's an eye opening experience to see wheels so old yet so new. Wheels were used one summer (86'). In storage..unique story and history behind them I thought.

I am opting for an expensive "angled" stock shape TriFlo exhaust... because my oval acs-like scorpion exhaust will hit against my rear apron. Stay tuned for a 3 year old scorpion exhaust for sale in the upcoming months.../

Project is going to be expensive..but I want concours quality looks. The car will be my sunday blaster . And will see most of it's miles going to and coming from car shows.
With these new Tweaks ..nixing the Alpina front spoiler and RGF forged 16 inch wheels..I'm cutting costs by $2,000-$3,000 usd.

I'll chime in when more stuff is underway...as of now I just purchased some items. The restoration is not underway yet.

8 months on and no action yet? its going to be a long project.

Nothing to take pictures of yet..other than the parts. The car looks the same.
The wheels are just a small 14 inch basketweave..nothing special other than the fact they are practically in perfect as-new condidtion.
I'll post a picture of them when I have the chance. The centers are gold. Gold won't look good on a Cirrus Blue E30, so I'm having them painted with a cirrus blue center..the lip will stay as-is.

I don't care how long it takes for the restoration..but the shop will enjoy the visits and tips I give them along the way.
I really don't think it will take more than 3 months once started.
I don't have my Alpina rear decklid spoiler yet..as it is coming from overseas.
I guess I can snap some photos of my car currently along with some wheel pics. More to come once I really get the restoration going with the bulk orders..and once the car gets to the shop.

I would advise getting some decent 15" BBS from here and shipping them to the US. They look much better than 14" and the handling is better too. I don't think the cost will be much of an issue in your case!

That's for later...I'd want them custom painted like my 14's possibly if the 15's would be my "best" set of wheels.
I have to worry about The car: paintwork and fit and finish stuff first to ensure the best restoration I can afford.
Wheels are just a simple bolt on bolt off thing. They change like shoes (if you are addicted).
I've owned my E30 since I was legal to drive..11 years.
It's going to be fun to do this..the exitement of initally getting it back in perfect condtion will be the highlight of my year.