E30 Zone

well work has finally started on my sport, for those that dont know i bought my sport early last year in a damaged state for a few hundred pounds, ive always wanted one since starting as an apprentice panel beater at a bmw dealership in sheffield back in 1991.anyhow after getting involved in salvage repair last year i spotted this one in lachs silver(a personal favourite of mine) and thought id treat myself to a project





doesnt look much but it was unmolested and is showing 87000 miles which i have no reason to doubt.it sat on my drive for a while looking sad whilst i searched around for parts and thats how i came across the zone!

i found a 325ise on ebay with a blown head,air con and an obc and bought that for Ԛ£250,broke it for the bits and sold the extras off(feel a bit stupid for the things i left on which went for scrap) so then i had something which i could do to it on my drive in the sun





didnt take long to install the aircon heater box and obc started at 11am sunday and bolted the dash back in at around 330pm the same day.

there it sat until early this year when i finally got a workshop of my own and a jig of my own and started working for myself.lots of people commented on the car when they saw it but most said id never get it done,cue red rag to bull!!!!

so on friday i looked around and saw that none of my forthcoming jobs need the jig.good time to make a start then



sat on the jig











thats my better side,checking the bulkhead where the chassis leg pushes it back in an impact.



using the pedal of power to pull the leg back. 10 ton pulling force can pull some pretty good chunks out of your car but the thick german metal can take it,forgotten how strong these cars are.



and thats a jig on a stick for when pulling alone is not enough.

its progressed a little more but i didnt have the camera but i will post more pics when i have them.hope you enjoy the ones i do have[/img]

looking good matey

looks like your having fun

yeah its fun alright

hoping there will be 2 tech 2s at ferrybridge this summer

i hope so, i'm sick of being the only one

good to see somebody actually fixing an E30 and getting it back on the road instead off stripping and selling
WELL DONE

v nice 2 see looks like you got some fun ahead of ya!!

Good work mate!

Andrew

As said above, nice to see someone saving a good motor instead of letting the vultures get it. Fair play mate and good luck !

Looks great, i enjoyed looking through those photoes! . Keep us posted, looks fun.

Paul

U hero! glad u are having fun doing it.

It's good to see for once, one being saved and not broke for parts. People are breaking them for alot less too than what is wrong with this car.

Please post more pics as u go. I love the body shop photo's of repairs and the stages during a respray

Simon13 wrote:I love the body shop photo's of repairs and the stages during a respray

Same

Those Jig's kick arse, i watch on pull the front end out on a Grand Cherokee - - - - the power from them is unbelievable.

Loving these progress pics as much as the VW overalls keep them coming.

Neil.

thanks for the positive replies guys

need to take the camera to work as things have moved on a bit,been to the dealers today to order two new wings,were a little steep i thought at Ԛ£100 a side but im not putting pattern panels on and spoiling the finish!

will keep you posted as things progress

p.s. cant wait till i get to the stage of ripping the heart out of my 525e daily drive for the conversion but that will be another story

Nicely done mate, i wish i could do what u can. Very brave man you are. Believe me once you are done with her you can boast that u built her up ur self that 325 sport is gonna love you for saving her.

Keep up the good work Mat, it's looking better already.

Can't wait to see it finished.

I know it'll be a proper job

See you soon,

Iain T

looking good matt

youll have to gimme a shout and i'll pop down and give ya a hand oneday
all knowledge is good and im keen to learn your skills mate

im all in turmoil at moment trying to decide if i can keep the 320i lol

as well as the rest

got a little more done at the weekend so here are more pics

new chassis leg goes in







the holes in the chassis leg are for the crumple zone to make it absorb some energy in an impact



they certainly worked in the case of the old leg!!! made pulling the damage out harder as it would just rip from the edge of the holes,had to cut away the crumple zone in the end to get a pull off solid metal.







managed to save the original inner wing though,all those orange lines are surface rust where the metal buckled and the paint flaked off,gives a better idea of how bad it was



chassis leg finished with top section on



everything coming together



and with the new(genuine) wings on to check panel fit.all looks good so its time to get the welder out.it only took two working days to get the car to this stage but theres quite a bit left to do,got a few small rust spots to take care of on the rear panel and rear arches(more pics to follow) but the jacking points and sills are amazingly sound.then theres the prep for paint, not a job i enjoy much

anyway the beast is tucked away in the corner awaiting the next session which shouldnt be long coming

I really like your anisiative to rebuild such a great car, she's gonna be a beauty
Well done geese


P.s I noticed your rev counter is stuck on the 900-1000 rpm mark, i suppose you already no that but thought i'd point it out

looking good, i expect to see it at the next FB meet

Looks amazing, as said before wicked to see someone is rebuilding it and not breaking it. Was fitting the air con all that difficult btw?

scotty86d wrote:Looks amazing, as said before wicked to see someone is rebuilding it and not breaking it. Was fitting the air con all that difficult btw?

cheers for the comments,its nice to see others appreciating my work.

the aircon is dead easy if youre good at getting the dash out,took me a sunday to swap over the heater box and rebuild the dash,after that its just pipework, wiring, pump and condensor under the bonnet.

not sure about the next ferrybridge chris,but im aiming for the summer

looking good matt cant wait to see it finished

WOW!!

That is a lovely motor!!!

Matt... looks like it's coming together really well. I'm really chuffed for you.

I miss my Lachs Silver Tech 2... *sniff*

Didn't know you managed to find a 525e daily driver! Do tell us more!

Giles.

I'm 12, live with my mum, and only just started comprehensive school, and everyone picks on me.

matt dnt suppose you can get my tec1 in there for repair in the next 3 to 4 weeks??

get in touch mate coulddo with a chat re repairs etc Daz

just got home and seen my thread has got really popular but for all the wrong reasons

thanks to everyone who gave possitive responses,will keep posting pics of my scrapper as work progresses

geeman, heres a pic of my etta



its got little going for it outside those wheels and a cassette holder oh and a boot spoiler too (oooohh) but it was cheap and passed a test and it doesnt have to last long.car has covered 214000 miles with dealer history to 198000 miles and the engine is still strong.paid Ԛ£237 for it

might be a few spares for yours when i break it will be bringing it to the next ferrybridge if this weather warms up a tad

daz, youll have to pop over to sheffield with it so we can discuss what needs doing, anytime is good with me just give us a call (pm me if you need my number)

no prob matt

will be in touch very soon

will pics of the dodgy areas do for now??
as dnt really wanna be driving the sport as no mot
obviously when work gets done i will have to but dnt wanna risk too often lol

cars coming on well mate glad youve got into it now

ill have to pop over to yours daz, could do with a proper poke around to see whats what. maybe this weekend so keep that kettle boiling.

might come in the gold heap too if youre lucky

matt

i'll b here

if ya cant make it and i have to drive it over then i will but will pik a busy time to blend in as much as poss lol

as car is far from subtle at the moment lol
and with blowing exhaust etc it makes itself heard shall we say lol

could do with someone here as jacking it up alone aint easy either
and cnt see mrs lifting car for me somehow lol

will pull skirts etc off asap incase ya do come cheers matt

ps dnt forget my offer to help with yours

still stands mate

Daz

ps kettles on 24hour shifts here

Matt, just read your post, great post, shame it's been ruined by one idiot.

Do you want me to tidy it up for you?

thanks for the compliment, i can rise above the stupid remarks but if you could tidy it up that would be great

Consider it done

Note, I've left some of his posts there...wonder how long before someone notices them

Simon wrote:Consider it done

Note, I've left some of his posts there...wonder how long before someone notices them

Well done!

Simon wrote:Consider it done

Note, I've left some of his posts there...wonder how long before someone notices them

now thats spring cleaning