E30 Zone

Right, this car will be the death of me i can feel it!!

These are pics of my Mtech 1, 325i Sport with 190,000 miles on it.... doesnt show at all does it?

By the time she comes back from the bodyshop, i'll have shelled over 6 grand on her, just to get her back to standard spec! and i havnt even started on the engine or running gear yet!!! EEK!

Will add more pics when i get her back from the spray shop.

Remember to vote in the poll too.

dude, your just on a downer after selling all the stuff u had for her

[dr phil mode] instead of jumpin straight back into the project, take a rest from it and save some money up. you might look at it differently when u have what u need to do it [/dr phil mode]

OR SAVE FOR A BIT AND WHEN IM BORED WITH MY ONE U CAN BUY IT.

I personally would not have blown all the money on an old heap, would have been better getting the sweetest sport money can buy for that amount of wedge...! and you are nearly into M3 territory too...


But you are a long way down the track now - too far to jack it in I suspect mate...

I just hope the pleasure you get from knowing where you came from is worth it in the end mate - I am sure it will be

Respect to you for doing it though fella

It will be worth it, at the end of the day you know your going to have a mint car that your going to enjoy for years to come!

It will be like having a brand new e30 sport once you have finished and what could you buy for 6k if you went for a new car a Citroen C2? i know what i would choose....plus the sport won't depreciate like a new car!!!

Just out of interest what sort of work are the bodyshop doing? new sills? inner and outer wheels arches?

Your a brave man for embarkin on such a project Scott And yeah its a bit of a downer having to sell sum of your gear for it
And altho you want it a totally stock and mint 325i Sport, what about something like a 2.7 build?

It's a lot of money but looks like it'll be worth it in the end, especially as it's YOUR project, not anyone elses that you've bought ;)

Scott, I have the utmost respect for what you're doing mate, there's not many blokes you're age who would take on such a challenge. Just think of the pride and satisfaction you'll have when it's finished.....

You know where I am if you ever need any help mate...

325SME wrote:Scott, I have the utmost respect for what you're doing mate, there's not many blokes you're age who would take on such a challenge. Just think of the pride and satisfaction you'll have when it's finished.....

You know where I am if you ever need any help mate...

I would like to echo these exact comments,Steve has said all my thoughts

Hats off for doing it. I bought the best sport i could buy 4K it's not as nice as splondikes or billgatese30 but not far off. And i have spent alot on it and will do until it's done. I mean i spent over a grand buying and refurbing some 16 pina's, alpina stainless system i think the end figure will be 10k plus. If you are rebuilding it go 2.7, or just buy a good second hand engine for £300 and sort that out, just my opinion of course

Cheers for the thoughts/comments gents (all of them)

Zaust, my projects start cheap mate, so i hope you are thinking of selling cheap.

Mark, true about the M3 territory, but i couldnt insure one! (£2800+)
I am way too far down the line now to go chucking the project in. My decision point was the day it went into the bodyshop. Up to that point, i could have scrapped her at any moment, but as soon as i committed 2-3k on bodywork, thats it, no going back! True that i will know where my car has been, but nobody else will if i ever sell it... she'll just be another car with 200k miles and "some work done to it"

Gav, this is the point i raise to my mate who recently paid 6k on a saxo FFS! i said to him, hang on, when im done, this will be like a new car. I then brought him and his smart-arse comments down to earth with a bump, as he realised what i was getting for my money!
The bodyshop has done... new inner rear arches, new outer rear arches, new sills, new jacking points, hundreds of rust patches cut out and replaced. body panels lined up, new front wings, new rear quarter passenger side, roof made beautiful again, new metal bumpers all round, EVERYTHING taken back to metal, primed sanded, primed, sanded, twin-pak paint, laquer. all the parts were removed from the car for spraying and they ordered me in a batch of paint just for me. They actually put my name on it for me, so hopefully i get to keep that when the car is done.

Wil, i couldnt afford to do the 2.7 mate, i just havnt got the cash.

Steve, you seem to be the Don when it comes to seeing inside my head! Im doing all this coz i will know that without me, that car would end up in a crusher and i can have the satisfaction of knowing that i saved that car! That car will be mint EVENTUALLY, and i can indeed be proud of it.
Will bare you in mind for the camera-man job mate and also for transporting some bodykit bits if you fancy a road trip with petrol money, expences and beers on tap! ... tourings are nice and big for taking my kit ya'see. lol

SCOTT325SE wrote:
Steve, you seem to be the Don when it comes to seeing inside my head!

(Must be a Welsh thing mate....)

Im doing all this coz i will know that without me, that car would end up in a crusher and i can have the satisfaction of knowing that i saved that car! That car will be mint EVENTUALLY, and i can indeed be proud of it.
Will bare you in mind for the camera-man job mate and also for transporting some bodykit bits if you fancy a road trip with petrol money, expences and beers on tap! ... tourings are nice and big for taking my kit ya'see. lol

No problem mate, just give a shout......though I might just need some help with a dashboard change at some point this year...

325SME wrote:
No problem mate, just give a shout......though I might just need some help with a dashboard change at some point this year...

Would be a pleasure mate! Just gimme a few days notice and i'll be there with my tool kit to lend a hand.

At the end of the day, it is your money, no-one else's.

If you are doing the car up to sell, you know that you will never get the money back that you have spent on, but I guess you know that.

Cars are expensive, whatever you drive. If this car is going to make you happy, then why not.

Most of it is probably in the satisfaction that you are doing everything right on the car and not taking any corners with regard to the respray. I can't wait to see how the car looks after the respray. It should look the business.

I think that many of us would not want to buy a brand new car, but have a restored E30 that looks and runs like a new car.

If you think that a reasonable new car could cost approx 14K and that car could end up looking and running like $^£( after a few years and the depreciation will take the car's value down to (sp?) Now think of the car that Scott is doing and tell me what would you do?

Good luck with this project and may she look just like the Phoenix she will end up.

Well done Scott I salute you for what you are doing. Particularly as its a M/Tech 1 Sport and you are doing it standard. Not that many 1s around. You could have bought a car for 4K but you mite have still had to spend a lot to get it to the same standard. At lease you will know everything has been done , and you will know every nut bolt and washer. I have spent a lot on my Sport, never thought of getting it back IF I sell it. Look forward to seeing the finished car.


Ron

Lizzie, thank you! im glad im finally pulling in the numbers that see my side of it (no offence is taken though, if anybody thinks im a stark raving nutter!)...after all...I AM!

Ron, would you be Ron Parish with the red sport, as seen at Gaydon on display? If so, i remember speaking to you when i was wandering around with Ian Ross (Hartge H35) If so, i am particularly grateful of your comments, coming from someone who has involvement with "The Register" and also the CC.

If im being a dope (this is also very possible) and you are not the ron im thinking of, ....... sorry fella!!

Your are not a dope Scot, yes thats me Ron P E30 Register chairman BMWCC. I do rember speaking to you and Big E. As i said looking forward to seeing the car all finished.

ron

Phew! I had visions of you saying "erm, no mate!"
You probably remember my hair more than anything tbh!
And the minute the car is finished, the Register will know about it, as im gonna stick her on the register when she's all sorted!! I think im the only member of the register west of swansea, so she wont be hard to track down!!! Thanks for the commentts again!

(56% of voters are currently thinking it will be worth it...one day!) woohoo!

I'm sure it will be great!
Can't wait to see the finish result

BUMP for anyone thats interested - sport is now painted and back home. I started fixing the bodykit back onto her today but i really need to get the wings on first. However, i need bolts for the wings. oh well!

pics.... http://photobucket.com/albums/v295/SCOT ... d%20sport/

Looking good, i am so looking forward to see this car it going to be amazing!

Andrew, my local BMW dealership is Leslie Trainers in Swansea...if you want to buy your shares tomorow, you'll double your money withing a month!!!

SCOTT325SE wrote:Andrew, my local BMW dealership is Leslie Trainers in Swansea...if you want to buy your shares tomorow, you'll double your money withing a month!!!

6k!!

6k wiuld have started me on a 3.2 conversion

Kam320i_cab wrote:6k!!

6k wiuld have started me on a 3.2 conversion

i often think "wow, i could have bought a decent M3 with 110-120k for what ive spent on this!!!!"

but its good fun!

2.5 years in the making. almost driveable again!

you said it, it's all gd fun .. if you were doin it to sell the car then you would be a ravin loon
but you r not, it's for you .. never no, that car might treat you as well as u've treated her

Alot of money but worth it in the end.. one day

well done, hats off lol

she's not "finished" or anywhere near it, but shes in much better shape than when i bought her, and this week i will be able to drive here again!

oooooh, only just seen this thread, more pics needed Scott!! good luck with it looking forward to seeing the finished product.

Well you two (she) must have a special connection for you to refer to her in such a way.

Andrew

stick with it mate....... no one likes a quitter! you gotta keep the tec ones alive!

oh i'll finish it orite..... unless she finishes me off first! pmsl

Now be very careful...!

if she hasn't finished you off yet scott then she'll never be able to do it

still looking good though fella