E30 Zone

Evening all!
Just bought a 1985 323i with 90,000 on the clock. Odd spec! It's got A/C, cruise, leather, PS and it's an auto. Manual windows and sunroof. First fella had it 32 years and I'm the 4th owner. Needs a wee bit of fettling. Pictures when I get a chance.

Sounds interesting,looking forward to pics.

Welcome to the zone mate, looking forward to the pics. Any plans for her ?

Mart.

Hi Mart,
I plan to keep it as original as possible, maybe the odd upgrade but that would be it.
That was one of the reasons I bought it as it was so untouched as such.
Only issue I've found is the lack of spares. I also own a Triumph Stag and the parts backup is superb compared with the E30!

Chez wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 28, 2020 5:58 pm

Hi Mart,
I plan to keep it as original as possible, maybe the odd upgrade but that would be it.
That was one of the reasons I bought it as it was so untouched as such.
Only issue I've found is the lack of spares. I also own a Triumph Stag and the parts backup is superb compared with the E30!

What are you having trouble getting?

Quite a lot is available new from BMW which is not bad for a 30 year old car and Jon from Cotswolds is good a finding what bits are what. Realoem also good at generating part numbers.

Lots of bits are also still available from the OEM manufacturers like Lemforder via places like Autodoc

There are quite a few good fraggers on here that can also sort you out with most bits.

I also have a Dolly Sprint and wish I could get things for it that I can get for the 323

Tell me about it, I have a Spitfire as well as my E30. Availability of spares and prices are different league.
Pretty much everything is available for the most popular 60's and 70's cars.
My dad has a 1965 MGB roadster, not only is every spare available but suppliers are still developing upgrades even now.

Schmiedmann in Denmark has literally 90% of the parts for the RHD 323i. I should know because last year I did about 8 orders from them when restoring my 323i.
They get it direct from the BMW warehouses in Germany, so there is a week wait for each order you do, but they can get it all.

Use realoem dot com to find the exact part numbers for your vehicle. Every part down to a weird screw or washer is in there.

agisthos wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 01, 2020 2:25 am

Schmiedmann in Denmark has literally 90% of the parts for the RHD 323i. I should know because last year I did about 8 orders from them when restoring my 323i.
They get it direct from the BMW warehouses in Germany, so there is a week wait for each order you do, but they can get it all.

Use realoem dot com to find the exact part numbers for your vehicle. Every part down to a weird screw or washer is in there.

There is nothing that Schmeidmann can get from Germany that Cotswolds BMW on here can't.

After seeing the report on what they did on the M3 'restoration' they did (and what they charged) I would not get a washer from them out of principle. I have had dealings with Andrew Malekidis myself that have left a very bad taste in my mouth.

flybynite wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 01, 2020 8:24 am

There is nothing that Schmeidmann can get from Germany that Cotswolds BMW on here can't.

After seeing the report on what they did on the M3 'restoration' they did (and what they charged) I would not get a washer from them out of principle. I have had dealings with Andrew Malekidis myself that have left a very bad taste in my mouth.

I am in Australia so being able to order online is a must. Tell me where can I order online from Cotswolds? I too have a local BMW dealer here in my home city that can get every part that Schmeidmann can, but its the convenience of online ordering, not to mention local BMW parts pricing here is 2-3x that of Europe. Even when factoring in shipping cost I got everything for at least 1/2 price, and I didn't have to wait months for rare 323i parts that no national distributor keeps in stock anymore.

Over a 6 months period I must have emailed Andrew Malekidis dozens of times. I changed and added to my orders so many times, put him through hell. He was always very pleasant and helpful. I'm not doubting you may have had a bad experience with him, but it may have been a once off and not deserving of your bile, because I certainly did not experience the bad taste you claim, just the opposite.

And whining about the cost of a M3 restoration is... well that's subjective and I want to see a comparable restoration in the current year to judge. I have seen some nice BMW restorations in the US, where labor cost is much lower than in Europe, that recently costed 100-150k USD.

agisthos wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 01, 2020 3:27 pm

I am in Australia so being able to order online is a must. Tell me where can I order online from Cotswolds?

Sorry, I did not realise you were down under, but if you are having things sent from Denmark then I am sure Jon from Cotswolds would send them too. You can simply PM him here (when we are out of lockdown) and he gets back to you with price and availability or post on the Cotswolds thread, or email him direct. You paypal them and he sends the bits, easy. He has done lots of digging for obscure parts for me for my early 323 that were not clear from anything on realoem or the ETK

agisthos wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 01, 2020 3:27 pm

I'm not doubting you may have had a bad experience with him, but it may have been a once off and not deserving of your bile, because I certainly did not experience the bad taste you claim, just the opposite.

If it was one occasion or one issue I would have no problem but it has been several issues and the final one resulted in me having to take legal action, which is why I took interest in the M3 debacle.

agisthos wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 01, 2020 3:27 pm

And whining about the cost of a M3 restoration is... well that's subjective and I want to see a comparable restoration in the current year to judge. I have seen some nice BMW restorations in the US, where labor cost is much lower than in Europe, that recently costed 100-150k USD.

I don't think he was whining, It was not just the cost but the quality of the end result. Have you read the report on the car and the invoice by a well respected member here who does know his stuff?. There is still a long list of things that need to be put right on that car.

Poor Chez made a new member post and it has gotten way off topic. But thanks for this info flybynite, its helpful. So jon at Cotswolds is the guy to speak to if you are in the UK.

agisthos wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 02, 2020 3:23 pm

. So jon at Cotswolds is the guy to speak to if you are in the UK.

He is sooooooooo bloody helpful he really must enjoy what he does but he is still giving out prices and avalibility even from home

Mart.

agisthos wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 01, 2020 3:27 pm

And whining about the cost of a M3 restoration is... well that's subjective and I want to see a comparable restoration in the current year to judge. I have seen some nice BMW restorations in the US, where labor cost is much lower than in Europe, that recently costed 100-150k USD.

Not sure you should be commenting on it if you're blatantly oblivious to the complete half arsed rip-off job they did, he's definitely not whining unnecessarily. I had massive issues with Schmiedman trying to get refunded on shadowline trim which arrived to me completely bent out of shape and unusable (I was living in Sydney at the time as it happens). They went out of their way to try and avoid refunding me, although I eventually got it. Used them once since for a bit I was struggling to get, but try to avoid using them now after that M3 mess.

If you need bits online, BMW's own portal is a good start - shop.bmw-classic.com.


...and back on topic, congrats on the 323i - had an 83 one for years. Lovely cars.

I'm in Sydney and about to place an order with Schmiedman... will see how it goes. Delivery will probably take about seven years in the current situation, but I can't find the parts I need elsewhere (except direct with BMW Australia, whose prices are absolutely ridiculous).

I'm still waiting for the pics of the vehicle!

Tzantushka wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 03, 2020 2:53 am

I'm still waiting for the pics of the vehicle!

Mart.

Sorry for not posting pics of the vehicle yet! It's at my mates garage to get a service, cam belt, water pump etc. Hopefully get some posted this week.
It's been interesting to read the above posts regarding Schmiedman. I've been on their website and it looks good too. But I'm willing to try Cotswold BMW.

Chez wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 05, 2020 6:26 pm

Sorry for not posting pics of the vehicle yet! It's at my mates garage to get a service, cam belt, water pump etc. Hopefully get some posted this week.
It's been interesting to read the above posts regarding Schmiedman. I've been on their website and it looks good too. But I'm willing to try Cotswold BMW.

Jon at Cotswold is the most helpful guy you will ever come across and he knows his stuff so well worth a go, Cotswold are closed now but Jon is still giving out prices and info, ...good man

Mart.

Still not got any of my own pics, but I've uploaded some of the seller's pictures.

Looking nice and original,air con,13 button obc, is the radio cassette original.

ah wrote: ↑

Sat Apr 11, 2020 12:56 pm

Looking nice and original,air con,13 button obc, is the radio cassette original.

I don't think so as it's got RDS, and I don't think RDS was around in 1985!