Say I wanted to build a "new" E30...

[sat1983]

...How much would it cost?
I have no clue so please be kind. Always fancied an E30 since I was about 6 yrs of age, and that's now 20 years ago!
They're old these days, no doubt about that. Which makes finding a good one extremely difficult.
I have this idea of doing this long term project. I fancy buying the best E30 shell I can find- totally bring it back to bare metal and rust proofing it( some sort of bath they soak the shell in from what I recall?), retrim seats, and every screw in the engine bay and under the car renewed.
This is a rough plan. How do-able? And what sort of cost is involved? I have some cash on the side (I'm a bit of savings freak and have a fair amount of cash for what I've always called the car fund). Thanks!

[SHAKEELE30]

hey, you would be needing quite a bit of money saved if you want to build a brand new e30, basically you would need to get all new items if thats what you want, and thats only from the stealers. And that is only if most of the parts have not been discontinued, and in all fairness that would cost you quite abit itself..

Interior- take it, its going to be a re-trim, as finding a new interior will be difficult, and thats if they are still available.

dont forget- exhaust, engine, manifold, alloys, interior, paint, and the list will go on & on & on & on....

[Jon_Bmw]

Have a look at X-works m3 thread. Although it isn't a completely new build, it is one of the very best*.

*from the seat of my computer chair.

[sat1983]

Cheers guys- Perhaps literally "as new" might be pushing it but I really intend doing this- the most important bit is the "galvanising" it so it's rust proof- as much as a new cars are these days.
I wouldn't mind using it quite often- which is not something thar can be done with an E30 in standard form- they rust far too easily, in the UK at least!

[AlpineAde]

A completely "new" car?

I've spent around 12-13K GBP) on mine (not including purchase price) and not even half would constitute "new". The body is very, very sound, so I haven't touched it. Yet. One fellow tried to sell his E30 325i that had undergone a total restoration and it had cost him in the vicinity of 30-35K GBP and he never sold it. Asking price was too high, near 22-23K GBP.

This is in Australia, however. It'd be cheaper where you are I imagine.

[sat1983]

Would I be better off getting the best shell I can get for say- £1k or should I start by buying an excellent well cared for example, for say £5k+?

[Sanchez]

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... ic&t=70115


I would take the day to read this thread. Its a completely new car near enough.

[sat1983]

Thanks for the link- every website has its trusted bodyshop/specialist. Who is the one of choice on here? I'm in Sheffield, so would be nice if it wasn't too far away!

[e21Jason]

I would expect 20-25k to build a car as new

Jason

[Bump]

I would consider just buying this one:

http://www.wlnautomotive.co.uk/popup.cf ... p_i=455225

he had a 318is with 56k go for £4450 recently btw..

[sat1983]

That's an amazing find!! Is £15k about the going rate- I guess it is for such a rare car.
I have an 09 Cooper S... Do I sacrifice creature comforts and everything for an E30??
MMMM..
Does he do p/x??!

[Alex]

i would have at least 50k aside

[mrLEE30]

i seem to remember a few years ago they priced up what it would cost to build a VW golf up from parts, it was the last shape and at that time it was the ciurrent model.

The price to build it yourself was almost 8-10 times the price of buying one new this is parts only, once you figure time/labour/tools etc you could be looking at 10-15times the new price.

As for a new E30 you also need to figure time searching for parts out of stock, as they will be somewhere possibly in the US. so assume the E30 would sell for about10K if it where new today and a current model, you would be looking at anywhere from 80-150K pounds.

[sat1983]

Perhaps I should concentrate on buying a VERY clean one, and see from there!

[daimlerman]

Thanks for the link- every website has its trusted bodyshop/specialist. Who is the one of choice on here? I'm in Sheffield, so would be nice if it wasn't too far away!

Beardymat is your man in Sheffield,do not see too much of him these days so his bodyshop must be busy!
New E30 shells are NLA,so you would have to start with the best available base car,a suprisingly large amount of parts are still available from BMW,and they continue to re-manufacture parts that are in demand via their 'Mobile Tradition' division.
Things that are 'difficult' are OE spec seat covers and door cards,as you would expect.
Costs? I have re-built two cars over the last couple of years for my retirement use,I plan on running them for at least ten years,at a cost of at least £3000 each,BUT,they are cars to use,not concours queens that will never see a wet road.

[Ace 325i]

Thanks for the link- every website has its trusted bodyshop/specialist. Who is the one of choice on here? I'm in Sheffield, so would be nice if it wasn't too far away!

I'd like to know this too! Preferably in the London area (NW)..

[b4gga83]

Thanks for the link- every website has its trusted bodyshop/specialist. Who is the one of choice on here? I'm in Sheffield, so would be nice if it wasn't too far away!

Beardymat is your man in Sheffield,do not see too much of him these days so his bodyshop must be busy!
New E30 shells are NLA,so you would have to start with the best available base car,a suprisingly large amount of parts are still available from BMW,and they continue to re-manufacture parts that are in demand via their 'Mobile Tradition' division.
Things that are 'difficult' are OE spec seat covers and door cards,as you would expect.
Costs? I have re-built two cars over the last couple of years for my retirement use,I plan on running them for at least ten years,at a cost of at least £3000 each,BUT,they are cars to use,not concours queens that will never see a wet road.

I too have been trying to contact Beardymat via the zone. Does anyone have the number to his workshop?

[AlpineAde]

Perhaps I should concentrate on buying a VERY clean one, and see from there!

That's where I would start.

The resto I spoke of above for 30-35K was a resto in the strictest and best of senses. A lot of new parts; a lot of refurbed parts; a lot of NOS; some fabrication....you get the picture.

An entirely new built car would cost twice that. It would be bonkers.

[Alex]

You cant build a brand New "59" reg e30 as the shells are NLA

[Bump]

That's an amazing find!! Is £15k about the going rate- I guess it is for such a rare car.
I have an 09 Cooper S... Do I sacrifice creature comforts and everything for an E30??
MMMM..
Does he do p/x??!

yes he does. normally for old german stuff though it's a worth a try I spose.

flog the cooper buy the e30 as trying to build a new one is admirable but also a bit

[Gert_8]

A short comment - Dealers, these days, claim to make more money from servicing and selling spare parts than they do selling cars! Based on the prices they charge, they are probably right.

Spares are a lucrative business and is of course applicable to all industries from computers to washing machines.

I'd buy the best you can afford and sort out the bits that need to get it into the best condition that will satisfy you.

[spook]

Simon 13 is restoring his Alpina, have a look at his thread.

Gonna be almost like a new car when done

Alot of lads have also reshelled, have a look in the photo gallery.

[Simon13]

cheers Gook, indeed my project aim is to make myself as close as possible a "new" E30. Its the closest i'll ever get. Buying the car and the bodywork resto took me to 10,000 on its own.

All including the car cost i reckon it'll be close to 20 bags by the time i get a tax disc in it

If i restored the car to its exact factory spec it would of saved me thousands so far. But i'm retro fitting alot of trinkets

[sat1983]

Cheers again guys. A (sticky) thread on good E30 motors (Good finds on PH, Autotrader and the bay?)would be a good idea. Has that been done?

[e301988325i]

That's an amazing find!! Is £15k about the going rate- I guess it is for such a rare car.
I have an 09 Cooper S... Do I sacrifice creature comforts and everything for an E30??
MMMM..
Does he do p/x??!

In my opinion, you've got that the wrong way around. . . E30's will cruise happily at 3 figure speeds, and are far more refined than you might expect.

With a bit of cash behind me I'd buy a decent one, strip the parts into labelled boxes, acid dip, galvanise, repsray the shell, doors, boot, bonnet, sunroof panel etc.

Then put the parts back on, fixing, renewing, and upgrading as you go.

[sat1983]

In my opinion, you've got that the wrong way around. . . E30's will cruise happily at 3 figure speeds, and are far more refined than you might expect.

With a bit of cash behind me I'd buy a decent one, strip the parts into labelled boxes, acid dip, galvanise, repsray the shell, doors, boot, bonnet, sunroof panel etc.

Then put the parts back on, fixing, renewing, and upgrading as you go.

Sounds like a good plan- I just need to find the car and someone I can trust to do all of the above!

[fulllocke30]

hi give me a call if you want a very very clean car pm me and i will send you my number

[sat1983]

Tell me more!!