just got a new tourer than needs some work. how bad is it?

[fearlessphil]

hey guys,
Just bought my first e30 is an 1989 325i tourer, it had some bodywork issues but is mechanically sound. i have some photos of the bad bits to see how bad you guys think it is?

rear arch looking forward.

Rear arch looking up.



Front passenger wing



pasanger footwell from underneath just behind the arch




the car inquestion.


any advice you people may have is much appriciated.

[pacerpete]

Sorry, unless you are a bored bodywork type, sell it and start again. There are still plenty of decent solid cars out there for a lot less than it will cost to patch up that rusty turd

[Grrrmachine]

Never knew BMW made a tourer*....

Still, there's a new wing needed there at least. And with the rust that's visible, you'll have a lot more lurking behind the underseal. Your best bet is to get a prodding screwdriver and go through this list:

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/index.php/Rust





* it's tourING, you heathen

[Brianmoooore]

Have to agree with pacerpete on this one, I'm afraid. What you can see so far is probably only about 10 - 15% of the true amount of rust, and although some on here have successfully dealt with far worse, I've scrapped them for far less. The point is, as already said, there's far better out there.
Perhaps find a lowly four cylinder touring, and swap the 325 bits from this car into it.

[jimbom30cab]

can you still get a refund if you take it back?

[aimlessrock]

Phil, in truth the worry is the rot you can't see, as i suspect the the bulk head will be in a poor state.

The works can all be repaired, but just how fearless are you!

Ive just undertaken a full bare metal resto, and mine was worse that yours... not cheap at all.

Find yourself a talented welder locally, pm me if you need my mans number.

best of luck with the resto.

cheers

Gary

[Zerotonine]

Like Grrrmachine says, follow the wiki and get prodding. Only way to find out!

[pacerpete]

It goes without saying, we want pics of all the erogenous bits !

[magpie]

i hope it was cheap.

[adit]

is that a Manx car? do they rust more than mainland ones?

[andyp]

got to agree get rid of it and start again

[snakebrain]

Outer arch + wing + floor pan (almost certainly on both sides) + (likely) rear sill end + (likely) inner arch on at least one side + probable rusty door or two + inevitable gaping hole in bulkhead + at least 3 other nasty bits you'll discover while patching up the other bits = massive weldathon/full respray.

[fearlessphil]

Cheers guys, little disheartening but kind of expected, yeah its manx living on the isle of man im verry limited as to what i can get if i were to come to the mainland to get a car i have to add about £500 to the bill to allow for ferry and fuel to bring it back here then i have to put is throught the manx registration test which is verry strict you can almost garentee it will come back with a fail and a big list of things to do

as long as the bulkhead hasnt gone i thin i may take on the resto

[snakebrain]

Looks like the ferry will be carrying a cargo of welding gas before long!

[pacerpete]

Cheers guys, little disheartening but kind of expected, yeah its manx living on the isle of man im verry limited as to what i can get if i were to come to the mainland to get a car i have to add about £500 to the bill to allow for ferry and fuel to bring it back here then i have to put is throught the manx registration test which is verry strict you can almost garentee it will come back with a fail and a big list of things to do

as long as the bulkhead hasnt gone i thin i may take on the resto

The Manx registration test can't be that strict, not if that bridge dodger has been anywhere near a public road in the last five years !

[bimmaman]

Bridge dodger!

[Andyboy]

That's not really worth doing. However, a secondhand tailgate, a bit of P40 and underseal to tidy it up and run it as is. If you can get a couple of years out of it before the scrapyard crane beckons you'll be alright.

But it've not really viable to restore it.

[aimlessrock]

You crack on Phil, few restos are very really viable once you add in the time element but we do it for the love of a project.

At least the car is reasonbly straight and runs well...more than some ive seen. The E30 is well built and well engineered.

The zone have a collective wealth of knowlegde and most folk will happily offer advice and tips.

why not start a resto thread?

[Rich320I]

agreed aimlessrock,

iv spent plenty of time and money on old cars over the years and i doubt if iv broke even let alone made any money, but its not about that for me.

if i like the car then il spend my time and money doing it, viability plays no part in for me anyway, just the fact i like spending my spare time on my car

[mcbonio]

As everyone has already stated, bodywork is the most expensive and time consuming part of a resto. If you can't do it yourself then get shut of the car now, cuz its gonna cost much more than the car is worth.

You have 2 good suggestions from Brianmoooore and Grrrrmachine

Find a good touring shell and transfer the 325i lump over or do a full restoration like Grrrmachine did with his touring, and a good job too might I add.

[pacerpete]

As everyone has already stated, bodywork is the most expensive and time consuming part of a resto. If you can't do it yourself then get shut of the car now, cuz its gonna cost much more than the car is worth.

You have 2 good suggestions from Brianmoooore and Grrrrmachine

Find a good touring shell and transfer the 325i lump over or do a full restoration like Grrrmachine did with his touring, and a good job too might I add.

He had one good suggestion, mine Frag it / sell it on and buy a decent one. The £500 he reckons it will cost to import a car from the 'mainland' might just repair that one wheel arch

[mcbonio]

He could frag it and put it towards a decent one....

First dibs on the headlight washing system.!

[fearlessphil]

thanks guys,
after going through Grrrmachine's resto thread ive decided that as i hadnt payed the guy yet to give the car back. While a resto does look kinda fun its not what i want right now i want i can i can drive ill let you know when i find a nice one

[Grrrmachine]

So my resto thread puts people off buying E30s...

[TouringTash]

Mine didn't look a quarter as bad as that one fella, the work once you get started will cost more in gas and rods than the 500 bringing a car from the mainland.
Finding solid metal to weld to will have you chasing your way around in circles.
The money spent on mine (in total) could have bought a very tidy tech2, enjoying working on a car is one thing but blowing a wad of cash on something that one idiot in a 4x4 can finish off in a carpark isn't.

Find a good shell and pull the good bits from that one would be my move.

[fearlessphil]

So my resto thread puts people off buying E30s...

hasnt put me off E30's just this one in particular for the money hey wanted for it it wasnt worth it