Meatballs 1988 Tech 2 Sport

[Meatballs82]

I didn't realize u were running on fumes!

Got bugger all done today, was my leaving do lastnight in Leicester, every bastard one of them bought me some kind of shot and countless jagerbombs, Still feel grim now.

Will get some better pics of the rusty bits tomorrow!

[Meatballs82]

Well it seems beauty is only skin deep!

Jim came over today, carpet and interior out. The inner sills are well gone, and the jacking pad repair I had done by a supposedly reputable BMW specialist in Leicester earlier this year looked a mess too! Took loads of photos but used my phone, some are quite blurry.

Battery tray from other side



Can anyone tell me what this box does?




Inside rear arches looks good though!


So alot more work than we thought to get this turd back on the road then but I'm determined and willing to do so. I have found a mobile welder who quoted £40 after looking at pics of my battery tray last week, after what we found today I'm a bit nervous about trusting him! Are there any good welders on here from Northants area?

Took the touring on an early morning mission today to pick up my 370mm tech 1 wheel. :

I've also received my E46 clubsport rack and pipework from Dan now, and bought some Goodridge hoses to add to the parts collection, which is coming along nicely!

So not the best day today, but she will see the road again!!

[Tan91]

How much better is the clubsport rack, and more importantly how much did it cost...rack + piping?

[Rav335uk]

He has an R8, Porsche Turbo, R/Rover Sport, an numerous other cars.

How was the ride out in the chromie today

[pacerpete]

He has an R8, Porsche Turbo, R/Rover Sport, an numerous other cars.

How was the ride out in the chromie today

Footballer , dealer or council type made good on the scratchcards / lottery ?

[Kedge]

Not even the touring is that bad

Was disappointed I didn't hear any crying when I rang! Is Jim still rolling around on your garage floor laughing?

[Meatballs82]

Not even the touring is that bad

Was disappointed I didn't hear any crying when I rang! Is Jim still rolling around on your garage floor laughing?

The touring did me proud this morning!

I'm not crying about it, yet. Just gutted that I paid to have it sorted once already. Will be having words with them this week! They told me they were confident it was a great repair!

[Meatballs82]

He has an R8, Porsche Turbo, R/Rover Sport, an numerous other cars.

How was the ride out in the chromie today

That thing moves like Jimmy saville in an egg n spoon race!

[Kedge]

Not even the touring is that bad

Was disappointed I didn't hear any crying when I rang! Is Jim still rolling around on your garage floor laughing?

The touring did me proud this morning!

I'm not crying about it, yet. Just gutted that I paid to have it sorted once already. Will be having words with them this week! They told me they were confident it was a great repair!

That's the pisser mate, trusting other jobsworths!

[Jim320i]

Half snotter, half mint

Dash still needs to come out on it to see the extent of the rot behind there, although the passenger side where the loom was had 2 small blemishes that should be a matter if cleaning up and treating
The driver side where the battery cable comes through looked to be the culprit so next time I'm there we shall get the dash out and hopefully see the extent. But it all looks pretty simple to sort so to speak. The outer sills look to have been replaced when the rear end was done, or just very good order and treated. So he should get away with cutting it everything from inside the car and the outer point she the base of the wing joins and it all being welded back.

There was nothing that I could see that was extremely difficult to sort.


Kedge, you should have been there today. watching matts world fall apart around him was very heart warming

[Duke137]

Matt, that's not bad mate, more than saveable!

That glovebox stud is the text book early stages of bulkhead fail, you really ought to get the dash out and check further up because the seam sealer is obviously failing.

Once you start stripping it soon becomes apparent that you need to keep removing parts to get a full understanding of the state of the shell

Rear arches look good though

[Kedge]

Kedge, you should have been there today. watching matts world fall apart around him was very heart warming

Would have been funny. Matt did explain the whole "boy who cried wolf" scenario when you initially found the brown!

[G-Bear]

Not even the touring is that bad

Was disappointed I didn't hear any crying when I rang! Is Jim still rolling around on your garage floor laughing?

The touring did me proud this morning!

I'm not crying about it, yet. Just gutted that I paid to have it sorted once already. Will be having words with them this week! They told me they were confident it was a great repair!

I hate that. Had a similar thing happen earlier this year, a friend who owns a garage welded one of my jacking pads to get it through an MOT. I later took the carpets up on a rot hunt and discovered he had just plated up over the rot from underneath.. I would have happily paid the cost to get it done proper rather than a cheap bodge which didn't cure the problem.. Little buggers everywhere..

At least if you're keeping it stripped you can check on the work after its done..

Looking forward to some updates..

[bss325i]

Name and shame!

[G-Bear]

Name and shame!

No one on here. He's not in the trade anymore either..

[bss325i]

I meant the BMW specialist that bodged up Matt's car.

[Meatballs82]

I used Hurst Automotive in Leicester, they get a guy in to do their welding to a ''high standard'' I was told! I paid cash, no vat and no receipt kinda job. That'll teach me! Thought he was doing me a favour at the time!

Just dug out the email he sent me at the time of booking my car in..

From: John Hurst
Sent: 09 January 2012 10:08
To: Matthew Gregory
Subject: RE: BMW E30 - F567PJD

"Dear Matt, Attached is the costing for labour only on the work you require. I have concerns with the inlet manifold gaskets as this repair usually requires machining the manifold / drilling broken studs from the cylinder head. We will require the car for a few days. I would like our welder man to have another look at your jacking points. if your spending this much on the vehicle then we should consider a better repair, by that I mean keep the car original. Regards John Hurst"

[Meatballs82]

I have now emailed the garage the pics of yesterdays findings, lets see what they say!

[G-Bear]

ZoneEnders.. Beats the TV any day..

[Meatballs82]

Just had this reply back, fair play to him!

''Hello Matt, I'm very sorry the repair has been carried out to such a poor standard. From the outside the repair was or seemed very good. I am very disappointed in our welder. It can be difficult even for us finding reliable sub-contractors. From our visual inspection of your BMW we thought it in good condition with minor repair work needed to the jacking points, if I had known the inner sills were as bad as this I would have told you so. Our welder has done as asked but very poorly. I'm sorry this has occured. We will not get involved with this person again. I would like to refund your payment of £150.00 plus vat, total £ 180.00. so that it may help towards a more permanant repair. Please let me know that this is acceptable Yours John Hurst''

I think he'd forgotten it was a cash job but I'm more than happy to claim the vat back that I didn't pay in the first place, for the inconvenience.

Thats took the sting out of it a little then!

[Duke137]

You lucky fooker!

[Jim320i]

Oi, i'll take the VAT mate and put it against my taxes at the end of the year

Good news dude. Atleast he didnt try to fob you off, and your getting your cash back! And it means you can start paying me too

[Kedge]

It's true what they say, it's not who you know but who you nosh off!

[Meatballs82]

I noshed no-one off Dave! I did give him both barells and a load of picture evidence though!

He's got a reputation to think of, and he knows I'm well connected in the Leicester motor trade, he had no choice I suppose!

[Kedge]

I noshed no-one off Dave! I did give him both barells and a load of picture evidence though!

Sounds wrong on all levels!!

That £180 should just about cover the welding wire needed

[Meatballs82]

I noshed no-one off Dave! I did give him both barells and a load of picture evidence though!

Sounds wrong on all levels!!

That £180 should just about cover the welding wire needed

Only to a twisted coalville dweller!

Haha.. your prob right about the wire

[Jim320i]

While i'm here and thinking about this...

@bss325 - The carpet, how hard is it gonna be getting it back in with the aircon matrix box still in place? I remember reading something you commented on about the same kinda thing, I think...
Is there a way of getting it all back in without having to move the box? I assume dashout and just gentle loosen off a few of the holding brackets/nuts/bolts of the matrix assembley to give it a little give?

[Rav335uk]

YOU LUCKY B'STARD

[Meatballs82]

YOU LUCKY B'STARD

Was feeling quite unlucky this time yesterday!!

[Rav335uk]

YOU LUCKY B'STARD

Was feeling quite unlucky this time yesterday!!

Jim's right hand not working properly then

[Meatballs82]

YOU LUCKY B'STARD

Was feeling quite unlucky this time yesterday!!

Jim's right hand not working properly then

The pen knife finger gets into the places most can't reach!

[G-Bear]

Good news.. Nice to know theres decent people out there..

[Rav335uk]

Was feeling quite unlucky this time yesterday!!

Jim's right hand not working properly then

The pen knife finger gets into the places most can't reach!

[Meatballs82]

Good news.. Nice to know theres decent people out there..

Am chuffed with the outcome, I figured I didn't have a leg to stand on!

[Rav335uk]

He looks like Murray Wlaker