Newbie with 'barn find'

[Budgie325]

Afternoon Gents,

I've just agreed the purchase of a 1989 325i cab in red..

Been sitting in a garage for the last ten years so will need a bit of tidying up/making road worthy..

It's a 55k miler, with one owner and FBMWSH!

Going to be calling on you for parts/info.

Cheers

Mike

[Rancid]

Welcome along pics pics pics please

[Budgie325]

Will do on collection, matey.

Hopefully going to try and document it's revival from start to finish! Current deadline to have it back to it's best is June 2013, just in time for Le Mans!

[Rtaylor2208]

You got to love the term Full Service History, thats not really true as if it was the service book would have a stamp for each recommended interval which is X miles OR X Months which ever comes first regardless of the fact it hasn't moved in 10 years.

Rant over, its a pet hate after viewing several cars that owners claimed had a full history.

[Budgie325]

Rant score. 3/10.

First thing this thing will get after a clean is a full service. Before it's even turned over, obviously.

Cambelt & water pump.
Coolant change
New rad & hoses
Oil & filter change
Air filter
Fuel filter
Plugs
Lead&dizzy inspection
Valve clearances..

Anything else required?

[Rancid]

Rant score. 3/10.

I can already tell you're going to fit in well here

[daimlerman]

Rotor arm for the engine.

You will need a full inspection of the brakes and suspension,anything with a rubber seal will either have failed or be very close to it!

Given reasonable luck,the shell may be rust free,but sills are a known rust area on cabbie's due to the lack of roof,they tend to flex and open up the join visible with the door open.Front footwells are double skinned,so should be OK.Bottoms of the front wings are vunerable,and this bit is cabbie exculsive,but is a simple shape for a decent bodyman to fabricate.

Good luck,keep us posted!

[ross_jsy]

Brake fluid will want replacing at a minimum, calipers and drums may well be siezed and discs rusted. Inspect all rubber hoses/bushes/gaskets etc

[Budgie325]

Rotor arm for the engine.

You will need a full inspection of the brakes and suspension,anything with a rubber seal will either have failed or be very close to it!

Given reasonable luck,the shell may be rust free,but sills are a known rust area on cabbie's due to the lack of roof,they tend to flex and open up the join visible with the door open.Front footwells are double skinned,so should be OK.Bottoms of the front wings are vunerable,and this bit is cabbie exculsive,but is a simple shape for a decent bodyman to fabricate.

Good luck,keep us posted!

Top man.

Once it's back and running, i'll get it up on a ramp to have a poke about.

The guy assures me the shell is completely solid and it looks ok, but then again, I've only seen pics.

It did undergo a full respray 6 months before it was tucked up in the garage, so hopefully anything that was appearing will be dealt with.

Yeah, will change the brakes/do a full rebuild on the calipers, etc.

Want this to be as minty mint as they come really.

Going to cost a few quid to do, but picked it up for a pretty reasonable money, so should be profit to be made!

[andrew_baran]

Going to cost a few quid to do, but picked it up for a pretty reasonable money, so should be profit to be made!

I think that's the first mistake about 90% of people made signing up on here. It's for the love, not for the wallet!

Having said that, my E30s have always treated me pretty well, with regards to parts and reliability. (Touch wood!)

[Gert_8]

In for the profit, eh? tch...

Before my mate Pacer comes along, I'll ask the question - what does it weigh?!

When you get the chance to post the pics, include a pack of birds custard...

Welcome to the Zone.

[Grrrmachine]

Oil spray bar, rubber exhaust hangers, rear light seals, a whole new set of tyres, plus all of the above mentioned items. You will NOT be in profit afterwards.

But glad to hear of another one getting back on the road And take a look at the Wiki, there's a lot of good info buried in there.

[Gavla]

Profit.... I wish!

I bought a pretty solid convertible a year ago, fairly low mileage and I think I got it for a good price. It already owes me double what I paid and I still want to have it resprayed and redo the interior.

Oh, and I still have to see what happens at the next MOT.

Profit... good luck mate, but welcome, I look forward to following the thread.

[polsta]

You got to love the term Full Service History, thats not really true as if it was the service book would have a stamp for each recommended interval which is X miles OR X Months which ever comes first regardless of the fact it hasn't moved in 10 years.

Rant over, its a pet hate after viewing several cars that owners claimed had a full history.

agreed !! lets face it...how many e30s have proper bmw stamps and everything 100% on schedule stamped in the book up to date, most stopped 10 years ago or whatever or/and dont have half the book and bits in it complete

wonder how many e30s there actualy are with 100% original bmw from new service history for everything in its whole life inc every oil service etc stamped

[BenHar]

wonder how many e30s there actualy are with 100% original bmw from new service history for everything in its whole life inc every oil service etc stamped

Is there enough space in the book?

Ben

[polsta]

just an observation- but a 55k 1 owner full service history e30 thats made to sound like its been fasidiously maintained...that needed a full re spray after only 55k 10 years ago ?

[Gert_8]

wonder how many e30s there actualy are with 100% original bmw from new service history for everything in its whole life inc every oil service etc stamped

Is there enough space in the book?

Ben

My cabby only covers about 500 miles a year. I don't get it services every year...

[Z3I]

just an observation- but a 55k 1 owner full service history e30 thats made to sound like its been fasidiously maintained...that needed a full re spray after only 55k 10 years ago ?

Respray rang the alarm bells with me too..hope its not hiding the obvious..

[BenHar]

wonder how many e30s there actualy are with 100% original bmw from new service history for everything in its whole life inc every oil service etc stamped

Is there enough space in the book?

Ben

My cabby only covers about 500 miles a year. I don't get it services every year...

To get a "Full service history" you should.

Ben

[polsta]

wonder how many e30s there actualy are with 100% original bmw from new service history for everything in its whole life inc every oil service etc stamped

Is there enough space in the book?

Ben

My cabby only covers about 500 miles a year. I don't get it services every year...

well every service whenever it may be, do you , who,takes a 20- year old e30 to bmw and pays like £120 for an oil and filter change, or whatever it is , and who gets bmw inspection 1,2`s carried out and has done all its life on schedule , or in the service books every one of the "shell" condition things filled in etc,etc,etc

[Gert_8]

The service history covers its time with me. oil, filter, plug and anything else is not going to need changing after 500 miles. The brake fluid etc would be done as recommended though. It's not like it is being mistreated or unloved.

[Z3I]

Is there enough space in the book?

Ben

My cabby only covers about 500 miles a year. I don't get it services every year...

To get a "Full service history" you should.

Ben

Regardless of the low milage you do, change the oil and filter every year, and the brake fluid every other year, best money you'll spend on an E30 imo.

[Gert_8]

I'll take that advice I think.

[polsta]

just an observation- but a 55k 1 owner full service history e30 thats made to sound like its been fasidiously maintained...that needed a full re spray after only 55k 10 years ago ?

Respray rang the alarm bells with me too..hope its not hiding the obvious..

especialy all that time ago, personly id be interested to see if that car had 100% every mot from new fully backing up the 55k, or if it had a convinient chunk missing/gaps...but then, with 10 years in storage and a 10 year mot chunk/history, is there anything that can be done to 100% prove/trace that ? ie- is it possible to say find out if/what periods a car hasnt been taxed/mot`d during that said 10 year period ?

only wondering as my car was said to have been in storage, but never been bothered or took it for gospel

[DanThe]

Maybe its been resprayed renault blue?

[gooner1]

Maybe its been resprayed renault blue?

No one would be that stupid, surely?

[Budgie325]

Well, i made the 300 mile journey this weekend to see the car and finalise the deal.

Extremely happy with it!

Not a spec or bubble of rust anywhere on it!

[Gert_8]

[mabz]

nice one look forward to the pic's.

[Grrrmachine]

Not a spec or bubble of rust anywhere on it!

Custard test!

[pacerpete]

Screwdriver test more like it !

[FinalD]

Profit.... I wish!

I bought a pretty solid convertible a year ago, fairly low mileage and I think I got it for a good price. It already owes me double what I paid and I still want to have it resprayed and redo the interior.

Oh, and I still have to see what happens at the next MOT.

Profit... good luck mate, but welcome, I look forward to following the thread.

Mine cost £400, I've spent nearly 4x that and it isn't anywhere near sorted or even on the road!

I bought the car on a whim, it better pay off (I don't mean turn a profit, I mean, be a good fun drive)!

[bmandy68]

Love to see some pictures

[e301988325i]

Rant score. 3/10.

First thing this thing will get after a clean is a full service. Before it's even turned over, obviously.

Cambelt & water pump.
Coolant change
New rad & hoses
Oil & filter change
Air filter
Fuel filter
Plugs
Lead&dizzy inspection
Valve clearances..

Anything else required?

Forget your list, there is little reason any of it needs to be done and will cost hundreds (leads circa £150 from the stealer), do a few critical bits and make sure it works first and wasn't laid up for a reason.

new petrol, new petrol filter, new engine bay petrol lines
Oil and filter, OIL SPRAY BAR (under rocker cover)
Cam belt & tensioner (checking water pump not seized)

[Speedtouch]

If replacing the cambelt, it's best to change the cambelt tensioner at the same time.

Another top tip, if replacing the water pump, BMW give a discount if you take the old one back to them, even if it's a pattern part, and they knock about £20 off the price of a new one.

Beware of cheap pattern water pumps and cambelts & tensioners, as they tend to only last a year or two before letting go spectacularly.