Advice: good bodyshop London or surrounds

[Nightshift]

As the title says - looking for recommendations for a good bodyshop (London or around) that know E30s.

Having weighed up all the options (selling this one and buying again, buying a practical 'economical car', selling my soul to a finance a new car) decided I'm going to bite the bullet and pour some savings into the 325i SE I'm currently driving. At least I already know what needs doing on this one.

First up, RUST. All the old favourites;

- both rear arches,
- scuttle passenger side (where it looks like a really nasty bodge was attempted by a previous owner
- under the battery tray (boot) - you could push through with you finger here
- near-side same section (just behind the rear arch)
- some small patches around the boot lip

Not checked yet:
- sills
- floorpan/footwells
- fuel filler neck

Also in general there are a fair few dents and dings to address, a pretty hideous key scratch down the passenger side (*****), and some spots where the lacquer is peeling”¦

(having read that back, beginning to question my sanity on this”¦)

I'm not considering a full strip down, rebuild and respray at this point, as I don't think my budget will stretch to it. Looking for somewhere with experience of E30's (so they'll know where to look for additional rust and how far to cut metal back etc.) and who will do a decent job - preferably someone who takes a bit of pride in it. In the end you get what you pay for so would rather cough up now than have the car looking shit again after a couple of winters.

Any advice/suggestions appreciated.

[polsta]

with all the issues you say, then you say this ..

"I'm not considering a full strip down, rebuild and respray at this point"

it sounds like thats what it needs !! if theres scuttle holes and issues,and yove not checked the floor out, you really need the carpets and dash out , it sounds like you need a new rear panel, rear arches inner and outer, and a proper rear end sort out,and all the spots of laquer peeling and scratches- would probably total up to a re spray, you need to strip the floor and dash , to have a good inspection and see the "total" score of what needs doing and then weigh up weather its all worth doing or not

[Nightshift]

with all the issues you say, then you say this ..

"I'm not considering a full strip down, rebuild and respray at this point"

it sounds like thats what it needs !! if theres scuttle holes and issues,and yove not checked the floor out, you really need the carpets and dash out , it sounds like you need a new rear panel, rear arches inner and outer, and a proper rear end sort out,and all the spots of laquer peeling and scratches- would probably total up to a re spray, you need to strip the floor and dash , to have a good inspection and see the "total" score of what needs doing and then weigh up weather its all worth doing or not

Cheers - I was getting that feeling as I was typing the post. Challenge is not having a garage to work in or much time to dedicate to stripping the car out - so looking for someone who knows the cars well to a) give it a good look over and b) give me an estimate.

[E30_Aza]

Get yourself on Facebook and search jubilee coachworks, check out my resto in their photos. My best mates garage. They done an awesome job of mine. By the sounds of it you wanna be sitting down when they give you a quote. They are based in penge

[oomz1975]

Get yourself on Facebook and search jubilee coachworks, check out my resto in their photos. My best mates garage. They done an awesome job of mine. By the sounds of it you wanna be sitting down when they give you a quote. They are based in penge

Also look for GT Customs based in Perivale, been happy everytime I've used them.

[Nightshift]

Get yourself on Facebook and search jubilee coachworks, check out my resto in their photos. My best mates garage. They done an awesome job of mine. By the sounds of it you wanna be sitting down when they give you a quote. They are based in penge

Thanks Aza - had a look through their photos but couldn't find your resto. Have you got a link to it?

Be getting quotes from both Jubilee and GT Customs - cheers for the info.

[E30_Aza]

If you go onto their Facebook page it should be in their photo albums. The pics aren't in correct order but you can get a good idea of the work that's been carried out