Save or scrap?? Advice needed from fellow E30 lovers...

[sajad09]

Right to cut a long story short

I sold my minter of an e30 325i cab to a zoner about 2 years ago and ever since have been missing it and wanting another one!!

So 3 months ago the i bought a 1993 318i lux cab auto, alpine white, tech2 kit, etc

The car needed tidying and had a scrape on the o/s rear panel and a broken tail light

Got it fairly cheap and was looking foward to tidying it up and converting to 325 running gear in time for summer..

So this weekend i took the tech 2 kit off and found dreaded rot!

Both rear outer arches are showing signs of bubbling

The n/s sill has a hole about the size of a 50 pence coin near one jacking point

Front valance has a rusty rash in various places.

On top of all this i got a letter from dvla saying car requires a vic test as its recored as damage cat c.. Even though the person i bought it off swore blind he never claimed for any damge to the car and was payed cash for repairs which he never got around to.

I know its my own fault i dhould of hpi checked before doing a deal!

On the face of it i car looks solid with decent paint, nice steaight panels, tidy hood and clean interior

It has extras on it such as electric roof which acctually works..
Air con, headlight washers, black leather which i really like..

It has 118k in clock with all previous mots and a full history booklet in the wallet, 3 keys and only 3 previous owners..

So my dilema now is do i break the car and salvage my money back or should i spend on it and turn it in to the nice car i though i had bought?

I only payed £800 for the car and know i can make my money back by breaking it.. But if i do repair it and get it looking the way i want it im woried the cat c marker will always be attached to it!

What should i do?

Thanks for advice in advance

[sajad09]

I dont have any pics yet but if its not raining on monday i will upload some

[timmzey]

Edited for privacy

[Grrrmachine]

A cab should hold its value, Cat C or not, especially one with leather and air-con.

And from what you've said, the repairs aren't that bad. Sill rust is easily fixed with a plate, and the front valance is only bolted on if you can find a cleaner replacement. It's that rear arch that's the worst bit, as usually what you can see is only 10% of what's there.

Really you need the car up on a ramp so you can check the true condition of the shell, based on the Rust guide:

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

[sajad09]

Thanks mate your rite i havent even looked at the arches from under the car yet but i had a quick feel with hand and it felt only to be surface rust and not crumbling metal... I really like the look of the car but am worried that its gona cost a lot more to repair than i budgeted for and also am worried that i will strugle to sell in the future for good money as its a cat c which has to be stated to any future buyer

[sajad09]

Might be interested in the Tech 2 Full Kit at the right price

If i do break it i will be keepin the tech 2 kit for the next cab i buy... a˜Ž

[G-Bear]

Go on, save it

But you definitely get some pics up see what everyone thinks. Pacer's probably twitching as I type.

[Fastroad]

If its already to rusty (most E30's are rusty) and a cat C break it and keep the nice bits for another one but probably best to look for one before selling the parts, just incase you need it as a back up if finding another one fails

[sajad09]

If its already to rusty (most E30's are rusty) and a cat C break it and keep the nice bits for another one but probably best to look for one before selling the parts, just incase you need it as a back up if finding another one fails

That sounds like a good idea matea˜Ž

[sajad09]

I may not find a nice rust free one anyway...

Should never of sold my last one!

Kicking myself for it!

"Gilsl500" you lucky git! Lol

[Sanchez]

At 800quid your not in the red with all those parts on it.

If you have a real good look at all the rusty areas and get a repair quote then you'll have a rust free car.

You could go out and buy a 3k one and need the same rust sorting.

[sajad09]

Right not good news im afraid...

Had a poke about this morning and found that the rot is more sever than i first thought..

Both rear arches are rotton severly on the inside and bubling on the outside..

Boot floor wells are flakey and have water sitting in one of them

Both front wings are showing surface rust in the bottom corners on the inside

Sills are not to bad but one has a hole as stated earlier..

Under the bonnet its not to bad but a few bits of surface rust on the trays behind the lights

And on top of all that my brother tried to open the roof on a cold monday morning and we now have a small crack in the rear screen!

All in all im getting more and more disapointed with the car and have decided to break it and salvage my money back..

I can keep any good bits and transfer them to my next car which will be check more thoroghly! Lol

So soon to be in the parts section once iv taken a few good pics of it...

[Quaser]

break it and get yourself a proper 325i cab - a converted 318i will always be that, it wont ever be a 325i

you will be saving on a whole load of hassle, and cost.

insurance wise, you would have had a modified 318i cab - so out the window goes cheap insurance.

You can always transfer whatever is missing .

[sajad09]

break it and get yourself a proper 325i cab - a converted 318i will always be that, it wont ever be a 325i

you will be saving on a whole load of hassle, and cost.

insurance wise, you would have had a modified 318i cab - so out the window goes cheap insurance.

You can always transfer whatever is missing .

Thats the plan mate..

[Rich2388]

So what parts are for sale?

[ImysE30]

You got any pics?

[sajad09]

Im keeping the tech 2 kit and steering wheel

Maybe the leather interior aswell

Everything else can probably go

Going to make an add in the next few days and put pics up also need to have a look on here to see what sort of prices to be selling things for lol

[kman82]

break it bud