Total stripdown and rebuild of my rusty 325i sport

[Jatin]

Hi folks
I owned my turd for about 2 months with a total restoration in mind. I bought it semi blindly (big big mistake) An absolute rust heap but plenty of redeeming features.

So here I go with taking it to pieces, firstly to find out how about fooked it is and then to fix it.

I remind everyone that I'm no body work technican so I'm planning to get the body sorted by a classic car restorer( I saw some of his other work and was sold immediately)

I'll pictures ASAP.

Ps I know I'll need deep pockets and it is definitely a labour of love and not an investment (yet)

[Rich2388]

Good luck mate. Keep us posted with it

[Gert_8]

Look forward to the before and progress pics.

[Jatin]

If Pete loves pictures of rust, he'll love the ones coming up

[magpie]

he's gonna explode !

[Jatin]

I was gonna say he'll get a bona but you trumped it nicely

[Jatin]

Start with 325i sport in sterling silver with what looks like a moderate amount of work needed. Both footwells soaking wet, more so when raining.
The interior and carpet was removed first to see where the water was coming from.

[polsta]

you need to remove the glove box and under steering wheel panel, and have a good look up above there, have a good poke in the front lower corners with a screwdriver aswell at the jacking pad cornersl, you may find its weak with tiny cracks and it will go right through (but is a common problem)

them rear floor bungs look a bit ropey, was/is it damp around those ? particularly the drivers side one, cheap to buy from bmw get them removed and scrape all the sealer away, as the floor was wet and you have various areas of surface rust, it would be good practice to remove all the floor sound deadening from the floor pans, as you can bet there will be rust forming under that

[Jatin]

Removal of sound deadening - I hadn't thought of that. I don't removed the panel under the steering and the glove box. Water is definitely coming in from behind the steering column. The Sills are fooked both sides. Gaps hole in the passenger for pan looking straight through to the floor. Surface rust under the sound deadening.
The last photo is one of the the engine bay in front of the Bulkhead. The so called 'jacking points' are nice and rusty both sides. I haven't poked them yet.

[aze30]

strip your headlining out and check your sunroof tray condition....or tilt up your sunroof and pull down the headlining a bit and shine a torch between he gap to see what conition the roof is in.
looks like you got some work cut out here buddy keep us posted and good luck with the rebuild
Azzy

[BHadley]

As most of it is hidden you could try to repair by mig welding it yourself, could keep costs down and there is so much information on here and from google, books etc. plus the satisfaction of " I did that"!
Good luck and all the best

[JF008]

In my car I found that most of the water getting in the cabin was coming from behind a door card due to an unsealed plastic film. Could be worth comparing the price of body work with the price of a clean e30, mine was not particularly looked after in some respects but has not rust inside.. Just to say rust free ish shells do exist. Good luck with your project.

[DanThe]

Wow, that sound deadening look structural! Looks like you have your work cut out

[pacerpete]

I'm hard !


A knotted wheel on a grinder is going to cause chaos on this turd ! More pics PLEASE !!!!!

[M3SAM]

I feel for your wallet mate..........

[Jatin]

Check out the boot
Rust/glass fibre fest.

[suchy]

Epic
Deep pockets, long arms etc...

[pacerpete]

Sorry, that is scrap

Before you weigh it in, can we have some pics up under the dash on the drivers side and close ups of under the dadh on the passenger side once you have removed the glovebox. While you are on a roll you could remove the rear interior side panels and have a look in there and take some pics and for a finale , pull the headining down above the doors on each side and have a look, be careful of the shower of rust that will greet you !

[Rich320I]

wow

definitely one for saving these, but that looks mega ropey.

like with everything it can be done, it just depends how deep your pockets are.

that will need alot of work to say the least, i though mine was rusty

[BHadley]

I thought it was only in the front! Shame really but as said on here the rust you can see outside is 10% of what there actually is.
If its bad in the roof too id be breaking it or re shelling
........ Good shells/ cars are out there

[Gert_8]

That looks pretty terminal! We don't even know what it looks like externally. It can't be any better based on those pics. You are a brave man.

[Fastroad]

Fo0k me that is some rust issues. If you start cutting there will be nothing left of the original car

[Split_S]

Man i thought my car was bad!!! Its practically rust-free compared to that!!!

4 words:

FIND A NEW SHELL!!!

[macas]

Jesus,.thats quite bad but people on here have repaired worse....

This is why if you dont really know these cars then take someone or pay someone who can inspect it properly,i wish i had of taken my own advice when i bought mine

[BHadley]

Say you did just buy a shell at least you would know what to look for as there would be not much to hide the rot.
Is there any (going back to the current sport) engine bay rust, rot etc, many would like to see what is under the body kit too as they can hide a lot!

On the plus side these pictures could be used as more buyers guide pics for the wiki.

[Topblag]

That's a krust-fest.

Do your sums, my old sport had the bodywork and paint done and sold on here recently for 2 large and came with everything except seats and door cards.

I've fragged 2 tech II sports in better nick than that.

[Jatin]

No matter. I'm up for a challenge. I'm no body work technican so everything will be done by a classic car restorer. I know big bucks but the bits that I can handle such as the suspension drivetrain etc I'll do

[polsta]

the money this will cost- just go buy an m3 !! or a nice 8-10k sport thats lovely

to do this car yourself paying a classic car restorer, is madness the shell alone might cost 15 grand to do inc labour panels and paint

[suchy]

No matter. I'm up for a challenge. I'm no body work technican so everything will be done by a classic car restorer. I know big bucks but the bits that I can handle such as the suspension drivetrain etc I'll do

That's the spirit
As long as you know this will cost large if someone else is taking care of the body work, which you will not see a return on, then it will be a labour of love. But yes you could spend the money on something better instead and save yourself a ton of grief.
Your money though, good luck

[Fastroad]

No matter. I'm up for a challenge. I'm no body work technican so everything will be done by a classic car restorer.

You would be better off buying another decent one for the money you would be giving to the restorer and give the body work on this rusty turd a go yourself, if you fail you could always just sell what's left.

Would only make financial sense if your carrying out the rust repair yourself (use all the friend favours you have).

[Jatin]

Jesus,.thats quite bad but people on here have repaired worse....

This is why if you dont really know these cars then take someone or pay someone who can inspect it properly,i wish i had of taken my own advice when i bought mine

Indeed people have repaired worse than mine here. Did I mention that the classic car restorer is a mate doing it for mates rates and I'll be helping where possible.

I know I could buy a car ready for the same money. I want to repair it just for the love of it. I will keep it long term and know that I might be out of pocket.

Even my mate said it's bad.

The shopping list is:

Both front wings
Inner/outer rear arches both sides
Inner/outer Sills both sides
Front back valance sections.
Lots of metal to cut and replace the rust

All the bodykitting has been removed.

The engine, gearbox. Drivetrain, front/back subframes
/suspension steering I. E. EVERYTHING is due to come out later this week.

All the bits except the engine will be stripped, bead blasted powder coated and then rebuilt with new rubbers.

[csl]

I want to repair it just for the love of it. I will keep it long term and know that I might be out of pocket.

Fair enough I say. Well done for taking it on fella. Respect innit.

[Stevevrs]

If this was a MK1 or 2 Escort people would be knocking one out over this ?

What ever happened to the save the car the best you can spirit. I was recently told to scrap my cabbie because it needs some bodywork and a new roof, sure i could buy one already done but wheres the fun in that ? Your car needs shit loads of work BUT if you can weld , the floor pans and sills will take you a weekend. It might not be 'show car' but who fuck*ng cares, your car that you saved. I like playing with old rusty shit as most on here do but the constant , scrap it sh*t is boring.
Buy a £200 MIG, get some metal from your nearest brekers and teach yourself to weld, { if you cant already}.
Then just farm out the outside bodywork and you will save ££££.
This site seems to have a bit of a 'downer' element to it,
Do as much as you can yourself, the car will mean 5 times more to you than if you get your cheque book out.

Where in the country are you,

[Gert_8]

I don't think anyone is being negative, more practical based on what the numbers will add up to, along with plenty of experience, having seen the pics.

It is also based on not knowing the Ops financial circumstances, of course, - he may have a bottomless bank account, but has just confirmed he is willing and able to proceed with his project.

I personally love threads like this!