Rebirth of a 318i Convertible

[cmsslee]

Back in 2012 my great uncle (in his 70s) mentioned to me he had an old 'sports car' that he no longer wanted and was i interested in taking it off him. Further investigation revealed it was a 1991 318i Convertible and was in good nick according to him with about 100k on the clock, and it had been garaged and barely used for the last 10 years. Being a kid in the 80s I have always hankered after an E30 so I was on a train up to Scotland to collect the old turd in no time.

I drove it back down to Manchester and had a closer look - interior almost immaculate - no cracks on the dash, no bolster wear etc. Just some odd grommets on the centre console where a phone was once fitted and a repair required to the side of the passenger seat. The bodywork wasn't too bad - minor rust on the arches, everywhere else looking solid but quite a few scratches and dents on pretty much every panel. Central locking/alarm etc. not working. This was how it looked:

Within a couple of weeks it was SORNed and parked up at my mate's body shop, under a cover awaiting the green light to undergo a bit of restoration - minor rust to sort, respray including colour coding the bumpers & mirrors and some 15" BBS my plan.

[cmsslee]

For a variety of reasons I didn't get round to that green light, but a few months back I decided it was finally time to get started. I went up to see my mate who would be doing the work and we pencilled in May to get cracking. We took the cover off the car and whilst it had clearly deteriorated it wasn't looking significantly worse off for having sat outside for 18 months. Little bit of mould starting on the interior amongst all the cobwebs, the rust had got worse and a new patch on the scuttle had appeared near the o/s wiper. Quick poke with a screwdriver and we had a hole.

So my mate got started last month, first the strip down to look at the sills, arches and underside:




With the skirts off it revealed that some welding was going to be needed. Firstly the wings had accumulated a bit of mud/dirt over the years...




with this scraped off the bottom of the wings were clearly fooked.

After a brief hunt for some used replacements I thought fook it and ordered some new OEM from the stealers which arrived next day


The sills were also a bit worse than originally thought...


but my pal didn't hesitate to get stuck in and tackle it...



a couple of holes appeared so his welding skills would be needed earlier than thought...


but it wasn't long until both sides were back to metal with holes patched and rust gone...

[Gert_8]

Very nice!

[cmsslee]

Next it was onto the arches. new outers needed at the rear but after stripping to check the inside arches and boot there was just a small hole to patch...







Then onto the outers, first cutting off the rusty originals...


and then getting the new ones on (can really see how nice a colour the mauritiusblau is on these pics ...



and the n/s...


He also deleted the old phone aerial for me while he was on...


and told me to get shopping for some new dampers/springs


After researching on here I'm thinking B4s and Eibachs? Despite wanting an OEM look when finished I'm going for a 30-ish mm drop as that original ride hide wouldn't be out of place on a moon buggy. Any pointers as cheapest place to pick up shocks & springs would be appreciated.

[Gert_8]

Quite comprehensive work going on there - great to see. This is the same colour as my cab. I notice you have an electric roof, does it work?

[cmsslee]

Hello Gert, cheers for commenting. Yes the roof does work. At least it did before the car was left in the wilderness for all that time Haven't checked it since the work started.

I'm in 2 minds about whether to convert to manual as everywhere seems to say the electric ones are a nightmare - if not now it's guaranteed in the future?

[Gert_8]

If the roof works, then keep it - it's an original feature. Anyone that moans about the electric roofs is what I call a QUITTER!

If the roof is looked after, then it really shouldn't be problematic. Let us know if it is still working when you've finished on the work you've started. If it doesn't I might be able to advise on it.

[jimbom30cab]

Great thread, super work also, looking forward to the updates

Thanks

[cmsslee]

Reeto. Cheers for the offer of help! The old uncle deffo looked after the roof. It was replaced when he first got it from the original owner so I think he made sure he looked after it as he didn't want to fork out the £££ again.

I want to keep it original so apart from the wheels and the drop it will be as it left the factory and seeing as these would both have been options I can still claim it to be OEM

Does anyone know if shadow line trim was an option? This is the other 'mod' I was contemplating

[Speak-slower]

Looking good much more progress than my turd.

[Gert_8]

Yes, I think Shadow line trim was an option - mine is, anyway...

[cmsslee]

So with the arches and sills getting there it was time to get the rest of the lower body sorted. Having already had the car up on his ramp and a had good poke we knew the underside is solid as a rock, so it was on to the rear valence and removing the anti-stonechip with a scraper he fashioned for himself ...



It was a wise move as a couple of small rust spots were revealed...




With these sorted and a couple of other bits of surface rust sorted eg. around the towing eye, the rear was back to bare metal and in cracking nick once again...





He started filling/sanding/priming in the last couple of days, I'm going up tomorrow morning to get cracking on a few bits myself so should hopefully have a few more pics to update....

[tonybtonyb]

Cracking job!

[appletree]

Nice work, great to see somebody getting stuck in!

[Rickz]

Excellent job, drop me a message if you ever decide to sell!

[TPS]

Superb thread, I'm hooked!

[cmsslee]

Quick update on the latest progress, after the rust was banished it was time to start getting the prep work done for the paint.

Firstly a closer look at some of the imperfections on the rear n/s panels revealed evidence of a previous repair



And there were quite a few small dents and depressions to sort




Then the task of making those new rear arches look like the originals



And after hours and hours a base coat to see how we're looking



Plan is to get primed today/tomorrow and hopefully in for painting at the weekend.

[cmsslee]

Also started to think about the mechanical/electrical side of things. Engine runs well, power steering belt squealing is the only obvious thing to sort at the minute.



Alarm and central locking aren't working so will have a look at that once the bodywork's finished. Alarm is oem but I cleaned the label with the wrong rag (had thinners on it) and wiped the part number off


Anyone ID it?

[Speedtouch]

This thread should help with identifying it:

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... 58&start=0

[povertyspec]

nice work, i have a 1991 318ic in the same spec as a daily ride, its in about the same nick/ ie looks good from 20 feet and tatty up close and i keep putting off the rear arch repairs and the little rust holes every year because it runs so well! i prefer the M technic check upholstry to the leather, its so period and different to anything BMW sell now. main problem is finding a good bodyshop and a welder who "gets" E30 construction.

[povertyspec]

by the way, my central locking packed in, dried out through being stood. i just deactivated it all and converted the locks using the existing parts to manual. its easy enought o use a key and lean over for the passanger, with good lubrication this should last the life of the car without the actuators etc packing in at tescos.

[aimlessrock]

good looking turd, personally if your looking to keep her for good i would look to drop in a 6 pot.

where are you in Manchester?

[sindako]

Nice catch TBH .
Only Requires fixing Some minor damage .
I've seen alot of E30 with a really really bad condition .
But that one i see up there looks nice except for the Rust .

here in Jordan we don't have that kinda rust i see on car from europe .
My e30 while restoring had three rust places in the whole car ,
foot well on both passenger and driver sides . Other else no rust .

But it can be fixed .
take car of that vert' it is nice .

[cmsslee]

good looking turd, personally if your looking to keep her for good i would look to drop in a 6 pot.

where are you in Manchester?

At some point in the future i might consider it, but I'm hoping she's going to be on the road by the end of this week (updated pics coming later this morning) and she'll be a daily until end of October when she'll go in the garage until next spring.

I'm in Chorlton, what about you?

[povertyspec]

i leave the 1800 lump in, they handle better on B roads and they rev higher while youre at it. more fun and sweeter handling balance than the big six. it might be way down on power but low power and low grip equals fun without losing your license.

[daimlerman]

Reference to the OP's central locking.
Have a wander through the zone wiki,look for 'red/black wire mod'.

[cmsslee]

Cheers povspec, I'll be seeing how I get on with the 1800 for a while at least. When in use it will be doing a couple of hundred miles a week at least so got to factor in running costs as well . The 6 pot does appeal to me though. I also prefer the check upholstery, it's in really excellent nick in this motor.

Daimlerman I will give the wire mod a go - hopefully that'll do the trick cheers.

[cmsslee]

OK so with the first coat of primer block sanded it was time for round 2 - had a blue primer made up for this:





And after yet more rubbing time for some Mauritiusblau:





Eventually starting to get there:

[cmsslee]

and not too long before a nice deep rich colour:







Now with the paint on, before a wet sand, polish and buff it was time to get the underneath sorted. Remaining surface rust to grind off and then all the anti-stonechip, waxoyl etc lashed on.

Waxoyl in the doors, every nook and cranny, don't really want to be dealing with rust again any time soon:



Lollipop bushes had seen better days - M3 replacements ordered




No budget left to replace the exhaust so that's going to have to stay until next summer


wheel arches



Brake discs and pads were fooked so more parts ordered

[povertyspec]

Cheers povspec, I'll be seeing how I get on with the 1800 for a while at least. When in use it will be doing a couple of hundred miles a week at least so got to factor in running costs as well . The 6 pot does appeal to me though. I also prefer the check upholstery, it's in really excellent nick in this motor.

Daimlerman I will give the wire mod a go - hopefully that'll do the trick cheers.

same here got a nice m tech check interior with no bolster wear and it just looks so period. every convertable these days has leather,Golf mark ones and capri's all had their iconic interior clothes, how long before BMW does a limited edition 4 series convertable with the 80's m tech check now eh! ahead of the retro curve!

[cmsslee]

A couple of interior jobs to be getting on with in the mean time.

Vinyl covering the seat back panel was coming away on passenger side


so whipped it off, heated it up with a hairdryer to make it stretchy, then some contact adhesive and a bit of improvisation...




left the pegs on for a few hours and the vinyl was stuck in place. I should have stuck something between the pegs and vinyl as there were some light dents were the pegs had gripped but these diminished and aren't noticeable with the seat back panel reattached.

Also ordered a new console from Magpie (cheers) to replace the grommet filled effort that was there originally:

[Speedtouch]

Looking good - nice progress.

[cmsslee]

Next put the rest of the interior bits back in place and adjusted the windows that were catching on the soft top when fully closed



Then starting to reassemble the exterior



Outside for a wash of the engine bay before fluids and belts change



A few other jobs going on in the meantime...

Bumpers and wing mirrors colour coded




iS lip ordered, painted and fitted




Complete Shadowline trim purchased from BMWBMWBMW which my mate kindly collected from Birmingham and brought back to Manchester for me. Given a fresh lick of satin black:



New brakes and a new pipe






Rear screen is no longer opaque, fine compound and a polisher

From this


to this

[cmsslee]

Almost there with the paintwork - a wet sand followed by a polish




leaving a rather beautiful finish...

[cmsslee]

So almost there now.




Bumper inserts to fit (waiting for new clips to arrive), hood to clean with Autoglym kit, wheels to collect from the refurber, then new rubber to fit plus alignment/balance etc.

Got to fit the lollipop bushes and these bits too. Shout to spring-loaded.co.uk who sorted me out a decent price on these:




Hopefully MOT on friday then a full valet next week and she's on the road

Oh yeah got to sort insurance and VED too.