Replacement panel advice

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F17RAK
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Post Thu May 05, 2016 9:56 pm

Hi guys iv been off the scene for a few years, im looking to buy a new e30 but obviously most out there have rust issues. Was wondering where is the best place to purchase replacement panels like arches, wings & sills etc. Should i stay away from afteramarket replacements?

Rust free front wings for example can fetch decent money nowadays.
Topblag
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Post Thu May 05, 2016 10:42 pm

I'd recommend genuine panels, I've had a scuttle, front battery tray and rear battery tray from BMW and they were less than £140. A good panel guy will make anything fit, but often cheaper panels require more time to fit properly. It's about how much you want to spend and how good you want the repair to be.
1990 325i Cab auto in Alpine White II
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F17RAK
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Post Thu May 05, 2016 10:54 pm

Ok thanks for advice. Any idea how much inner & outer arches cost from bmw?
csl
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Post Thu May 05, 2016 11:31 pm

F17RAK wrote:Ok thanks for advice. Any idea how much inner & outer arches cost from bmw?
Last time I checked the price of rear inner and outers(6 month back)they were around £930 for the 6 panels. Alas, one inner panel was on back order.
F17RAK
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Post Fri May 06, 2016 12:11 am

Wow that is alot, suppose its worth putting that extra 1k towards finding a clean shell.
F17RAK
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Post Sat May 07, 2016 12:33 am

Nice e36 touring csl, i had one just like it
csl
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Post Sat May 07, 2016 10:51 am

F17RAK wrote:Nice e36 touring csl, i had one just like it
Thankyou my friend!
ross_jsy
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Post Sat May 07, 2016 11:28 am

Topblag wrote:I'd recommend genuine panels, I've had a scuttle, front battery tray and rear battery tray from BMW and they were less than £140. A good panel guy will make anything fit, but often cheaper panels require more time to fit properly. It's about how much you want to spend and how good you want the repair to be.
Bought a scuttle 6 months ago from BMW, that was almost £100 alone without VAT
F17RAK
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Post Sat May 07, 2016 11:42 am

Now i know why good clean cars go for so much money
csl
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Post Sat May 07, 2016 4:25 pm

ross_jsy wrote:
Topblag wrote:I'd recommend genuine panels, I've had a scuttle, front battery tray and rear battery tray from BMW and they were less than £140. A good panel guy will make anything fit, but often cheaper panels require more time to fit properly. It's about how much you want to spend and how good you want the repair to be.
Bought a scuttle 6 months ago from BMW, that was almost £100 alone without VAT
WOW! I bought one around the start of 2015 and it was about 40 quid including VAT!
Price hikes 8O
csl
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Post Sat May 07, 2016 4:29 pm

.....or maybe you have to pay more, these days, for BMW to get the chassis number stamping straight? :)
F17RAK
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Post Sat May 07, 2016 6:01 pm

Image

Just thought id show off mine
csl
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Post Sat May 07, 2016 6:16 pm

^^Nice car mate :D
318I that one?
ross_jsy
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Post Sat May 07, 2016 7:11 pm

csl wrote:.....or maybe you have to pay more, these days, for BMW to get the chassis number stamping straight? :)
To add insult to injury, after much fannying around bringing in log books, proof of address etc it came down without a chassis number on it. Apparently they have stopped stamping them. How true this is I don't know as I wouldn't be surprised if they messed up.

Luckily I just needed a corner
F17RAK
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Post Sat May 07, 2016 7:39 pm

csl wrote:^^Nice car mate :D
318I that one?
Yes mate