Where do I go from here

[Cotty]

I dont know were to go from here. 325i touring, 68,000 miles, good bodywork, tons of history (all receipts, all MOT's, delivery receipt, all service history the lot. The paperworks about half a foot thick), auto (that I love), cloth comfort interior (perfect) 15" X-spokes with 15" Hartge to go on, is front spoiler, load cover (dog guard), original tool kit, original first aid kit, few tiny dings in the bodywork. Paid £3,750 four years ago, everything works, been keeping the mechanicals up to scratch replacing anything that needs it. Ant has worked on it and driven it and can vouch for the above I hope.

Car profile on Pistonheads http://www.pistonheads.com/members/show ... ?carId=718 (click "blog" for history)

Upgrades:
K&W suspension (shocks & springs) 60/40 drop
H&R anti roll bars
Strut brace
eyebrows
CG Lock (locks the lap belt)
BMW fire extinguisher

Basically I love the race car image and would love to own something that looks like it took the wrong turn off a race track and ended up on the road. 6 point (at least) Cage, bucket seat (one), 4 point harness (one), plumbed in fire extinguisher, properly sign written, 15" or 16" motorsport wheels, stripped interior but carpeted, fully sign written could plaster my dads company over it as a promotional tool.

I drive about 2,000 miles a year so lack of comfort not an issue, I really dont use it much.

So do I go for it with my current car which would be a really good base or sell it and buy a white saloon or another tourer (love tourers) and do it to that with all the problem that a new car could throw up, plus start from scratch with all the upgrades (+ rear bushes, cambelt, track rod ends etc etc).

I suppose if I bolted the cage in and kept all the kit it could be taken back to how it is now without much touble

What do you think

The other option is to bite the bullet sell the E30 and buy a sports car like a Lotus Elise S2 which is doable but would mean a 10 grand loan, insurance not a problem for a 35 year old.

Sorry for rambling, but I have had a couple of beers

[maxfield]

have you thought about an M3

[Cotty]

have you thought about an M3

I really cant get my head round driving a LHD car i the UK. I took my old TVR to Le Mans a few years back and it was a nightmare overtaking when your the wrong side of the car. Also im quite close to the Dartford tunnel so lobbing coins from the wrong side of the car could be a problem.

Otherwise a stripped out, caged, M3 touring, RHD would be the nuts

[Simon13]

difficult one, i'd say put the touring back to standard ish. Then keep it or sell it.

Buy a half solid saloon,tourer 325 and strip it and put all your good bits on that.

No one will miss a 170k 4 door saloon, compared to your pukka low milege touring will they?!

[Cotty]

Glen I hope you dont mind me nicking your pic but this is the sort of look I want





not an M3 but a 325i or 318is

[Cotty]

difficult one, i'd say put the touring back to standard ish. Then keep it or sell it.

There would be no point in keeping it if it was standard

Buy a half solid saloon,tourer 325 and strip it and put all your good bits on that.

Thats one of the options I have been thinking about, been looking for a white 318is or white 325i tourer

No one will miss a 170k 4 door saloon, compared to your pukka low milege touring will they?!

I know but its a case of start with a pucca base or risk buing an unknown and getting it sorted first

[Mahmood]

I agree with Simon.

Put yours back to factory, keep it and transfer stuff to the new ride.

[Simon13]

why can't it be standard?

the other option then is keep the touring as is and start fresh with another chariot.

The touring is a nice car but not suitable for track work being an auto and too good conditon for a start imo

[Cotty]

why can't it be standard?

because thats not why I bought it, it was always ment to be modified, I just wasnt sure how

the other option then is keep the touring as is and start fresh with another chariot.

The touring is a nice car but not suitable for track work being an auto and too good conditon for a start imo

Most race cars start as brand new cars, mine is 14 years old. I will probably never take it near a race track, I just like the look

[Cotty]

Been thinking of black buckets and black harnesses with a light window tint so the interior doesnt stand out to much.

Real stealth type thing

[Brian28]

Dont bother with the lotus. I had one a while back, impractical over-rated leaky pile of cack. Brilliant on a track and thats about it, not nearly enough good points to make up for all of the bad ones and all the hairdresser comments etc. Would definitely never consider taking out a loan for one.

[Ant]

I can indeed voch for the condition of this car, mechanically and structurally solid as a rock. I think Paul is the only customer to have had all the advisory work done come service time, fair play dude

Track slag.... well I'd go for a Tech 1 sport, Mole is selling his, needs some paint and minor welding in the scuttle but a good solid base, and needs nothing mechanically having had a full running gear rebuild 2 years ago.

Already has most common mods in place, just needs striping up ( vinyl wrap ?? ) and the cage adding

idea m8 !