What to do with an old, but dearly loved shed of a BMW?

What to do with an old, but dearly loved shed of a BMW?

Author
Discussion

27tim

Original Poster:

199 posts

263 months

Thursday 15th November 2012
quotequote all
Okay - so back in 1998 I bought my wife a (back then) great BMW 318is in Silver, half leather, climate control, etc etc...It just so happened that its taken me until last week to buy her another car, terrible, terrible husband I know.

So the quandary now, on the drive it a (wait for it) 307,000 mile car, still on the original clutch which still shows no signs of wear, runs great, 12months tax and MOT. Full service history, new starter, radiator, rear springs, alternator, water pump, exhaust, etc etc, its never wanted for anything and been very well looked after...However its rusted around the arches, door and worst of all around the windscreen that has since cracked in the last few days and needs replacing. Trouble is that Autoscreen won't do it due to the rust around the screen, health and safety....yawn. I spent £200 and £220 on tax on it this month...No drama but a pita.

So I don't *think* anyone wants to buy it, whats the form scrapping it? It given us such good service I feel like it can't just be crushed, it should either be burnt or buried like a bible ;-)

Any suggestions?

kambites

67,666 posts

222 months

Thursday 15th November 2012
quotequote all
Strip it out and turn it into a track car or take it banger racing or something. biggrin

ImpossiblyDaft

399 posts

182 months

Thursday 15th November 2012
quotequote all
Ebay, £150 no reserve. Someone will buy it.
They'll probably drive it into the ground and scrap it when the MOT runs out, but still.

illmonkey

18,248 posts

199 months

Thursday 15th November 2012
quotequote all
Is it a E30? I'll take it off your hands.

307k is nothing!

renrut

1,478 posts

206 months

Thursday 15th November 2012
quotequote all
There will probably be a fair few people tempted by it on LocostBuilders or the Haynes roadster forums - ideal condidate for a seven-alike as long as the mechanicals are as good as you say.

stemarsden

31 posts

158 months

Thursday 15th November 2012
quotequote all
If it's an E30 then advertise it on the 'e30zone'....

Or.

If it's an E36, then I'd go for eBay as there its eligable for the Khumo BMW Class D, put these words into the title to get more views when searching

Or.

Turn it into a track car car

HTH.
Ste.

Rollcage

11,327 posts

193 months

Thursday 15th November 2012
quotequote all
Its not thread material, but post it in the "Smoker Barges " in GG - lots of BMW beards in there for advice.

Seems a shame to scrap a car that has given such faithful service - seems just as deserving of a refresh as a low mileage car.

kambites

67,666 posts

222 months

Thursday 15th November 2012
quotequote all
renrut said:
There will probably be a fair few people tempted by it on LocostBuilders or the Haynes roadster forums - ideal condidate for a seven-alike as long as the mechanicals are as good as you say.
I think 300k miles would put off a lot of kit-car builders, when you can get a low mileage car for not much. It may have little effect on the engine's reliability in practice, but the perception is still there.

27tim

Original Poster:

199 posts

263 months

Thursday 15th November 2012
quotequote all
Hey Guys,

Thanks for the feedback so far, its a 1998 E36?! I think ;-)

Track car is out by the way for sure but thanks for the suggestion! I might not have spoilt her with road cars but she did go racing for a couple of seasons and I can't afford the transporter or the team that she'd want to go with it - hahahhaha....

I just need to get it off the drive!

rallycross

12,854 posts

238 months

Thursday 15th November 2012
quotequote all
put it on ebay detailed description, good photos, no reserve.

Does it need a new screen yet? It only needs a new screen for the MOT if the crack is within certain area of the swept screen, and an independant screen fitter will still do it even if there is rust - and will be cheaper than using a national like autoglass.


lance1a

1,337 posts

199 months

Thursday 15th November 2012
quotequote all
Mileage is high but if well maintained...I have a 256000 mile E39 and a 448000 mile E36 that both still drive every day. I've seen a lot of M44 motors with huge mileages on them and still running well enough.

27tim

Original Poster:

199 posts

263 months

Thursday 15th November 2012
quotequote all
Rollcage said:
Its not thread material, but post it in the "Smoker Barges " in GG - lots of BMW beards in there for advice.

Seems a shame to scrap a car that has given such faithful service - seems just as deserving of a refresh as a low mileage car.
I know, its part of the family almost and does seem such a shame, its been SO faithful over the years, we've looked after it and its looked after us!

27tim

Original Poster:

199 posts

263 months

Thursday 15th November 2012
quotequote all
lance1a said:
Mileage is high but if well maintained...I have a 256000 mile E39 and a 448000 mile E36 that both still drive every day. I've seen a lot of M44 motors with huge mileages on them and still running well enough.
448,000 - thats impressive!

supertouring

2,228 posts

234 months

Thursday 15th November 2012
quotequote all
lance1a said:
Mileage is high but if well maintained...I have a 256000 mile E39 and a 448000 mile E36 that both still drive every day. I've seen a lot of M44 motors with huge mileages on them and still running well enough.
How far is your daily commute, the moon and back?

lance1a

1,337 posts

199 months

Thursday 15th November 2012
quotequote all
supertouring said:
How far is your daily commute, the moon and back?
The e39 was used daily from Oxford to London and other long trips on business and the 1992 E36 belonged to a guy who worked in Liverpool but lived in Winchester (it was in TBMW a while back) an has FSH from the selling dealer up to 425000 miles.

E30M3SE

8,469 posts

197 months

Thursday 15th November 2012
quotequote all
illmonkey said:
Is it a E30? I'll take it off your hands.

307k is nothing!
New in 1998 it'll be an E36.

illmonkey

18,248 posts

199 months

Thursday 15th November 2012
quotequote all
E30M3SE said:
illmonkey said:
Is it a E30? I'll take it off your hands.

307k is nothing!
New in 1998 it'll be an E36.
I know that, but he doesn't say he bought it new. Just he bought it in 1998.

amirzed

1,737 posts

177 months

Thursday 15th November 2012
quotequote all
Lets have some pics man, has it got the M Tech bodykit on?

320touring

1,428 posts

200 months

Thursday 15th November 2012
quotequote all
my e36 iS (on a comparitively low 140K)has the same issue and has cracked the windscreen.

Some bodyshops wont touch it, others want upwards of £300 for the job (I paid £500 for the car..)

Got a recommended fella coming to see it on Saturday and his suggested price looks reasonable.


I'm loath to get rid of the car, but bangernomics almost dictates I do..

£200 for roof repair
£50 for MOT
£100 excess for Windscreen replacement (roof rust caused it to crack)
£50 4wheel tracking for it after having new trackrods/ends fitted.

thats a whole lotta cash for a £500 shed.


That said, the burd loves driving it, its usually reliable, returns 36-40mpg all the time, quick enough for entertainment, parts are peanuts.

If we hadn't just bought a house, and become very skint- i'd fix it in a flash. as it is though, trying to justify the cash is difficult

Howard-

4,953 posts

203 months

Thursday 15th November 2012
quotequote all
illmonkey said:
I know that, but he doesn't say he bought it new. Just he bought it in 1998.
E30 didn't have climate control though smile