Bmw e30 323i rust bucket purchase
Discussion
Just had a thread about a e30 for a track car. 2 hours prior to this purchase. Car looks f
ked. But £560 and a 323i with manual means I just need to either hunt for a shell or see how bad this really is.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1984-BMW-323i-Manual-E30...
Guess its time to buy a non rusty shell unless this one is saveable for a decent price.
ked. But £560 and a 323i with manual means I just need to either hunt for a shell or see how bad this really is.http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1984-BMW-323i-Manual-E30...
Guess its time to buy a non rusty shell unless this one is saveable for a decent price.
rob0r said:
Apart from the rear valance and rear arches I can't see too much wrong on first glance. They all go in the front floor and "jacking points". The inner wings look good anyway. To me it looks like a very good opportunity, but then again rubbish E30s are my forte :P
Your forte is rusty e30's and you say this doesn't look that bad. That has to be a positive right?Got a trailer booked for tonight so will be heading down through the night.
So finally in 30 minutes ago, quickly grabbed these pictures. From the ad looked like the inner edge of doors was holey, just cobwebs 
Will clean up tomorrow and get better ones, or worse depending what I uncover, lots of overspray on plastic trims near the arches from a quick glance which suggests lots of lovely filler.
The guy gave me a spare bumper, both are slightly damaged so not sure if they can come apart to fix together to make one whole.
No radio, but other than abit of cobwebs and mould interior seems to be like new. Going to head into a few tyre garages tomorrow to see if they have any bald tyres I can have for free just to roll the car around for now.
Rear spoiler thing is a completely different colour, no idea if it was meant to have one.
Going to nick my battery out my old bmw and see if she will start, previous owner said it was last running in 2010 when it drove to his house. Anything I should do before just trying to crank it?
Will clean up tomorrow and get better ones, or worse depending what I uncover, lots of overspray on plastic trims near the arches from a quick glance which suggests lots of lovely filler.
The guy gave me a spare bumper, both are slightly damaged so not sure if they can come apart to fix together to make one whole.
No radio, but other than abit of cobwebs and mould interior seems to be like new. Going to head into a few tyre garages tomorrow to see if they have any bald tyres I can have for free just to roll the car around for now.
Rear spoiler thing is a completely different colour, no idea if it was meant to have one.
Going to nick my battery out my old bmw and see if she will start, previous owner said it was last running in 2010 when it drove to his house. Anything I should do before just trying to crank it?
motorhole said:
I think there's still a rolling shell from an abandoned V8 project for sale on E30Zone at the moment 
This shell doesn't appear too bad, can get repair panels for the arches + sills. May be worse when I dig into it however.2 front wings ordered from eurocarparts £45 each
They will be black I imagine. Along with new arches + sills + rear valence sorted all in primer. Would be looking at a full respray really.
In steps plastidip... Love it or hate it, it certainly changes the colour of the car and will hide what's below for £100 for a basic colour.
She runs! Took a while and some easy start though, sounded smooth enough.
https://youtu.be/zmsiO43yBYU
Spewed all its water and leaks petrol though. Didnt try drive it yet as it was running off jump leads from the Range Rover and needs the engine bay cleaned out, job for tomorrow, too dark now.
All inner arches near the sills need welded, outer sills need welded, not sure about inner sills though. Rear arches for sure, along with my new wings im due to collect tomorrow Strangely there is a big patch of filler on the top of the boot lid, going to peel off and explore soon. Roof is rust free though!
Scuttle area seems to have been saved by the 4" of mud filling it, except in the middle where there is a slightly rusty edge appearing... where the least of amount of mud was.
Popped the boot finally, was fairly stuck. Found new kidney grill, headlight surrounds and various other things.
Not sure if this means anything to anyone but if they could tell me if my car should have it?
https://youtu.be/zmsiO43yBYU
Spewed all its water and leaks petrol though. Didnt try drive it yet as it was running off jump leads from the Range Rover and needs the engine bay cleaned out, job for tomorrow, too dark now.
All inner arches near the sills need welded, outer sills need welded, not sure about inner sills though. Rear arches for sure, along with my new wings im due to collect tomorrow
Strangely there is a big patch of filler on the top of the boot lid, going to peel off and explore soon. Roof is rust free though! Scuttle area seems to have been saved by the 4" of mud filling it, except in the middle where there is a slightly rusty edge appearing... where the least of amount of mud was.
Popped the boot finally, was fairly stuck. Found new kidney grill, headlight surrounds and various other things.
Not sure if this means anything to anyone but if they could tell me if my car should have it?
deltashad said:
I'd change the oil and replace the fuel at a minimum...... the early e30s to my eyes are the prettiest, looks like it's going to need a fair amount of welding done. Good luck, looks about as healthy as one of my projects.
Checked the oil, looked almost new. Upon opening boot found a reletivly new looking empty oil bottle. Along with all new belts, assuming he was going to change them too but never got round too it. Edited by deltashad on Wednesday 25th November 17:31
Had no petrol, assumed to have evaporated with time.
Picked up the front wings and while in Eurocarparts I bought new oil/plugs/filters just to be safe even though the oil looked golden still.
It came with some "new" belts in the boot, still packaged up in cardboard but people say replace cam belt every 60k/6years or so depending on the car. These have been in the boot for 5/6 years minimum so are they junk now?
Stole the battery out my old bmw, charging it now and hoping for the best, not even sure it fits yet. Going to change everything this weekend and try solve the fuel and water leaks then test the brakes. If they remotely stop the car it's time to start the welding etc.
Going to sand it down myself while it's being welded so that I can do a full respray, either at home or pay someone. All the seals are watertight still so interior seems to have survived except where it's come up from below where grass grew into it.
Engine had quite a lot of white smoke, sounded smooth though so assuming that's just because it's sat so long?
It came with some "new" belts in the boot, still packaged up in cardboard but people say replace cam belt every 60k/6years or so depending on the car. These have been in the boot for 5/6 years minimum so are they junk now?
Stole the battery out my old bmw, charging it now and hoping for the best, not even sure it fits yet. Going to change everything this weekend and try solve the fuel and water leaks then test the brakes. If they remotely stop the car it's time to start the welding etc.
Going to sand it down myself while it's being welded so that I can do a full respray, either at home or pay someone. All the seals are watertight still so interior seems to have survived except where it's come up from below where grass grew into it.
Engine had quite a lot of white smoke, sounded smooth though so assuming that's just because it's sat so long?
Snowing outside so not sure il get much done this weekend cause disco's in the garage to be painted.
Taken the spare headlights out the boot and started to try sand them back to paint.
Managed to remove one light, the other is held into the metal surround by a big plastic hex bolt thing. How does this come off as the other light had a easy removal.
Taken the spare headlights out the boot and started to try sand them back to paint.
Managed to remove one light, the other is held into the metal surround by a big plastic hex bolt thing. How does this come off as the other light had a easy removal.
First drive today
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UB9rHNiHRxw
Brakes work but not great, they are going to be replaced anyway.
Engine temp got 3/8 and then started to "jump" up and down a little bit.
I have this gearknob, should it press down to go left into reverse like my e46 did or does it just sort of jump over?
This is pretty retro cool!
Found some old discs
This little thing leaks with the wires in it
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UB9rHNiHRxw
Brakes work but not great, they are going to be replaced anyway.
Engine temp got 3/8 and then started to "jump" up and down a little bit.
I have this gearknob, should it press down to go left into reverse like my e46 did or does it just sort of jump over?
This is pretty retro cool!
Found some old discs
This little thing leaks with the wires in it
All the carpets and interior will be coming out. Just waiting for the disco to come out the shed so I can start dismantling out of the snow/rain/cold.
Depending on how the spoiler is attached it may be removed and sold. Someone with the rest of the kit will want it more than me.
Belts will be done when my friendly mechanic welder friend is around as I would rather not do them alone. Will let him know your trick
I will check that nut out when its inside and being stripped.
Depending on how the spoiler is attached it may be removed and sold. Someone with the rest of the kit will want it more than me.
Belts will be done when my friendly mechanic welder friend is around as I would rather not do them alone. Will let him know your trick
I will check that nut out when its inside and being stripped.
Small update
Disco is painted and out the garage in the morning so car will be starting to be dismantled tomorrow.
Does anyone know a good place to get repair panels for a good price?
Struggling with getting the headlights apart still as I dont want to break them.
Started a thread here to try get info if anyone knows http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name=Forums&...
Disco is painted and out the garage in the morning so car will be starting to be dismantled tomorrow.
Does anyone know a good place to get repair panels for a good price?
Struggling with getting the headlights apart still as I dont want to break them.
Started a thread here to try get info if anyone knows http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name=Forums&...
Finally into her home for the next while. Found a guy local just out of training who will sand/repair dents and spray for £800-900.
Wont be perfect but it will beat a bunch of welded on black panels + wings.
Found this belt + tensioner. Worth using or just buy new ones? Assumed to be bought 5 years ago when the previous owner bought the car and started to service it.
What is this thing? Found in the boot.
Arch liner and some square plastic piece, not sure where its from yet
Slightly worried when I saw this at first buried in rubbish
What appears to be chopped rear light wiring with a odd box
Connecters arent rusty on the rear lights which is odd as the lens's were full of water
Spare wheel well isnt rusty really, few scabs. Towbar is bolted through it though.
Going to try clean up but I have a spare pair so will set aside the best ones for it
Light surrounding areas is ok except for a small hole + bubbling where the seal goes on boot close
Rear arches are a little holey
Inner inner arch doesnt seem as bad
Dont like spiders but behind the linings there was alot
Thats this evenings work before it got dark and cold and I dont want to go under the car to get the tow ball off.
Wont be perfect but it will beat a bunch of welded on black panels + wings.
Found this belt + tensioner. Worth using or just buy new ones? Assumed to be bought 5 years ago when the previous owner bought the car and started to service it.
What is this thing? Found in the boot.
Arch liner and some square plastic piece, not sure where its from yet
Slightly worried when I saw this at first buried in rubbish
What appears to be chopped rear light wiring with a odd box
Connecters arent rusty on the rear lights which is odd as the lens's were full of water
Spare wheel well isnt rusty really, few scabs. Towbar is bolted through it though.
Going to try clean up but I have a spare pair so will set aside the best ones for it
Light surrounding areas is ok except for a small hole + bubbling where the seal goes on boot close
Rear arches are a little holey
Inner inner arch doesnt seem as bad
Dont like spiders but behind the linings there was alot
Thats this evenings work before it got dark and cold and I dont want to go under the car to get the tow ball off.
The only bits being plated or made from sheet steel are the inner arches and front floor pan where the not jacking jacking points are.
Priced up brand new rear end, sills, arches for £200. Probably another £300 getting them welded in. Already got new front wings. Front valance is £50 if I choose to replace it, not sure if I will yet as haven't had a chance to start up front.
In regards to the suspension etc I know I will need new ones. Luckily e30 parts are dirt cheap hence taking on this project
In the next week I expect the interior will be stripped back to just a dash left in it. Will know the full scale of repair then.
Priced up brand new rear end, sills, arches for £200. Probably another £300 getting them welded in. Already got new front wings. Front valance is £50 if I choose to replace it, not sure if I will yet as haven't had a chance to start up front.
In regards to the suspension etc I know I will need new ones. Luckily e30 parts are dirt cheap hence taking on this project
In the next week I expect the interior will be stripped back to just a dash left in it. Will know the full scale of repair then.
Update to this
Late december I had Range Rover problems involving new height sensors so never got round to buying the panels as im a poor student.
Finally yesterday ordered up all new sills, rear arches, rear 1/4 panel bit at the bottom, rear valance/boot section from top to bottom.
2 weeks before they arrive in the uk then another week probably getting to the highlands.
Also bought a e38 im going to learn to respray on so that I can spray this myself.
Late december I had Range Rover problems involving new height sensors so never got round to buying the panels as im a poor student.
Finally yesterday ordered up all new sills, rear arches, rear 1/4 panel bit at the bottom, rear valance/boot section from top to bottom.
2 weeks before they arrive in the uk then another week probably getting to the highlands.
Also bought a e38 im going to learn to respray on so that I can spray this myself.
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