Who to use for E36 M3 body restoration?
Discussion
Hi folks, need some recommendations for this. I've tried Munich Legends and after some initial dialogue they're simply stopped replying to my emails. They must have decided it's too much work but I'm pretty annoyed to be honest. I figured they'd be pricey but would do it properly. Anyway, if they don't want the job I need to find someone else.
I'm in Leeds so the nearer the better but they don't have to be local. Munich Legends certainly aren't, so I will send it wherever it needs to go.
I'm in Leeds so the nearer the better but they don't have to be local. Munich Legends certainly aren't, so I will send it wherever it needs to go.
I'm 20 minutes from Leeds (by train) and looking to answer the same question in respect of my E36 318iS which I've owned for 20 years from new and would love to restore to full cosmetic health. I know someone who'd do a great job but I've been going round in circles for the last few years with it being the "next job after the one he's currently doing" but it never seeming to get off the ground, so I'm interested to see who else there is locally who can get the job done and I'll be watching this thread with interest. CRAMAG in Yeadon seem to be an enthusiast-owned business so maybe they can point you in the right direction. SH Restorations in Cross Hills have some interesting pics on their Facebook page - probably worth a look and further investigation. Classic Car Lab at Riffa Business Park on the A658 between Pool and North Rigton appear to have done some impressive work too. Be interesting to hear from people here who have first hand experience of someone local though - my suggesitons are merely unqualified research.
TroubledSoul said:
Hi folks, need some recommendations for this. I've tried Munich Legends and after some initial dialogue they're simply stopped replying to my emails. They must have decided it's too much work but I'm pretty annoyed to be honest. I figured they'd be pricey but would do it properly. Anyway, if they don't want the job I need to find someone else.
I'm in Leeds so the nearer the better but they don't have to be local. Munich Legends certainly aren't, so I will send it wherever it needs to go.
Considering their used car sale prices I would imagine that ML are at the high end of the cost spectrum. They are hundreds of miles from you, they probably consider you to be a time waster just looking for a quote you will never follow through on. I'm in Leeds so the nearer the better but they don't have to be local. Munich Legends certainly aren't, so I will send it wherever it needs to go.
Find someone local with a good rep. It will be massively cheaper.
PurpleTurtle said:
Considering their used car sale prices I would imagine that ML are at the high end of the cost spectrum. They are hundreds of miles from you, they probably consider you to be a time waster just looking for a quote you will never follow through on.
Find someone local with a good rep. It will be massively cheaper.
More fool them then. It's just a shame. With me being due to go to Afghanistan mid January I would have taken it down there and left it with them for as long as needed to do a good job. I could look for general restoration places locally but I need to feel satisfied they know their way around the car in question.Find someone local with a good rep. It will be massively cheaper.
ARM here in Cornwall have done a couple of full E36 M3 restoration (inc the Avus blue? example at the Autosport stand for the BMW Car Club. Their rates and quality of work make the transport cost worthwhile.
They've looked after my own M3's for a few years now. www.armbmwandmotorsport.co.uk
They've looked after my own M3's for a few years now. www.armbmwandmotorsport.co.uk
Edited by e46m3Mark on Monday 24th December 05:39
e46m3Mark said:
ARM here in Cornwall have done a couple of full E36 M3 restoration (inc the Avus blue? example at the Autosport stand for the BMW Car Club. Their rates and quality of work make the transport cost worthwhile.
They've looked after my own M3's for a few years now. www.armbmwandmotorsport.co.uk
Trust someone to come up with something as far away as possible after I said I didn't mind travelling They've looked after my own M3's for a few years now. www.armbmwandmotorsport.co.uk
Edited by e46m3Mark on Monday 24th December 05:39
Cheers though, I will contact them and see what they say if nothing else comes up in the next couple of days
TroubledSoul said:
e46m3Mark said:
ARM here in Cornwall have done a couple of full E36 M3 restoration (inc the Avus blue? example at the Autosport stand for the BMW Car Club. Their rates and quality of work make the transport cost worthwhile.
They've looked after my own M3's for a few years now. www.armbmwandmotorsport.co.uk
Trust someone to come up with something as far away as possible after I said I didn't mind travelling They've looked after my own M3's for a few years now. www.armbmwandmotorsport.co.uk
Edited by e46m3Mark on Monday 24th December 05:39
Cheers though, I will contact them and see what they say if nothing else comes up in the next couple of days
Feel free to say Mark suggested you call. I'm planning to take my E39 to Barry at BMR next http://www.bmrperformance.co.uk/classic-and-restor... who are closer to Gatwick than Munich Legends.
https://www.redish-motorsport.com/
Contact these guys. Check out their facebook page, they're currently doing an underbody restoration on an E46 330, it looks fantastic so far.
Contact these guys. Check out their facebook page, they're currently doing an underbody restoration on an E46 330, it looks fantastic so far.
obscene said:
https://www.redish-motorsport.com/
Contact these guys. Check out their facebook page, they're currently doing an underbody restoration on an E46 330, it looks fantastic so far.
Second that...remember these guys from my e36coupe.com days,proper E36 fanatics,defo worth contacting them for a natter about your car and where you want to be with it...Contact these guys. Check out their facebook page, they're currently doing an underbody restoration on an E46 330, it looks fantastic so far.
Whoever you use, I would make sure it's dealing direct. Some specialists are simply farming out the work to a trusted body shop. The upside is they might have done the hard work to find a repeatedly reliable body shop, the downside being if any problems occur, plus possibly extra cost.
Given it's just run of the mill steel BMW body shell with nothing trick or new, I'd be inclined to deal direct.
I say the above from taking my own M car to a specialist to have paint done, and on another occasion using a BMW dealer to repair the damage from someone reversing in to the front of the same M car. Both times I was left disappointed by both specialist and dealer who clearly didn't even look the cart over on it's return.
Given it's just run of the mill steel BMW body shell with nothing trick or new, I'd be inclined to deal direct.
I say the above from taking my own M car to a specialist to have paint done, and on another occasion using a BMW dealer to repair the damage from someone reversing in to the front of the same M car. Both times I was left disappointed by both specialist and dealer who clearly didn't even look the cart over on it's return.
I was in a very similar position to you back in 2014 and BMW Sytner (Leeds) did a good job on my M Roadster.
I don't think they were prepared for my OCDness, but the final product was excellent. I don't know if they still do long term projects, but they are very close to you and well worth a butchers.
I don't think they were prepared for my OCDness, but the final product was excellent. I don't know if they still do long term projects, but they are very close to you and well worth a butchers.
pingu393 said:
I was in a very similar position to you back in 2014 and BMW Sytner (Leeds) did a good job on my M Roadster.
I don't think they were prepared for my OCDness, but the final product was excellent. I don't know if they still do long term projects, but they are very close to you and well worth a butchers.
It's Stratstone in Leeds now and not sure they do that sort of thing. I don't think they were prepared for my OCDness, but the final product was excellent. I don't know if they still do long term projects, but they are very close to you and well worth a butchers.
Looks lovely Output Flange
I've actually had a nice email from the MD of Munich Legends directly off the back of this thread which I need to respond to today. It's good of him to get in touch TBH and restores a bit of faith!
I’m surprised ML are not interested, they did mine last year.
Was a lot of money but they did a good job overall.
Maybe try phoning them. Also be prepared for it to cost more than the quote, there is always something that is found that needs attention.
Feel free to PM me for details if you want.
Was a lot of money but they did a good job overall.
Maybe try phoning them. Also be prepared for it to cost more than the quote, there is always something that is found that needs attention.
Feel free to PM me for details if you want.
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