1986 M535i

Is it possible they are quoting for a level of work that is perhaps more suited for a showroom type restoration?

They have a rep for being a very meticulous garage iirc?

I found this quote about them just now (its older, but seems quite similar...)

They had it for 2 days and then I got a call telling me it would need at least £8k! on welding alone (sills) and that was just the start of it. They recommended I scrap it, or they would be interested in taking it of my hands for spares (..mmm) . I was devastated TBH

I took for a 2nd opinion at my local garage and it sailed though (albeit 2 new tyres). They couldn't find any rot on it, and I had a look when it was on the ramp. I advertised it for £4k and it sold it that afternoon (I paid £6.5K). The guy who bought it was a nice chap and kept in touch. He put some style 5 BBS split rims on and sorted out a few cosmetic touches. His bodyshop guy said it was in fantastic condition, and is now for sale for £7.5-8K
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They're doing a full report so I'll be able to look through it meticulously. I was looking at 20k all in but with that amount of work it's closer to 30 or 35k which is quite a lot more.

I'll get a second quote or send it to Car SOS heh. I don't want to bail on the car but as it stands that's too much for a car that will never be worth 35k.
 
If you want someone to do a decent job that won't cost the earth, or simply to get a second opinion from someone who will cut to the chase and tell you plainly what it needs, speak to Tony Russello at Wheels in Motion in Milton Keynes. He can do the lot; he's worked on several of my cars over the years and the work has always been excellent and very sensibly priced.

You can see some examples of his work here:

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He somehow managed to perfectly match an aged 20-year-old BMW orange on my Dodge when blending in the exterior panels after fitting a new boot floor to it, for one thing. Remarkable work. :D

He'll also be able to get it back on the road for sensible money, I'd have thought, too, so at least you can start enjoying it – and then improve it further at a later date, perhaps.
 
DampCat said:
I don't want to bail on the car but as it stands that's too much for a car that will never be worth 35k.
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Why, what's the mileage?

Having Munich Legends do the restoration work will instantly ensure a very good selling price - can't see any other reason to have taken it to them tbh.
 
Le Clandestin Brun said:
Why, what's the mileage?

Having Munich Legends do the restoration work will instantly ensure a very good selling price - can't see any other reason to have taken it to them tbh.
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I absolutely do not doubt the quality of their work. The issue isn't their prices it's more that the car is in worse condition than I'd hoped. Had the car been in reasonable shape then having ML take care of it was the dream scenario for me, as their work is pinnacle; it's just that the amount of work that is now clear that wasn't before changes the viability of it.

That said, I'm still weighing up just doing it in chunks. Get all the bodywork done, store it for a while, get all the panel work done, store for a bit, mechanical work; something like that.
 
personally i would rather pay 500 and get the car away from them than

a/ get possibly fleeced by them
b/ end up having to give them the car.

not saying there work is not on par but as my old man would say ..you cut the cloth to match your pocket. pull the vehicle away and find someone else to quote.

i had this a few years ago on a stag, was very busy with work and let it go to a "friends" bodyshop to be restored, after a initial quote it started to become a constant we need another couple of hundred and we found something else that needs doing. in the end i had to sit down and agree a release fee to get the car back just to get it away from them.
worked out afterwards they had fitted a lot of panels i supplied but had to remove a few because lining up was not there forte. ended up doing all the body work and painting myself, put a rebuilt engine and box plus all the running gear, and selling it with a new interior because the shine had just gone for me.

everytime i look at a classic car now swmbo reminds me of the thousands that got spent on that stag just to virtually give it away.

choose you restorer wisely or as said just do the bare minimum to get it on the road and then take your time yourself. could you get a local mot station to have a look at the car and tell you the condition of the underside for 200 hours i would imagine almost everything would be falling apart underneath?.
 
DampCat said:
I absolutely do not doubt the quality of their work. The issue isn't their prices it's more that the car is in worse condition than I'd hoped. Had the car been in reasonable shape then having ML take care of it was the dream scenario for me, as their work is pinnacle; it's just that the amount of work that is now clear that wasn't before changes the viability of it.

That said, I'm still weighing up just doing it in chunks. Get all the bodywork done, store it for a while, get all the panel work done, store for a bit, mechanical work; something like that.
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What's the mileage?
 
Ah man that's a tight one... all depends on how long until you want to sell as to whether you'll recoupe the costs as these are a lot rarer now. Tough decision.
 
200 hours? What are they doing that could possibly take 25 Working days?

Are they basically rebuilding the underside with new/pattern parts where they could simply be repaired?

It sounds excessive unless the car is pretty much falling apart.
 
Perhaps they have quoted a ridiculous amount because they have loads of work on, or they want you to give up and sell them the car for peanuts.

Either way, take it someplace else.
 
I wonder if they were hoping to get an offer to buy it for a ridiculously cheap price, complete the work themselves and then it'll be up on their website for a ridiculous price where they can clear £10-£20k.
 
Iamzod said:
200 hours? What are they doing that could possibly take 25 Working days?

Are they basically rebuilding the underside with new/pattern parts where they could simply be repaired?

It sounds excessive unless the car is pretty much falling apart.
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Sounds like they are charging for waiting time too :cry:

In all fairness there is an M3 CSL place in Bristol, that I would say is a 25 working day refurb:

 
if you watched the repair videos from gibbos m3 thread ...
I don't know where that company is based or what the price tag is but there was a lot of work on a superficially OK e36M3
the hidden sill repairs alone, 2nd vid, several days of work.

Gibbo said:
Hi there

OK so car went to local garage today for a full check over and a list making of all the stuff required, I was expecting quite a long list but the garage has essentially come back saying the car actually needs nothing urgent and just a list of recommendations to do as and when I wish, which are:


Also found a Youtube channel which has also just obtained an E36 M3 Coupe which is been restored for anyone interested:

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Lashout_UK said:
If you want someone to do a decent job that won't cost the earth, or simply to get a second opinion from someone who will cut to the chase and tell you plainly what it needs, speak to Tony Russello at Wheels in Motion in Milton Keynes. He can do the lot; he's worked on several of my cars over the years and the work has always been excellent and very sensibly priced.
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interesting - vested interest I'm looking for somewhere near Cambridge.
 
@Gibbo isn't too far from me actually might be worth trying them.

I've sent off a couple of emails today, Munich Legends have said they're happy to store the car for a while.

I think definitely a second opinion is on the cards and if it's comparable I can make a decision.

Honestly I've had the weekend to think about it and just staring at the empty garage makes me feel like I might just put the 35k in if that's what it costs.
 
Just got an inspection report from Garage number 2, and it's more complimentary but I feel confident that my initial 25k won't be enough. It may be enough for the mechanical and bodywork repairs, and I can address the full respray later on.

I think I'm going to pull the trigger on their recommendations, though I'm posting here in case anyone sees a reason this might be a bad idea.


Vehicle Inspection Report
Vehicle, BMW M535i e28 1986
Name, Rhys DampCat
BODY
Outer body is very good for year with front wings and rear quarters showing most of the corrosion.
Rear window will have to be removed to address rear quarter corrosion,
There is also rust bubbling above rear window to roof panel.
n/s washer jet blocked

PAINTWORK
Again good for year but showing its age and would be difficult to blend and match for spot repairs, could be done as a temporary fix, but ideally needs a complete re-spray.

INTERIOR
Excellent condition for year with only front drivers seat in need of repair and would advise to keep the rest as original as possible.
Glove box rear section missing.
Radio not working , aerial broken

UNDERBODY
All 4 jacking points, front floor pans , inner sills, outer sills, front inner wings, boot floor and behind front and rear bumpers are corroded.
I’m sure more corrosion will be found once work commences but overall very original and has never been patched before.

ENGINE, GEARBOX AND DRIVETRAIN.
Engine turns over off key but would like to do further checks before trial start up.
Also fuel pump cannot be heard when turning over.
Oil leak from gearbox, would remove sump to investigate.
Would benefit from a complete exhaust system.
Would replace drive shafts and replace oil to diff.
Wheels would benefit from a refurb, would need a full set of tyres.
Note no spare, locking wheel nut key present

BRAKES, SUSPENSION AND STEERING
Will need a complete overall in all areas due to the time vehicle has been standing, all items appear correct and complete.
All brake callipers and master cylinder appear to have been changed recently.

FUEL SYSTEM
All rubber pipes would need replacing.
Would need to investigate fuel not pumping, appears new pump and filter has been changed recently.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Very original and most items seem to work correctly but will need to check loom, fuses, relays and ancillaries to gain reliability.
Some of the lights are not working, Rear o/s and n/s side lights inoperative, brake lights inoperative, main beam flash from stalk inoperative, front fog lights inoperative. Ns/f and os/f side indicator / hazard lights
inoperative,
Electric windows inoperative all round
Electric mirrors intermittent operation could be faulty switch
Sunroof very slow to operate
Fuse box cover broken.
Also note rodents nest found in boot. (He called me about this heh)

OVERALL
With your initial budget in mind we would advise that we first go through the electrical system, Do some pre-engine start up checks and
then see how well vehicle runs and drives.
The next stage would be to go through all mechanical and welding requirements.
Paint work and interior would be last on our list.
 
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