Well I thought this would have been long gone by now, good to see you've kept it.
Needs more pictures though
Nothing new to take pictures of unless you want some pictures of the stripped interior.
** Acme [Akagi] bought a pink estate car - E30 325i project log! **
- Thread starter Akagi
- Start date
Nothing new to take pictures of unless you want some pictures of the stripped interior.
Surely better to have it stranded on my drive than someones garage / have them feel they need to bodge it to get it back to me / etc.
If its on my drive I can watch the process, **** him off by interrupting periodically to paint and cavity wax things, take pictures for you guys and for my project folder, and I don't have to worry about the looming MOT expiry.
Stuff the neigbours, miserable bunch they are. Makes it even better...
And how exactly would it make a difference to rot being introduced in future? It won't be done unless its a crisp dry day, and the only cavities being welded are the sills - The other areas are visible from both sides. And the sills will be whizzed back inside, painted inside, and have cavity wax put in as well. Should be alright.
Yep
Ever the pessimist.
This shell isn't that bad as far as E30's go. A shell with minimal rot wouldn't be cheap, and moving everything across is a hell of a job that I don't have time or space to do. Maybe if I still have the car years from now it will be turned into a 2 door or something, but not now.
I'd love to be proved wrong
I'm sure it will be fine.
Will see what happens.
I hope to have it a long time, but I have no idea what "a long time" means in my brain... I go through cars like wildfire. This is already the car I've had the second longest (after my Polo) and I have no desire to get shot of it.
I hope to have it a long time, but I have no idea what "a long time" means in my brain... I go through cars like wildfire. This is already the car I've had the second longest (after my Polo) and I have no desire to get shot of it.
Get a Stagea or a Chaser.
Do it.
Hey hey hey...
You leave me and my E30 estate alone!
If he bites off more than he can chew or loses interest then so be it. I don't think it will happen because he has tackled stuff like this and worse before and is restoring two classic Mini's at the moment as well. But if it does, then it does. I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.
You leave me and my E30 estate alone!
If he bites off more than he can chew or loses interest then so be it. I don't think it will happen because he has tackled stuff like this and worse before and is restoring two classic Mini's at the moment as well. But if it does, then it does. I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.
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I didn't ignore that advice? At least, I didn't mean to? Please read:
I checked further after reading the first post he screenshotted, and since then I have had the fuel tank and prop shaft out as well as all the heatshields, and I have stripped off the underseal, ground back a few bits of surface rust that were starting, and sprayed it all with schutz before putting it back together, including coating the new petrol tank in schutz.
I have also removed the front and rear carpeting, entire boot interior, all interior plastic trims, including pulling the dash out. Outside the car I have removed all the arch liners, the sill covers, and other plastic panels.
I found a small patch of rot on the floor pan which I had not seen before which has been cut out, welded, ground back, seam sealered, painted, and undersealed.
The rot has been inspected inside and out by someone experienced with these kinds of repairs.
It won't be left with "bits hanging off of it" for days on end. It will be done a bit at a time, but its not going to be left outside in the rain with gaping holes in it. In instances where something is chopped out, such as a sill, it will be chopped out and have the new one let in, in the same day. As I said earlier, there are only a couple of bits of welding to be done to cavities which are not accessible from both sides - The sills. These will be done first.
I haven't really been obsessing over cosmetics, I bought a new interior and some new wheels because they came up for sale at a good price and solved two problems at once. Since then, sure I have spent money on other bits and bobs like an OBC, map light mirror etc, but none of that has been fitted yet, its just sitting there waiting, and was only bought because it was a good price. The full OBC kit was £150. They regularly sell for £250+now. The map light mirror was £70, they regularly sell for £120+.
I did also spend a lot of time on the DA polishing etc, but that was just to "polish the turd" so I could participate in the end-of-season car shows, which I did, and I don't regret because I had a great time.
I know I'm not perfect and I don't always listen, but I think this is being exaggerated just a little... I get on the defense sometimes because I don't like what I'm hearing, but I do at least look into it afterwards... Its a character flaw.
So is the main complaint now the time of year I've picked (not intentionally) to do this? Because if so it can potentially wait until warmer days in spring but I really wanted to just get it done...
I checked further after reading the first post he screenshotted, and since then I have had the fuel tank and prop shaft out as well as all the heatshields, and I have stripped off the underseal, ground back a few bits of surface rust that were starting, and sprayed it all with schutz before putting it back together, including coating the new petrol tank in schutz.
I have also removed the front and rear carpeting, entire boot interior, all interior plastic trims, including pulling the dash out. Outside the car I have removed all the arch liners, the sill covers, and other plastic panels.
I found a small patch of rot on the floor pan which I had not seen before which has been cut out, welded, ground back, seam sealered, painted, and undersealed.
The rot has been inspected inside and out by someone experienced with these kinds of repairs.
It won't be left with "bits hanging off of it" for days on end. It will be done a bit at a time, but its not going to be left outside in the rain with gaping holes in it. In instances where something is chopped out, such as a sill, it will be chopped out and have the new one let in, in the same day. As I said earlier, there are only a couple of bits of welding to be done to cavities which are not accessible from both sides - The sills. These will be done first.
I haven't really been obsessing over cosmetics, I bought a new interior and some new wheels because they came up for sale at a good price and solved two problems at once. Since then, sure I have spent money on other bits and bobs like an OBC, map light mirror etc, but none of that has been fitted yet, its just sitting there waiting, and was only bought because it was a good price. The full OBC kit was £150. They regularly sell for £250+now. The map light mirror was £70, they regularly sell for £120+.
I did also spend a lot of time on the DA polishing etc, but that was just to "polish the turd" so I could participate in the end-of-season car shows, which I did, and I don't regret because I had a great time.
I know I'm not perfect and I don't always listen, but I think this is being exaggerated just a little... I get on the defense sometimes because I don't like what I'm hearing, but I do at least look into it afterwards... Its a character flaw.
So is the main complaint now the time of year I've picked (not intentionally) to do this? Because if so it can potentially wait until warmer days in spring but I really wanted to just get it done...
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The advice you've given is good. Perhaps initially I did just throw it back in your face and stick my fingers in my ears, and I apologise, but since then I've realised it is good advice, and I have gone through all the thought process'. "Should I sell it? Should I patch it up and MOT it and then sell it? Should I get it fixed properly?" etc.
The answer I have arrived at is that I should get it fixed properly so that I can keep and enjoy it, however I have also realised that I don't particularly want to chuck 2 grand at it (which is what it would likely cost to have it done at a specialist with VAT and materials etc), and that it would take me too long to develop the skills I'd need to repair it to a standard I'd be happy with. So I am trying to find a middle ground. Minimize costs by providing my own materials and repair panels, but seeking the help of a friend of a friend who is experienced in this area so the welds aren't complete cack.
Honestly if I chuck £750 at it and it keeps the rot at bay for 3 - 5 years, happy days. And it should do at the very least.
The answer I have arrived at is that I should get it fixed properly so that I can keep and enjoy it, however I have also realised that I don't particularly want to chuck 2 grand at it (which is what it would likely cost to have it done at a specialist with VAT and materials etc), and that it would take me too long to develop the skills I'd need to repair it to a standard I'd be happy with. So I am trying to find a middle ground. Minimize costs by providing my own materials and repair panels, but seeking the help of a friend of a friend who is experienced in this area so the welds aren't complete cack.
Honestly if I chuck £750 at it and it keeps the rot at bay for 3 - 5 years, happy days. And it should do at the very least.
Yawn.
If I were sensible id patch the sills, MOT it, tart it up a bit and sell it, then sell my other car, and buy a tidy 350Z.
But! I am not sensible. I am acme.
And the dirty touring still makes me excited when i think about whats ahead.
If I were sensible id patch the sills, MOT it, tart it up a bit and sell it, then sell my other car, and buy a tidy 350Z.
But! I am not sensible. I am acme.
And the dirty touring still makes me excited when i think about whats ahead.
I can see quite well where the rot goes thankfully - From underneath the car you can see the inner sill lip and you can see where it is solid, and where it isn't. The conveniently placed hole in the sill and the inner arch are also excellent for shining a torch into to look at the condition of the inner. Silvery metal as far as the eye can see on the inside aside from a section up the side of the fuel tank at the rear of the sill, and a little bit further down.
The rot does extend from the rear sill to the inner and outer rear arch as mentioned, I actually discovered that rot before I discovered the sill itself was rotten.
On the "bad side" as far as the sill is concerned, it should really be a case of cut the outer sill out, cut a small bit of the inner sill lip off and weld in some 16 gauge sheet, and cut a slightly bigger bit of the inner sill out at the back near the arch. For this I have a genuine repair panel which can be cut down to just what is needed, and let into the gap, welded up, ground back, painted, and then have the outer sill let in, welded up, and inject cavity wax. Its quite a typical repair, and near identical to one which someone else in the owners club had done to his 325i Touring a couple of years ago.
Yes it does! But I just can't stand the thought of this car ending up getting broken for spares after I sell it, which is a fairly likely outcome. I've started to save it, I'd like to finish the job. There is time for a 350Z.
I hear your concerns though and I will have a chat with the guy who I am planning to get to do the welding, and get him to show me some more examples of work he has done to other cars and to talk me through his process.
The rot does extend from the rear sill to the inner and outer rear arch as mentioned, I actually discovered that rot before I discovered the sill itself was rotten.
On the "bad side" as far as the sill is concerned, it should really be a case of cut the outer sill out, cut a small bit of the inner sill lip off and weld in some 16 gauge sheet, and cut a slightly bigger bit of the inner sill out at the back near the arch. For this I have a genuine repair panel which can be cut down to just what is needed, and let into the gap, welded up, ground back, painted, and then have the outer sill let in, welded up, and inject cavity wax. Its quite a typical repair, and near identical to one which someone else in the owners club had done to his 325i Touring a couple of years ago.
Yes it does! But I just can't stand the thought of this car ending up getting broken for spares after I sell it, which is a fairly likely outcome. I've started to save it, I'd like to finish the job. There is time for a 350Z.
I hear your concerns though and I will have a chat with the guy who I am planning to get to do the welding, and get him to show me some more examples of work he has done to other cars and to talk me through his process.
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Did I not use the qualifying word "QUITE" and then go on to explain how? 
You guys really do make this incredibly difficult. I sometimes wonder why I even bother with this thread.
You guys really do make this incredibly difficult. I sometimes wonder why I even bother with this thread.
Might join another forum...
Too much negativity, too little encouragement.
Too much negativity, too little encouragement.
The broad honest views are broadly unhelpful and negative though, with the occasional helpful and negative view.
OcUK motors is very knowledgeable but toxic. Negativity, pessimism, dramatic overkill and criticism by the bucket load, wherever you look.
OcUK motors is very knowledgeable but toxic. Negativity, pessimism, dramatic overkill and criticism by the bucket load, wherever you look.
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If I were in the USA I'd probably mod it before ensuring it isn't going to snap in half.
Here sadly I have to do it the other way round. Pesky MOT's.
Here sadly I have to do it the other way round. Pesky MOT's.
I won't lose any sleep by ignoring that post, sorry Vita.
I think we have different interests when it comes to cars.
It may not be rare on paper, but it is a rare sight on the roads. It feels special to drive (when it is working properly), and car shows and meets are fantastic. I love people coming up to me and asking questions because they have just bought one, or a friend of family member has just bought one, or even just because they like it or are curious.
People look at it, its a conversation starter, I love looking at it, and I get a sense of achievement and fulfillment every time something gets fixed.
When the ABS light comes on though I could ****ing scrap it there and then... Spent so long chasing that ******* fault!
No worries.
I'm sure it can be better spent on other things as you say but yknow...
Well actually I think shafted is a perfectly reasonable word to use, looking back at my Celica and Eunos escapades...
At least with this E30 I knew what I was buying. Well, relatively speaking.
InvaderGIR member: 39567 said:
it really isnt.