Advise needed on a 1991 325iX

[///Maybach]

Hey everyone, I am new here..

I was hoping I could get some of your experienced advise on the 325iX. About a year ago I found the perfect 325iX on eBay (I am sure you know were this is going..) I was super excited to find the "MINT" condition car with a near perfect interior and only 100K on the clock, it checked out on car fax, the ebay car fax thing that shows you a vehicle history based on the VIN showed it was registered to the same owner every year since new. It checked out in so many ways, just a missing trim piece on the exterior of the door, a few small dents, and a missing BMW center cap on one of the wheels. I proceeded to send the money via PayPal and arranged transport.

The car finally arrived, it was night and day from the description, heavy rust on the under side, missing more trim than in the photos, and quite a few mechanical issues. I attempted to dispute the transaction and got nowhere. I took it to a mechanic who was able to find a long list of issues with the car. The main issues are rust, exhaust, automatic lever (the lever to put it in to gear is broken off and is completely missing the full assembly), new tires, feels as though the shocks/springs may need to be replaced, and some of the boots are torn.. All-in-all the mechanic told me it was not worth saving. The interior is actually in great shape and just a few plastic pieces need to be replaced.

I have had the car for a year now, debating constantly if I should just fix it up a bit and make something out of a bad situation, or just sell it for a loss.. I would love to have a cherry e30 iX but considering the rust it may not be possible with this car. I was hoping I could get some advise from all you experts who know these cars better than I do, or perhaps have been in this situation. Any thoughts, ideas, opinions are very welcome!

[nando]

how much did you pay for it? That would factor in how upside down you might possibly be.

how bad is the rust? post some pics. in the northeast it seems a low rust car is something the flintstones might drive, around here if there's surface rust on a rocker panel it's scrap.. lol. but rust is actually not impossible to repair. I'd be mainly concerned about structural damage (strut towers, spring perches). Panel damage is fairly simple to repair.

[z122643]

So let me tell you a story....

A number of years ago I bought a iX off craigslist from the east coast. I had always wanted one. = Car was advertised as "zero rust" and in "mint condition". I bought the car for $3,500 and had it transported out here to California.

Once the car arrived I realized instantly I had been duped. 35% of the car's overall metal had moderate to severe rust damage. The engine had been abused as had the transmission/transfer case. The car was in fact unsafe to drive, seeing as rust had eaten away pieces of the brake calipers and steering tie rods.

The only part of the car that was in good condition was the interior.

So what to do? I could either do an extensive and expensive rebuild, or sell the car for scrap. I could not in good conscience sell the car.

I decided to rebuild the car, it should be noted at this point that I do have a mechanically and automotive background. It has taken me 3 years to rebuild the engine and transmission. During that time I also replaced the entire drive line, suspension, brakes, and various other important safety related systems.

**I need to praise the Rev forum here because this forum's community has been incredibly helpful and knowledgeable**

So in the end I took the car to a body shop where they cut, replaced, and restored the body. It turned out that even though the body panels and trim had rusted the chassis had not due to a rust coating from the factory which had done it's job.

I sunk $13,000 into the project and ended up with an excellent car. Remember that I did everything but the body work. I am very proud of my little iX and if I had to do it again I would. The car is getting scarce and the value is ever increasing.

I would personally keep the car and take on the tasks of repairing it one at a time.

[///Maybach]

Thanks so much for the responses, it is reassuring to hear from you guys' experiences.

For the price, I am now in this car about $6,000.. I just went and took a few pics, the rust is probably in between bad and horrible, maybe I am over reacting but it is mostly rust on the under side of the car.

I have driven the car probably 10-15 miles and the transmission and engine feel solid, there was no slipping, and other than the exhaust issue the engine feels strong, it does only have 100K original miles.

Here are the pics:

[audiquattrot]

i don't see any rust lol

[///Maybach]

i don't see any rust lol

Dude you e30 from your sig is like my dream e30.. If I could make this thing like yours I'd do it in a heart beat.. but for the cost..

[z122643]

WHAT RUST? Let me show you rust…

[nando]

Just saw the pics. Thats not very rusty at all!

[ghatid]

You're a Cali guy like me, and we're not used to rust. It's bad, but truthfully, not the end of the world. Buy an angle grinder and a wire brush and go at at, it'll probably clean up nicely, for the most part. Mine was rusty too (PO parked it 1 block next to the ocean for 2 years) but I took apart most of it and derusted it, and since I'm in CA, I'm not too worried about it coming back. The shock mounts, I'm not so sure about...good luck with that:D.

[The Dark Side of Will]

Are there any holes in the body? Any places you can stick your finger or a screwdriver through something that's supposed to be structural?

If not, wire brush and paint!

If the pics show the worst of it, that car's solid.

The strut housing looks bad, but that can be replaced with a wrench... the same with the rear subframe, but it's just a little more of a PITA.

[ndfspd67]

Did someone say rust?

[ndfspd67]

You have "crust" not "rust" lol

[///Maybach]

Wow, I guess its not the end of the world..

What treatment do you guys recommend for this? I know it won't ever be perfect but I would like to try to treat it..

[Northern]

sandblast or wirewheel/sand until all traces of corrosion/pitting are gone
clean with a solvent such as Acetone
epoxy prime (or use regular primer alternatively)
paint
re-undercoat with new schutz or alternative.

It always helps to spray on a Corrosion Inhibiting Compound of some kind from time to time as well, like Fluid film or LPS 3

[Nuckers1610]

my junk has more rust than that
like everyone else said wire wheel, clean, prime and paint
Welcome and nice looking ride