325is Bodywork

[Spinning Tires]

This car looks a lot like my old one. under the tail lights theres a body seem on each side. is one side shaved and the other still there?

[ortholithiation]

I'll check, but I'm not sure what you mean. The car was originally delphine metallic, but has been painted in diamond Schwartz. I have a feeling that it’s been though many owners.... some have taken pretty good care, some have gotten creative…

Be interested to see. It says its 87 325is and it is in mph so there is a good chance that it is a U.S. car.

You sell it to a guy named Aiden?

Apparently the engine was replaced or rebuilt? You do that?

I'll be happy to know if you used to own it, because I grew up in NJ and I know NJ peeps know how to fix cars.

[Spinning Tires]

I crashed it twice so if you noticed the front subframe was welded on near the strut tower on the passenger side and the radiator support on the driver side that was me. car looked mint when I sold it though

[ortholithiation]

There was some damage to the radiator support, but its underneath on both sides. Don't see any welds up top but the car has a layer of grime on it now. I don't see any welding near the strut tower unless its for the overflow tank, this is my first e30 so I'm not sure whats supposed to be there and whats not.





Passenger side.






If it was your car, I'd love to know the history of the car both good and bad.

[Denny]

I'm going trew my car as well at the moment. Unreal rust everywhere...

Did you remove your seats and carpet yet? If not....get ready

[ortholithiation]

I've been underneath the car a fair bit. It looks okay from below. I'm in no hurry to pull the interior for those reasons, I’d rather just not know about it.

This car was a bad buy, in terms of a resto (rusto) project. I most certainly overpaid as well.


I will finish the exterior hopefully soon and repaint it. Some little fixing and a tune up, but other than a new set of rear tires, I think I will keep my investment to a minimum.
To be honest I will probably go back to bikes after this car. The cost vs. fun factor really isn't there for me anymore.

[Denny]

I've been underneath the car a fair bit. It looks okay from below. I'm in no hurry to pull the interior for those reasons, I’d rather just not know about it.

This car was a bad buy, in terms of a resto (rusto) project. I most certainly overpaid as well.


I will finish the exterior hopefully soon and repaint it. Some little fixing and a tune up, but other than a new set of rear tires, I think I will keep my investment to a minimum.
To be honest I will probably go back to bikes after this car. The cost vs. fun factor really isn't there for me anymore.

Yeap I understand. Me I kind of knew that the car was hiding some serious rust but still took the buyers word like he said " Little rust..almost no rust" I dont even want to post the pics as it will make most people vomit... I overpaid by a good 1000$.... car was repainted to hide all the rusted fenders and rust trew floor pans...

I'm going to invest in it as I really want one....and I hate seeing a classic like this end up crushed

[ortholithiation]

Good luck, sounds like we are in similar boats. I am welding this weekend to patch some holes up in the trunk.

We should think about organizing an e30 Cdn meet in the summer.

[Denny]

Good luck, sounds like we are in similar boats. I am welding this weekend to patch some holes up in the trunk.

We should think about organizing an e30 Cdn meet in the summer.

That would be awesome. Made a friend in another forum that also has a E30 (with a M50 motor) hes coming over tomorow with a spare M20 motor and tranny for me since am going the turbo route wont hurt to have a spare motor and tranny

I will talk to him about it... I dont think my E30 is going to be ready this summer :( but I can still roll in my Supercharged 330i :-D

[ortholithiation]

A little bit of an update, haven't been posting too much lately.

A bit warmer now. Here she is.



with the GF



Fucking Rust.






The fix.

[ortholithiation]

Did some more work recently. Have had some help from a pro. :)

Sometimes life's a bitch





But you got figure something out.









Yea I know its the not the perfectionista way of doing things but its better then nothing.





Bondo hair





filler (reversed,finished -> start)

[Denny]

Good to see you decided to save the car after all.... Good job!!

[ortholithiation]

Thanks. Body work is a lot of work!

Now that it is nicer I am a bit more motivated + I want to get it on the road. Once you start fixing things you catch the bug and want to fix everything.

It’s still slow though, but I’m taking my time and learning lots in the process. I'm pretty good at spinning wrenches but this is a bit new to me. I have some help by an auto body student who's been really great and showed me a lot.

[ortholithiation]

some more work:

a couple of water droplets on it, but it's pretty good.






Crappy photo, but if you can't tell its a big rust hole that used to be filled with putty and screws. Light poking with a screwdriver caused a surprisingly big hole.




Fresh metal!




Umm did you remember to unscrew the battery???




Not too bad for flux core. But I know you guys are not going to love the welds.



But the grinder fixs all





First layer










Second layer is a bit sharper

[ortholithiation]

Some more work. Planning now on getting some gas for the mig and shaving the antenna and the side moldings.