Needing Crash Rebuild Advice!

[xcmorgan50]

Ok, so I've decided to go ahead with fixing the car. Now I'm debating whether or not to put it back on the road now or in the spring. The car is completely driveable. I'm just so tired of driving a chevy metro around all the time when there is a bimmer in my driveway(not in the garage, just sitting in the driveway..my garage is too full) Im not concerned about getting into another incident(knock on wood) because i wont drive like that in the winter anymore. I'm just worried about the salty roads here in upstate NY. I also find very hard to work on a car that im not driving because i cant take it to a shop to get an estimate. I guess im just impatient...should i drive it now or wait. If i do drive it now, is there anything else i should to to prevent rust besides washing it? I just feel like shes just wasting away in the driveway if i dont drive it.

[ddavidv]

You say you already paid to have the unibody pulled? Then the structure should be square. The rest is just cosmetic.

Your Carstar experience is pretty typical of a lot of shops that only want to work on newer stuff. They aren't interested in anything older due to getting parts, rusted fasteners, etc. so they will blow you off. It means they have more work than they need. Find someone who needs the work and they will work with you.

[nando]

your radiator core support could be a little bent, but it's not technically part of the frame. anyway, find a good sized tree trunk and borrow a come along, and pull it out if you need to.

[Fidhle007]

I don't see any evidence of frame damage at all so you should be fine. Search junkyards and try to find another E30 with a straight front end and take it, fenders, valence, bumper and all. Then you can have a shop paint and fit the parts and if you're comfortable with fitting them yourself you can just have them painted professionally and save some dough. I'm not sure where you are in NY but if you fancied a drive my shop has a lot of E30 experience...

[xcmorgan50]

I know it doesn't look that bad compared to other accidents I've seen on this forum :p, but I still have some concerns. Right after the accident I took the car to carstar collision repair. These were very rude and didn't seem to want anything to do with me since my insurance wasn't going to cover it, but anyway i got an estimate sort of. The guy came out took one look at it and said the car is considered totaled because the frame is bent. What does this even mean? Does this mean my car is ruined!? I got a second opinion and this repair shop didn't seem to think it was as big of a deal. It was a local one but I still trusted their opinion. So I paid $500 to have the "frame straightened" because my radiator was moved in towards the left slightly which caused my cooling fan to stop spinning. I haven't done anything to the car since then and it has been of the road while i drive my winter beater. I guess i just want to know if my car is ruined just because the front end swayed to the left a little bit, will it really affect its drive ability and handling?..you can see in the pictures that my drivers side fender was pushed into the door and the body shop straightened that out so i could open the door easier...Is the rest just cosmetic work or do i have a serious problem here? I am also wondering why my grill is pushed in farther than my hood on the right side. Is this also repairable? ugh its so frustrating!!

[nando]

that is very minor damage. You will need another valance and a bumper cover, but a really good body guy could probably straighten that fender no problem if you want to keep it #s matching. Otherwise, you can get a used fender for around $50 and have it painted/blended into the door (or try to find one in the right color). I can't see this repair costing more than $500-1000.

[xcmorgan50]

More Pics...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHGMkkuJgr8

[xcmorgan50]

What Should I Do!?

I have a similar problem and so I have the same original question. I need rebuilding advice. Some of the people on this forum seem to know what they are talking about so what I want to know is, is my car worth fixing or should i get a different body and swap everything out? If at all possible i would like to keep the same shell. The car has sentimental value to me and before i put money into it, i want to know that its worth it and that it will be able to drive like new again.
So a few months ago I was showing off in front of my girlfriend, drifting around snow covered roads. I lost control of the car and stuffed it into a snow covered ditch going around 30 MPH. i didn't hit it directly head on but at an angle and then the car spun and the rear hit as well before i came to a halt. here are some pictures..

[dkerley03]

88 Arches

I am pretty sure they are the late model arches, They are low and close to the tires. I will post a couple of pictures tomorrow.

Dennis

[Desaevious]

Hmm I just noticed that you have an 88. Does that mean you have early or late model arches?

[dkerley03]

Wing!

Please, what ever you do LEAVE THE DAMN RICER WING OFF, recycle it if you must, just don't put it back on ANY BMW. K, thx, bye.

I do not plan on putting it on the next car, I do want a wing but I plan on putting something similar to a M3 or wing that was an option on the E30.

I did it, enjoyed it and an done with it!

Thanks
Dennis

[atomic]

We need a facepalm smilie.

alzheimers moment...



for some reason I thought you were the other guy... :???:



:)

[neighborhood]

Please, what ever you do LEAVE THE DAMN RICER WING OFF, recycle it if you must, just don't put it back on ANY BMW. K, thx, bye.

[dkerley03]

Understood, You have first dibs!

I still want your fender. :D

As soon as I make my final decision and begin the swap. I will get in touch about my rust free schwarz drivers fender.

Thanks
Dennis

[Desaevious]

I don't have a fender ;)

We need a facepalm smilie.