Thanks!

[NeedaE30]

Thanks for the support!

[PorscheH6]

I would have crushed that car a long time ago.

[agent]

Sadly, some of them just aren't worth saving.

Strut bar shipped to 37064?

[jlevie]

Minor body damage, engine or drive train problems, suspension issues, or electrical issues are fixable. Rust like that, on the other hand, is a terminal condition and means that the car is worth no more than the scrap metal price that the body will bring after parting out.

[MJCRO]

No investment is sunk unless you really love the car. Are you good with metal work at all? If you're able to strip the car down and repair the rusted sections on your own, go for it.

But if you do end up calling it quits, you should be able to recuperate a decent amount of money by parting it out also.

[SubDad]

The rust isn't too bad compared to other rust belt cars I've seen, and could be fixed by a skilled and expensive welder.
Fixing it would cost more than you paid for the car, and you could probably get your money back parting it out.

Please buy another E30 and stay on this forum, and, um, keep the avatar.

[rturbo 930]

Drive it into the ground. On something older or rarer, that rust would be fixed, but on an E30, IMO it's not worth fixing.

[ravenlord89]

Step one; buy a MIG welder and gas bottle.
Step two; buy a 4x8 sheet of body metal.
Step three; cut out and learn how to weld in new metal.

Or part the car out and buy a different one that is rust free.

I repaired worse rust then that on mine, and it is possible to repair it fairly cheaply once you learn how to weld. Some people have looked at mine and said scrap it, but honestly if you love the car and are mechanically inclined it is worth it.

Read jgoods build thread.

[SubDad]

Drive it to Ontario, abandon it.
Somebody will pick it up and brag about how the "body is almost perfect, just a bit of welding".

I would have crushed that car a long time ago.

California... I'm so jealous of California. Earthquakes, fires, mudslides... and perfect 30 year old cars.

Oh!
Oh!
Just saw your post

My brother has access to a mig welder 110v and knows how to use it

There's your answer. Patching metal isn't as hard as, say, troubleshooting intermittent electrical faults. Patch it strong (i.e. not pretty) and drive it.

[RobE30]

Any interest in a fairly decent vert? There is a guy local to me thats selling a complete vert w/ top etc that you could swap your drivetrain into. If you love having an E30, keep your eye on the forum and find someone selling a solid roller. Have it shipped to you, swap all your mechanicals in and you have a rust free E30 in the rust belt. My suggestions are based off the assumption that your are either A) interested in getting balls deep into your car, B) mechanically capable or willing to learn C) slightly retarded. I personally fit into all of the above categories and when I strip my car down this winter, I will either be patching a few rust spots or looking for a clean shell. Good luck!

[emerson.]

all that floor rust is a easy fix. buy a cheap welder, watch some welding videos on youtube and have fun. completely fixable

[dereliiict]

Seriously? You say you are in the Rust Belt, yet you are worried about small floor pan rust like this? Either man up and fix it yourself or sell it to someone, like me, who knows the value of steel cars and is willing to repair it to make money.

[delatlanta1281]

Looks good though

[Dj Buttchug]

if you really do love it you will save it regardless of time and effort to make it right.

if you dont, post it for 1.5k, cut your losses and move on to a different car.

[davesmystery]

Buy a cheap ass beater DD, then tear that thing apart and fix it with your brother. There's quite a few build threads where the OP has fixed rust, that would be a good starting point. Here's a good one.