Noob: My 325iC Arrived Today

[vlad]

IMHO this isn't such a good buy because after all the work that you have to do (timing belt, new convertible top, etc) plus the cost of shipping, the cost will go up, these little things add up to the price. Should've waited to find one locally, these are not so rare ...

it does have potential though...

I am working on a full respray now for the cabrio project that I have

[N2MYE30]

If you don't mind me asking, how much was it to ship that distance?

[funcrew]

IMHO this isn't such a good buy because after all the work that you have to do (timing belt, new convertible top, etc) plus the cost of shipping, the cost will go up, these little things add up to the price. Should've waited to find one locally, these are not so rare ...

I see that you are on the East coast. Saying that a 63K rust-free convertible 5-speed is not rare here in the West would seem to disagree with my search on R3V, E30Tech, eBay, craigslist, autotrader, and local ads for Los Angeles, Phoenix, Vegas, Salt Lake City, San Fran, San Diego, Fresno, Portland, Seattle etc. for that last year. You could be right though - maybe I'm just not a good bargain shopper.

Also thanks to everyone who didn't send a nastygram in response to my "hello, I'm new here" post.

[funcrew]

If you don't mind me asking, how much was it to ship that distance?

$875 door to door with Swift Car Transporters. Any of the multi-quote sites will produce a wide range of pricing. Then you take the 2-3 lowest quotes and look them up on the user-rating sites for car shippers and pick one with good reviews.

[delatlanta1281]

I don't know how much you have invested, but it doesn't sound like a whole lot to make the car really nice. If you plan on doing the work yourself it shouldn't be too bad actually. The timing belt will be an all day adventure (my advice) remove the hood so you can work from the front. Buy a Bentley manual asap, you're going to need it. The top sounds like the hardest job. I don't know the ins and outs of the replacement, but I can't imagine it is too hard, just time consuming. Everything else sound pretty straight forward. I would lube all the electric motors and joints if the car has been sitting. Keep the fogs and leave it a metal bumper car IMO. Plastic bumpers have their place, but a nice set of metal bumpers tucked look nice too!
Good luck, PM me if you have any questions, if I don't have the answer I know someone who does.

[vlad]

The top sounds like the hardest job. I don't know the ins and outs of the replacement, but I can't imagine it is too hard, just time consuming.

I wouldn't do the top if you never did it before, you will destroy it, it's a major pita...
I've done few top replacements by now and get chills when I think about the next one I have to do



abou the car - yes, 60k miles is low, but judging by the condition of the oil that wasn't changed in god knows how long, I would not only change the oil, I would do the flush as well, change the coolant and brake fluids as well. These are fun cars ! Good luck with yor project

[delatlanta1281]

+100 as far as the fliuids go, you probably should check the valve clearences as well seeing how you will have the cover off.
If you do the timing, do this stuff as well
Timing belt
All seals involved
water pump
all new belts (obviously)
check/replace distributer and rotor
check/ replace plug wires, coil
new plugs
valve cover seal
flush all fluids
check the oil pressure sender seal (alot of these leak),
check all the seals around the oil filter housing
check oil pan gasket (alot of these leak)
check all the rubber underneeth especially motor mounts, trans mounts, giebo
check center support bearing on the drive shaft
check halfshaft boots
check diff / tranny fluid. On the diff, make sure to remove the top plug to check the level FIRST!!!! I would change it with redline, and see if it is an LSD then stick in the extra additive.
Check the rear shock mounts
Replace intake boot (you might as well)
Replace filter (don't even ask what kind, do a search and get ready to spend an hour reading the most useless argument in r3v history besides the plane/ conveyer belt thread)
I would check the slop in the shifter as well, For under 70 bucks you can replace the rubber and it will feel brand new again.
Trans fluid flush.
Wiper blades? maybe not.
Oh and go to a marine/ boat store and pick up some 303 protectant. I use it on my dash and door cards. It rules.
Anything else?

[funcrew]

I wouldn't do the top if you never did it before, you will destroy it, it's a major pita...
I've done few top replacements by now and get chills when I think about the next one I have to do



abou the car - yes, 60k miles is low, but judging by the condition of the oil that wasn't changed in god knows how long, I would not only change the oil, I would do the flush as well, change the coolant and brake fluids as well. These are fun cars ! Good luck with yor project

Vlad - I enjoyed this post immensely better than your prior one. I won't touch the soft top - In Southern Nevada, the top comes down & stays down at the end of April & goes up in the middle of November. Note this is just for cold air; it does not rain here, ever - I'm not kidding.

Next, I will be looking around for a hard top. Once (if) I find a hard top, I may remove the soft top for weight reduction and hang it on my garage wall as a souveneir.

[funcrew]

+100 as far as the fliuids go, you probably should check the valve clearences as well seeing how you will have the cover off.
If you do the timing, do this stuff as well
Timing belt
All seals involved
water pump
all new belts (obviously)
check/replace distributer and rotor
check/ replace plug wires, coil
new plugs
valve cover seal
flush all fluids
check the oil pressure sender seal (alot of these leak),
check all the seals around the oil filter housing
check oil pan gasket (alot of these leak)
check all the rubber underneeth especially motor mounts, trans mounts, giebo
check center support bearing on the drive shaft
check halfshaft boots
check diff / tranny fluid. On the diff, make sure to remove the top plug to check the level FIRST!!!! I would change it with redline, and see if it is an LSD then stick in the extra additive.
Check the rear shock mounts
Replace intake boot (you might as well)
Replace filter (don't even ask what kind, do a search and get ready to spend an hour reading the most useless argument in r3v history besides the plane/ conveyer belt thread)
I would check the slop in the shifter as well, For under 70 bucks you can replace the rubber and it will feel brand new again.
Trans fluid flush.
Wiper blades? maybe not.
Oh and go to a marine/ boat store and pick up some 303 protectant. I use it on my dash and door cards. It rules.
Anything else?

I already had most of these fluids & parts ordered before the car arrived. Will order the rest ASAP. Thanks for the advice!

[funcrew]

I don't know how much you have invested, but it doesn't sound like a whole lot to make the car really nice. If you plan on doing the work yourself it shouldn't be too bad actually. The timing belt will be an all day adventure (my advice) remove the hood so you can work from the front. Buy a Bentley manual asap, you're going to need it. The top sounds like the hardest job. I don't know the ins and outs of the replacement, but I can't imagine it is too hard, just time consuming. Everything else sound pretty straight forward. I would lube all the electric motors and joints if the car has been sitting. Keep the fogs and leave it a metal bumper car IMO. Plastic bumpers have their place, but a nice set of metal bumpers tucked look nice too!
Good luck, PM me if you have any questions, if I don't have the answer I know someone who does.

Thanks - The diving boards stay for now anyway, because they are already there. The stupid driving lights I object to are not the amber fogs recessed into the bumper, but a duet of clear-lens Pep-Boys-looking ones dangling crookedly under the bumper. Those aren't OEM, are they?

[VacMan]

Welcome to cabrio ownership. :) A little...ok, a lot of TLC and you'll have that car looking like it has only 64k miles on it. :)

Tough to tell of those are OEM or aftermarket from the pic, but the diving board cars came with fogs hanging off the bumper so they might be.

Tim

PS. When I lived in Vegas it not only rained, but flooded some of the casino parking lots and destroyed a bunch of cars. ;)

[Bimmerista]

Congrats on the purchase!

[funcrew]

PS. When I lived in Vegas it not only rained, but flooded some of the casino parking lots and destroyed a bunch of cars. ;)

LOL, that's so true - you caught me exaggerating just a smidge! What's funny here is that it can rain like that with huge flash-flood damage and be bone dry 10 miles away. Weird weather. Still - when it rains, people walk outside and stare at the sky, saying, "What the hell is that?"

[Stevie30]

Welcome to e30 vertland. I have a twin to your car and enjoy it more than any car i have ever owned. I also have a plastic bumper late '91 vert that my wife drives. Don't worry too much about the diving board bumpers. I'm from the old school and think that BMW did a good design job when they built the cars. They have a classic styling that improves with age. You will find this forum is loaded with information and ideas!!! A little soap and lubrication will make your car good as new!!

[delphini]

WELCOME , i hope you enjoy your cabrio as much as i do mine.