Hi all
Need some advice on a situation I'm in.
I know rust threads have been beaten to death but this is a slightly different situation so bear with me.
I purchased an '89 325is a while back as a little project car. The good: its black on black, in great shape with basically every feature offered and everything works. It even has had the A/C dealer converted to the new freon. I have records of every oil change, service, and repair since '89 all at the dealer. The bad: It is a northern car and I knew it had some rust but I didn't realize how much. It looked like the battery box areas and some floor pan rust but I keep finding more and more the further I dig.
I bought a black '88 325is that was someone else's project and intended on using the 88 as a donor for the '89 to fix the rust. I have them both basically completely apart. The 88 has been stripped, engine out, interior out, fenders off subframe off, etc. The 89 is similarly stripped except engine, transmission and front subframe are still in.
I am standing here looking at these two cars and trying to decide if I should go with my original plan of cutting up the 88 and grafting it on the 89 or swap everything from the 89 to the 88 and scrap the 89.
I think they look like similar amounts of work. I probably feel more comfortable swapping as I am not a welder. I do have a decent welder, I can glob and grind but again not a welder even though I may be one after this project hah. A paint job is going to be needed either way, however, the 89 even with the rust is going to be easier to paint as it has really good paint everywhere else. Actually, it might only need some touch-up painting done. The 88 will need a full paint job, of course, I'm already halfway prepped.
The biggest concern is which one will be worth more in the end or would there be any difference. Some things I am factoring: Which is a more desirable year? Is the documentation on the 89 worth it even with the rust repairs? I like the 89 better but I can't really explain to myself why. Help! Lol
I could provide some pictures in the next few days if requested. I have titles for both. The 89 is already registered the 88 is not.
Thanks for any input!
Need some advice on a situation I'm in.
I know rust threads have been beaten to death but this is a slightly different situation so bear with me.
I purchased an '89 325is a while back as a little project car. The good: its black on black, in great shape with basically every feature offered and everything works. It even has had the A/C dealer converted to the new freon. I have records of every oil change, service, and repair since '89 all at the dealer. The bad: It is a northern car and I knew it had some rust but I didn't realize how much. It looked like the battery box areas and some floor pan rust but I keep finding more and more the further I dig.
I bought a black '88 325is that was someone else's project and intended on using the 88 as a donor for the '89 to fix the rust. I have them both basically completely apart. The 88 has been stripped, engine out, interior out, fenders off subframe off, etc. The 89 is similarly stripped except engine, transmission and front subframe are still in.
I am standing here looking at these two cars and trying to decide if I should go with my original plan of cutting up the 88 and grafting it on the 89 or swap everything from the 89 to the 88 and scrap the 89.
I think they look like similar amounts of work. I probably feel more comfortable swapping as I am not a welder. I do have a decent welder, I can glob and grind but again not a welder even though I may be one after this project hah. A paint job is going to be needed either way, however, the 89 even with the rust is going to be easier to paint as it has really good paint everywhere else. Actually, it might only need some touch-up painting done. The 88 will need a full paint job, of course, I'm already halfway prepped.
The biggest concern is which one will be worth more in the end or would there be any difference. Some things I am factoring: Which is a more desirable year? Is the documentation on the 89 worth it even with the rust repairs? I like the 89 better but I can't really explain to myself why. Help! Lol
I could provide some pictures in the next few days if requested. I have titles for both. The 89 is already registered the 88 is not.
Thanks for any input!
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