is it worth restoring?

[Jameslc]

Hi all

I recently bought this 323i without an engine and i'm not sure weather it is worth restoring for my m60 swap because of the state of the boot,what do you think is a good direction to take?

James

http://s1310.beta.photobucket.com/user/ ... 1/library/

[e21-Mark]

I guess it depends how good your welding skills are or whether you'll be paying someone to do the work for you? Also, what's the rest of the shell like?

[Jameslc]

the shell is reasonably good, it has gone in the bi-pillar under the window, the bottum of the doors and the bottom of the front windscreen

http://s1310.beta.photobucket.com/user/ ... 3280842566

[e21-Mark]

Am I right in thinking you're in Australia?

Really it's up to you. It's always better to start any build with the best condition shell that you can but the panels you'd need for this are available. If you wanted to save some money and weren't worried about originality, you could probably fabricate your own boot repair panels. Paying someone else to do body repairs is seldom cheap though.

[Jameslc]

yes i am an aussie

the only thing that concerns me is that i can't get a repair sheet for the lip at the bottom of the rear window from walloth and nesch,you wouldn't happen to know of
other companys that do these repair sheets for the e21?

james

[e21-Mark]

Have you tried BMW themselves? Still available and cheaper than you might think.

http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?mod ... g=41&fg=20

[Jameslc]

i think it is number 3 and 5 i need, will ring up local bmw dealer tomorrow to see what i can get.

thanks Mark

http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?mod ... g=41&fg=30

[e21-Mark]

Glad to help. Keep us posted.

[Jeroen]

Well looking at the rust in the trunk there will be rust in most other common places as well which might make it quite costly. If it's all paid work it might become too dear, if you're good at welding yourself or perhaps a friend that may save a lot of money making it far less expensive.

[m3gaz]

Whats the red one in the background like?Can't that help you out?

[Jameslc]

The 320A in the background is a very original car,I thought I would ruin it by sticking the bmw m60 in it

James

[cobbler2u]

wise choice

[Jameslc]

I called up the local bmw dealer today, the repair sheet for the top lip of the boot seal is no longer avaliable(number 3 in the pic on realoem) and i have added more pics in photobucket to give a bit more light on what
i am dealing with rust wise.

http://s1310.beta.photobucket.com/user/ ... 1/library/

james

[cobbler2u]

Hi
Think the wost bit of rust is lip under rear window. The rest aint to bad.
But it all boils down to your budget and desire to keep on the road.
Good luck in your decsion.

[uwbuurman]

I my opinion: this one is gone. Currently I'm restoring my 323i, '78 type 1. Tried to get al the spare repairsheets and then welding them im. Quite costly, and I still have to sandblast it and get it painted. The money that I've invested already is more thant the worth after the complete overhaul.

Like Jeroen says, the rust you can see is just the tip of the iceberg. There is lots more, rear wheelarches, inner wheelhouse behind the rearseat, floorpanels, holes under front windowseal etc. Just part her out and try to find a decent one, or be like me and just dump a tremendous amout of cash in a polaris hole....