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E21 - What to look for?

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BMW250L View Drop Down
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Joined: 09 Nov 2009
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    Posted: 22 Mar 2011 at 11:37pm
Hi,
 
I'm restoring an E3 2500 - See classics section.
 
But, I've been offered an E21 323i by a chap who lives two roads away from me. It was his wifes car and they have had it for 10 years plus, but the car hasn;t been used since 2005. It is a very original, unmollested example, X reg, 140k miles, cloth, sunroof, grey....  oh, and its an Auto - not my favoured 'box, but oK...
 
He is going to get it running later this week, so I can gauge the state of the engine then, but he claims the engine has had shells and rings, etc in the past...  The body is, er, rough, I guess would be the best way to describe it....  The sills are shot in several places on both sides, and the lower front wings and lower rear valance, plus the inside of the boot lid is laden with rot and the boot channel at the bottom of the rear screen is not great.....
 
But, on the good side the boot floor looks OK and the main floor pan is OK too. Plus, both rear arches are also rot free - amazing! The exhaust is OK too. It has Alpina style wheels. Lacquer is peeling in several places.
 
The car is not advertised for sale and I found it whilst walking my dog, and then found out the my wife knows the people, so a conversation was had...  He's up for getting rid of the car, but reckons he want "...£400 to £500......"
 
Questions;
 
Is it worth the money he is asking?
Are lower body panels freely available?
What are the main E21 pitfalls?
Is it possible/easy to do a manual 'box conversion?
 
Cheers,
 
Martin.
 
 
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Cabrio View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Cabrio Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Mar 2011 at 8:17am
- sounds like fair bit of work...can get panels new and used - but getting harder to find good used ones....E21 issues differ but as you have found rust is a main one in usual places....conversion possible but 5 speed boxes are likely to cost you nearly as much as the car....if you get some pics I can also get Mark Brown to post or you can call him
E30 Register joint coordinator - Competition Secretary - Contact name Neil for PM and Email - cabrio_e30@yahoo.co.uk - be aware addicted to E numbers
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Mark Brown View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mark Brown Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 May 2011 at 9:33am
Hi Martin, from what you've said I would be inclined to pass on restoration. It would be far cheaper to buy a good 316 and swap over the 323 bits.  316's seem to have had an easier life and there are some very solid examples out there.  I have a 1 owner, 64 000 mile car that would be perfect for just such a project although it would be quite nice to keep it original too. I would sell it for £1000 to a club member and as I'm sure you know, that sort of money won't go far when it comes to body repairs & paint.

Most panels can be sourced.
£500 seems a bit steep to me although if you broke it you could probably get that much - eventually.
Rust seems to have taken hold in all the usual e21 spots.
Manual conversion isn't too much trouble for a competent spanner twirler.




Edited by Mark Brown - 05 May 2011 at 9:37am
2002
e30 M3 2.3

wanted - early e21 316

"e" numbers make me giddy
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