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Old 11-16-2017, 03:09 PM   #1
lip277
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Well... It's started. E9 is down in Alameda now.

Don (The total E9 Guru) loves the car. He has 4 or 5 of them in his shop now and is starting to work on taking mine apart.
I have a list of things they are going to do to it -
  • Engine Installation (M90)
  • 5-Speed (G265) Installation
  • New Dash Wood
  • New Dash
  • Restore A/C
  • New Heater Core
  • Suspension refresh- for what is needed.
  • Headliner Replacement
  • New Seating Surfaces
  • New Stereo (don't know what I want to install yet)
  • Various items... the list keeps growing
And now that they have the car - work has started.

Dash is out. Interior getting removed and.... I get the call.....

Has your car been in an accident? We see some things with the sheet metal that don't look too good (in the area of the lower outbd corner of windscreen where it meets the ends of the dash).

I say not that I know of or the PO knew of (actually the guy working for Don knows my car from the PO when he lived in Portland - small world). No damage from the last 10 years. But who knows before then.
It appears both front fenders have (at some time) been replaced.

At that point - nothing too much - things can move forward - just need to make some adaptions and adjustments with the backing hardware used to reattach everything with (it was kind of a kluge job that I had originally - so we want to do a better job on the reassembly). The new fenders look ok and they have held up so that is more of a curiosity than anything else.

Then.....wait for it... I get the next call.....

We have rust. LOL. There are (at least) a couple of spots that need attention (one in a mostly minor way - the other more substantial, and affecting the exterior paint).
He sends me a bunch of pics and... Too bad I am not at home. I could use a nice glass of wine.

I take a deep breath and .... we get to discussing what the plan will be.
The value of the car (as is now and what it could be when fixed), what I paid for it, the cost of what looks to be needed... and the $$ of what I have it down there in the first place to be done.... All are conspiring against me and leading me down the 'get it fixed right' path... (and I guess that is a good thing)

It looks like I will be moving forward.... with what now is a (mostly) full restoration.

But - so we can know the full picture of all what the car needs, they have halted work (for now) and will get it on a lift and evaluate all the points of interest and let me know what it would take to fix everything (body and such).

I will likely end up repainting the car afterwards...
And that creates another quandry....
My car has a color that is not stock BMW (as such).
It was painted about 13 years ago - matched to a faded Baikal Blue.
Would I want to keep that color (Darker than Fjord blue, but not as dark as the real Baikal)???
I am liking what it is... But - I do also like Fjord too (my 2002 was that color). Baikal is ok too - but do I want to go that dark?

LOL - I did not expect to have to answer that question....
Oh well - we'll see how this turns out.

Just thought you guys would be interested in my saga...
Stay tuned....
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Last edited by lip277; 11-17-2017 at 12:03 AM.
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Old 11-16-2017, 05:00 PM   #2
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Oh, dear.
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Old 11-16-2017, 07:59 PM   #3
kognito
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just my .02 cents, but what was the original color of the car?

If you are spending a lot of money into a full restoration, might it be worth most in the end, if you keep it (or return it) to original color?
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Old 11-16-2017, 09:10 PM   #4
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Just remember... E9s are beautiful.
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Old 11-16-2017, 09:49 PM   #5
rumatt
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Sorry to hear about the discoveries... but this is a great thread. Sounds like you need to be fully in or out. Do it right or bail. I'm glad you decided to go all in.


Can we get pics along the way for this entire restoration?

Last edited by rumatt; 11-16-2017 at 10:35 PM.
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Old 11-16-2017, 10:27 PM   #6
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Ugh...ish. In for a penny, though. Make it what you want it to be and you’ll enjoy it forever. Make it what you think it will be, but not quite what you’d like it to be and you’ll regret it as long as you have it.

That’s my guess.
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Old 11-17-2017, 12:02 AM   #7
lip277
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Thanks guys and gals...

Yeah - in for a penny, in for a pound.
The original color is (was) Baikal.

I'll be down in SF for a long weekend in Dec. I was going to stop by and see the car. Now I am GOING TO STOP BY AND SEE THE CAR. lol
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Old 11-17-2017, 07:31 AM   #8
Josh (PA)
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so, ummm, about getting that e39 M5...

Definitely making an e9 as nice as possible is the way to go, IMO. I'd think they're about ready to shoot up in value if they haven't already. They are such a pretty car. Share pictures and updates as you can, I always find these restore threads very interesting.
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Old 11-17-2017, 08:28 AM   #9
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oh yeah, definitely looking forward to pictures and growth of this thread
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Old 11-17-2017, 08:43 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ZBB View Post
Just remember... E9s are beautiful.
Yes.
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