Bavarian Solutions: 88' M3 Restoration

[joebmw]

Hey Everyone,

Well so of you know that i am restoring my m3 while some dont know. So i figured i should make an official thread.

I have big plans for this car. It will be my show m3 when it all said and done. Here is a short list of things that are getting done...

- Complete Respray
- Complete Under body Restore
- Redoing the Interior to Evo III spec
- Rebuilding the s14 to all balls out 2.5

Here are some photos and where we stand with the status of the work...









Stripped the car completely and sent it off to the body shop...





















Alot of work until i get this thing back on the road. Body should be done in few weeks and i should be ready to head to engine dyno in early April

I will try to keep this thread as up to date as possible. Also check out our website section NEWS for updates.

[Court M3]

nice work Joe! Glad to see one being brought back.

[smonkbmw]

i have floor pan rust in the same spot under the accelerator. i like that it has the original battery, thats cool. curious why rebuild exterior to evo3 why not sport evo? especially if youre going to have a "balls out" 2.5?

[DeM3n]

That'll be a pretty penny in the end. Can't wait to see it, though.

[reelizmpro]

curious why rebuild exterior to evo3 why not sport evo?

huh??? "Evo 3" = Sport Evo.

[smonkbmw]

huh??? "Evo 3" = Sport Evo.

ah, i was under the impression the sport evo IS the sport evo not evo 3. oh well, continue.

[MSHii]

I can't wait to see the end result! When are you planning on having it done?

[joebmw]

Thanks for all the comments guys.

I can't wait to see the end result! When are you planning on having it done?

Hopefully soon. My goal is to have the car done by the summer time.

[NHskibm]

looks like a fun project! good luck! should be pretty sick when done!

[joebmw]

looks like a fun project! good luck! should be pretty sick when done!

thanks.

Your touring is very nice.

[droeck]

Can't wait to see the finished product. My mom had an 88 325is, and that was probably the best car they had ever owned. Fun to drive!

[joebmw]

Here is a quick update...

Body work is done and car is painted !!!: It looks GREAT!!

Alot of things are going on right now...working on all cylinders to finish her up ASAP! Interior is coming together.

- sound damping material on the floor pans, fire wall and wheel wells
- Passed all the electrical wires and speaker wires
- Heater box is back in
- Head liner is going back in (suede)
- Rehosltered rear deck is going back in
- Carpet is back in
- Trunk is complete
- Seats are ready to go in
- Door panels are ready to go in
- All trim has been sanded and painted with SEM black and installed
- All tint on glass has been removed. Quarter panel glass and front door glass installed
- All door and lock hardware has been sandblasted, painted and installed

Things i am working on now...

- Finishing the motor and getting ready for the engine dyno
- Finishing up the Vipec wire harness
- Undercoating the car
- Finish up the remaining bits and piece for the interior

Things still need work...
- Brakes
- Suspension
- Fuel system
The list goes on:ghost:

Here are some pics....

[azWBSE30]

I'm not sure I've ever seen that done before or at least I haven't noticed.. Looks cool. Is it just the stock cover wrapped in carpet?

[Cha Ching]

Beautiful work. You gotta spill the beans, where did you get the Motorsport fabric for the doors & that new carpet for the interior???

[joebmw]

I'm not sure I've ever seen that done before or at least I haven't noticed.. Looks cool. Is it just the stock cover wrapped in carpet?

Yea, its the stock battery cover wrapper with matching fabric. It was a paint to find the correct matching color but i got it!

Beautiful work. You gotta spill the beans, where did you get the Motorsport fabric for the doors & that new carpet for the interior???

No sercet, i got the fabric from the dealer. i order about 20 feet of it and now its NLA i guess i took it all lol.

New carpet is also from the dealer. No short cuts on this build. Everything done the right way.

[joebmw]

Here is a quick update...things moving along.

- Gas tank, rear suspension removed.
- Under body was washed as it had lots of dust and dirt (already washed her once before we started the body work)
- All rust was cleaned, sand blasted, treated, painted with POR15 and then under coated.
- Rear suspension was sanded down to metal and sand blasted in some area with heavy rust. Some reinforcement welding done.
- Rear Axle shafts were cleaned, greased and new boots put on.
- New bushings and wheel bearings and new suspension parts ready to get bolted on.


Here are some pics....

[Court M3]

Damn amazing work! How much was new carpet from dealer?

[joebmw]

Damn amazing work! How much was new carpet from dealer?

I honestly don't remember, it was under $500.00 though.

[Pink]

Awesome!

[slowerE30]

How much would this type of restore cost?

[joebmw]

How much would this type of restore cost?

Better then new e30 m3.....Priceless

Really depends which part of the work you are referring to. I am not done with this build yet but i have done a few other e30 restores and i know what it takes. Better come with a blank check!

[slowerE30]

Round about figure for a decent restored E30?
I'm trying to weigh the cons between buying one mint and restoring one..

if anyone cares to PM me what this would cost please let me know. From a "backyard installer" to "bmw shop" rate

[otownbmw]

nice work!

i would like to know as well, i have an e30 m3,

what do u think it would run for a solid paint strip, prep and respray, high quality job? i would be doing the interior and suspension engine work myself, i just need a figure on the body work, i have no idea what to expect.

[slowerE30]

Bump

[slowerE30]

Awesome