drive or restore ?

[Belgiumbarry]

i'm wondering about the purpose on many E9 here... do we buy them to drive the hell out of them or to restore to fabric leaving '70 ???

i wonder... i see so many in depth restorations... many $$$$ ofcourse , not in comparison with the "buy " cost.
Is this a investment to sell soon/ever ?
just to have the nicest and admire it as a garage queen ?
do you daire to drive it anymore ? ...in rain ?

i just wonder ... i'm 61 old , so i think not so many,many years left to enjoy cars... why loose a year ?? 2 ?? on restoring a rusty E9 ? for who ? for what ?

i'l drive them... and restore /reinforce obvious things !

 

[teahead]

E9 is such a beautiful car, many people treat them like they would their young daughter.

If you need to drive in the rain, drive another car that can handle it.

Most likely it's pride of ownership and owning such a great car. If you have a rusty car, it will always bother you.

 

[deQuincey]

IMHO, it is a bit ridiculous to speak about driving the hell out of an e9
there might be many reasons, not very small, not very light, not powerful enough (of course talking stock engine)
at the same time a very nice cruiser and nice to drive say a bit fast on twisted roads, when they are dry
well proportioned, elegant and as our beloved murray wisely described once, carved in one piece ...
i get your point,
evryone is different here, to me a well restored car, with all the original stuff, not a garaje queen, i can stand some not perfect things here and there, like a bubble in the paint, or a scratch in the chrome, or a hole in the vinyl, but powertrain, brakes, suspension, steering must be perfect, all. things must work to perfection, including fast windows, and nice closing doors, fast slidding antenna, and pefect gauges, harmonic smooth iddle and roaring +5000 revs
rims can be dirty of brake dust, but lights must be clean
i can not stand a ripped seat vinyl, or a piece of broken carpet
at least if it is like that it will be first in my restoration list
dont go to shows, or gatherings, i prefer empty roads early morning,...alone, no passenger
i enjoy restoring it by myself, it is eight years since she saw another mechanic that was not me fiddling under her underwear,...

 

[eriknetherlands]

i'm wondering about the purpose on many E9 here... do we buy them to drive the hell out of them or to restore to fabric leaving '70 ???

i wonder... i see so many in depth restorations... many $$$$ ofcourse , not in comparison with the "buy " cost.
Is this a investment to sell soon/ever ?
just to have the nicest and admire it as a garage queen ?
do you daire to drive it anymore ? ...in rain ?

i just wonder ... i'm 61 old , so i think not so many,many years left to enjoy cars... why loose a year ?? 2 ?? on restoring a rusty E9 ? for who ? for what ?

i'l drive them... and restore /enforce obvious things !

Purpose ...
The word alone indicates that there is a plan behind...

No plan. Just whishes.

Wishes to drive without doubt of it falling to pieces.

Verstuurd vanaf mijn SM-A520F met Tapatalk

 

[Wladek]

Investment - yes, if you mean that you need to invest $$$ all the time.
Costs of full proper restoration are so high that only CSL may bring some profits straight after restoration process. I think other like CS, CSI will need couple years to increase in value.
I'm 33, so i think couple years of hard work are worth of having such unicorn in brand new condition.

 

[Stevehose]

To each his own, there are many ways to enjoy e9 ownership. I bought mine to drive and maintain (cosmetically and mechanically), both of which I enjoy equally (like DQ mine has not seen another mechanic during my ownership). I don't drive it hard, but I do drive it fast. I maintain it "like a nuclear sub" as a member here once joked. I take the Murray Fowler approach which is to drive it as often as possible in my free time but also maintain it fastidiously. Everything works and looks as it should (with a few cool period mods). It holds its own at shows if I (rarely) partake but it's the driving that is most fun for me. It has rewarded me with 7+ years of reliable running and meeting nice people along the way. I've done 100+ mph (allegedly) with ease for extended times on several long road trips. I used to obsess over not driving it in the rain, I won't take it out if it is raining but if I get caught in it I just don't put it away wet. I respect if you want to drive it hard or keep a garage queen that never sees the road, and anything in between. For me I'm not saving it for the next guy, but he will get a great car the lucky bastard.

 

[DWMBMW]

Drive it!
I’ve averaged about 9500 miles a year for almost 34 years now and just maintain it as a daily driver.

 

[autokunst]

My coupe is currently too far gone to actually drive it somewhere with substance (other than around the block or onto a trailer). My plan is to restore it (OEM+ as I've recently learned). I look forward to the process, and plan on absorbing and likely following every suggestion and piece of advice I receive from this group, save for one: As I get into it, I suspect many will say the car is not worth saving - this is the one comment I plan on ignoring.

And when it's finished, I plan on driving it as much as I can - avoiding lousy weather and taking it a little easier than I do on the M3... If for no other reason, out of respect for what will be about a 50 year old car at that time.

 

[inovermyhead]

Drive, clean, drive, clean, drive some more

 

[Dan Mooney]

To each his own, there are many ways to enjoy e9 ownership. I bought mine to drive and maintain (cosmetically and mechanically), both of which I enjoy equally (like DQ mine has not seen another mechanic during my ownership). I don't drive it hard, but I do drive it fast. I maintain it "like a nuclear sub" as a member here once joked. I take the Murray Fowler approach which is to drive it as often as possible in my free time but also maintain it fastidiously. Everything works and looks as it should (with a few cool period mods). It holds its own at shows if I (rarely) partake but it's the driving that is most fun for me. It has rewarded me with 7+ years of reliable running and meeting nice people along the way. I've done 100+ mph (allegedly) with ease for extended times on several long road trips. I used to obsess over not driving it in the rain, I won't take it out if it is raining but if I get caught in it I just don't put it away wet. I respect if you want to drive it hard or keep a garage queen that never sees the road, and anything in between. For me I'm not saving it for the next guy, but he will get a great car the lucky bastard.

Steve, the speedo photo is all the more impressive as it appears from the reflection that you are using both hands to take the picture :eek:

 

[zinz]

Drive it.

I bought the 2000CS that had essentially sat for 30+ years (less than 20,000 miles in that time). I immediately fixed the brakes and tuned it up and started driving it whenever I could. It's completely torn down at the moment and will be put back to better-than-new very soon. It will be kept in a garage, but will be driven. I don't like driving in heavy traffic, but this car won't be kept in a bubble, either. I'm in the camp with Steve, Andrew, and Stephen... drive it, clean it, drive it, clean it.

I bought my '71, 2002 some 4 years ago and it has an extra 25,000 miles on it at this point.

Ed

 

[JFENG]

Steve, the speedo photo is all the more impressive as it appears from the reflection that you are using both hands to take the picture :eek:

That’s what thighs are for...

 

[Dan Mooney]

Drive it!
I’ve averaged about 9500 miles a year for almost 34 years now and just maintain it as a daily driver.

You have to have more miles under your belt in an E9 coupe than any other living human. By my calculations, that's over 320,000 miles! I salute you, sir. Well played

 

[adawil2002]

Athena was restored over the course of 4 winters with the intention of making her as reliable possible. Drove her, literally, around the U.S. in 2016 and won numerous awards in 2017. I've driven her for hours at 100mph across the Nevada desert, been airborne on a back road doing 70 outside Pittsburgh. Been caught in the rain on road trips and even encountered snow on my travels. Usually drive between 7-12K miles a year since 2011.

 

[Arde]

Except the speedometer. Unless you have a 6 or 7 speed Getrag that speed cannot be right at 4300 RPM .

Everything works and looks as it should

 

[sandhu]

We drive the family E9 cars like we stole them, but the care !!!
We have achieved speeds of 130/140 plus (Without prejudice) and the cars love it!!!

Cars are maintained, anything that is worn out or broken is replaced ASAFP!!!

Cars are not used in the rain, unless we get court in a shower, then the car is cleaned, all the water is air hosed off and then garaged

All the cars were all wax oiled, under sealed last year before they were put in winter storage

Cars will be coming out of winter storage next few weeks and it’s like Xmas day again !!!

 

[Strato102]

Steve, the speedo photo is all the more impressive as it appears from the reflection that you are using both hands to take the picture :eek:

Yes. And speaks very well to his claim of keeping the car in top shape.

 

[Gransin]

Almost zero miles so far in my five years of ownership, but soon..
I just turned 30 so my only goal is to have a nice e9 to drive and enjoy with my family, and hope they will enjoy it as much as I do
While the car itself is nice to own, restore and hopefully soon drive, this forum gives me alot of pleasure everyday, and it's because of you all, thank you!

 

[Belgiumbarry]

i appreciate so far the reactions guys ! and i respect everybody's opinion . i'm learning.... thanks !

I bought the red CS in 2013 to participate the famous Europe Tulip Rally in 2014 .... Car must be pre 71... so we looked around for a good looking car with potential.... and decided to buy a 2800CS ! And a good choice , never regret it.

Now that car is so much changed to rally spec's , i don't think anybody would ever rebuild it to OEM.... so yes, i can drive the hell out of it and absolutely don't worry about some rust here and there. We patch it up , weld for rigidity , and a spray paint can over it ... tomorrow it can be damaged . More, the roll cage keeps it together no matter what ... Always drove a 2002 in rallys , but i like more the 6 cilinder torque and looks of the CS in general , like the space and view inside.... beautifull cars.

As we want to drive the complete championship ( regularity rally ) this year , i bought a second 2800CS , the blue one. In case of a break down we have a spare ... so no stress deadlines to meet between rallys. That one i will keep/restore OEM ... in the hope it keeps it's value. It will never be a copy rally car but in need we can use it .

In 4 years rally i had 1 break down , the clutch . Changed now to a rally Tilton clutch with flywheel. Great stuff, multiple plates , you simply cannot break that with only around max 250 HP

Also no bad for a 2002 , i drove it in 5 years rally with 1 break down , the rotor ! imagine that... rotor broke in 2 pieces.
We could continue due a spectator with a 2002 of which i got his rotor !!! chapeau to that guy at the time... must have been '82... ended in '85 with our 2002 on his roof... my fault, we drove top 20 and i wanted top 10....

 

[Belgiumbarry]

i'm amazed we have a 30 and 33 year old members.... glad to see youngsters like CS ! i tought ( or was afraid) CS was for old guys.... great young men, in your case it's more understanding to restore deep and enjoy it for life ! great investment to ! some BMW counterweight for the 911's !!