First Post, First e9, First Restoration...

NZCSi

NZCSi

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Hi There,

This looks like the place if you've got a rusty CSi! I'm about to embark on my very first restoration project and thought I'd get some advice from you experienced coupers.

At the moment I'm planning to:
- Strip as much out of the car as I can - interior, engine bay components etc
- Deliver the car to a Classic BMW mechanic to remove/check/recondition engine/gearbox/brakes etc
- Deliver what's left to the body shop (car plus trim/windows etc)
- Take the interior to a specialist - And the wood to a friend of mine
- Clean up (or purchase replacements) all parts I've stripped myself


A few questions:

1.
Are the body panels listed on the BMW Mobile Tradition site available or are they just for reference? I've been asked to source pricing on some of the internal panels to work out if it's cheaper to buy them or restore the ones on the car (or fabricate new ones).

2.
I also have a list from Jaymic in the UK - has anyone had experience with these guys and their panels?

3.
My CSi came with a deep blue velour. Does anyone know if this stuff (or similar) is still available - it's kind of plush and velvety

4.
Seeing as I have no restoration experience or mechanical experience, what is the general consensus regarding the approach outlined above.

5.
Has anyone replaced the plastic interior trim (seats etc) with chrome before and what would be some issues with doing this? I realize I would have to find people to fabricate the components.

6.
I'm allowing a couple of years to do this - does this sound reasonable?

7.
The body shop I'm planning on using recently restored a CSi and they have worked on my car in the past - however, what should I look out for? Same for the mechanical and interior - as someone who has never done this before what are some of the headaches to be aware of?

8.
The injectors on the BMW M88 engine (from the M1 I believe) look damn fine - can something similar be fitted to a CSi? and are they available?

Any help or advice would be much appreciated.

Cheers

Ben
 
A few answers:

1.
For the purposes of e9 ownership, BMW Mobile Tradition should be likened to Neverland.

2.
Jaymic is well regarded, and if shipping from the UK to NZ is not insulting, I'd say it's worth a shot.

3.
Rumor (or rumour) has it there's a Chrysler spec velour from the late 80's/early 90's that's a near twin to the original German velour. I'm speaking from the US perspective, so I'd say take samples to your upholsterer, it shouldn't be too hard to hit a match.

4.
Short of getting into the whole theory of project management and triple constraint, I'd suggest the following adjustment -- strip the soft stuff, the side glass and the drivetrain out, leaving the wheel suspension and the steering arms intact so it doesn't take three people to push the car. Then deliver the body to the panel beater and get the bad news.

If you're still standing, then send the drivetrain off to your mechanic, the interior to your upholsterer, and the wood to your fireplace. Just kidding about that last part. A furniture restorer is a good place to get the veneer redone.

5.
Most of the plastic interior bits that were chrome are vacuum plated. There are shops that can restore these parts, but a fair number of the plastic bits can be had from eBay or some of the US restorers like Pete Sliskovitch.

6.
Considerably more reasonable than 6 months, but probably not entirely realistic. You will still be chasing parts 3 or 4 years on, even though you are driving the car and enjoying it.

7.
Just be aware that every e9 is a unique car. Given the original hand assembly of the shell, don't expect replacement parts to mate up without some hand fitting. Expect rust everywhere, and then expect more -- Karmann is German for "corrosion". Budget at least twice the body shop estimate, they will be wrong.

8.
Yes, available, and absolutely adaptable to a CSi. It just requires fitting the engine carrying the injectors to your car. Seriously, not the same injectors.

I'm sure others will chime in to temper my tongue in cheekiness. Welcome to the asylum!
 
Hi, where are you in NZ? I am in Papamoa/Tauranga and restoring a 73 CSL at the moment and are at the tail end of the long and expensive process you're about to start. If you're interested (maybe before you start) I can show you pics and parts, plus good and bad stories of what you may have in front of you. I have guys I would like to recommend and guys I don't.....my car is currently stripped with the front wings off if you want to check it out.

My phone number is 07 542 5522, email [email protected] if you would like to make contact. I'm probably travelling to both Auckland and Wellington next week...

Cheers,
Bryce
 
Hey Bryce,

Thanks for your reply. I'm in Auckland so just a few hours from where you are. I would love to see your car and hear any advice you might have.

I'm busy for the next few weekends but if you're up in Auckland let me know and lets make contact.

I'll give you a call tomorrow (Sat) if you want.

Cheers

Ben
 
Hey Tony,

Sorry, I didn't see your replies at first - very helpful. I didn't quite understand your answer re the M88 injectors though - is it an impossibility?

Cheers

Ben
 
Mister Obsequious is saying that the M88/S38 high impedance injectors are incompatible with the CSi D-jetronic EFI.

I'm not sure that's the question you meant to ask, though. M88 injectors aren't a particularly spectacular sight to behold. Did you mean to ask if the throttle bodies were compatible, as they are very visually visceral? I can't think of a reason why they wouldn't be, along with the injectors and an electrical harness, but (cue Gilda Radner voice) eh, why bother? The 8-valve, SOHC M30 can't really make best advantage of it.
 
Humm...seems a few E9s ended up in what I believe is a nice part of the world! One day

Anyway. my thoughts

Walloth and Nesch seem to have a lot of BMW panels in stock, I just got a couple of genuine outer sills at a lower price than some folk bid for on the Bay... including post and packaging to the UK, go figure... :roll:
Down load the parts list/price list and have a look. Mr Nesch is really helpful on the phone

Jaymic have some repair panels available, which I have also bought, but the quality is patchy I have had to do a lot of "adjustment" to some of them I believe they have one guy in a shed hammering them out. However they are cheaper than buying a whole new rear wing for example.

Finally if your local technical college does classes in panel beating and sheet metal forming sign up now! I learnt the hard way!

Finally if you get really stuck for bits there are a few individuals who can help you out

Welcome to the insane world of E9's
MAlc
 
Lordy lordy what are you thinking?

Have you any idea of how much you will spend, or how much others have spent doing this "restoration" thing? Get some cash advice from your nearby CSL resto pal, and look what you could get that already runs, for that amount.

I assume, from your checkbook-restoration approach, that you have a tunnel into the nearest bank, or otherwise have some forty thousand (US$) to sky's-the-limit extra cash laying around.

Recall over the last few years here that Corsachili spent over US$40k and still didn't have it done. And he started out with a car in pretty decent condition, too.

Wet blanket? No, a cautionary note for the unwary. Your attempt bids fair to become someone else's car when you realize the pit you're poised to jump into.
 
NZcsl, takeing up a project like that is crazy, you outa have your head examined....

You have to understand that the CSL, although very sexy, is an expensive, demanding wife and you may end up with only that.

Fair warning.

How can I help?

This BMW 2002 Tii cost BMW a 6-figure (in euro) amount, and they supplied all the parts.


http://www.wesat-tv.de/mm/BMW2002tii-1.wmv

http://www.wesat-tv.de/mm/BMW2002tii-2.wmv

http://www.wesat-tv.de/mm/BMW2002tii-3.wmv

The files are about 32-38 meg and will take a while to load or save.

Good Luck
 
Thanks Malc - I found the Walloth and Nesch website and I'm downloading the parts list now.

Honolulu & BlauMitWeiss, thanks for the warnings! I had expected that the restoration would cost $35-45k depending on the body work - BTW my car is a CSi not a CSL.

It was in good condition mechanically. It got a WOF last time with no problems, but it has been in storage for a year. I drove it for 2 years but put it into storage after we moved to a house without a garage.

However, the body looks like it was filled with a serious amount of bog about 15 years ago when it was in the UK as it is bubbling up in a few places. The sills will also need replacing and who knows what we'll find once we get into it. The body shop that did some back-end and floor pan/sill rust a year ago thought $20k for the full body.

There is a CSi for sale here in NZ for $25,000 - NZ new in 1974. But it hasn't been restored and I would have to assume it would still require a lot of body work.

Cheers
 
nzcsi

my 2c worth. i made a fair amount of investigation a couple of years ago re restoration of an e9 in australia. my conclusion was that for a cheque book resto (condition 1) the ballpark is a multiple of (nz i assume) 35-45.

hope this is helpful rather than negative.
 
Thanks Mark,

That seems about right - of course I'm prepared for more once the body shop starts ripping off panels.

Cheers

Ben
 
Ben, Steve here also Auckland NZ (were the sun shines all day, the air is fresh, the water pure, and the e9s rustier than any were else) I'm in the middle of a small resto at the moment and will probably be able to help you with a lot of what you want to know (suppliers, trades etc) give me a call 8289984wrk and we'll talk

Steve

PS: do you drink? you'll need to to help you through the resto
 
Jaymic have some repair panels available, which I have also bought, but the quality is patchy I have had to do a lot of "adjustment" to some of them
Click to expand...

I'll second you on that one Malc, actually I've met the bloke who makes the panels for Jaymic his name is Ted Teece and he's based in the midlands and belive it or not you're quite close to the mark with:-
I believe they have one guy in a shed hammering them out.
Click to expand...
In all honesty as nice a bloke as Ted is his panels are very hit and miss sadly with very little in the way of accuracy. I certainly would not recommend them to all but the most experienced body men (who'd probably be able to make their own any way) as I found out to my cost last summer whilst restoring my CS, they take a HECK OF A LOT in the way adjustment.

By the way Malc how's yours coming along? Mine's going back together and should be finished by the end of the month.
 
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