Help… Opinions, comments, more opinions please!

It's true, the e24 would just be another car that I buy, nice but not special.

My grandfather drove that car to the Post Office everyday, he had a special rug made for the rear seat and his dog sat back there.

I actually did not inherit the car, I stumbled across it by accident when I bought a 325ix, the cs was in this guys basement. It began with a casual chat about cs's, he said he had a Fjord blue one, 1974, he checked and sure enough the service manual had my grandfathers name! :shock:
 
BlueCar said:
It's true, the e24 would just be another car that I buy, nice but not special.

My grandfather drove that car to the Post Office everyday, he had a special rug made for the rear seat and his dog sat back there.

I actually did not inherit the car, I stumbled across it by accident when I bought a 325ix, the cs was in this guys basement. It began with a casual chat about cs's, he said he had a Fjord blue one, 1974, he checked and sure enough the service manual had my grandfathers name! :shock:
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Serendipity isn't random. Keep it.
 
I immediately sold the 325ix and bought back the CS, not a very rational choice since I was then reduced to an old Blazer as my daily driver... It was serendipity.
 
BlueCar said:
I immediately sold the 325ix and bought back the CS, not a very rational choice since I was then reduced to an old Blazer as my daily driver... It was serendipity.
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Ok, I withdraw the suggestion of getting a "special" E24 to drive. This car has huge history for you. You can keep it as a static momento or spend time and/or $ to restore it into a living and usable tribute, or do something in between. I can't advise you on that choice.

I will add my voice in support of having Mario do the work. It's not that there aren't other excellent restoration shops in VT/NH. In point of fact there are a surprisingly number that do restorations at all levels, up to the mega-dollar Bugatti/Ferrari stuff. The 3 reasons we're are suggesting Mario at VSR1 are

(1) He and his crew are INTIMATELY familiar with E9's and has many of the undergoing restorations at any given moment. A continuous and obscene orgy of E9-ism has been going on in his shop for many years. That familiarity means more effective application of labor, better access to parts, and a higher probability of achieving quality and accurate results. Practice makes perfect...

(2) He's honest as the day is long (or the snow is high if you live in Boston)

(3) He's reasonably priced for the quality of work he does
 
A visit to VSR might be in order just to see some of the restos he has going on. It will also give you a flavor for what cam be found underneath the paint. Its usually not pretty.
 
So, I had a long conversation with Mario at VSR, and with some caveats I think I'm going to go ahead with the restoration. It will cost, but also will be an investment and an heirloom for my kids, keep or choose to sell it. I haven't sat on this car for 23 years for nothing… This all depending on what he finds when he comes to inspect the car further. He seems very honest and straightforward about what I'm getting into and what it entails and also that if he deems it not restorable he will tell me. Allons y! I hope I'm allowed to come and do stuff, and hang out sometimes when they are working on it, and taking it apart. I'm not one to just lets someone else do everything, I like to get my hands dirty.
 
bottom line

restoring it will well worth the time and money they are really going to appreciate in value
done deal
so have fun doing it have an excellent car to drive
and make money in the end
win win win
also you have this great site to get excellent advice and any damn part
 
I'm a little late, but I'll just throw in my $0.02. I'm happy to see another coupe being brought back from the brink and going with Mario is the way to do it. As others have already told you, VSR is the shop that many coupe owners rely on - and luckily you are not too far away. I've gone to VSR for a good amount of work over the past 6 (or more?) years and I've been happy with every outcome.
Now, regarding the post from aearch... I disagree. I don't think that it is safe to assume that the restoration of a coupe will "make money in the end". Restore the coupe because of reasons of amusement and/or sentimental value, not monetary. Then, you can't lose.
 
Till your chosen expert has examined the car keep an open mind. Some cars are too far gone to practically restore. Best of luck with it
 
BlueCar said:
So, I had a long conversation with Mario at VSR, and with some caveats I think I'm going to go ahead with the restoration...
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Good plan, it should include a 5-speed conversion and maybe small bumper upgrade.
In the meantime you can get an E24, put the dog rug on it and by the time your E9 is ready
the E24 prices will start to move up and you can restore that one. No dogs in the car after restoration though.
 
Arde said:
Good plan, it should include a 5-speed conversion and maybe small bumper upgrade.
In the meantime you can get an E24, put the dog rug on it and by the time your E9 is ready
the E24 prices will start to move up and you can restore that one. No dogs in the car after restoration though.
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I definitely am doing the 5 speed conversion, I am still on the fence about the small bumper conversion. They are more attractive for sure, and Mario says by doing that I do increase the value. Yes, the American bumpers are ugly, but she came with them. I'll see, I know the conversion in itsef is about 7k. I'm sure I can get really nice new American ones for a song...

I'll need to give up my Dressage habit if I start buying cars and restoring them!

I do realize that he could come look at the car and say it is too far gone, but I don't think so. There was a whole thing on positive thinking on NPR this morning, and that yes, if you think you can do it, or make it happen your chances are good. I have never thought ill about my car, and perhaps she will reward me. She always did, even after sitting for 5 years she started right up!
 
THe big bumper make excellent picnic benches and do protect from idiots in parking lots.
Don't be talked into something you dont need.

But if you are going to restore the body, you do not want to change your mind about the bumpers later.

Go to VSR1 and see a bunch of E9's with the smaller bumpers, then decide

Some of the cost to convert overlaps with any full body resto anyway. The parts start around $1500. So I think it should be well less than $7k if part of the restoration.
 
Ditto

It would appear that the upper fender areas have been worked on and to me look like they're in decent shape. The rockers and floors look original and need the scrutiny and assessment of someone like Mario to help put things in perspective.

Best of luck!
 
I'll counter some of the above and say if the car came with USA bumpers, keep them. The money will be easily and to better effect spent elsewhere in the car.

Maybe it's just me, but on one of your early posts in this thread you mentioned a "E30 735i". Actually a second generation 735i is an E32 and the first generation 325i is an E30. I have one of each parked outside the garage that holds my CS, but only the E30 runs. The E32 is a storage box for the Motronic conversion I'll do someday. Maybe when pigs fly... but I changed the original CS auto trans to a 4 speed, then to a five speed, by my lonesome, so the motor and injection swap would be the Next Big Thing.
 
bfeng said:
THe big bumper make excellent picnic benches and do protect from idiots in parking lots.
Don't be talked into something you dont need.

But if you are going to restore the body, you do not want to change your mind about the bumpers later.
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+10
Also consider side marker delete and radio antenna placement. Very expensive after the fact, but relatively cheap if you already have paint budgeted. Look at lots pf photos.
 
From looking at that photo album, I'd say that if you want to do a top notch job of restoring that car, you are going to have to pay some big bucks for the restoration. I'm just southwest of Albany, NY and I have a 1972 3.0CS which I restored from the bare metal up, including a rebuilt engine. I did that work over a very long period of time, starting with the bodywork and repaint.

I know that you said "upstate NY", but North State Custom in Mt. Kisco, NY (about two hours south of me) did my coupe's body work and painting:

http://www.northstatecustom.com/

I was lucky that I had an "in" with the owners, since they are not inexpensive. I left the car there for almost 6 months and they worked on it when they had time. But it was worth it, except for the part about people wondering why I had 4 leather seats and other car parts in our den.

Good luck with your restoration. If you decide not to go forward with it, I'm sure that there are plenty people here that would buy your car as a spare, including me.
 
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