new restoration essex UK CSA 1972

[paul corcoran]

hello all, i am new to the forum and new to the world of restoration ....so here it goes...

bought this a few months ago through ebay here in uk and the seller went awol on me with a fair bit of my money,,,, long story but found where he lives and paid him a visit last week was prepared for a difficult situation but all very strange turned out the guy still had the car didn't have enough money to refund me so at the end of it all i paid the difference and got the coupe back to my workshop on monday...

its a 72 CSA with all the bits as far as my novice eyes can tell... it runs and with an mot... so we pulled it apart and the shell has gone off to SPL for dipping and is due back in a few weeks the interior is off to a trim company called pipers in somerset (recommended by a friend) and the plan is to do all the nice work myself body and interior (i run a furniture company so have a spraybooth etc...) and basically get it back up soon as possible....]

forum is great with a load of information its been a great use already,,,,i am particularly interested in the Dons project (i actually bid on your one i think on ebay!!) and the orange modified beast in san francisco.... amazing...

so ill have lots of questions as i guess pulling apart is the easy bit, the main question is going to be manual conversion or not!!?? hmmm i actually went to look at 2 other e9's yesterday one a csi and the other a donor 2800 auto beyond repair

a possible plan is to buy them and restore the csa and csi to original and use the donor for bits then sell the csa next year to attempt to cover costs...!! probably sounding very optimistic but willing to try,,,,

maybe use as reference to get the other back together.... im surrounded by bits and a harddrive full of photos from pulling apart the first one!!
:-D
thanks in advance

paul

 

[decampos]

Hello Paul. Welcome to the forum, nice to see another UK sort.

I went to see this car when it first appeared on ebay:

http://www.e9coupe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9254

I wonder if I saw the guy you had issues with. I can't remember his name. Blond bloke, talked nonsense.

The car was too big a job for me but I'm glad it's now with someone who's plans are to restore rather than break it for bits. Hope it goes well, looking foreword to the restoration updates.

 

[paul corcoran]

Ha yes that's the one... Yes the seller was nuts! I wanted my money back but that was a dead end so just decided to go for it!!

Thing is that is seems here in the Uk they are few and far between so I saw the one that user DON?? bought and yesterday looked at one that was on ebay last year, so it's a small world I guess

Munich legends thought my one was pretty good for the price the rust is largely surface but im sure it will reveal much more once it's been dipped just hope I don't get back a sieve,,!! But im feeling confident and we can handle the work I make furniture and have 3 guys working for me so we are planning to blitz it in January,,,

Question is do I buy the other 2 one a csi the other a doner and do them both at the same time,,, need to do some maths I think,,,

Do you currently have an e9?

 

[decampos]

Yeah, the guy ticked all the boxes for the worst kind of car trader: vague, patronising, un-knowledgeable about it (or E9s in general) despite claiming that it was he that had done all the work on it up 'till that point. And he pretended to be speaking on the phone to an overly-interested punter when I was looking it over.

I'm sure you and your three guys can make good of it. It did run reasonably well I thought and it looked complete. I also did a car check on it and it was all good. I can email you the report if you want.

I do have an E9: shortly after the experience I got a tip off from Jaymic about a nice late manual car which I sniffed out and snapped up. 4 Months of ownership so far and I'm really loving it. I think these are great (and rare) cars.

 

[CSLRich]

Welcome

Hi Paul, welcome. I took the plunge in March this year and am in the middle of restoration ready for the Spring.

Like you I've been impressed with this forum's knowledge. I also joined GB BMW club and signed onto the E9 mailinglist - its immensely informative.

Good luck whichever route you go with car permutations, Rich

 

[paul corcoran]

thanks for the replies

yes that info would be great decampos my email is [email protected]

i see you have a photo of my CSA up on your flickr with the caption rotten to the core!! im getting worried now!! will have to prove you wrong/bankrupt myself... yours looks great and 5 speed... the interior looks fantastic too can i ask who you used for the work on the seats? and did you cut new door cards or just have the originals recovered? and the carpets.... could i perhaps pay you a visit sometime.... if its convenient.... i see your in north london, i am in kennington and my workshop is in romford... might like to get your opinion on the 2 i have seen in park royal/wembley way... they are near ace cafe...

send me an email and perhaps i can meet you and pick your brains....would love to know what you e9 cost??!! i guess less than a full restoration...

and cslrich... had a look at the bmw clubs but can you tell me which one it is and i guess you pay a member ship to get the newsletter...

calling SPL today for a report on my rust bucket hmmmmnn lets see....

thanks
paul

 

[The Don]

Welcome

Hi Paul,

Good on you.

The SPL experience is scary but at least you will know exactly what you have got. Anyhow, Pete & Fay at Jaymic are great people to deal with for any items that you may need.

I ended up with two E9s, so that I can end up with all of the bits needed to make sure this one is complete.

Given the state of the economy, we all need to do our bit, so buy the other two and keep your guys busy!

PS - As you run a furniture business, you could start a new line in wooden dashboards and door capping.

 

[shanon]

in Essex?

Hello and welcome Paul

I had to chime in here noticing that you are from Essex UK.
That is my family name and wonder if you could snap a pic for me of a neat old Essex building or town sign sometime?

My son is starting to learn our family history and an image from the old town across the pond would be great for our family tree/scrap book. Even better if there is a E9 in the pic too ;-)

Have fun with the car and keep couping!

-shanon

 

[decampos]

i see you have a photo of my CSA up on your flickr with the caption rotten to the core!! im getting worried now!! will have to prove you wrong/bankrupt myself... yours looks great and 5 speed... the interior looks fantastic too can i ask who you used for the work on the seats? and did you cut new door cards or just have the originals recovered? and the carpets.... could i perhaps pay you a visit sometime.... if its convenient.... i see your in north london, i am in kennington and my workshop is in romford... might like to get your opinion on the 2 i have seen in park royal/wembley way... they are near ace cafe...

send me an email and perhaps i can meet you and pick your brains....would love to know what you e9 cost??!! i guess less than a full restoration...

Hi Paul. Out of courtesy I've removed the photograph from my flickrstream. I did think it was fairly severely rusted but also a doable restoration as it was complete and ran reasonably well. As I say, I'm really happy it's being restored.

Thanks for your comments on my car. The retrim on the seats was before I acquired it, I don't know who did the original work but I did use a chap near Chelmsford to repair rips to the bolsters, retrim the door cards and bind the new carpets. Was really good and reasonable with a quick turnaround. I'll dig out his details and email them to you with the car report.

I drive near Romford fairly regularly, I'd be interested in seeing the restoration progress, let me know when there's a good time to swing by.

Anyhow, Pete & Fay at Jaymic are great people to deal with for any items that you may need

Trudat. Those two are indispensable.

 

[paul corcoran]

essex life

cant resist a snap shot of essex.... tans and tantrums

that sounds interesting shannon here is a staring point for your son just tell him never to google image "essex girls" his eyes might burn...internet block that phrase now!!

the first image was taken today!! and is a classic essex scene of cultured charm (at the elm park pub, hornchurch, not the best pub in the world according to online reviews...) the red car in the image is mine and the "gentleman" has affixed a yellow covering to my wheel.... i then found out how much he wanted for it and suffice to say i cant publish the next picture...

the second is of a UK celebrity known as joey essex a sort of modern day david essex without the voice, he is the stand out star of "the only way is essex" or TOWIE for short... a reality show here in UK on ITV which chronicles the life and times of essex twentysomethings your son could you tube and then be very confused because it is probably the strangest tv show ever made but has a huge following amongst other "assets"

sorry..... i had to

but on a serious note if decampos pays me a visit sometime ill take a pic with his permission of course of an e9 outside my landlords house which sits on the highest point in essex its called the round house and is an eliptical building built in 1780 by William Sheldon a trustee of the pantheon opera house (burnt down in late 18th, apparently by the royal opera house, pesky competition!!)

http://www.havering.gov.uk/Pages/TheRoundHouseBroxhillRoadHaveringatteBower-LGSL-514.aspx

paul

 

[paul corcoran]

yes scary especially as i emailed phil to see if it had been done and no reply.... hmmmmnnn ill give them till monday lunchtime and then rush there in a panic.

you know that blue one you took a door from in birmingham... thats one of the ones i saw here in wembley london,,, strange!!?? told the guy i had seen it online and flustered him a bit.... not sure i should bother with it for spares...

did you get yours e-coated aswell and what is yours/where are you at with it? seems you have a garage doing alot of the work yourself? seems we are on the same path can i pay you a visit and pick your brains?

thanks paul

Hi Paul,

Good on you.

The SPL experience is scary but at least you will know exactly what you have got. Anyhow, Pete & Fay at Jaymic are great people to deal with for any items that you may need.

I ended up with two E9s, so that I can end up with all of the bits needed to make sure this one is complete.

Given the state of the economy, we all need to do our bit, so buy the other two and keep your guys busy!

PS - As you run a furniture business, you could start a new line in wooden dashboards and door capping.

 

[paul corcoran]

decampos

just realised i should really post private messages...

anyway decampos that would be great i am there most days send me an email with that report when you get a chance and ill send you my details

thanks again

paul

 

[paul corcoran]

i was looking at the door cards and boot lining etc and thinking of doing new cut outs for them...dashboard would be a good idea,,,, trying to think of what to veneer it in

was at crispin veneers thursday (amazing place) and was looking at various burls..

is there a market for the wooden bits? seriously...

i saw someone turning gear nobs, i have a lathe currently gathering dust..

PS - As you run a furniture business, you could start a new line in wooden dashboards and door capping.[/QUOTE]

 

[rsporsche]

try looking at a few different pomele figured veneers.

 

[paul corcoran]

Dipped and stripped

So an update and some questions.!

I sent the shell off to be dipped at Spl here in Uk sunny Dudley spoke to Phil there today and its ready to collect reassuringly he told me it's not bad at all and compared to another e9 which is there now and in a bad state. It's £950 plus vat for the dipping which seems pretty good to me considering all the hours it would take DIY and the cons of blasting. I should really have it ecoated but that's quite pricey around £1500 has anyone had that done? Here or abroad is it worth it?!

I have been mulling for a while what and how to restore

Options are

1 Back together as is remaining a Csa
2 Manual conversion getrag 265? Any other options? Actually bought a pedal box last week just in case...
3 Manual conversion and upgrade the engine got my eye on a 3.5 m30 at the moment it's running and at 70k. Miles with ecu etc is this a tricky job? Seems to be the engine people go for with this modification type restoration

Im leaning towards 3 as is like to drive this reasonably regularly and have some fun with a view to doing a proper job on another down the line if all goes well

All any every advice links and opinions more than welcome

Holding off on the other e9's I saw here in london for now tendancy to bite off more than I can chew!!


Thanks again paul

Will post pics of the shell... On monday

 

[rb1971]

So an update and some questions.!

I sent the shell off to be dipped at Spl here in Uk sunny Dudley spoke to Phil there today and its ready to collect reassuringly he told me it's not bad at all and compared to another e9 which is there now and in a bad state. It's £950 plus vat for the dipping which seems pretty good to me considering all the hours it would take DIY and the cons of blasting. I should really have it ecoated but that's quite pricey around £1500 has anyone had that done? Here or abroad is it worth it?!

I have been mulling for a while what and how to restore

Options are

1 Back together as is remaining a Csa
2 Manual conversion getrag 265? Any other options? Actually bought a pedal box last week just in case...
3 Manual conversion and upgrade the engine got my eye on a 3.5 m30 at the moment it's running and at 70k. Miles with ecu etc is this a tricky job? Seems to be the engine people go for with this modification type restoration

Im leaning towards 3 as is like to drive this reasonably regularly and have some fun with a view to doing a proper job on another down the line if all goes well

All any every advice links and opinions more than welcome

Holding off on the other e9's I saw here in london for now tendancy to bite off more than I can chew!!


Thanks again paul

Will post pics of the shell... On monday

Paul-

If you had a CSL I would probably be of the opinion that you should go with the original engine and transmission, but since you have a CSA car (and therefore rather low collectability), my vote would be for #3 as well. You can relatively easy source and convert to a later motor with more power and (assuming you go that route), better injection system, and convert over to a 5 speed at the same time. If the car was not apart, it might be worth considering whether than is the right approach - but I'd probably still vote that way - but if you've already taken her down you might as well put her back together in the way that makes the best driver.

By the way, and despite what I did, I probably would not recommend going the S38 route unless you've got one sitting around or have deep pockets. There are other motors that make similar power and have higher reliability for less money.

Cheers,
John

 

[paul corcoran]

thanks for the reply john yes i agree the csa's are not desirable and i dont think there is much point in keeping it original unless i wanted to sell it on... but id like to drive it and enjoy it

what are the issues with the m power s38? i am very new to this but i was looking through your photo set again the other day (amazing!) and did see that fitted... so is that your garage and your in san francisco? i might be going snowboarding in lake tahoe early feb probably staying in heavenly if i make it could i pop in for a look?

oh and what other engines should i look at? the one i am interested in is here on ebay its from a 1989 535i spoke to the guy today and it all seemed pretty good £400 or $700 in real money!! ha

any tips do's and don'ts you might have let me know as your coupe is just stunning, one of the guys who works for me simply said,,, where is he,,,oh ok,,, you should just copy his one then,,, hell never know...

whats the colour by the way i sprayed a fixed pushbike for a friend today in house of kolor tangelo looks similar?

thanks paul

 

[paul corcoran]

mclaren

oh and john i have a feeling you might like this... a bbc documentry series a sort of how its made....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mn1ig-ZZUrw

laboratory...amazing

 

[Sven]

e-coating - yes

Paul,

Definitely do it, since there is almost no way to spray a protective coating on the all the inner surfaces (or back surfaces) of just about everything in the car. The dipping has exposed metal surfaces in all these unreachable places. You would be spending some £'s on some type of temporary primer/rust coating anyhow while all the body work is being done (prior to painting). Go for it.

 

[Nicad]

oh and john i have a feeling you might like this... a bbc documentry series a sort of how its made....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mn1ig-ZZUrw

laboratory...amazing

Man was that Cool!