Official-look-what-i-found-thread (craigslist, other-forums, etc)

[Jdesign]

Jdesign said:

Update, Im checking it out Sunday. Wish me luck.

Welp, this is one of those, "You dont know unless you see it" kind of cars. I struggled to get good pictures from the owner so I made the drive,  here is what I found.....

The Motor actually was the best part of the car. the block was repainted and it ran well (see video below) So I assume its been refreshed recently

the black everywhere is someone using POR-15 to "stop the rust?"

Seats were really rough. the passenger seat was missing the lower cushion. I think they are from a GTI? the BWA steering wheel was really neat though.

The drivers door was actually from a Malagna car and resprayed 

Floor patch

Rusted floor

cracking and hole in floor

trunk had a few poorly patched areas

the front fenders, valance, and hood were all fiberglass with euro lights

this side wasnt as bad as the other side, but look at the seam

Here you can see one of the trunk patches

Orange block and aftermarket headers

Front valance under the fiberglass one was completely gone and what was left was falling apart

home made center console

aftermarket suspension but I have no idea what it is.

Both front edges of the floor were worn through

This is a hole through the middle of one of the front frame rails

but here is a nice video of it idling

IMG_0575.MOV

[m42b32]

Jdesign said:

Was this the avus blue one for $2k with a salvage title? I was eyeing it.

Yup! Not surprised it went so quickly

[HipMF]

Not bad for a wisconsin car...? Also, would not buy.

@GunMetalGrey You should be looking at e21s for that m21 powered e21 swap.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/2289864687980995/

[Jdesign]

HipMF said:

Not bad for a wisconsin car...? Also, would not buy.

@GunMetalGrey You should be looking at e21s for that m21 powered e21 swap.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/2289864687980995/

Thats a good deal! Looks very nice!

[Jdesign]

S A M E.

Everywhere I looked, there was a half assed repair. What really pushed me away though, was the fact that the rear wheel arches were COMPLETELY rotted away, and instead of fixing them correctly, someone just slapped some flares and cans worth of bondo over all the rust. You could see daylight coming through almost anywhere you looked. It was really bad.

[Jdesign]

Neat Z3. Is the market really this high for these?

https://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/cto/d/warren-2001-bmw-z3-25i-roadster/7080071281.html

[m42b32]

Jdesign said:

S A M E.

Everywhere I looked, there was a half assed repair. What really pushed me away though, was the fact that the rear wheel arches were COMPLETELY rotted away, and instead of fixing them correctly, someone just slapped some flares and cans worth of bondo over all the rust. You could see daylight coming through almost anywhere you looked. It was really bad.

Sounds more like a parts car than a project car unfortunately... walking away was very much the right call there

[B C]

Jdesign said:

Cant decide whats more crazy, the owner or the price...

the crazy thing isn’t either of those, but rather the missed opportunity to list it as a VW JETTA

[P_Roloff]

Jdesign said:

Neat Z3. Is the market really this high for these?

https://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/cto/d/warren-2001-bmw-z3-25i-roadster/7080071281.html

It seems to be around there for most of the 6 cylinder z’s I’ve seen, especially with a manual. Even the four bangers are going for more than one might think they would. I’d be hard pressed to got for a z3 when a z4 with a n52 isn’t that much more. 
 

That may just be due to my current obsession with the z4 3.0si coupes right now though.

[straight6pwr]

P_Roloff said:

That may just be due to my current obsession with the z4 3.0si coupes right now though. 

be honest - is the only reason you'd ever consider a z4 coupe is because z3 coupes are astronomically priced?

the front end of a z4 ranks up there as a top-5 ugliest BMW front ends.

[m42b32]

Looks like whoever makes those clear early model tail light lenses in Brazil has started producing late model versions:

Clear: https://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-E30-88-92-FACELIFT-325I-316I-318IS-CLEAR-TAILLIGHT-LENSES-CABRIO-COUPE-M42/133343494307?hash=item1f0be440a3:g:GXoAAOSwqNxd3vqs

Smoked: https://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-E30-88-92-FACELIFT-325I-316I-318I-SMOKED-TAILLIGHT-LENSES-CABRIO-COUPE-SEDAN/133266844251?hash=item1f0752aa5b:g:4BgAAOSwt8Jd9TFF

Looks like a way to get much closer to a genuine MHW look than just tinting stock tails

[Jdesign]

straight6pwr said:

be honest - is the only reason you'd ever consider a z4 coupe is because z3 coupes are astronomically priced?

the front end of a z4 ranks up there as a top-5 ugliest BMW front ends.

Im going to be honest, I think they are both kinda ugly. ‍️

[P_Roloff]

straight6pwr said:

be honest - is the only reason you'd ever consider a z4 coupe is because z3 coupes are astronomically priced?

the front end of a z4 ranks up there as a top-5 ugliest BMW front ends.

Honestly, no. While I agree the front end isn't exactly the most stunning thing out there, the rest of the is IMO pretty well proportioned and good looking (at least in coupe form). You also get a more modern motor, and in the case of the 3.0i, you get the 255hp version of the n52 with the three stage intake. Mix in a 6-speed and some rarity - I believe I read that under a thousand manual coupes came to the U.S. - and you have the recipe for a pretty good drivers car. 
It’s also not like the z3 is universally considered to have a “pretty” front end; I think they’re both fine and I generally prioritize feel and driving performance over subjective styling.

[P_Roloff]

Also:

[REKIII]

I think the Z4 is way better looking than the Z3, I was never a fan of the Z3.  But, in the nature of full disclosure, I'm a really ugly dude, so there's that.

[Jdesign]

Im thoroughly impressed.... 

https://oregoncoast.craigslist.org/cto/7077307514.html

[jc43089]

Jdesign said:

Im thoroughly impressed.... 

https://oregoncoast.craigslist.org/cto/7077307514.html

 

I guess I'm pleased with the comparable lack of rust on my similar vintage Toyota...

[straight6pwr]

bird shit? acid rain?

[HipMF]

salt water?

[Jdesign]

HipMF said:

salt water.