E24 635csi MoT failure in need of welding (north west)
Discussion
Hi folks,
If any of you who are familiar with restoration of MoT failures want to cast their eyes over the below fail sheet and give an idea of cost or better still could point me in the right direction (nobody wants to weld these days!) I'd be very grateful.
The car I would like patched up and good to go next year ready for summer. Like most 6ers of this vintage, mechanically it's strong as an ox but has deteriorated during my 7 years owning it with the dreaded tin-worm. Let me know if this would be better posted elsewhere.
If any of you who are familiar with restoration of MoT failures want to cast their eyes over the below fail sheet and give an idea of cost or better still could point me in the right direction (nobody wants to weld these days!) I'd be very grateful.
The car I would like patched up and good to go next year ready for summer. Like most 6ers of this vintage, mechanically it's strong as an ox but has deteriorated during my 7 years owning it with the dreaded tin-worm. Let me know if this would be better posted elsewhere.
The issue with welding jobs is - the customer sees it as just welding.
What it actually is stripping the interior out and protecting the glass/dashboard/ wiring looms that’s left in, removing sound deadening- cutting/ drilling spotwelds out of the affected areas - inner/outer/internal sills and whatever else is in the way bracing the structure whilst removing the parts.
Then you can start looking at replacement metal, which you have to prepare to match the areas you have cutout. Sometimes you will have to make the repair panels up. Depending if the customer wants invisible repairs or just plate overs decides the time taken.
Then you have to clean the areas back to bare metal before you can start welding.but before that you have to make sure everything lines up and you can’t just go at it because of warpage you have to do it taking care not to get too much heat into it, also you have to put fires out when the under seal catches light.
Welding starts. When finished you have to grind the repair welds down if the customer wants invisible repair then paint all the repair panels inside and out and then paint the sills body colour.
Then rebuild the car. If it was just welding it really wouldn’t be a problem.
As for price expect £4k min imo any less the person will loose interest halfway through or you will get a call from the garage and the price will escalate halfway through the job.
What it actually is stripping the interior out and protecting the glass/dashboard/ wiring looms that’s left in, removing sound deadening- cutting/ drilling spotwelds out of the affected areas - inner/outer/internal sills and whatever else is in the way bracing the structure whilst removing the parts.
Then you can start looking at replacement metal, which you have to prepare to match the areas you have cutout. Sometimes you will have to make the repair panels up. Depending if the customer wants invisible repairs or just plate overs decides the time taken.
Then you have to clean the areas back to bare metal before you can start welding.but before that you have to make sure everything lines up and you can’t just go at it because of warpage you have to do it taking care not to get too much heat into it, also you have to put fires out when the under seal catches light.
Welding starts. When finished you have to grind the repair welds down if the customer wants invisible repair then paint all the repair panels inside and out and then paint the sills body colour.
Then rebuild the car. If it was just welding it really wouldn’t be a problem.
As for price expect £4k min imo any less the person will loose interest halfway through or you will get a call from the garage and the price will escalate halfway through the job.
The rear sills are finished and to do it properly, the rear axle has to come out - the metal around the subframe mount bolts will probably be bad as well.
You can strip out the rear of the interior - the rear seats lift out after a 10 mm bolt or two, rear carpets and side trims not so easy.
As ever, it depends on what the rest of the car is like. If it's a 170,000 miler with bubbling wings - a car that's never going to be a cream puff - then find a decent garage and tell them to crack on. It's at least a couple of grand's worth even going that route.
I can suggest a restoration place in Chesterfield who do proper welding and know E28's, E24's etc. You will get a very nice job but £4000 may not cover it.
You can strip out the rear of the interior - the rear seats lift out after a 10 mm bolt or two, rear carpets and side trims not so easy.
As ever, it depends on what the rest of the car is like. If it's a 170,000 miler with bubbling wings - a car that's never going to be a cream puff - then find a decent garage and tell them to crack on. It's at least a couple of grand's worth even going that route.
I can suggest a restoration place in Chesterfield who do proper welding and know E28's, E24's etc. You will get a very nice job but £4000 may not cover it.
Thanks for your input, people.
I'm unsure what position this puts me in with the car going forward. If I sold it as is I know there would be instant regret, although I am tempted by something old and Italian as an alternative, wanting for nothing and hopefully would sit there and appreciate, as did the 6. It does need a good chunk of money throwing as it, evidently. I have some fantastic memories with this car but sadly finances don't permit the attention it deserves lavishing upon it so I guess it'll sit under a dust cover for the foreseeable.
I'm unsure what position this puts me in with the car going forward. If I sold it as is I know there would be instant regret, although I am tempted by something old and Italian as an alternative, wanting for nothing and hopefully would sit there and appreciate, as did the 6. It does need a good chunk of money throwing as it, evidently. I have some fantastic memories with this car but sadly finances don't permit the attention it deserves lavishing upon it so I guess it'll sit under a dust cover for the foreseeable.
What he said^^.
Even scrap ones are making crazy money. Look at this sorry pile, bid up to £3500 so far.
Rotten, painted with a hoover, overheating, brakes shagged, cheap rubbish suspension, f
ked tyres, mouldy inside, dodgy wiring, knackered fuel pump........it wants the decent bits removing and then dropping into a foundry.
These things attract dreamers like flies to st so offloading it for a few grand shouldn't be a problem.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-635-csi-E24-/255836...
Even scrap ones are making crazy money. Look at this sorry pile, bid up to £3500 so far.
Rotten, painted with a hoover, overheating, brakes shagged, cheap rubbish suspension, f
ked tyres, mouldy inside, dodgy wiring, knackered fuel pump........it wants the decent bits removing and then dropping into a foundry. These things attract dreamers like flies to s
t so offloading it for a few grand shouldn't be a problem.https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-635-csi-E24-/255836...
alabbasi said:
This thread without pictures isn't very interesting
You want some pictures of some rusty metal I can’t get at?Thanks, CB987, I’ll give your recommendation a try. Would be keen to see what they might offer me, if interested, rather than it falling into the wrong hands on eBay, if I am thinking of selling. I bought the car many years ago via Car & Classic.co.uk, lots of lovely old tackle on there!
Prices of 635s are all over the show. They have been rising steadily for years however I’m not convinced that the pristine examples commanding north of 25k actually change hands for that. The baskets cases, however, do fetch strong money. The recon on this one would be fortunes:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/bmw-635csi/204154195691...
I also know where these rot from way back when and all I can is......................your going to need very deep pockets and that welder as his work cut out (no pun intended) 
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