BMW E30 325i Sport Restoration - Starting From Scratch

[@WSX-]

hopefully it will come out twice as better when finished

[@RestoreIt]

I hope so!

[@AidanTemplin]

I said it last episode and i'll say it again, i'm just so happy to see this car back on the channel! I know the chassis is getting acid dipped, but seeing it all one color and not covered in surface rust just feels so good. Looking forward to the next episode!!

[@trader4239]

As a German i can only say; du habs denn deutsche gründlichkeit, which means that you have the German thoroughness when it comes to detail. Good job and i hope to see more episodes in the near future. Danke schön!

[@RestoreIt]

Danke, trader! Many, many more to come!

[@jeffhammond8969]

Steve, this is truly an epic transformation! Love watching your skills improve (already WAY beyond what I could ever hope to learn/do).

[@RestoreIt]

Really glad you're enjoying it Jeff!

[@jonherdman6282]

The guys at Throtl wouldn’t deserve an ounce of your help, you’re like a god among mortals with your insane attention to detail, by far the best on KZbin without debate. But man I’d love to see you work with those guys on a project, no doubt it would be the greatest thing they’ve ever done and couldn’t do without your help. I’ve been following this series since the beginning (what feels like ages ago) and my jaw is just on the floor with every video. Never stop doing what you do!!

[@Ben-in6qh]

When drilling holes ready for welding they need to be a decent size, 5/6mm, that way you can get a proper weld join. Didn't look like you had enough power/penetration to me, I would double check that 👍

[@ruudmobile6726]

What a massive massive job it has become... realistically the car is not worth it... but... it is your car, that is all that matters... compliments!!!

[@keremardicli4013]

You must have insane amount of patience to go through all of these. Marvelous...

[@RestoreIt]

Or I must be completely mad, one of two...

[@dan725]

@@RestoreIt But I’ve been entertained :). Thank you for your efforts!

[@gymdoggo]

The amount of time this would take

[@chuckcp]

Inspiring!! Can’t wait to see the final product!!

[@jimmymorrison3973]

What an immense amount of work this was! Wow. This car is going to be epic when it is done.

[@TheScubasteveoo]

Just wanted to share amateur to amateur, I'm also building a 1987 325is and have it on a rotisserie. I wanted to prevent the kind of damage to the bumper shock mounts you repaired in this episode so I built plates that fit into the mount area with holes to bolt it to the mount, welded some 2x2 square tube to that plate and then mounted all that to the bumper shock mount. I have pictures I can share but no worries if you're good with what you have. Sorry for the unsolicited input, I'm sure you get enough of it everyday. Love the videos.

[@wh1zz_b4ng]

I’m so excited for these E30 episodes!!

[@ImJoel]

i got a little nauseous imagining how long this all took. amazing work! can’t wait for the next one

[@RuperScooper]

Holy moly Jesus balls you are brave, skilled and patient, this would test most of us, vive la rotisserie game changer for this work, love your OCD, already looking forward to the next. M539 and Restore It best two channels on KZbin and keep me happy for hours with armchair spannering........

[@RestoreIt]

Brave for stupid Rupert! Cheers for the lovely comment, I'm glad you're enjoying it as much as I am!

[@Vincent9895]

Always a good day when you upload :)

[@katywalker8322]

The last well built BMWs. Still appeal to me. Looking forward to the next episode.

[@obrut0002]

Great series and content. The guys that are at Retropower did an interesting episode around the pro’s and cons of blasting v dipping. Worth watching before you commit to acid. Keep up the great work!

[@RestoreIt]

I'm half way through it... The plan may change once more haha. Cheers Gimble!

[@royfontaine5526]

Yep I’ve heard bad things about dipping.

[@F0XD1E]

Interesting that it apparently adheres better to a more polished surface than a blasted surface. You'd think it would get more bite on a blasted surface. What a crazy amount of work. Gotta be the most intense resto on this model ever done!

[@RestoreIt]

That's what I thought Tommy... Oh well, I definitely did a better job overall with that process. Cheers!

[@monmadale]

You have such an amazing dedication to your job. Double Salute 👍

[@lolman77]

"But I cannot sleep at night knowing the engine bay is a different color". That plus the change of mind regarding the rust treatment (going acid dip after having done so much already). Oh man, I share the same irrational anxiety. That is me, 100%, on my 240Z restoration. And at the end of the day, I am still not happy because "I would have saved so much time and money if I did it like X the first time" I admire your work though. Thorough as usual. Great video, which I am sure is time consuming.. It's awesome! And I admire your workshop!! I wish I had one as well!! Regarding the "red primer", I really don't think you HAD to do it before the acid dip. I am pretty sure it is a phosphate acid primer, which is good against corrosion for a while but weak against scratches. Simply applying phosphate acid on all the bare metal would do the same, look better and would cost close to nothing. Either way, it's done, and it's good enough. Just think about phosphate acid for the next one :)

[@Dennis-eh2vx]

You are doing a fantastic job with this BMW! When I look at other KZbinrs who decided to dip their chassis I always wrote in the comments how they were planning to get rid of all the Debry of the stripped paint that stays behind in the cavities after an acid dip. But if they were even able to do so how to preserve those cavities besides using some wax oil was another thing. E coating, like in the factory is something I always wondered about if it even existed cause I was never able to find such a company. Not that I am restoring a car or anything, but I am just curious about those processes. I am really looking forward to follow your restoration, I think it will be Utterly awesome! Keep up the good work man!

[@schmeat2717]

Thats an insane amount of work, you really love E30's. Your drive for this is wild. Love the channel and all your projects i get to watch. Your can do attitude reminds me of another channel 'My First Boat". Different vehicles, boats, and different part of the world Germany, but similar.

[@GeorgeEI7KO]

Great work as always. Regards from Ireland!

[@marco7563]

I dont know how you manage it, if I had to spend 10 hours on that tiny plate I would lose my mind. Compliments to you!

[@mohdzuhair90]

Waiting for the next episode 🔥🔥

[@RestoreIt]

Cheers Mohmammed! Soon!

[@keithweathersbee1]

Why did you not install cross braces? I could see the shell flex when you lowered the lift. This shell will now have to be aligned, unless you want to hit speed bumps in the middle of the car. not a criticism, your work is good.

[@ThePippin89]

Sa 2.5 means the metal should be near white in appearance. So basically a heavy shot blasted surface.

[@ichewtoast111]

nice work bud

[@fransb8543]

I really enjoyed watching this. Your lack of gloves around al that cut metal made me a bit apprehensive, though :)

[@magnumpunch]

I understand that all this effort is because you love what you do. Aside from that, are vintage E30 worth such a labor? Genuine question.

[@daedalus_20v]

Financially speaking, no it doesn't make sense*, but most things that bring us joy in life do not. (*unless you've got an M3)

[@schol390]

Fantastic

[@RestoreIt]

Thanks, Rene!

[@peepoish]

Awesome workb

[@scottcolpitts8521]

Car is going to be better than factory when your done

[@АлексейКальной-й8э]

Приятно смотреть на такую работу

[@RestoreIt]

Рад, что тебе это нравится

[@pascaljeske7307]

And a next very good Video and great Job done Love it ❤️👍❤️

[@christhiel8088]

Commendable.

[@Mister006]

5:32 You learn how to extract the destroyed piece without destroying the car you're restoring by learning how to extract the good piece from the car you're using for parts.

[@54mgtf22]

Love your work 👍

[@justinmackay09]

When this project is complete how about an E34 M5 restoration?

[@3RomeoFoxtrot]

i don't know how you find parts to complete this project. i'm having a heck of a time with a simple restoration on a 1991 vert

[@firemanjeffgg2440]

Are the acid guys going to be cool and film the dip?

[@RestoreIt]

I do hope so!

[@craigwilson6064]

Wouldn't it be a lot easier on your back if you did all the quarter panel work on a work bench or something? My back was hurting watching you lol... keep up the good work

[@RestoreIt]

It would indeed Craig! I need to get some sort of bench on wheel I can wheel into the spray booth. I needed the extraction because it was such a messy job. Cheers!

[@wrongmark]

Mmm… orange. Should be good!

[@RestoreIt]

Cheers, Mark!

[@aliabushhiwa6490]

Smashing 👌

[@Stanislavnaumenkov1339]

Хорошая работа

[@RestoreIt]

благодарю вас!

[@oldskool1979]

OCD is a good thing when restoring cars.

[@rick9380]

First time i've seen you, nice work shop but needs more light fella, not seen enough of your work yet to comment.

[@RestoreIt]

Glad you found me. There are two roofs to my current workshop. One asbestos, and a metal one put onto of it... both have filthy skylights.. and annoying there are 36 in total. Im moving workshop soon, so the lighting issue will be sorted. Cheers!

[@rick9380]

@@RestoreIt must have a few quid with a workshop like that.

[@andymitchell368]

nice

[@barcodeclown]

It is a lot easier to drill welding points than you think, you need a M8 cobalt drill, or buy a few and resharp them, so you can have some spares and you don't waste so much time on these. I recommend you watch these 2 videos, these are in russian, but you don't need to listen them to understand, you can get the point just by watching. I was like you before, but now I don't waste so much time on these things. 1. watch?v=t70aR15XLSQ 2. watch?v=IxuHJ99SWow P.S. No links, yt will not let me post these.

[@maxxautoracing2729]

link to the rotisserie

[@RestoreIt]

Gotta love it...

[@maxxautoracing2729]

@@RestoreIt yup where to buy it?

[@re-fix9678]

👌👌👍👍

[@IvanGriffiths]

Yeah, another E30 video...

[@RestoreIt]

Thats the channel!

[@maxcolchin8743]

You should have welded a new nut in

[@Derrick_Darrell]

you went through all that trouble of cutting out the piece just to drill out holes for the new spot weld... you should have done that in the beginning *facepalm*

[@Ben-in6qh]

I would not dip that, perfectly fine as it is. Dipping cars is bad, acid leaches out for years after

[@imedmhissen3849]

❤❤✌

[@gogarocket]

Машина которую реставрируют разве не рестаил? А донор до рестаил, у них разные задние крылья по арке и по задним карманам

[@RestoreIt]

I'll double check this but I'm pretty sure they're both pre facelift

[@gogarocket]

@@RestoreIt посмотрел твои старые видео, ты прав у тебя до рестаил, рестаил был в сентябре 1987, после этой даты машины пошли с широкими задними фонарями и пластиковыми бамперами как твои универсалы

[@gogarocket]

@@RestoreIt ты так давно ее реставрируешь, что я уже забыл как она должна выглядеть )))))

[@Wheel_Horse]

Kitchen knives to remove plastic plugs? You need some proper tools mate...

[@RestoreIt]

Tell me about it Jeff!

[@DrMJJr]

Steve, I’ve been watching for years now (where does the time go) and I have to say I love every episode. Yes these projects are a MASSIVE amount of work - but when they’re finished - OMG the accomplishment is just sick!!!! I was watching and remember thinking “how the hell did he ever manage in that tiny shop in Spain” when seeing the vast array of tools lined up against the work benches in the shop!!! Just know we LOVE these long episodes and while I know the recording and editing is a job by itself, you must admit documenting these projects at this level is also a value added service to these owners and posterity that demonstrates to others how to do things correctly AND not be afraid to make mistakes. Thanks so much and can’t wait to see these current projects wrapped up!! 👏🏽👏🏽

[@RestoreIt]

Michael, I must say this is one of the greatest comments of all time. Thanks for sticking with me for so long. Where have four years gone?! Spain was a bit of a struggle for numerous reasons, however great the weather was... Haha. Even with all of these tools, I feel like I have only 10% of what I need! It will never end... I'm super glad you're enjoying the E30 stuff as much as I am! I plan on making these episodes at least half an hour long, with a few one hour specials every now and again. Mistakes are some of the most valuable things I've done, so I plan to share many more along the way. Again thanks for the lovely comment!

[@DrMJJr]

@@RestoreIt As long as you’re making videos, I’m going to go along for the ride until the wheels fall off brother!! You’re a master at what you do and I’m here for it and can’t wait to see where this career will take you and your unparalleled dedication!!!! Cheers!! ♥️♥️

[@Peaceof59]

Best comment Ever Cleanest E30 Ever 🛠️💪🏻🔥

[@PaulinesPastimes]

I was going to leave a comment but I think you have said it all. 👍✔

[@DrMJJr]

@@PaulinesPastimes awe, well thank you Mrs. Pauline!!

[@RonaldFinger]

Great progress dude! I definitely wouldn’t feel bad at all about using that donor, it’s serving this project very well.

[@RestoreIt]

Cheers, Ronald! i definetly feel better about it now for sure.

[@evanhooper1]

It's always so great to see the Fiero dad!

[@dan725]

My two favorite young gearhead restorers commenting each other makes my heart feel warm hahahaha. Love both of your channels!

[@colescarkingdom]

Great videos and keep up the good work. FYI - You can apply primer straight to blasted metal as long as it is clean. The extra roughness of the blasted metal will only help the primer adhere even better than the finish of a wire wheel. Plus, that way you don't risk contaminating the metal if not using fresh, clean wire wheels. You can also use an acid treatment like Phospho to etch and treat flash rust before priming (as long as not using an etch primer).

[@twinturbo1989]

Love it, keep going as though as it may be

[@RestoreIt]

Thanks Alek!

[@Pedro5antos_]

Awesome content as always!

[@RestoreIt]

Thanks Pedro!!

[@madintocars]

Hi Steve, That piece on the chassis leg, for the new piece, you should have just drilled out the spot welds, removed the old piece and weld up the old spot weld with the new piece inserted. Would have saved you hours. Loving the project, keep up the good work

[@DavidPlass]

Yup, same thoughts here.

[@CH4NNELZERO]

Great progress ! I might be the only one but I'm psyched to see the Mercedes progression too.

[@RestoreIt]

Cheers dude! And well, get ready for one large rebuild episode coming soonish!

[@xAcEReMiiX]

yesss

[@briangreen6602]

Do you watch the videos from Retro Power ? They did a detailed discussion on dipping v blasting and why they will no longer have shells dipped.

[@RestoreIt]

I will look into this cheers Brian!

[@BartmanLA323]

Incredible amount of detail you go through to get the end result! Very much appreciate how you take the time to describe all the work you're doing and even some of the reasons why you're doing it. Not to slight your welding skills, and considering this looks like a path you're going to be going down for a long time, you might consider looking into a hand held spot welding gun, it would speed up your work and give you consistent quality. Just a suggestion for you. Keep up the good work, always look forward to new uploads on your channel all the time! Cheers!

[@RestoreIt]

Thanks Bartman! Glad you're enjoying it. And I would absolutely love one... I just need to be careful on the budget of this restoration. Maybe one day!

[@thomasw2798]

Love the color! Can't wait to see it finished.

[@RestoreIt]

Thanks Thomas!

[@upalaniee36]

Bro its primer 🤣

[@RedishMotorsportbmw]

WOW that is some serious dedication! I've been following this for a while and was amazed when you went to the extent of shot blasting the entire chassis, but to then wire-wheel/polish the whole thing before temporary paint was a pleasure to watch! Totally agree with the dipping and then E-coat process as well - it will be one of the best protected E30's out there. It's making me want to get on with my E30 now. Glad to hear the Mercedes saga is coming to an end - that sounds like it's been a millstone around your neck (I know what it's like as I've been in similar situations). Keep up the good work!

[@pero2727]

When you want to use a panel, it's better to grind the spot welds of from the panel touching it, than to use a spot weld drill. Spot weld drills are good when you want to separate two panels and weld them together later. When you are just using one of the two panels; use a finger sander or a flap disc to grind the panel you are not using and keep the panel that you are using in perfect shape; no drills going too deep by mistake or deformation from using a chisel to split them.

[@pero2727]

In the case of this small front piece with the square nuts, I would have just cut off the chassis leg with an angle grinder 5mm behind the piece you want to use and then grind what is left on the piece off with a flap disc.

[@RestoreIt]

Thanks for the advice Peter, much appreaciated!

[@pero2727]

@@RestoreIt I commented before watching the video to the end. I later saw that you already learned that lesson and used it to clean up the pillars on the rear quarter panel. Good job; we all learn these things by doing.

[@Timgeo84]

Silly question, but why didn't you just drill out the rusty one since you were going to drill holes anyway, might have been a whole lot easier to extract

[@RestoreIt]

I didn't drill holes into the plate though. Just along the bottom of it. I wanted to keep it as untouched as possible

[@pedenconceptz]

I wondered this too, you went around it in a way that gave you more work than you needed. If it where me, the donor car, whack the front inch off the leg with a grinder, then you can easily grind through the top of each weld with the grinder… no need for a spot weld drill, you only use those when your trying to take a part off and re use it on the same car (but I see people do this every day). Then on the car your restoring you sacrifice the bit you don’t want again, conventional drill through the spot welds, all the way through and the bad part comes away easily. Granted you would have had to use the finger sander along the bottom.

[@germangedgauds7594]

OMG, your OCD is just on another level. Love your videos. Amount of work to be done scares by only watching your videos from cozy sofa. Good luck!

[@RestoreIt]

Haha thanks, Gedgauds! It is a lot of work isn't it...

[@SelectDnb]

my godness

[@Nbomber]

dipping it will be a mistake

[@stevebrown5145]

Good to see the Beemer back. Parts cars on the doorstep are a very good thing, you never know what you’re going to need, plus they’re a good reference guide when you’re trying to visualise a rebuild. Got to agree about the Finger Sander, highly useful for what it is. Great work keep at it, although i did wince when i saw you pulling at those bits of panel you cut out without gloves on ... been there too often, sliced fingers ruin your day.

[@RestoreIt]

Thanks, Steve. And you're not wrong about a sliced finger...

[@M1LAD81]

I'm lovin it, Steve! Looking forward to some more content!

[@RestoreIt]

Glad to hear it mate, lots more to come!

[@vmoutsop]

The problem is the Mercedes, dump it. We come here for the BMW, not the Merc work. ;)

[@RestoreIt]

Agreed!

[@Juntasification]

Airhammer with a seam splitter would have made short work of those spot welds.

[@RestoreIt]

I have one.. I'll try it out on the second one thanks!

[@danielprivate7442]

Whatever happened to "Project M40"? The red wagon from last year? That was a nice little car.

[@RestoreIt]

It's currently on hold but I will be getting around to it at some point

[@burntclutches]

I feel for you the OCD issue is something I suffer from as well!!! Great work and content.

[@RestoreIt]

Haha I don't think I really have it... but I'm genuinely not sure. Cheers, scott!

[@bishbashbosh-j6z]

couldn't you just dip the shell from the get go?

[@RestoreIt]

The answer is yes

[@pesterenan]

My god, that IS SO MUCH WORK! You must really like this hahaha I admire your patience.

[@RestoreIt]

Thankfully this is one of my passions haha, cheers Pesterenan!

[@TheDazzaroo]

Keep going budd dont stop doing what you can to get car back on the road give yourself a pat on the back as its not easy if you are inexperenced at taken that much of a projected on all i will say lot of people would have given up you have not keep going you got this never dout you cannot do this 👍👍👏👏👏👏💞💞 well done my freind you got to learn somewere no better time than jump in at the deep end🙊🙊🤣🤣🙏🙏💯%

[@RestoreIt]

Thank you Darren! Much appreciated!

[@josegonzalez5921]

Been watching all your videos, these are great and helpful! I'm "restoring" a 325IS myself, not going as in depth as you but been taking some ideas from your videos. I was wondering, is there a golden source you're following when putting the car back together? I know there's a lot of infor out there, but I'm more concerned about the order. Not wanting to take things back off because I was supposed to put something else first 😂

[@ozzyfreeman2619]

What a massive job done.

[@RestoreIt]

Cheers Ozzy!

[@lp9280]

I haven't commented back then and this is now already 2 month old video, but honestly don't worry about chop. It would crime against cars if you take complete car which "could be saved" and chop it as many people do. It just painful to see them buying complete cars for slightly more money than they worth whole knowing full well that they recoup it when they part them out. Countless E30s and E24s have ended their life like this. I even tried to buy one E24 last year, it needed loads of work but seller would not budge, he wanted rather arbitrary £6,000 no matter what... I made him several reasonable offers working backwards from my budget of £10,000 and considering what car needed doing... to be really honest my realistic calculation ended-up in negative (meaning car just wasn't worth fixing), but best case scenario (it is never best case!) I figured I can offer him £3250 and he had some bit and wheels so I said let's do it for £3500... 3700... 3850... . NOPE he wanted £6,000. At this point I got principal as well, because I detailed very clearly what car needs doing and how it makes it worth basically £0 anyway, but I would be willing to take it just to save it and I liked it was silver 628, manual, with blue leather and rear seats with headrests and with sunroof. So I said F-it I am not going to be overpaying in principle. 2... weeks later cars sold! Another 2 weeks later I see 628 parts available from one well known 6-series butchers on ebay... In short - yes there are people who are actively destroying classic cars for profit. You are NOT one of them... that E30 was a crashed shell already destined for scrappers, basically somebody already bought it, salvaged it for parts and wanted to get rid of it, it wasn't worth anything anyway and it helps you to bring another car on the road. Don't feel bad about it!

[@sats7819]

Great work buddy. Only thing is wire wheeling that is a waste of time. The e.coating will handle the rest

[@joeygaming2987]

I love watching the BMW videos I hope more are coming soon

[@RestoreIt]

Many more to come Joey!

[@darkfactory8082]

Da, it takes very much patience to renovate something as it should be done, not just by filling holes with bondo (or even worse spray foam, the new fashion), therefore you must have enough motivation, time, a place to do it, some "connections".. =) You do, apparently, so good for you. Don't worry if you drill a little in the underlying panel when picking spots, even if you drill through is not a big deal that weld can't cope with.. =) It might get your job waaay faster. When you repait holes on a single skin, if you can, clamp on the back a piece of copper and magically the hole will fill itself.. Cheers anyway, I'm enjoying the progress, although I thought BMW's don't rust so much.. Cheers, go on, it's too late to stop! 😉

[@Wheel_Horse]

Scissors to open a paint can?

[@RestoreIt]

Every tool has at least five other uses

[@pwner3dan]

Hey mate, just having a look at this haven’t seen too much but I’d recommend taking the sunroof tray off. Bmw sell them new but there is a bit of glue between the two that doesnt stop rust. You can take them off the skin if you are gentle. But it’s tricky. Going to this much effort I recommend it. Also invest in a quick strip disk and a rotary polisher. Strips quick on low speed without warping.

[@waynehoar3579]

Iv been an E30 lover since they came out iv had a few of them now..and I'm restoring the M3 E30.. Are you still in Spain?? Your patience and your detail is admirable. I wish i could restore more old cars..

[@pmania76]

Hi, i like almost all of your videos, great work. On this one I can't understand why you didn't drill spot welds on main body. Would be a lot easyer.? Keep wire stick out as short as possible , you welds will be better.

[@DavidPlass]

If you're going to drill out the welds, just drill out the welds...

[@lmc333]

seeing you cut everything out so much is like torture.... but i guess you gotta trust the process right ... looking forward to the final results... mad props to the level of effort !!! madness.

[@ThePippin89]

Search for a spot weld cutter. It's a drill bit which is basically a small hole saw but with a sprung loaded centre point. You can easily cut the spot weld off the top sheet without cutting into the second. You could even use it on the one where you are keeping the top piece because you are just left with small holes in the location of the spot welds which you can use to plug weld the new piece in.

[@clutchkikn.]

I cannot wait for this lovely BMW to be fully restored.

[@Rammwelt]

I somewhat can't Wait to see any episode about E30, dont get me wrong, benz Is beauty, but as ex-e30 owner (sadly, but it was "only 318i" And I got great price for it) it got to my heart, i would not Even mind whole episode only about extracting one piece of puzzle As its being very helpful. Please keep up doing great work,showing your success And errors. It Is great Journey. It helped me get so much courage as youve shown your own errors and mistakes, not only "good" side of restoration. Keep up doing great work. Best Regards, Karel, from czech republic.

[@RestoreIt]

Thank you Karel, I'm really glad you're enjoying the E30 stuff and that it's helped you! it's also what I'm most excited about and I can't wait to share more. Steve

[@waylonmurphy5772]

May just be me but who the hell restores an old bmw that ain't worth nothing like this crazy seems like a waste of time and money so many cars that would be worth doing