New Project - E31 BMW 850i. Local shop wants $7k just in labor to fix it. Can we do it for less?

We are starting a new project. A 1991 BMW E31 850i. Local shop quoted $7k just in labor to fix it.
Join me while we do a walk around and look over the repairs the shop recommended.

[@Sagadiniz]

That M539 Restorations intro reference 🤣

[@willthorson4543]

My favorite BMW. I was stationed in Germany in 93 and saw these and they were so awesome looking compared to everything else on the road

[@ratchet6969]

You got me at "Coming up" gonna have to watxh this now 😂

[@goose4150]

God that interior is awesome

[@grahamhall1970]

Nice project for the channel! Should be fun to watch you tear into this thing.

[@jasonknight5863]

The paint is shot. If they take it apart and repaint it a good paint job will cost $20,000 to $25,000 U.S. More if you want show quality. Complex car to take apart and put back together again. Cheaper probably to buy a low mileage mint condition one. That interior is spectacular! Probably was boring sun Catching black interior before. But wow did it come out great ! Which shop did it and how much? Great job! Now make sure to protect it by adding high quality sun reflecting window tint everywhere! Otherwise the U.V sunlight will destroy it again like it most likely was and destroyed the black paint.

[@CoolHand273]

I agree with your assessment. The car has over 130K miles and is pretty rough. I am not a fan of custom interiors. Should just get a lower mileage cleaner car. Plenty of them come up on ebay. Its not like he wants a manual one. Was thinking about getting an 840ci and do an E39 M5 engine and 6 speed manual swap.

[@user-pe4xf6hd5q]

Roger, great work…I’ve owned the M 70 beast.

[@mikaeljonsson4686]

Love the E31! Had a Tobago blue 1993 850Ci 20 years ago... Sorely missed... I´d lose those exhaust tips and the black wheels

[@robsweekendgarage]

Snagged a Remus exhaust to replace those awful tips. Owner is getting a set of BBS style wheels refinished to get rid of those black wheels. Will make a huge difference

[@mikaeljonsson4686]

@@robsweekendgarage Remus will be nice! Supersprint in stainless was recommended back in the day. Had REALLY good looking 18" BBS split rims on mine... As I said, miss it. 🥰😍🤩

[@nikimickleburgh333]

E38 of mine had charging problem expensive near 5k GBP because people really do ham it up everything new including very expensive alternator turned out to be MAF! Wtf also renew the ignition switch because they give all kinds symptoms it's been a nightmare. I still love the ridiculous thing

[@bmw850civ12]

É um projeto audacioso e estamis torcendo pir você. Muito dinheiro e amor, é isso que ele precisa. No caminho, um pouco de diversão também. De todo modo, é um carro fantástico e vale a penactrazê-lo a sua glória de outrora.

[@naiart82]

Holy cow, how did it get to that shape?

[@robsweekendgarage]

Sometimes they can fall into the wrong hands. But we are going to make it right!

[@ATICrossX]

$200 for hour of labor is crazy (EU guy here) at that point I'd rather buy tools and learn how to do repairs for the car myself 😂

[@robsweekendgarage]

$200/hr is likely high for a specialty shop - but I bet the average is still close to $150 - which just makes the labor hours they quoted even more ridiculous

[@antoniobraz82]

ship it to PORTUGAL, labor is around 60 usd with taxes@@robsweekendgarage

[@jasonknight5863]

Unfortunately it’s pretty average prices for labor per hour. We recently had our 2012 Volvo XC90 in for maintenance and there hourly rate was $200 per hour here in florida. Came to $6,600 for parts and labor then there is tax on top of that.

[@friguy4444]

On Camera that interior doesn't look like Peanut Butter it looks like Caramel. Which is much better IMHO. Great car once sorted!!

[@robsweekendgarage]

That might be a better description of it. Sometimes I can’t words… I doubt it’s a standard color either way. Beautifully done tho

[@philipweber404]

$7000 was that shop saying they’d rather not deal with it.

[@robsweekendgarage]

I think that was the case. It sat there for months and when finally pressed for a quote that’s what they threw out. I told my neighbor I’ll do it for $6999😂

[@robertcoyle9071]

Shops don't like BMW. They quoted me 6 hours labor to replace struts on my 328Ci. Good tech could knock this down in two. It's no different than any other car. Did it in the streets myself in less than four.

[@robsweekendgarage]

This shop clearly threw out a we don’t wanna work on it quote. The worst part is that much of what they quoted was wrong or not needed. Even worse not addressing other issues and failing to see several safety issues.

[@rayray3009]

my deam car

[@r0bb3rse]

E31 run obd1 so you need a computer with an serialport. Foxwell NT530 should work to get some codes.

[@robsweekendgarage]

Do you have a link to one that says it reads obd1? All the listings I see as well as foxwell’s website just say obd2

[@nighttrain1565]

​@robsweekendgarage I just purchased one for my E31, will let you know how it goes lol

[@i_hate_google_]

Makes me cry what was done to the car, absolutely horrible, it's disfigured :(

[@robsweekendgarage]

Yah it’s a mess! But we are sorting it out. It’s gone to paint and body but will be back to the channel soon!

[@woocash2139]

I think its best to buy a good one, swap the interior and sell this one cheap. Its a never ending project...

[@robsweekendgarage]

The owner definitely regrets buying it and is dumping a ton of money into this to make it as right as he can.

[@lancecooper4646]

15:11..where the pitman arm bolts to the drag link..that ball joint claps out & excessive play

[@802Garage]

Damn this car is sexy. One of my favorite designs of all time. I'd engine swap one before I paid $7,000 to have it fixed though, hahaha.

[@robsweekendgarage]

The worst part is that none of what they quoted was going to fix how poor this thing runs.

[@802Garage]

@@robsweekendgarage Happens a lot! Glad it found better hands.

[@jasonknight5863]

Engine swap it and you’ll destroy the collector quality of it and what’s great about it. A V12 !

[@802Garage]

@@jasonknight5863 Not saying I'd want to, just before I'd put $7K in it. Luckily there are enough pristine examples of this car if I can ever get a rough one I probably will swap something into it hahaha.

[@user-pe4xf6hd5q]

Some German specialists don’t like to take these…I’ve had good experiences with large dealers but you pay your money.

[@fixingthisandthatandthenso877]

Did you get a chance to tackle that tapping lifter?

[@robsweekendgarage]

Working on it. As most things go with these cars, it’s turning into a big case of “while you’re in there” Make sure to subscribe to follow along!

[@huyaha]

those black rims are really not doing the car any favours.

[@robsweekendgarage]

They’re gone now! Check out the latest vid

[@huyaha]

i just saw those horrid exhuast tips! jesus

[@robsweekendgarage]

Got a Remus axle back ready to go on

[@BIBIWCICC]

Don’t waste you’re time, this is one of the most unreliable cars BMW ever made and is reflected in the near give away prices they reach. It is the highest depreciating BMW ever made. There is a reason why BMW discontinued nearly every part available for this money pit!

[@lancecooper4646]

6:54.. the inlet manifold gaskets leak & give it a rough idle

[@mz-pq6mx]

Lol at the intro 😅