Author Topic: My car is a beater.... (Read 11012 times)

Choking Hazard · « **on:** March 23, 2006, 07:56:53 PM »

I love reading about the member's cars, but I gotta ask: am I the only one who doesn't have a "better than pristine" example? I bought this car for driving in the real world. Sure enough, it has alreeady been tapped once. Now the offset of the rear bumper cover matches the offset of the front bumper cover. It's not significant- but alignment to the body is clearly not there no more. And I have plenty of parking lot dings and (now touched-up) rock chips too. You guys with uber-30s: do you have a different daily driver? Am I wrong to be a little less concerned with appearance on this car? I wonder if a repaint would look as good as the original paint- which still has fine depth and gloss- just some surface irregularities under. Is there a "keep it stock" thing for our cars, or is it all in the mods? I don't want to abuse this car, but I can't make it into a shrine either...

e9nine · « **Reply #1 on:** March 23, 2006, 10:07:00 PM »

Cameras hide a lot
E30s are old cars, carfax aint all that
If the car drives straight and aligns... I buy it
CPO on an m42 isn't an option
Happy m42'ng

Febi Guibo · « **Reply #2 on:** March 23, 2006, 10:11:15 PM »

Yeah, not to knock anybody, but if you have a halfway decent camera, wash your car and shoot it in some good light ...the results can be... amazing...

having said that, we have a very very tasteful group of cars here... as seen in the sig above.

...but no matter what, love the one you're with...!

twinpop171 · « **Reply #3 on:** March 23, 2006, 10:31:06 PM »

Mine is a DD. I didn't take any pics of "the bad side" of my car. Mine was resprayed by one of the previous owners and shines up real nice...even off camera.

Some days you just have to drive it like you stole it to appreciate it.
Got to love these cars. They handle like they're on f***ing rails.
Dan.

thumper3ld · « **Reply #4 on:** March 23, 2006, 10:35:24 PM »

Agreed. Mine is supposed to be kept in the driveway most of the time while I drive my hyundai around as my DD but, this car is just way too much fun to drive. I had mine resprayed last year and I already need to have my front skirt retouched and my rear bumper. Just take pics of the good side of ur car and give it a good wash and wax. Try claybarring it also. People say that it does wonders to revitalize ur paint.

m42 fan · « **Reply #5 on:** March 23, 2006, 10:36:03 PM »

I'm by no means a photography expert, and the pictures of my car make it look quite a bit better than it really is. I'm driving my car every day, and will continue to for many years, hopefully. With the daily driving will come flaws, there really isn't much you can do about something like that, unless you have fanatical attention to detail and a corresponding amount of time and money on your hands.

From my standpoint (and I'm betting many on this board), the mark of a true enthusiast is the willingness to drive your car often, not let it sit in a garage where it isn't doing anyone any good.

Of course, regular maintinance, both mechanical and cosmetic, will go a long way toward making sure your e30 will last. I'm sure I'm just stating the obvious here, otherwise you wouldn't even be reading this.

Just my .02 on the subject
Brian

Choking Hazard · « **Reply #6 on:** March 23, 2006, 11:57:10 PM »

Quote from: m42 fan

I'm driving my car every day
[I will] not let it sit in a garage where it isn't doing anyone any good.

Brian

Oh yeah! I bought it for the driving, not the viewing. I don't think there really is a collector market for the lowly E30 'cept the (only REAL) M3. I know the M42 E30 was quite limited too, but just not as relished as the M3.

bmwman91 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 24, 2006, 12:35:41 PM »

Heh, I would say the 318iS is rarer than the M3. Yeah, a lot more were produced, but prettymuch ALL E30 M3's are in pristine condition because of their status. Since the 318iS gets laughed at a lot but unknowing twits, many are beat to hell. There may well be far fewer 318iS's in PRISTINE condition than there are M3's. See the logic? Lol.

Anyway. I feel ya on feeling like the car is beat up. Mine has a number of door dings, and a couple little scrapes through the paint from the last owner. It runs really nice though, and looks good when polished. That is what counts in the end!

2002maniac · « **Reply #8 on:** March 24, 2006, 11:41:04 PM »

mine has it's share of dings, the roof is really faded, and the drivers door was repainted at one point but it doesnt quite match.

I have fun with it. That's what they are for.

nickmpower · « **Reply #9 on:** March 25, 2006, 02:21:07 AM »

i bought my car keyed cause i dont give a f***

bmwman91 · « **Reply #10 on:** March 25, 2006, 10:47:04 AM »

Now now Mr. MPower. Language around the children....lol

My last car was keyed, by the psycho friend of a sorta crazy ex GF (she got better though lol). And as on both cars, ONE rear quarterpanel is clearcoated and doesn't quite match...WTF???

sheepdog · « **Reply #11 on:** March 25, 2006, 01:39:55 PM »

Cameras do hide a lot. Plus some is just not readily noticeable even in person.
The previous owner must have learned to drive in mine.

Lets see:
My front air dam is chipped and pitted to hell.

Right front signal is pushed in, along with the front of the fender (Very hard to tell, looks flared).

My windsheild has a wiper streak on it.

The left rear quarter has clear coat peeling.

The rear bumper is pushed in a bit.

In front of my right wheel was damaged somehow.

Pass. door has a nice scratch thanks to a Home depot cart somone let loose (Hint, park away from cart corrals, but also, UPHILL from them!

Last but not least, my pass. door is from a pre-88 the color is just slightly darker.

None of this shows in pics, or is readily noticeable when you see it.
None of it shows up in carfax as well.

Most will be fixed when I paint it. Windsheild I hope to get polished soon.

I have hours invested in cleaning my wheels of baked on dust, days in the finish, and invested close to $100 replacing emblems (which make a world of difference!).

These are 15 year old cars, often driven quite hard. Expect some blemmishes.

hamann318is · « **Reply #12 on:** March 25, 2006, 04:43:14 PM »

My paint is not impressive at all in person. She needs a good amount of cosmetic work before I'd be totally happy with it, but I manage.

Choking Hazard · « **Reply #13 on:** March 25, 2006, 05:42:33 PM »

*whew*
guess I'm not a runt after all.

StreetSpec_iS · « **Reply #14 on:** March 25, 2006, 09:40:42 PM »

mine hasnt been washed for months. most of my bumper strips are grazed, 80% of panels have some kind of dint. bootlid is drilled to hell to accomodate and assortment of lips and wings. carpets are stained, carpets are dirty at the moment. stone chips. my m42 gets driven every day and night, it is hard to keep em clean.

photos only ever get taken when it has been detailed, or at least cleaned.

its weird, i used to wash it nearly twice a week, now i just enjoy wringing it's little neck on a daily basis. it really is turning into a redheaded step child. but i still love it.