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Thread: E36 Rust repair

  1. #1
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    E36 Rust repair

    I'm looking to get some rust fix on the trunk one fender and by the tail lights on my e36. Theres also some touch up work needed a few other places on the car. Does $2000 sound about right?

  2. #2
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    Seems a little steep to me. Why not try and tackle some of the rust repair yourself?

  3. #3
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    Depends on the severity of the rust, really. You rattled off three areas of rust repair. $700 per area doesn't sound steep at all to me.
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  4. #4
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    Unless that car has a lot of sentimental value or is a prepped race chassis putting $2000 into an E36 seems stupid to me.

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bjkearns View Post
    Unless that car has a lot of sentimental value or is a prepped race chassis putting $2000 into an E36 seems stupid to me.
    Please find me someone that drives a BMW older than 10 years old, and has not put $2K into keeping it on the road. I've probably spent $15K on my E36, and it's just a well maintained OE+ car.
    -Nick

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by fiveightandten View Post
    Please find me someone that drives a BMW older than 10 years old, and has not put $2K into keeping it on the road. I've probably spent $15K on my E36, and it's just a well maintained OE+ car.
    I think it's a bit different putting $2k in various repairs into a car vs. $2k in rust repair. I don't think anyone said dont spend $2k on an old BMW, rather that spending it on simply a rust repair may not make the most sense.

    Personally, I'd think long and hard before dumping $2k into an E36 that is probably at most worth 2-3 times that. Selling the car as-is/parting it out and spending whatever you get for it + the $2k you would have spent on rust repair will likely put you in a much better situation.

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  7. #7
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    Is it stupid to spend $2000 on a vacation?

    It's worth it if it makes you enjoy the car more.
    None of these cars are investments.

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by OnTheFence View Post
    Is it stupid to spend $2000 on a vacation?

    It's worth it if it makes you enjoy the car more.
    None of these cars are investments.
    Preach.

  9. #9
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    The problem with that logic is $2000 could go a long way towards simply buying a better condition car that doesn't need that sort of work. None of these car are investments... thats true. So why invest more into it than the car is worth?

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  10. #10
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    Because buying a different car can introduce $5000 of some whole new problems.
    It's like trading an alcoholic wife for a new wife who turns out to be a reckless spender.

    All that matters is if the owner feels the joy of the rust repair exceeds the pain of parting with $2000.
    Doesn't matter is the car is worth $2000 or $20,000. The money is gone either way.

  11. #11
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    Agreed. If getting rid of the rust will put a smile on your face everytime you look at, go for it.

  12. #12
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    Hell I just had my E36 M with 225,000 miles on it repainted this year. With all the new parts & paint I have like $6500 in it. New front fenders, front and rear bumpers, completely new rocker on passenger side because who ever previously repaired it did a shit job. OnTheFence nailed it on the head. With all of the money I have dumped into this car I could of bought something newer but, I could of ended up with more problems. I love the car, it is a blast to drive and at the end of the day that is all that matters to me.

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by OnTheFence View Post
    Because buying a different car can introduce $5000 of some whole new problems.
    That is quite an assumption... I can't imagine much on an E36 that would necessitate $5000 worth of repairs.

    If one can justify it for emotional/attachment reasons thats completely understandable. But from a financial standpoint I think its really hard to justify a $2000 rust repair on a car worth, on average, about $4000. I don't see the argument that any other car will have some crazy amount of repair work needed holds much water. That is why you do a PPI and research what you are buying before buying it.
    Last edited by BimmerBreaker; 10-04-2015 at 01:12 AM.

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  14. #14
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    BB: Would you do any other $2000 repairs on a ~$5000 car?

    Financial sense dictates we should all drive beater honda/toyotas, never repair them unless its less than 10% the value of the car, and buy new ones when they die.

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