A Rare Bird: The E30 Baur

[tomscat1]

Just had to drop by and inform you that there is a very decent quality baur tc for sale here in washington/oregon area, just go on seattle.craigslist.org and search bmw e30, should show up if you are still interested in getting one.

Welcome to the forum, WSchnitz!

Thanks for the heads up, always interested in hearing about Baurs!


1985 BMW 3 series
Vin: WBAAA810307542955 Stock #:Miles: 125625 Trim: 323i Bauer TC Engine: 6-Cylinder 2.3L Color: Black
Want more information on this vehicle?

Vehicle OptionsSellers Description2 Door, Convertible, Automatic Transmission, Front Wheel Drive, New Tires, Removable Top, Air Conditioning, Center Console, Power Door Locks, Power Steering, Power Windows, AM/FM Radio, Trip/Mileage Computer, 1985 BMW 323i Baur targa E30 Euro car 2 owner California driven car!
BMW Baur is a very hard find ! This type of vehicle was only made for Europe!This car was shipped to the US in 1986 from Belgium. There is only 7 of these beauties in the United States!This BMW comes with all service records! Body is very clean no rust anywhere.Car runs and drives great. The convertible top is a hard top and is in mint condition! Comes with Sheep Skin seat covers. Come in and see for yourself!



If you mean this one, however.....
http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/ctd/2697912623.html

.... then Intrepid Baurhunter davey101 beat you to it! He posted this ad earlier in this thread, 11/9/2011 (post #39 in this thread).

If this isnt the one you mean, let us know... we'd always like to find more!

WSchnitz, thanks very much really. We need all the help we can get to track down, locate and identify all the US Baurs!

[WSchnitz]

Oh darn i missed it? Oh well, happy hunting, the baurtc is a cool car, just not my taste.

[tomscat1]

BTW, this is one of those ads with a typo that may have an impact on the sale. If you search for BMW Baur in Seattle, this won't come up because he misspelled Baur as "Bauer".

If you misspell it the same way he did, it comes up immediately.

If you use the word 'targa', you get it immediately also. However, BMW can't legally use that word, because Porsche has the rights to it. That is why the Baur is known as the "Top Cabriolet" instead.

So, the quickest way to get to this ad on craigs list is to misspell its name, or use a word that can't legally be used for the car.




Good luck with THAT sale!

[WSchnitz]

Good info to add for anyone interested, i noticed the spelling error too lol, dealers are such failures when it comes to old cars, you could praobably work him down half lol.

[tomscat1]

Baurs are an acquired taste. I happen to be one of the guys who loves them, so I'd like to see this one go to good home and get a fair price. That helps all of us.

To that end, I just sent my comments in post 53 above to the seller. Although I am not optimistic about this, I'll be interested to see if he pays it any mind.

[davey101]

Not sure if you ever saw these threads Tom, but theres some good baur info/pictures in them

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...hlight=baur+m3
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...hlight=baur+m3


And Baur created one legitimate conversion on an m3 if you didn't already know

[tomscat1]

I have posts in the second thread, so that one I am familiar with. I dont think I have seen the first thread. Thanks, davey101... always interested in learning more!!

BTW, I posted "The First Baur: A Restoration Project Pictorial, Part III" today. For those who may be interested in the first E21 Baur #000001, or in restoration projects! Lots of pics!
http://baurspotting.blogspot.com/

[tomscat1]

The First Baur: A Restoration Project Pictorial, Part IV is posted.

For fans of Baurs, restoration projects, and historic vehicles. Check out the attached pic.

I was very lucky to find some great material on this historic Baur with lots of pics. I have now communicated with Andreas himself (the owner of Baur #000001 and #4595--- and many more!) by email this week..... which means.... we aren't done yet!!!

BTW, Andreas owns 5 Baurs: 4 E21 TC1s and an E30 TC2. Not to mention a couple of Alpinas, an M5 and a Glas 1300GT. More to come, stay tuned!

http://baurspotting.blogspot.com/

[tomscat1]

For fans of Baurs, restoration projects, and historic vehicles, Part VII is now posted, showing some of the changes made to the Baur during the course of its development, including some of the differences between the TC1 (E21) and the TC2 (E30).


http://baurspotting.blogspot.com/

[BMWtyro]

Tom,

Great info, and I for one am anxious to read Adreas's story about both of his historic Baurs.

And could you (or anyone) publish a photo of how the Baur TC2's nameplates are to be detailed? Like the red car in the photo, the black relief on mine is all worn away. It would seem to be a no-brainer, but before I paint anything black I would like to see a well-preserved original, or one which has been redone correctly. Thanks.

"Jeroen pointed out recently in E30 bimmerforums that the early tops could be partly raised and held in place, much like a tilt sunroof." Hmm . . . or maybe it was . . . Jeff? ;-)

Jeff

[tomscat1]

Some time without internet here

The E21 has two holes on the outside, the E30 and E36 had a central lock. This can be lifted.

But...the prototype E21 had a hardtop that could be lifted. The pens where longer and had a second hole, so that it could be lifted and fastened.

Btw: there where 2 systems used on the TC2.
The old one (used till B42265):

And the newer one:


Gr Jeroen

Hi Jeff,

This (above) was the post I was referencing. You had mentioned earlier that the TC2 had that tilt option, which I wasn't aware of, but I had no idea that the early TC1 prototype also could do this until Jeroen mentioned it. I had even looked at that pic of the prototype before and hadn't noticed the tilt roof.

Andreas's story is coming soon. I have no info on detailing the Baur plate, etc, but I will ask around. The International Baur Registry is a huge resource of pics of Baurs... you should be able to find something there.... but there is a lot to search through.

[Baur]

You can get the "Baur TC" nameplates new at the BMW dealer. Numberparts:
51140006327 ("Baur" left)
51140006328 ("Baur" right)
51140006328 ("TC" left)
51140006328 ("TC" right)

The 4 pieces together should be about 25 dollar.

Gr Jeroen

[BMWtyro]

Wow -- thanks, Jeroen! I had no idea that you could still buy them -- guess I should have checked on Penske.com.

UPDATE:

Actually, upon checking Penske I come up with the following information:

51140006327 "Baur" left

51140006328 "Baur" right

51140006329 "TC" left

51140006330 "TC" right

Unfortunately, Penske shows 51140006330 as NLA. Perhaps European availability is different. And yes, the other three which are available are indeed dirt cheap. Do you happen to know how those emblems are attached, hence how to remove them without damaging the pillar cover?

Thanks again.

Jeff

[Baur]

Hi Jeff,

Checked it...indeed, 330 is not longer available

They are just glued on to the pillar. Best you try to pull them off with your nails, then you can clean the pillar with white spirit. Don't be afraid of the pillar: the nameplates have some kind of foam behind them, so that will be ripped apart.

Gr Jeroen

[tomscat1]

The story of how Andreas T. of Belgium came to own both Baur #000001 and Baur #4595, (the very first and the very last E21 Baurs built) in both English and the original German, with many pics.

Enjoy!

Many thanks to Andreas for sharing his story with us, and to my nephew, Brendan, for translating the original German text into English!

"The First Baur: A Restoration Project Pictorial, Part VIII Andreas' Story, In German and English" is now posted!

http://baurspotting.blogspot.com/

Happy Thanksgiving to All!

[tomscat1]

Andreas T. is the owner and restorer of Baur #000001, the first Baur, and he is also the owner of Baur #4595, the last Baur built. He has graciously consented to allow me to post his pic here.

The full story is here:
http://baurspotting.blogspot.com/

[tomscat1]

I found this while searching some German sites.


De gustibus non disputandum.
(There's no accounting for taste. Mark Twain)



But here it is anyway. An unusual E30, and an unusual Baur.

HOMEPHOTOS's hereThe basis for this conversion is a farmer-316i Carbrio. The engine is in original condition. I have my red monster lowered 60mm at the front and 40mm at the rear axle. The attachments and side skirts, rear apron, Kofferaumdeckelerhebung are made ​​of sheet steel and welded to the vehicle. The doors are shortened and modified E30 original parts. The taillights are from a '89 Audi V8. The third brake light on the Trunk is from Cadylac. The interior is trimmed in blue gsammte synthetic leather.
For hi-fi system:
Blaupunkt Berlin RCM303a with CD changer, navigation, 2x color TV, VCR, phone and camera in the rear lights. The music performance can be specified with about 800 watts. Furthermore, a digital dashboard from the Kadett GSI has been installed. ATZ wheels with 205 front and rear with size 225 tires were mounted. An extensive Schowbeleuchtung completes the whole.

http://www.bmw-power.de/Fahrzeuge/E3...ebersicht.html

[BMWtyro]

De gustibus non disputandum.

Um . . . yeah, Tom.

I can admire the guy's ingenuity and his workmanship (to a point), but that padded bordello interior in the "contrasting" blue color scheme . . . not so good.

I honestly think that the ground effects package could have been better executed as well.

The nice thing: there is room within the BMW hobby to accommodate everyone's taste . . .

Jeff

[tomscat1]

I found a few more pics from 2002..... I agree with you on the .... er.... bordello look. It is a pretty unique Baur though, I will say that. FWIW.

[boarderM13]

I thought you might be interested in this, maybe you already know about it.

Found while searching on craigslist

http://tampa.craigslist.org/psc/cto/2713103051.html

[tomscat1]

I thought you might be interested in this, maybe you already know about it.

Found while searching on craigslist

http://tampa.craigslist.org/psc/cto/2713103051.html

Thanks for the heads up... no, I hadn't heard about it! This is the second Baur on craigs list in Florida today. One E30 in Panama City and this E21 around Tampa.


Here is the E30 Baur in Panama City :
http://panamacity.craigslist.org/cto/2701941082.html

Thanks for the heads up... no, I hadn't heard about it! This is the second Baur on craigs list in Florida today. One E30 in Panama City and this E21 around Tampa.


Here is the E30 Baur in Panama City :
http://panamacity.craigslist.org/cto/2701941082.html

And another, thanks to Eric in California:
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv...713720078.html


All the above, and lots more here:
http://baurspotting.blogspot.com/p/baurs-for-sale.html

[Thomas323i]

......and another one Baur in Lakewood, California

Thanks for the heads up... no, I hadn't heard about it! This is the second Baur on craigs list in Florida today. One E30 in Panama City and this E21 around Tampa.


Here is the E30 Baur in Panama City :
http://panamacity.craigslist.org/cto/2701941082.html



And another, thanks to Eric in California:
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv...713720078.html


All the above, and lots more here:
http://baurspotting.blogspot.com/p/baurs-for-sale.html

[tomscat1]

Thanks for the heads up!

I got an email a few days ago from Zoilo in Lakewood CA who tells me there are TWO Baurs there!
One is #1518, an E21 TC1, and he just bought it.
The owner of the shop where he bought it has another Baur.... this one is an E30 TC2 #40954.

I have a pic of the TC1 Baur plate, but I can't seem to load the other pics, for some reason.

The pics are on my blog here:
http://baurspotting.blogspot.com/



Thomas323i, are either of these the car you know about? Any info would be most helpful: pics, Baur number, etc etc.

[tomscat1]

You may recall that in the late 1970's, there was much discussion about outlawing convertibles as unsafe, and most manufacturers, anticipating the convertible's demise, stopped their production. The last American convertible in that era, for example, was the 1976 Cadillac Eldorado. BMW contracted with coachbuilder Baur to produce a limited number of cabriolet-style cars to meet the demands of its customer base without going into full-scale tooling and production. The design of the BMW Baur reflected the safety concerns of the time, and that is why you see the built-in roll bar in the roof. While for some that detracts from the clean top-down looks of a traditional convertible, it also allows a unique versatility of roof configurations that no traditional convertible can match. The advertisement below is for a TC2.
This advertisement touts the unique features of the Baur, calling it 4 cars in 1, a reference to the 4 different possible configurations of the roof: the Coupe, the Targa, the Landaulet, and the Cabriolet. Each configuration is shown at the bottom of the ad, from left to right.



http://baurspotting.blogspot.com/p/b...tisements.html

[Thomas323i]

Tom, I like to have the photo of my car as well as Baur number, but I can not attach it to send . Would you show me how to post photo
Thanks

Thanks for the heads up!

I got an email a few days ago from Zoilo in Lakewood CA who tells me there are TWO Baurs there!
One is #1518, an E21 TC1, and he just bought it.
The owner of the shop where he bought it has another Baur.... this one is an E30 TC2 #40954.

I have a pic of the TC1 Baur plate, but I can't seem to load the other pics, for some reason.

The pics are on my blog here:
http://baurspotting.blogspot.com/



Thomas323i, are either of these the car you know about? Any info would be most helpful: pics, Baur number, etc etc.