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Restoration in Europe

You're right, the American BMWs from that period all came with huge, disgusting bumpers, and you can get a set of Euro bumpers off eBay if you're lucky. But don't let that stop you from obtaining one of the best-looking BMWs ever built! :happy:
 
I think my first solo restoration/modernization project will be one of these:

jaguar_xjs_01.jpg


I just have to find one in half-decent condition with a V12. I can't wait to rip apart that engine! :thumbsup:
 
BerserkerCatSplat said:
I just have to find one in half-decent condition with a V12. I can't wait to rip apart that engine! :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Rip apart, or rip out? I met a guy at a vintage British car show who replaced his XJS's V12 with a Chevy LS1 powertrain, and mentioned that it was more powerful and reliable than the V12. It was even fairly quiet when he started it up, though of course the Bailey's-like smoothness was somewhat lost. http://www.johnscars.com/default.htm sells kits for that kind of travesty (there, I said it before the rest of you lot). There was a non-running series 1 XJ6 around where I live being sold for $200, and I was sorely tempted to pick that up and try my mechanical-newbie hands at working on it.
 
Rip apart! The Jag V12 had horrible reliability, but it's possible to make it quite reliable with some relatively minor work to the cooling and distribution systems. I plan to go a bit further and replace most of the POS gaskets and seals that British Leyland used on the Jaguar engines with modern ones. The electrical system is also on the redo list, as the Lucas connectors were just awful. Hence why you can pick up a V12 British roadster for dirt cheap these days.

A V8 swap is an interesting idea, but I've worked on dozens of V8's and I'm looking forward to working on something with more cylinders. Besides, old Jags should have I-6's or V12's. 8)
 
the jag v12's are not reliable or long lasting, the wiring was horrible and they are very expensive to have maintained. having said that, if you can do the work yourself, they can be manageable for a normal budget. it's also good to have access to used or junkyard parts just in case. a mechanic i know sold his XJS recently not because of the engine but because of what it cost him him from the police: he got stopped for speeding at 175mph with it and it was his 8th speeding ticket in it :shock:

so yea 320hp might not sound like much but that engine and tranny are massively fast
 
those older BMWs. how do parts come for them? i heard they're bloody expensive
 
BerserkerCatSplat said:
I think my first solo restoration/modernization project will be one of these:

jaguar_xjs_01.jpg


I just have to find one in half-decent condition with a V12. I can't wait to rip apart that engine! :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

My architecture professor had one of these! Beautiful! Especially with that combination of tan leather and dark green paint!
But I have the feeling that it might be costly to restore, although it might be worth the effort!
 
I just thought of another car that I almost bought a few months ago: VW Scirocco (MK2).

What do you think about it? I think it is pretty nice. I test drove one that I wanted to buy, a 16v, and it was amazing. Being that old, it needed some work, naturally.

I realized that in Europe they have different versions (GT, GTX, etc...). Can someone give me a brief explanation of each, or direct me to any site? Thanks.

Here is a photo of a nice one:
whitec_pf.jpg


I have been checking Germany's ebay, and they seem to always have something nice. I am willing to travel from Portugal to there, if I do find a really nice one.
 
I am selling the parts I was going to use on my Caddy pick-up, but I am wondering if it is worth taking these rims with me to Europe. I have about 8 of them, of which only one is slightly bent. They are 13s.

82-84AudiCoupe2978.gif


What do you think? Do you think there are enough people looking for this sort of rims? Thanks.
 
There's a thing u should remember about driving a car like that in Portugal, usually it drinks a lot of petrol... and the litre is at 1.30? or something around that..

They steal us everytime we go to the gaz station...
 
bone said:
and looking for an E30 M3? there was one on ebay recently, "only" 24 000? :bangin:
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Maybe that was a Sport Evolution. The normal E30 M3 usually go for 9000 - 10 000 Euro.

On topic: You obviously want, need and crave for a Delta Integrale. Go test drive one and become one of the enlightend :)
There are also some very nice parts around if you wanna do some modification. And since it has 4 doors you can still bring your pals and girlies.
 
Sk8 said:
There's a thing u should remember about driving a car like that in Portugal, usually it drinks a lot of petrol... and the litre is at 1.30€ or something around that..

They steal us everytime we go to the gaz station...
Click to expand...

Are you referring to the Scirocco?
 
BerserkerCatSplat said:
I think my first solo restoration/modernization project will be one of these:

jaguar_xjs_01.jpg
Click to expand...

Haha, that's mine too. Only I want an ealier 90s version coupe not a cabrio, I think they are such a sexy gentlemens car.
 
i thinck it will be easyest to seel them there, here people who could be looking for them will buy carbage, like "fundamental" or tuned bbs....

and a classic for 90% of the people is a old corsa gt... :cry:


but... maybe in a specialised club someone would be looking for them..
 
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