One more project finished. 

"Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes" (sovereign-automotive) 06/09/2016 at 06:52 • Filed to: DIY

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It’s 3 45 am here and I have to get up early, but I wanted to see this completed before bed. Detailed write up with better pictures hopefully around lunch time.

Tapas > Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes 06/09/2016 at 07:03

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Love the wheels :)

Sam > Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes 06/09/2016 at 07:17

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I like the fender mirrors a lot. Now you have to shave down the original mirror mounts. Though honestly, you could probably just fill in the holes and paint it.

Meatcoma > Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes 06/09/2016 at 08:09

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Did you install the mirrors on the hood or the fender?

AM3R shamefully returns > Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes 06/09/2016 at 10:37

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Tell me alllll about your E24 experience. I want to pick one up as a project.

Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes > Tapas 06/09/2016 at 13:18

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Thanks!

Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes > Sam 06/09/2016 at 13:20

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Its an interesting set up how the mirrors are originally mounted, I’ll be thinking of what to do in the coming day or so. No modification of original parts though, and buying a spare to modify might set me back $200.

Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes > Meatcoma 06/09/2016 at 13:20

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Hood.

Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes > AM3R shamefully returns 06/09/2016 at 13:21

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What were you looking to know? I could probably write a book at this point, so feel free to ask away!

AM3R shamefully returns > Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes 06/09/2016 at 13:23

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Difficult to work on/find parts for? Has it been relatively reliable? Could you daily drive it?

Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes > AM3R shamefully returns 06/09/2016 at 14:17

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Driveline and most mechanical parts are super easy to find and cheaper than your average European, but more expensive than Japanese or pushrod v8s (what isnt).

Interior parts are a different story, and that’s if you can find them. Some things I havent been able to find outright, though I haven’t looked too hard yet either. I ended up just replacing the sears with e30 sport seats for now. It was not quite a bolt in affair due to frame rail width.

Ymmv for reliability. I bought mine after sitting aside a barn for 20 years and then being restored little by little by the 2 owners before myself, and I have had to replace quite a few parts (which is actually very easy with this car) but at this point I know it will fire up everytime, I actually am driving it on a 45 minute commute today.

As for daily driving, yes. Out of over 2 years of ownership, I daily drove it for over 75% of that time, and only stopped daily-ing it once the Jaguar was purchased and gone through.

It gets about 21 mpg, so great compared to what I’m used to, but not really great by any means. Also it is an incredible drive, but it’s not exactly quick. By the standards of the 80s it is, but I do yearn for something a bit faster, which is why I may be selling it soon to fund more projects.

If you’re serious about ownership, begin your search sooner rather than later. Since I’ve owned it, I’ve watched both the price and popularity of the car raise substantially.

AM3R shamefully returns > Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes 06/09/2016 at 15:25

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Where are you located? I have so much trouble finding E24's around me. This dealer has an ‘82 with 80k on it for $12k! It's an auto too.

Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes > AM3R shamefully returns 06/09/2016 at 16:05

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Doesn’t suprise me too much. 10-15 is about what super clean low mile autos are going for right now at dealers. I’ve seen manuals for sale at 20-25 in the last year. Doesn’t mean they’re selling, but I’ve seen more than a few in that range and they can’t be too far off.

I’m in the PNW, Oregon specifically.