bigcoupe.com

My first post might as well start with the project thread. I recently purchased this Highline, which to my knowledge, has been barely operated since 2008 and has been sitting outside in the harsh Wisconsin elements. I have never done a restoration project and my mechanical knowledge isn't that deep so this will definitely be a learning experience for me. The biggest issue, I think, is going to be rust, it's bad but I don't believe I really know the full extent of it yet.

The car runs, albeit it sounds a bit rough especially when it's idling. Here are a few problems I'll need to deal with right off the bat:

- I smell gas, most noticeably the trunk area. I'm guessing a small leak or possibly the fuel filler hose?
- Radio doesn't work, power antenna doesn't work. PO or PO before that looks like he did some real shotty work trying to install an after market system and possibly what appears to be a scanner.
- Tachometer, fuel economy gauges do not work.
- Is the dash supposed to show what gear you're in on manuals? If so, it doesn't work.
- Right passenger window doesn't work.
- Coolant light is on
- Rear brakes are non-existent
- What I believe is the power steering or brake fluid is spilling over through the cap.

I'll begin posting pictures tomorrow when I can get some better lighting conditions.

Welcome to the forum.

In order for the members to assist you correctly please post the Vin number of car. This will aid in furnishing correct information. Realoem is a website you should become familiar with.

There are no manual gear indicators on the dash board, only for auto's.

I'm by far not an expert, however, the Highline series was for UK cars with certain features. The 1987 BMW L6 was the closes the US had to a Highline series.

If you do not have a user manual it should be on your list. I have one for the 89 year in the cloud which I'd be happy to share, please send me your email to: [email protected]

Roger

Thanks Roger, I do not have a user manual which has been a struggle, half the buttons are faded away to nothing. I will send you an email later today, I appreciate you sharing it.

The VIN # is WBAEC741XK0608701

Just a couple of pictures, give you an idea of what I am working with.


The rear lights are in pretty rough shape, the whole rear end has a number of rust issues.


Not sure what line this is.










Leaking from the cap






Had to remove the motor, wouldn't move with how much rust was on the track. Still can't get the bolt off, it's rounded off and rusted so waiting on some tools.

Finally got the rusty bolts out of the driver side seat frame. Had to carefully use a torch and heat one of them up.

I started to try and remove the carpet, but it looks like I may need to remove the rear A/C unit and possibly the dash. The rust is also worse than I had originally thought, these pictures are from the front passenger floor panel.

Wow, harsh is an understatement with a lot of salt thrown in. Hope your metal fab and welding skills are up to it or look upon it as a learning experience.
Best wishes,
Ken

sansouci wrote:Wow, harsh is an understatement with a lot of salt thrown in. Hope your metal fab and welding skills are up to it or look upon it as a learning experience.
Best wishes,
Ken

It's ugly, my knowledge of metal fabrication and welding is a solid zero. I'll need to enlist some help and learn along the way, I knew this would be a lot but wow the rust is significantly worse than I thought. Every time I peel something back there it is.

Passenger side floor


Under glove box


Passenger rear

See my tag line below!!

Wow, that looks like a car from the UK!

Welcome,

I hate to burst your bubble. But this car has so much rust that you can see, there is 3 x even more you can't see.
This car should be sent to the crusher. It is hopeless as you have no metal working skills.
Spend your money on a better car, if you paid any $ for this car, it is money that you have already lost.
Runaway as fast as possible.

Nothing like an encouraging word to help a fella along.

Unfortunately, Jay is right. You'll be hard pressed to find any undamaged metal to work from.

JCS wrote:Welcome,

I hate to burst your bubble. But this car has so much rust that you can see, there is 3 x even more you can't see.
This car should be sent to the crusher. It is hopeless as you have no metal working skills.
Spend your money on a better car, if you paid any $ for this car, it is money that you have already lost.
Runaway as fast as possible.

It might, but I want to strip it and try to get a full picture.

Now to the driver side, not quite as bad as the passenger from the looks of it but there was some serious moisture as you can see from picture #1



After scraping away everything to bare metal.

Welcome and glad to see another shark saved. The 6-series was my first BMW and I think I lucked out in the rust department. I’ve spotted some in the rear quarter panel, but it’s not structural. Mine is a California car and thankfully it is pretty solid.

I’ve been working on mine for a while now and I bet you’ll come across a lot of the same stuff. I’m currently replacing all the A/C bits with better modern parts. Best of luck and you’ll find that folks on this forum will give you the hope, fortitude, a few parts and encouragement to get you through. Oh, they know a lot too.

We will keep an eye on your progress and forward whatever knowledge we have accumulated.

Jay is spot on!!

Please take it from us that have gone thru the attempt to restore the unrestorable, or

have taken advice from those that were older and more experienced.

Without previous experience, like being it the autobody business or a tech shop with connections

you will be overwhelmed and eventually abandon this project.

Salvage what you can in a part out. Instead of spending money on a

sinking ship, use it to purchase a much better example which will give you a better learning

and satisfactory curve when maintaining and fixing things that can be fixed.

Not here to burst any bubbles. Just trying to tell you some sound advice when entering the

old car world with minimum experience. Don't want this car to discourage you from a world of motorcar heaven.

Bob V

PS. If you do decide to look at another car don't be afraid to ask someone with knowledge to

look at it with you and give an honest opinion before purchase.