LIVE: Michael Behman's Project Baur September 2013

OK, we can't actually do it live, but this is the next best thing!  Our friend, Michael Behman in Pennsylvania, has begun work on the restoration of his Baur.  He has kindly sent along some pics of the work he is doing in progress.  I personally want to learn how to weld, so I am taking copious notes on what Michael is doing.  Thank you for sharing, Michael, and keep up the good work!  We look forward to seeing your progress from time to time!


Michael's note to me tonight:
September 2, 2013
Here are some pictures of the passenger side floor process. I started this side previously and put in the 2 round patches, (Factory floor has 4 circular panels that twist lock onto the floor before the floor is undercoated. Not sure why they are there but every one I've repaired rusted there go figure) and a rectangular patch to cover up pit rust on floor. I have since made the rest of the patches for this side as well. Templates are made from whatever is on hand, this time it happened to be a pizza box and the funnies :) The shot from the bottom shows where the  "jack pod" is located in the toe/foot-board area, both sides needed replaced.  

In case you are not familiar with this Baur.... here is a little background:

Michael and Scott's project Baur in Newville, PA.  Scott is msbehmane36 in bimmerforums. This is Baur number 3583, and formerly looked like this:

When they bought it, it was a mess:  dents and dings everywhere, body kit in terrible shape,fLoor pan rust, etc.  So they decided to strip it down, and basically start over.  Lots of work remains to be done, as you can see, but they are well into the project.  We look forward to watching their progress on this restoration.

See the little cutouts in the valance above?  Michael plans to run his dual exhausts through there.

the project Baur  is on the left; the Baur on the right is Baurspotting's 1982 323i Baur #4154.  My son, Brian, and I stopped by to visit Scott and Mike on our way home from Bimmerfest East in August 2011.

Baurspotting has some more info on this car's previous history which we haven't published yet.  The pics below are from several different owners over a period of several years that we have found on the web.   Here it is:


Newville, PA  1982  Owner:  msbehmane36  previous owners traced to West Chester PA, Edison NJ undergoing restoration
http://baurspotting.blogspot.com/2011/08/two-baurs-in-pennsylvania.html
http://baurspotting.blogspot.com/2011/08/two-baurs-continued.html
http://baurspotting.blogspot.com/2011/08/another-tale-of-two-baurs.html
http://baurspotting.blogspot.com/2011/08/baurquest-i-project-baur-in-pa.html
First four pics are from Edison NJ 2006. 

 http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6545219794402951275#editor/target=page;pageID=9073585827613231933

Lots of other pics here.

Those pics must be from a previous owner. If those pics are from 2006 the car really went downhill in the past couple years before i picked it up. I bought it in Hanover PA last April. I dont know how he got it, Id be interested to know how and when it got from NJ to PA. In those pics you can see a red sticker where PA's inspection sticker usually is. It is a NJ rejected inspection sticker which is still on it, so it wasnt roadworthy then. And i dont know about "the little garage" sticker on it, I know that they are from NY state, maybe they have records of my car from when it may have been worked on there! ---msbehmane36

73583 323i

"I owned this one briefly.

This pic in in my garage."

From bimmerforums member ASC OFF    Location: was West Chester PA at the time

2/22/2011

I found this today in an old email... from about two years ago (January 2009). I had forgotten all about it.---Tom 

"Mike/Scott, I am pretty sure this is your car:

"1982 320i henna red, 5 speed, M10, needs a lot of love $900 clean PA title
1982 323 TC Baur 5 speed M-tecnic, IE springs Super sprint, Recaro, Zender, Euro bumpers, Clean title also and low miles $2500.
Both cars need work, I will take offers as a pair also."

It was in West Chester, PA at the time. Owner's name was Dan, and I still have his number, to verify if need be.
Let me know what you think... otherwise it is a new find--- I am 99% sure it is yours, though. '"

A003583

323i

"It used to be opel grun and then it was painted maroon twice, in Germany i would guess by the attention to detail. Then that teal was applied in Jersey id guess again because of the lack of attention to detail. Out of all those colors i dont want it any of them, im still undecided on what its gonna be next." Present owner msbehmane36.

Mike B brings home his new Baur to Pennsylvania.