The 'E' Type Forum

Hi guys, it’s great to join you - what a wonderful resource and community you have here!

I’m not yet an E-Type owner but hope to be shortly... actually looking at a Series 3 V12 2+2 here in Switzerland (I’m an expat from Edinburgh) and thinking to pull the trigger, but I don’t quite have the confidence or experience to be 100% sure on the technical / condition elements.

This makes me think, do you guys know of an English-speaking specialist (/ mechanic / owner) in Switzerland or southern Germany that might be able to assist me?

Any assistance would be most appreciated!

Best regards,

Mike

One of our members is in Eglisau? (think that's right) in Switzerland, so may be able to help. His avatar name is Jagwaugh, think this is a link memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=1980
Hope this is ok and that jagwaugh doesn't mind!

I'm south of Zurich in Schindellegi, Schwyz. Let us know where you are Mike and if you need any help/advice.

They recently had a nice V12 ots on the german forum. Only problem was that it also had massive front frame hits, like being bent somehow. The potential buyer let the car there and did not buy it, as the seller did not want to lower his asking price, so he went away.

Carsten

I am indeed in Eglisau, about 30 min north of Zurich. Where is the car Mike? I'm not all that versed with the 12s, but for the rest of the E I'm reasonably conversant (and there isn't much one can say about the state of an engine even if you can do a compression test).

Perhaps Mark and I could come along and give you an opinion.

Thank you gents for the kind offers of assistance!

I’m in Seewen, Solothurn and - funnily enough - the car is just outside Seewen, Schwyz.

The main issue with the car is some mild to mid-level rust on drivers-side floor... the metal still seems solid but it’s there and tough for me to quantify just how serious it is. Otherwise the body is pretty good, seems straight, but definitely a ‘driver’ in terms of paint. It’s had a new boot floor and boot lid relatively recently. Shut lines (if that’s the correct term) are great, driver door not perfect. I checked it all over with a magnet and had no other findings, the sills are perfect, no rust in the engine bay.

I’d love a second opinion on the overall condition and to get a mechanic to give me the thumbs up - the technicalities of the engine etc. are beyond me.

If either of you’d be open to accompanying me in the next week or so please drop me a PM. Both the seller and I are pretty flexible in terms of schedule, I’d ferry you and would of course make it worth your while.

And if you know of a decent garage in that area that would look it over - and can speak English - please do let me know.

Thanks again!

Mikey, when you say the sills are perfect, remember that what you are probably looking at are the sill covers - if the S3 is the same as the S1 and 2 (and I think it is) The sills are underneath, and more difficult to inspect. Quite an issue if they are bad. I'm not an expert by the way, but this is my understanding.

malcolm wrote:Mikey, when you say the sills are perfect, remember that what you are probably looking at are the sill covers - if the S3 is the same as the S1 and 2 (and I think it is) The sills are underneath, and more difficult to inspect. Quite an issue if they are bad. I'm not an expert by the way, but this is my understanding.

Ah, of course, many thanks for that Malcolm. I have a lot to learn it seems...

mikeyb wrote:Thank you gents for the kind offers of assistance!

I’m in Seewen, Solothurn and - funnily enough - the car is just outside Seewen, Schwyz.
...
And if you know of a decent garage in that area that would look it over - and can speak English - please do let me know.

I highly recommend Kaspar Hürlimann (http://www.zugersee-garage.ch/cms/) Given the location of the car (about 20 min away from his garage) he probably already knows it. I think he even speaks passable English (I'm fluent in German, so I don't really track it). You might have to pay him for an hour's rate, but that would be well worth it. He's a straight up guy, and a good mechanic. In your situation I would go by and have a chat with him, many small garage owners here are pretty curt on the phone, but if you go by in person they're more open.

JagWaugh wrote:...

I highly recommend Kaspar Hürlimann (http://www.zugersee-garage.ch/cms/) Given the location of the car (about 20 min away from his garage) he probably already knows it. I think he even speaks passable English (I'm fluent in German, so I don't really track it). You might have to pay him for an hour's rate, but that would be well worth it. He's a straight up guy, and a good mechanic. In your situation I would go by and have a chat with him, many small garage owners here are pretty curt on the phone, but if you go by in person they're more open.

That's exactly what I was looking for JagWaugh - thank you kind Sir!

I don't have a better recommendation that Andrew's. Do you know if the current owner is a JDCS member? You can PM me the name if you like and I can check. Someone may know the car.

Bodywork is horrendously expensive in Switzerland due to the labour rates.

mark10337 wrote:I don't have a better recommendation that Andrew's. Do you know if the current owner is a JDCS member? You can PM me the name if you like and I can check. Someone may know the car.

Bodywork is horrendously expensive in Switzerland due to the labour rates.

Thank you Mark, I very much appreciate your assistance. You have PM!