99 z3 2.8l roadster

[Evan]

So during the show I was talking to an older couple about common issues with z3s as they were looking for a fun, older, cheaper, lower hp vert that wasn't a miata that they could also share with their college-aged daughter when she was home. I showed them the pulled spot welds for the diff mount that I knew I had issues with. They haven't gotten visibly worse since I checked last year (despite my seldom aggressive launches to test the clutch), but I got paranoid on my drive home from the show so I inspected them tonight from under the car. No cracks or anything else other than the slight separation from the front of the crossbar and the trunk floor

I'll talk with Deren about repairing it later this year unless it gets worse, but I'm just looking to enjoy cruising in it for a few months. The car won't see auto-x or track time, so thoughts on just waiting and monitoring? Estimate repairs from internet searching are yielding in the $2.5k to $3k range unless I pick up welding and try to learn to do that (which would be interesting and likely dangerous...). If anyone is familiar with this issue or with welding costs, do you think that's a bit inflated? I'm willing to spend some money on the car (especially if it's for parts I can sell later), but I'm trying to avoid sinking a lot into it as I know it'll never be perfect with the money I'm willing to spend on it.

This is the proper procedure for fixing it (albeit a bit overkill for a non-m z3):

http://www.vorshlag.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8039

http://www.bimmerbrothers.com/z3-m-coupe...nt-part-1/

Does that seem like something it would take an experienced fabricator 20+ hours to do? Looks like a days work at most to me.

Personally Id probably do all the prep work myself, then take it to a local welder to have it welded up for (guessing) under $200.