E30 Zone

Hi All

I have some time available to work on my E30 soon and plan to fix my dodgy lock with a kit I purchased from BMW a while back.

As part of the process I understand I will need to remove the door card and the plastic water proof membrane behind this.



(Image is from this guide).

It is quite likely that the plastic may not even be there or will disintegrate on removal.


Has anyone done this before?


From my research so far I gather I could use some thick plastic sheeting and butyl tape, similar to this video:




Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Yep, that’s the stuff I used.
Works a treat.

Cheapest heavy duty plastic sheet is building DPM - the plastic sheet that is laid over the entire ground floor of a building before the screed is laid. A piece big enough for door is worth a few pence, but it does normally come as a 100m2 sheet.
Late E30s have an opaque grey membrane, which is reusable, as long as you don't let it fold back on itself when its off, as the butyl adhesive will stick it to itself.

To do the job you can use the building DPM as Brian says above.

If you are doing an OEM retro and originality is important then a roll of the stuff is available from BMW for not completely stupid money.

51951924961

Worth it if you have a couple of cars to do

flybynite wrote: ↑

Sat Oct 03, 2020 9:33 pm

To do the job you can use the building DPM as Brian says above.

If you are doing an OEM retro and originality is important then a roll of the stuff is available from BMW for not completely stupid money.

51951924961

Worth it if you have a couple of cars to do

Wasn't aware this was still available from BMW.

Looks like a roll is about £35, but will check with Cotswolds.

Would a roll be enough for all 4 doors on a saloon?

TurtleDesignTech wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 04, 2020 4:24 pm

Would a roll be enough for all 4 doors on a saloon?

Should be, been told it is more than enough to do 4x 2-door doors so a moredoor should be no problem.

flybynite wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 04, 2020 6:43 pm

TurtleDesignTech wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 04, 2020 4:24 pm

Would a roll be enough for all 4 doors on a saloon?

Should be, been told it is more than enough to do 4x 2-door doors so a moredoor should be no problem.

Cheers Flybynite . Will get an order placed with Cotswolds.

I got around to taking the door apart and rebuilding the drivers side door lock a few weeks ago.

For any one interested, this is what part number 51951924961 looks like.

The roll is quite heavy and seems like there is plenty for my more door .

30 year old membrane on a garaged only E30. Condition is much better than expected and the membrane gave quite a fight when I tried to remove it.

Got to use my new trim removal tools for this job. Worked a treat - didn't break any clips or damage the paint either the door card or the paint on the door.

With membrane removed. The window mechanism is quite impressively over-engineered.

I didn't quite get around to fitting the new membrane unfortunately.

I am also considering fitting some extra sound deadening to the door skin, however a bit torn about this at present. The door itself doesn't actually sound too tinny when tap it all over.

Closer to Christmas I am should have time to give the inside of the door a clean, spraying some cavity wax, (fit sound deadening?) and fit the new membrane.

I did however get around to using my lock rebuild kit I purchased 6 months ago... Very impressed with the updated design. Lock actual works now and have ordered a new one for the other side too.

What’s a trim removal tool look like?

minesapint wrote: ↑

Mon Nov 02, 2020 10:29 pm

What’s a trim removal tool look like?

Mine look like this

flybynite wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 03, 2020 8:15 am

minesapint wrote: ↑

Mon Nov 02, 2020 10:29 pm

What’s a trim removal tool look like?

Mine look like this



61qSYvieKgL._AC_SL1200_.jpg

i've got a set of those plus these off ebay

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-Pcs-Car-Tr ... 2749.l2649

i tend yo use the ebay one's more because if they break they are cheap enough to replace.

TurtleDesignTech wrote: ↑

Mon Nov 02, 2020 7:30 pm

I did however get around to using my lock rebuild kit I purchased 6 months ago... Very impressed with the updated design. Lock actual works now and have ordered a new one for the other side too.


PXL_20201015_134928395.jpg

What's been updated?

Thanks
Ben

minesapint wrote: ↑

Mon Nov 02, 2020 10:29 pm

What’s a trim removal tool look like?

I purchased these ones.

The large flat one is perfect for the door cards.

BenHar wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 03, 2020 7:27 pm

TurtleDesignTech wrote: ↑

Mon Nov 02, 2020 7:30 pm

I did however get around to using my lock rebuild kit I purchased 6 months ago... Very impressed with the updated design. Lock actual works now and have ordered a new one for the other side too.


PXL_20201015_134928395.jpg

What's been updated?

Thanks
Ben

Most notably to my memory is the use of a roller bearing instead of a ball bearing.

Also, the casting that holds the barrel had changed so it better interlocks. This helps the prevent the casting from cracking causing the issue I had where the key will turn much further than it should be limited to in either direction.



Source

Interesting, thanks.

Ben