Are those nuts and bolts that are on the door being painted as well?'91 318iS minor resto.. ;-)
Moderator: martauto
Gents, thank-you...Im pretty chuffed at how its come out...
Jimmy: those bolts and odds and ends are all the things that also need painting as the pieces are not on the car but those odds and ends will show once I put it all back together... if I can put it back together!
I hurried those parts home and wanted to get back to the shop before painting started on the car itself... I didnt quite make it in time..
Dooh!!!
I caught the final pass... it was like missing the birth of your child....
With the paint on I went in the booth to have a looksee..here you see how important the clear coat is...
Here it was prior...
The paint is flat and mottled.. I bought the highest quality paint..Dupont Chromax Pro.. 2 coats to get that coverage..pretty awesome...
Here is was getting its clear coat...
When it was complete she spent the night in the booth.. Next morning she was coming back home...
Back where she started....
and all the parts...
I think she came out quite nice considering where she started and only my hands to fix her....
At this point I wont touch the car for 2 weeks, to give the clear coat time to harden.
In other news...
The engine work has begun and will be rebuilt to new.. Im expecting an update from the shop this week..
I have also sold #2.. to a RACE team of all things.. Im not making that up... they only want the shell and guess what? I get to keep EVERYTHING else. So spare engine, tranny, diff, interior, dash etc.. and the best part is I sold her for what I paid for her!!! Gotta love it!
Jimmy: those bolts and odds and ends are all the things that also need painting as the pieces are not on the car but those odds and ends will show once I put it all back together... if I can put it back together!
I hurried those parts home and wanted to get back to the shop before painting started on the car itself... I didnt quite make it in time..
Dooh!!!
I caught the final pass... it was like missing the birth of your child....
With the paint on I went in the booth to have a looksee..here you see how important the clear coat is...
Here it was prior...
The paint is flat and mottled.. I bought the highest quality paint..Dupont Chromax Pro.. 2 coats to get that coverage..pretty awesome...
Here is was getting its clear coat...
When it was complete she spent the night in the booth.. Next morning she was coming back home...
Back where she started....
and all the parts...
I think she came out quite nice considering where she started and only my hands to fix her....
At this point I wont touch the car for 2 weeks, to give the clear coat time to harden.
In other news...
The engine work has begun and will be rebuilt to new.. Im expecting an update from the shop this week..
I have also sold #2.. to a RACE team of all things.. Im not making that up... they only want the shell and guess what? I get to keep EVERYTHING else. So spare engine, tranny, diff, interior, dash etc.. and the best part is I sold her for what I paid for her!!! Gotta love it!
Last edited by Split_S on Fri Mar 22, 2019 9:32 pm, edited 1 time in total.
AMAZING! That day when it came back must have been like Christmas morning to you!
Looks fantastic norm,, hope you have enough patience to wait the 2 weeks before starting to put it all back together . you will find the next stage of the restoration the most enjoyable. Few things in life more satisfying than putting all them freshly painted, refurbished, reconditioned and new bits back on to a restored shell.
An awesome and epic project.. Well done !!
Jim
An awesome and epic project.. Well done !!
Jim
Mitchen: it actually felt like reaching the top of Everest... "FINALLY!!"
Jim,
Thanks so much.. Im actually looking forward to the 2 week break as I have been working really hard on the car and at work...
But, having said that Im busy stripping # 2 as Ive sold her shell to a racing team and Sunday morning Im pulling the engine and all drivetrain components out at a garage (warmth!!).. Should be fun having two of everything an e30 needs!!
I love striping e30s but its ZERO degrees celsius out.. brrrr...
Tomorrow she will be gone living on as a race car - Im VERY happy about that... I feel proud to be saving these cars...
Jim,
Thanks so much.. Im actually looking forward to the 2 week break as I have been working really hard on the car and at work...
But, having said that Im busy stripping # 2 as Ive sold her shell to a racing team and Sunday morning Im pulling the engine and all drivetrain components out at a garage (warmth!!).. Should be fun having two of everything an e30 needs!!
I love striping e30s but its ZERO degrees celsius out.. brrrr...
Tomorrow she will be gone living on as a race car - Im VERY happy about that... I feel proud to be saving these cars...
Last edited by Split_S on Fri Mar 22, 2019 9:32 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Well with the car in the garage going on 2 weeks I figured it was time to get back to work.... Without an engine I figured I would start with the rear of the car and work forwards...
I had to make some room in the garage for the incoming parts from the sale of #2.. So I had to reorganize and getting the boot lid back on was priority one..
I was alone as always so I improvised...
Then I went out to the shed and got all the stuff I put there 67 million years ago... I washed all the seals by hand - they were in good shape.. I started with the rear seal - the others will wait...
Then I spent a good hour fishing the wiring loom back thru to the boot and finding all my baggies of nuts bolts etc and getting everything back where it belonged..
Id also washed the rear lights (again!) and once dry couldnt wait to throw them on!
I had to make some room in the garage for the incoming parts from the sale of #2.. So I had to reorganize and getting the boot lid back on was priority one..
I was alone as always so I improvised...
Then I went out to the shed and got all the stuff I put there 67 million years ago... I washed all the seals by hand - they were in good shape.. I started with the rear seal - the others will wait...
Then I spent a good hour fishing the wiring loom back thru to the boot and finding all my baggies of nuts bolts etc and getting everything back where it belonged..
Id also washed the rear lights (again!) and once dry couldnt wait to throw them on!
Last edited by Split_S on Fri Mar 22, 2019 9:32 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Looks quite nice methinks...
Rewiring was easy..
All you blokes with lights already on your car might not appreciate how excited I was to see her coming back together.. I'd already started using parts from number two - the lefthand light is from number two as it was quite nicer than the original....
I also took advantage of the warm day and dyed all the boot carpeting and resprayed the cabin carpet which I'd yanked from number two...
Not happy with my setup in the garage I pulled a bunch of stuff out and reorganized it..
Much better...
Car restoration is all about endless cleaning and shuffling things around it seems...
Rear bumper is next!
Rewiring was easy..
All you blokes with lights already on your car might not appreciate how excited I was to see her coming back together.. I'd already started using parts from number two - the lefthand light is from number two as it was quite nicer than the original....
I also took advantage of the warm day and dyed all the boot carpeting and resprayed the cabin carpet which I'd yanked from number two...
Not happy with my setup in the garage I pulled a bunch of stuff out and reorganized it..
Much better...
Car restoration is all about endless cleaning and shuffling things around it seems...
Rear bumper is next!
Last edited by Split_S on Fri Mar 22, 2019 9:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I repainted the rear bumper metal components a few days ago and now proceeded to put it back in place..this went well except for one bolt which I couldn't find the nut for..that cost me an hour of wasted time as I searched but I swore a lot so it was fun.. With that in I put the clips for the bumper cover back on ( the ones near the arch) and slid the bumper cover back on and the new trim pieces...
With boot trim in place...
Molding was next...
I'm really proud of this rear arch....
New fuel thingie in place...
And I couldn't resist...
So that's it for now... I'm having some trouble with the rear lock - I have to rebuild it..I'm also wondering about a sound system and I haven't given that any thought at all but now would be a good time to run some wiring...
But it's all good..this one is coming back to life!
With boot trim in place...
Molding was next...
I'm really proud of this rear arch....
New fuel thingie in place...
And I couldn't resist...
So that's it for now... I'm having some trouble with the rear lock - I have to rebuild it..I'm also wondering about a sound system and I haven't given that any thought at all but now would be a good time to run some wiring...
But it's all good..this one is coming back to life!
Last edited by Split_S on Fri Mar 22, 2019 9:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Thanks G-Bear..Wondered what had happened to you! Sad to hear you are sans-e30... You should rectify that ASAP...
As for the iS the goal is to have her on the road by end of May...
No promises though.. I also have the M3 to baby....
As for the iS the goal is to have her on the road by end of May...
No promises though.. I also have the M3 to baby....
If this is true, I bought the last one! Been reading your restoration today when I should of been working, loving it! I'm in the middle of doing mine, just not to the same level as you - yet, I'm kind of doing mine in stagesSplit_S wrote: The iS' clean sunroof...
Annoyingly the M3s panel itself was rust free - it was the attachment points which had completely rusted out...
Want to know how much? 700cdn...
And btw, there is now only 1 left in Germany!!
Thanks - glad you're enjoying the thread.. Kudos to you for working on your e30 - they all deserve a resto IMHO..
Well I have been busy too... I decide to glue the headliner around the frame.. It seemed like it had been lightly glued in place when I removed it so I decided to tighten up the headliner by doing so..
This I did around the car and the headliner looks nice and tight.. No pic of that yet as I haven't finished "repainting" it yet...
I cleaned the rear window gasket and put her in place once the headliner overwrap was glued in..
Nice..
I fit the rear glass in place and using a flat head screwdriver slipped her into the gasket..
This is semi-permanent as I will be getting the rear glass from #2 in a week or two once she is completely stripped by the race team that bought her.. I will then compare them and choose the nicest..
Spare in the boot... No place else for it...
When I ordered the rear panel those sly Germans sent me a Euro panel..great for you Brits but a bit of a pain for me...
I had to use some of my few remaining brain cells to fit a Canadian plate on a Euro setup.. Two center mounting holes vs. four external holes..
Solution..
Take measurements and drill holes in old plate..
Install..
Mount new plate on top... Genius I know...
I also refurbed the fuel pump (taken from # 2) and repainted her..
Installed and hoses connected... No sure about that level sensor though.. i may need a new one... I'll find out in a few months...
I also decided to throw the rear parcel shelf in and fit the rear seat back - if only to get them out of the basement as i will need to remove them for a couple of things that will need doing later...
Lots of space for me and the wife to fool around though...
Ive done lots more but Ive got to space these posts out - keep you guys in suspense and all....
Well I have been busy too... I decide to glue the headliner around the frame.. It seemed like it had been lightly glued in place when I removed it so I decided to tighten up the headliner by doing so..
This I did around the car and the headliner looks nice and tight.. No pic of that yet as I haven't finished "repainting" it yet...
I cleaned the rear window gasket and put her in place once the headliner overwrap was glued in..
Nice..
I fit the rear glass in place and using a flat head screwdriver slipped her into the gasket..
This is semi-permanent as I will be getting the rear glass from #2 in a week or two once she is completely stripped by the race team that bought her.. I will then compare them and choose the nicest..
Spare in the boot... No place else for it...
When I ordered the rear panel those sly Germans sent me a Euro panel..great for you Brits but a bit of a pain for me...
I had to use some of my few remaining brain cells to fit a Canadian plate on a Euro setup.. Two center mounting holes vs. four external holes..
Solution..
Take measurements and drill holes in old plate..
Install..
Mount new plate on top... Genius I know...
I also refurbed the fuel pump (taken from # 2) and repainted her..
Installed and hoses connected... No sure about that level sensor though.. i may need a new one... I'll find out in a few months...
I also decided to throw the rear parcel shelf in and fit the rear seat back - if only to get them out of the basement as i will need to remove them for a couple of things that will need doing later...
Lots of space for me and the wife to fool around though...
Ive done lots more but Ive got to space these posts out - keep you guys in suspense and all....
Last edited by Split_S on Fri Mar 22, 2019 9:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Well I haven't given up...
Fitted the fan assembly.. Once it was in I realized I now had to REMOVE it to get the wiper assembly in...
Also cleaned up the battery wire and connected her up.. This took a while as I had nuts and bolts to wire clean and make pretty...
Wiper assembly was next.. if you recall I refurbed the whole thing last winter...
With the wiper assembly in I put in the new grills..Thank goodness I kept the old ones because there are 3 metal clips that are needed to clip them into place... Looks good doesnt it? Too bad I will have to rip it ALL out one more time because I JUST realized there is a plastic cover that goes on the wiper motor assembly (my car never had it).. Funny how I discovered that only MINUTES after I had the whole thing in... aaargg.... Hopefully the wiper motor isn't fried... Seems to me I tested it but Im a bit foggy on that...
I decided to clean up the engine wiring - I havent seen this stuff in over 2 years as its been bagged up...
Removed the metal backing for cleaning and paint and new rubberizing...
Got out the old toothbrush and cleaned everything.. no charred wires to be seen...
Backing plate installed (even though I know it will come off once I get the wiper motor cover from BMW!!)
Wiring set reinstalled..
I also installed a new throttle cable.. Easy enough with nothing in the way... Would kinda suck in a non-dismantled car..
I also got ready to bend a new clutch pipe..
and installed it.. Gotta clean up that paint drip on the rubber there...looks awful...
You guys still awake?
Next installment is the headliner and other assorted goodies....
Fitted the fan assembly.. Once it was in I realized I now had to REMOVE it to get the wiper assembly in...
Also cleaned up the battery wire and connected her up.. This took a while as I had nuts and bolts to wire clean and make pretty...
Wiper assembly was next.. if you recall I refurbed the whole thing last winter...
With the wiper assembly in I put in the new grills..Thank goodness I kept the old ones because there are 3 metal clips that are needed to clip them into place... Looks good doesnt it? Too bad I will have to rip it ALL out one more time because I JUST realized there is a plastic cover that goes on the wiper motor assembly (my car never had it).. Funny how I discovered that only MINUTES after I had the whole thing in... aaargg.... Hopefully the wiper motor isn't fried... Seems to me I tested it but Im a bit foggy on that...
I decided to clean up the engine wiring - I havent seen this stuff in over 2 years as its been bagged up...
Removed the metal backing for cleaning and paint and new rubberizing...
Got out the old toothbrush and cleaned everything.. no charred wires to be seen...
Backing plate installed (even though I know it will come off once I get the wiper motor cover from BMW!!)
Wiring set reinstalled..
I also installed a new throttle cable.. Easy enough with nothing in the way... Would kinda suck in a non-dismantled car..
I also got ready to bend a new clutch pipe..
and installed it.. Gotta clean up that paint drip on the rubber there...looks awful...
You guys still awake?
Next installment is the headliner and other assorted goodies....
Last edited by Split_S on Fri Mar 22, 2019 9:36 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Doing a great job of the rebuild and an even better job of updating the tread, giving us all something good to read on these dark winter nights! 
You should never underestimate the predictability of stupidity
M42 Supercharged 285bhp + M3 6speed box
No it doesnt...willnz wrote:Your steering universal needs polishing!
Its being replaced with the one I removed from iS #2..It's a modified steering universal for the M3 steering rack I will be putting in... I just hope I can get the original one off!!
Thanks Appletree.. Glad you're enjoying it.. Hopefully I can stretch this out till spring....
I may have missed it but why have you fitted the bulkhead sound insulation before other bulkhead parts?
Also the rear shelf speakers are facing the wrong way.
Also the rear shelf speakers are facing the wrong way.
Yeah you missed it...bss325i wrote:I may have missed it but why have you fitted the bulkhead sound insulation before other bulkhead parts?
Also the rear shelf speakers are facing the wrong way.
I was just getting stuff out of the way.. all the rear cabin stuff is just in there temporarily (making space in the basement!). Speakers are the wrong way I know - I didnt pay attention when I had redyed the parcel shelf earlier last summer.. It will be fixed when I get back to the final setup for the interior...
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jimbom30cab
- Tech 1 freak
- Posts: 7634
- Joined: Mon Oct 12, 2009 11:00 pm
- Location: in the garage
I left my bulkhead sound insulation off mine. They act like a sponge when wet and against the bulkhead that is not good. Also, I think they look smarter without.
Indeed they can act like a sponge if they get very wet.
The primary cause of a bulkhead sound insulation getting wet is blocked or missing scuttle drain.
Split-s, so why have you left the bulkhead insulation off? Is it for the reason Jim stated?
I ask as fitting it now you fitted other items such as the clutch hydraulics and steering coupling will mean either they need to be removed again or the insulation cut to fit.
The primary cause of a bulkhead sound insulation getting wet is blocked or missing scuttle drain.
Split-s, so why have you left the bulkhead insulation off? Is it for the reason Jim stated?
I ask as fitting it now you fitted other items such as the clutch hydraulics and steering coupling will mean either they need to be removed again or the insulation cut to fit.
Oh, I missed the "bulkhead" part... for some reason I thought you were talking about the cabin... sorry just got back from work and a bit tired... 
The answer is simple: I wont be fitting any..
I made that decision when I ripped it all off a couple of years ago now... I will be fitting a bit of insulation on the interior of the cabin but I like hearing my engine and think it will work out just perfect... So Im in agreement with Jim on that one...
I asked about it at the time and most guys seemed to think it didnt make a big difference....
We shall see...
The answer is simple: I wont be fitting any..
I made that decision when I ripped it all off a couple of years ago now... I will be fitting a bit of insulation on the interior of the cabin but I like hearing my engine and think it will work out just perfect... So Im in agreement with Jim on that one...
I asked about it at the time and most guys seemed to think it didnt make a big difference....
We shall see...
A bit of porn for you gents...
Went OEM...50 oversize..
Meeting with the engine builder next week..hopefully have some pics to share...Engine rebuild will go quick as ALL is good with the engine.. Just needs a rebore, new pistons and bearings...nice...
Went OEM...50 oversize..
Meeting with the engine builder next week..hopefully have some pics to share...Engine rebuild will go quick as ALL is good with the engine.. Just needs a rebore, new pistons and bearings...nice...
Last edited by Split_S on Fri Mar 22, 2019 9:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Winx on here doesn't run a bulkhead sound insulation on his M52 touring of which I've been in but that is a track car not a road car....Split_S wrote:Oh, I missed the "bulkhead" part... for some reason I thought you were talking about the cabin... sorry just got back from work and a bit tired...
The answer is simple: I wont be fitting any..
I made that decision when I ripped it all off a couple of years ago now... I will be fitting a bit of insulation on the interior of the cabin but I like hearing my engine and think it will work out just perfect... So Im in agreement with Jim on that one...
I asked about it at the time and most guys seemed to think it didnt make a big difference....
We shall see...
Not sure weather you've had much of your M3's interior apart but they use a LOT more sound insulation over a normal E30, like all over the dash, centre console, knee roll etc.
Yes I saw that with the center console on the M3 when I removed it - insulation everywhere...
Im planning on getting the stick-on variety of insulation and will do as good a job as I can on the inside the cabin... For better or worse I wanted the engine bay clean and didn't want to mute out the sound of the engine - hopefully with a bit of cabin insulation it will strike the right balance...
It will be a summer-only car... shows and fun-drives car - so no matter what, I will be happy...
Im planning on getting the stick-on variety of insulation and will do as good a job as I can on the inside the cabin... For better or worse I wanted the engine bay clean and didn't want to mute out the sound of the engine - hopefully with a bit of cabin insulation it will strike the right balance...
It will be a summer-only car... shows and fun-drives car - so no matter what, I will be happy...
Cool.
You post on my M3 thread struck a cord by the way.
I should really post up why i ended up selling it..... and what replaced it.
You post on my M3 thread struck a cord by the way.
I should really post up why i ended up selling it..... and what replaced it.
I would REALLY like to know why... And what could replace the M3? Not a dime-a-dozen Porsche???
Feel free to PM me if you dont want others to know!! LOL
You must have your reasons though.. I was just dumbfounded by your abrupt change of heart..
I keep getting guys at work telling me I should sell the M3 - I could sell it for 60,000$ here no problem and having only paid it 22,000$ last March it would be quite the profit! But every time I come back from a drive I actually tell myself "NEVER SELL THIS CAR!"..
Im curious how I will feel once the iS is completed though - I am quite attached to that car for obvious reasons... I know if I had to choose between the two the M3 would be leaving but only because Ive poured almost 3 years of my free time into the iS and brought her back from the dead... Thank goodness i DONT have to choose!!
Feel free to PM me if you dont want others to know!! LOL
You must have your reasons though.. I was just dumbfounded by your abrupt change of heart..
I keep getting guys at work telling me I should sell the M3 - I could sell it for 60,000$ here no problem and having only paid it 22,000$ last March it would be quite the profit! But every time I come back from a drive I actually tell myself "NEVER SELL THIS CAR!"..
Im curious how I will feel once the iS is completed though - I am quite attached to that car for obvious reasons... I know if I had to choose between the two the M3 would be leaving but only because Ive poured almost 3 years of my free time into the iS and brought her back from the dead... Thank goodness i DONT have to choose!!
Well, people have said to me when i had the M3, would i sell the 325i but i would NEVER sell it for reasons i have said before, that its part of the family in that both my sons came home from the hospital when they were born, it was the car i had when i started dating my mrs not to mention the countless hours and money i have spent improving it.
Plus, i actually like driving it!
PM on its way.
Plus, i actually like driving it!
PM on its way.