I agree and its already been redone!!
Good eye!!
'91 318iS minor resto.. ;-)
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Demlotcrew
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a‘aaaaa˜‡
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jimbom30cab
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Nice work there, enjoying the updates 
Thanks for the nice comments gents... I guess what Ive done so far is really only part one of an ongoing restoration...so more to come eventually!
Work will continue on Tuesday once Im back home... If all my stars align the car will be ready by Friday.... I really want to take it out cruising next weekend but Ive so much to do and 2 inspections to put her through....
I am itching to drive her the way she was meant to be driven...
Work will continue on Tuesday once Im back home... If all my stars align the car will be ready by Friday.... I really want to take it out cruising next weekend but Ive so much to do and 2 inspections to put her through....
I am itching to drive her the way she was meant to be driven...
Well back at it today but frankly its been an exercise in frustration...
Decided it was time to start preparing the subframe for reassembly so I started setting it up beneath the car with the idea of assembling it all together and raising it in situ...
I had ordered two new plugs for the diff and unlike the old ones they needed a 14mm hex bit to torque them up...
Also needed a 22mm socket for the flange nut that came with the rebuilt half-shafts... So a trip to the autoparts store... 40$ later I had both...
With that done, filled the diff with 1.7 litres of 75W40 diff oil as per BMW's wise counsel and setup a little wood frame for the subframe.. Got the diff in position and then the beam. bolted that up and then set up the half-shafts with the intention of sliding them into the hub of the trailing arm and then bolt up the trailing arms to the beam...
For those of you now LAUGHING at me - you know better only cause you've done this yourself!!
Well needless to say the shafts didn't "slide" into the hub at all. They went in exactly 1mm and no more. I tried oil, grease, strong language, nothing worked.
I would like to say I was surprised but honestly I wasn't. Murphy's law is alive and well in my garage!
I know there is a special tool that pulls the shaft through the hub (and this is the proper way to do it) but it cost a bundle and I don't want to be bothered with it....
This is what Im left with right now...
After that setback I needed some quiet time so I decided to polish the exhaust - Im sure most of you do this from time to time too...
I even took a pic of my new rear brake line... just because...
Stymied I figured I would tackle the front suspension as I want to change out the springs and dampers...
Got the brakes off, even the brake line without breaking it and had to put heat to the tie rod end nut to get her loose... then I loosened the top nuts in the engine bay and...
nothing...
The bolt from the control arm will NOT come out from the hub assembly....which leaves me UNABLE to lower the whole assembly...
I'm sure tomorrow I will figure something out.. tonight it's just me and Mr. Walker....
Decided it was time to start preparing the subframe for reassembly so I started setting it up beneath the car with the idea of assembling it all together and raising it in situ...
I had ordered two new plugs for the diff and unlike the old ones they needed a 14mm hex bit to torque them up...
Also needed a 22mm socket for the flange nut that came with the rebuilt half-shafts... So a trip to the autoparts store... 40$ later I had both...
With that done, filled the diff with 1.7 litres of 75W40 diff oil as per BMW's wise counsel and setup a little wood frame for the subframe.. Got the diff in position and then the beam. bolted that up and then set up the half-shafts with the intention of sliding them into the hub of the trailing arm and then bolt up the trailing arms to the beam...
For those of you now LAUGHING at me - you know better only cause you've done this yourself!!
Well needless to say the shafts didn't "slide" into the hub at all. They went in exactly 1mm and no more. I tried oil, grease, strong language, nothing worked.
I would like to say I was surprised but honestly I wasn't. Murphy's law is alive and well in my garage!
I know there is a special tool that pulls the shaft through the hub (and this is the proper way to do it) but it cost a bundle and I don't want to be bothered with it....
This is what Im left with right now...
After that setback I needed some quiet time so I decided to polish the exhaust - Im sure most of you do this from time to time too...
I even took a pic of my new rear brake line... just because...
Stymied I figured I would tackle the front suspension as I want to change out the springs and dampers...
Got the brakes off, even the brake line without breaking it and had to put heat to the tie rod end nut to get her loose... then I loosened the top nuts in the engine bay and...
nothing...
The bolt from the control arm will NOT come out from the hub assembly....which leaves me UNABLE to lower the whole assembly...
I'm sure tomorrow I will figure something out.. tonight it's just me and Mr. Walker....
Last edited by Split_S on Fri Mar 22, 2019 9:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Looks like you need a ball joint splitter - or to tap a hammer on the part of the hub assembly the bolt goes through (with the nut on the bolt so you don't hit it). And by tapping I may mean hit vigourously. The bolts are tapered so need persuasion to come out.
Good luck!
Good luck!
Done... Got her off this morning with the ball joint splitter Id purchased a month ago!! Duh....
The axle half-shafts are another story - I just had them rebuilt last week and the shop swapped out the splines for some reason.. What they used as a replacement does not fit - I wasn't mistaken... So it was off to the shop today to try again.. no news yet....
Got the LH suspension out and cleaned up and repainted... Fitted a new Bilstein damper... gonna do the rest tomorrow...
Got my wheels too - they look awesome... pics tomorrow....
The axle half-shafts are another story - I just had them rebuilt last week and the shop swapped out the splines for some reason.. What they used as a replacement does not fit - I wasn't mistaken... So it was off to the shop today to try again.. no news yet....
Got the LH suspension out and cleaned up and repainted... Fitted a new Bilstein damper... gonna do the rest tomorrow...
Got my wheels too - they look awesome... pics tomorrow....
After this..
a bunch of this..
this...
this..
this too...
and of course two of these to grind and paint...
Ive gotten to this...
Got to stuff them in here...
Not sure how to tighten the nuts on these bilstein without doing any damage and its been a long day....
a bunch of this..
this...
this..
this too...
and of course two of these to grind and paint...
Ive gotten to this...
Got to stuff them in here...
Not sure how to tighten the nuts on these bilstein without doing any damage and its been a long day....
Last edited by Split_S on Fri Mar 22, 2019 9:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Demlotcrew
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Theres a special tool for these, I will take a photo of it when I get home, easy to make.
Big day yesterday -
Got my half shafts back and they fit into their respective hubs!! I wasted no time and laid out the rear subframe assembly under the car. I lightly bolted the half shafts to the diff and slid them into their hubs and put the nuts on loosely... The whole setup was on a sheet of wood. I placed the jack in the center and with the help of a friend slowly raised the whole setup, gently guiding the rear beam into the frame bolts.
It wasn't easy and I learned a few things.
1) One high lift jack was enough but you need a second one to get the rear beam to sit flush with the frame.
2) Connect your sway bar as you lift up the assembly because guess what? You will forget and your sway bar will not be up and over the half shafts like it should be but behind them, which means you will have to lower the whole thing and start again... Dont ask me why I know this..
3) Bolt up and torque your trailing arms before you start. I did not tighten them up and they are a bitch to get to once the rear beam is in place..
4) Dont forget to seat your springs before you connect the rear shock... I know - I was surprised Id forgotten that too!!
5) The beam must lift equally in order not to bind on the bolts - this was a LOT of fun to get right...
Anyways, here is the final result...
Spent today tightening and torquing and ground the rust off the disks. Ordered new brake pads even though the ones I have are like new but they dust like crazy.. So I ordered ceramic pads, no dust... Amazingly the whole new parking brake setup I did works great too - no adjustment needed whatsoever... I thought that would be a PITA....
Tomorrow morning I will see to getting the front end squared away...
Now Im off to get the front sway bar back in....
Got my half shafts back and they fit into their respective hubs!! I wasted no time and laid out the rear subframe assembly under the car. I lightly bolted the half shafts to the diff and slid them into their hubs and put the nuts on loosely... The whole setup was on a sheet of wood. I placed the jack in the center and with the help of a friend slowly raised the whole setup, gently guiding the rear beam into the frame bolts.
It wasn't easy and I learned a few things.
1) One high lift jack was enough but you need a second one to get the rear beam to sit flush with the frame.
2) Connect your sway bar as you lift up the assembly because guess what? You will forget and your sway bar will not be up and over the half shafts like it should be but behind them, which means you will have to lower the whole thing and start again... Dont ask me why I know this..
3) Bolt up and torque your trailing arms before you start. I did not tighten them up and they are a bitch to get to once the rear beam is in place..
4) Dont forget to seat your springs before you connect the rear shock... I know - I was surprised Id forgotten that too!!
5) The beam must lift equally in order not to bind on the bolts - this was a LOT of fun to get right...
Anyways, here is the final result...
Spent today tightening and torquing and ground the rust off the disks. Ordered new brake pads even though the ones I have are like new but they dust like crazy.. So I ordered ceramic pads, no dust... Amazingly the whole new parking brake setup I did works great too - no adjustment needed whatsoever... I thought that would be a PITA....
Tomorrow morning I will see to getting the front end squared away...
Now Im off to get the front sway bar back in....
Last edited by Split_S on Fri Mar 22, 2019 9:08 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Demlotcrew
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Ouch sounds like you did everything the hard way 
Just to point out the plates that fit at the bottom of the beam above the 22mm nuts are on the wrong sides.
Just to point out the plates that fit at the bottom of the beam above the 22mm nuts are on the wrong sides.
The hard way? It wasnt that bad - just made it worse by forgetting a bunch of stuff as I went along!!
The plates are on the wrong way? Really?? I had a one in two chance!!
Mental Note: Take more pictures!!
Thanks!
The plates are on the wrong way? Really?? I had a one in two chance!!
Mental Note: Take more pictures!!
Thanks!
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Brianmoooore
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Plates definitely the wrong way up = on the wrong sides.
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Demlotcrew
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- Location: East Anglia
I have on occasion had to swap the plates over to temporary stiffen up crap polyflex bushes 
Thats pretty inventive swapping the plates like that!! I didnt swap out the subframe bushings while the rear beam was out - hope those bushes dont wear out too soon!!
but thanks for pointing the plates out guys - Im relying a bit too much on my memory with the M3!!They were definitely wrong side, corrected it this morning..
Front dampers back in now and if my parts arrive by Thursday the car will be ready for Friday.
Amen.
but thanks for pointing the plates out guys - Im relying a bit too much on my memory with the M3!!They were definitely wrong side, corrected it this morning..
Front dampers back in now and if my parts arrive by Thursday the car will be ready for Friday.
Amen.
Well the rubber is on but I ran into a snag.. big surprise.... I was going to put the driveshaft on but the centering sleeve was all screwed up... So now I have to wait until Tuesday to be able to order the d@mn thing from BMW (long weekend here in beaver land..) and hope its a next day thing...
Pics with the rubber on...
Notice the rims - I went a few shades darker than the original BBS and I think they look pretty awesome....
Pics with the rubber on...
Notice the rims - I went a few shades darker than the original BBS and I think they look pretty awesome....
Last edited by Split_S on Fri Mar 22, 2019 9:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I was about to put the driveshaft back in when I noticed this:
That's the centering sleeve and its all banged up... So I had to wait till today (long weekend) to be able to order a new one... Also noticed the bolts for the flange (where the guibo is) were m8 bolts when they should be M12... big difference strength and torque wise...
So they are on order and arrive Wed morning.. hopefully she is on pavement Wed afternoon...
Pulled the seats out though and repainted the rails and plates..Also treated the leather..did some minor painting fixing chips etc.. looks nice... no pics of that though..
Soon....
hennared: work on the iS will commence shortly!!
That's the centering sleeve and its all banged up... So I had to wait till today (long weekend) to be able to order a new one... Also noticed the bolts for the flange (where the guibo is) were m8 bolts when they should be M12... big difference strength and torque wise...
So they are on order and arrive Wed morning.. hopefully she is on pavement Wed afternoon...
Pulled the seats out though and repainted the rails and plates..Also treated the leather..did some minor painting fixing chips etc.. looks nice... no pics of that though..
Soon....
hennared: work on the iS will commence shortly!!
FINALLY!!!
She is DONE!!!
Was at BMW at 9am sharp and got my parts, then off to Eastern Transmission to get the boys to pop out the old centering sleeve and press in the new one.. Total cost: 0$.. Good bunch of guys there...
Then back home and got to work putting the driveshaft back in and also changed the transmission oil while I was there... Got the heatshields in and made a metal sleeve to join up the exhaust where I cut it.. Gonna bring it to a shop tomorrow and have her welded in properly and align her better...
Here she was just out of the garage...
I did not have her out of the garage 60 seconds when a car stopped and the owner yelled out "Awesome Car!!" He was driving a 2014 Audi S4.. He said that was a true "dream car"... Smart guy...
Anyways, still stuff to do of course but she actually runs fine and the 30mm drop is quite nice... The rear wheels look a little lost in those arches but that is stock fitment...
Havent had a chance to really drive her except around the block as she is not street legal yet but should be shortly... I did get her up to redline though just to confirm a stock ECU...
Very rewarding to see her sitting there after a ridiculous amount of hard work...
She is DONE!!!
Was at BMW at 9am sharp and got my parts, then off to Eastern Transmission to get the boys to pop out the old centering sleeve and press in the new one.. Total cost: 0$.. Good bunch of guys there...
Then back home and got to work putting the driveshaft back in and also changed the transmission oil while I was there... Got the heatshields in and made a metal sleeve to join up the exhaust where I cut it.. Gonna bring it to a shop tomorrow and have her welded in properly and align her better...
Here she was just out of the garage...
I did not have her out of the garage 60 seconds when a car stopped and the owner yelled out "Awesome Car!!" He was driving a 2014 Audi S4.. He said that was a true "dream car"... Smart guy...
Anyways, still stuff to do of course but she actually runs fine and the 30mm drop is quite nice... The rear wheels look a little lost in those arches but that is stock fitment...
Havent had a chance to really drive her except around the block as she is not street legal yet but should be shortly... I did get her up to redline though just to confirm a stock ECU...
Very rewarding to see her sitting there after a ridiculous amount of hard work...
Last edited by Split_S on Fri Mar 22, 2019 9:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Thank-you... She was a lot of fun to work on and she drives like a DREAM...
Here she was at the inspection:
The inspectors said she was so nice underneath he invited me to take pics before they lowered her... That was nice of them..
What it was all for...
She is completely stock and Im working on swapping in the original radio today... I did put 10mm spacers on the rear wheels this morning and honestly the rear wheels look better now that they are more flush with the arches... pics of that later on....
I will be tinkering with the M3 all summer - mostly in the engine compartment - but my focus will shift back to the iS... I want her painted and back on wheels by the end of September... sooo much work to do....
I took the M3 for her first real ride out in the country yesterday - it was a beautiful day with lots of corners... Remember that this car had done less than 1000km in the last 10 years.. Yesterday, with the wail of her engine screaming towards redline and the tires hugging the curves, I can honestly say this car was very happy.
And me? Well, I fell in love....
Here she was at the inspection:
The inspectors said she was so nice underneath he invited me to take pics before they lowered her... That was nice of them..
What it was all for...
She is completely stock and Im working on swapping in the original radio today... I did put 10mm spacers on the rear wheels this morning and honestly the rear wheels look better now that they are more flush with the arches... pics of that later on....
I will be tinkering with the M3 all summer - mostly in the engine compartment - but my focus will shift back to the iS... I want her painted and back on wheels by the end of September... sooo much work to do....
I took the M3 for her first real ride out in the country yesterday - it was a beautiful day with lots of corners... Remember that this car had done less than 1000km in the last 10 years.. Yesterday, with the wail of her engine screaming towards redline and the tires hugging the curves, I can honestly say this car was very happy.
And me? Well, I fell in love....
Last edited by Split_S on Fri Mar 22, 2019 9:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Lovely!
Forgive my colour-blindness, but are those wheels negaro grey or just dirty?
Forgive my colour-blindness, but are those wheels negaro grey or just dirty?
Perfect!Split_S wrote:They are negaro grey - definitely NOT dirty!!
I had them completely refurbished and wanted them a couple of shades darker than the standard silvery look. They look awesome up close.
Some tyre dressing would finish them off
You mean the wet look?
I have to respectfully disagree - she looks really nice as is, as the tires are brand new... Everything looks darker in those pics above - they are cell-phone pics...
I'll try to get a decent pic of the wheel setup...
Cheers!
I have to respectfully disagree - she looks really nice as is, as the tires are brand new... Everything looks darker in those pics above - they are cell-phone pics...
I'll try to get a decent pic of the wheel setup...
Cheers!
Sorry I'm being pedantic.. it looks amazing, really does.Split_S wrote:You mean the wet look?
I have to respectfully disagree - she looks really nice as is, as the tires are brand new... Everything looks darker in those pics above - they are cell-phone pics...
I'll try to get a decent pic of the wheel setup...
Cheers!
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hennared323i
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He He, no worries Mr. SSplit_S wrote:I was about to put the driveshaft back in when I noticed this:
That's the centering sleeve and its all banged up... So I had to wait till today (long weekend) to be able to order a new one... Also noticed the bolts for the flange (where the guibo is) were m8 bolts when they should be M12... big difference strength and torque wise...
So they are on order and arrive Wed morning.. hopefully she is on pavement Wed afternoon...
Pulled the seats out though and repainted the rails and plates..Also treated the leather..did some minor painting fixing chips etc.. looks nice... no pics of that though..
Soon....
hennared: work on the iS will commence shortly!!
Have been unusually busy of late and not been on here much.
I must say that M3 looks sweet - you might be the first person on here to finally settle the M3/baby M3 (iS) argument
Ive definitely thought of that. Once the iS is complete I might do a post on the differences between the two and their relative merits. Given they will both be stock - with the perhaps the iS gaining some HP with a chip and lighter pistons - I think it will prove interesting..
Now all I have to do is get a 325iS and compare that with the iS!!
No, that would be too disruptive!
Now all I have to do is get a 325iS and compare that with the iS!!
No, that would be too disruptive!
Well enough about the M3 - back to the iS!!
Not a big update by any means but had been meaning to get to this for quite some time and as I was feeling lazy today it was about the right amount of work...
As you guys know I bought a parts car (its unfair to call it that - its damn clean actually!) and Id been wondering about swapping its interior (black) for mine (tan). I decided to do it and not do it as you'll see...
This was the original interior of my iS: Tan.. not so nice with a red exterior but no rips and in A1 condition... This pick was taken the first day I started the resto..like a billion years ago....
So here's what I decided to do...
Used this great stuff on my original interior...
Came out looking like this:
Awesome!
So I then decided to swap out the interior from the parts car as it is black and swap my freshly painted rear seat and side panels back in...
This is the parts car's original black interior now removed...
I even removed the parcel shelf and swapped my faded one in..should have painted it first but whatever...
I kept my original speakers as they seemed in better condition.. I then proceeded to paint the freshly removed parcel shelf and it came out quite nice...
What I didn't do is removed the front seats on my parts car as they are crap and my original tan sports seats are in perfect condition.. Having used the vinyl paint and seen how great it is Ive decided to paint my sport seats black and use them. Time will tell how good the paint holds up to wear but I will worry about that when the time comes....
Not a big update by any means but had been meaning to get to this for quite some time and as I was feeling lazy today it was about the right amount of work...
As you guys know I bought a parts car (its unfair to call it that - its damn clean actually!) and Id been wondering about swapping its interior (black) for mine (tan). I decided to do it and not do it as you'll see...
This was the original interior of my iS: Tan.. not so nice with a red exterior but no rips and in A1 condition... This pick was taken the first day I started the resto..like a billion years ago....
So here's what I decided to do...
Used this great stuff on my original interior...
Came out looking like this:
Awesome!
So I then decided to swap out the interior from the parts car as it is black and swap my freshly painted rear seat and side panels back in...
This is the parts car's original black interior now removed...
I even removed the parcel shelf and swapped my faded one in..should have painted it first but whatever...
I kept my original speakers as they seemed in better condition.. I then proceeded to paint the freshly removed parcel shelf and it came out quite nice...
What I didn't do is removed the front seats on my parts car as they are crap and my original tan sports seats are in perfect condition.. Having used the vinyl paint and seen how great it is Ive decided to paint my sport seats black and use them. Time will tell how good the paint holds up to wear but I will worry about that when the time comes....
Last edited by Split_S on Fri Mar 22, 2019 9:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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hennared323i
- Old Skooler
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- Joined: Wed Jul 25, 2007 11:00 pm
You haz vinyl seatage 
Nice parcel shelf speakers, is the car wired for the executive sound package?
What news sir?
Nice parcel shelf speakers, is the car wired for the executive sound package?
What news sir?