The evolution of ‘Errol’ the 325i Cabriolet

[bexwoods]

Hey guys,

Here’s the progress my brother and I have made so far
He’s a solid car but lots to do to save this beauty.


Home time

First couple of easy jobs, chrome on the front end polished up, oem indicators and new badges:

[bexwoods]

More yummy progress.....

Front end stripped for cleaning up, skuttles and wing mirrors removed for paint:

[bexwoods]

Front arches were all broken so they’ve been removed ready to be replaced:

Busted up fog lights removed and now replaced after my brother made me a new gasket ;)

Front seat removed ready to fix the mechanism and feed the leather (and some goodies waiting to go on the car )

[bexwoods]

Boot liner stripped to replace the aerial and prep for some work on the rear passenger arch...

[Cloggy Saint]

Good to see you're getting tucked in already. It's amazing what a difference something as small as new boot/bonnet badges makes.

[martauto]

looking good and not messing around either

Mart.

[MickoE30]

Tidy work.

What are you planning to use on the plastics?

[Steve]

So many great projects on here at the moment. keep those posts coming.

[bexwoods]

Tidy work.

What are you planning to use on the plastics?

Thanks guys 🥰
Not sure what you mean Micko? Which plastics? Arches are getting replaced with new parts (on order!)

[MickoE30]

Sorry, meant what sort of paint are you planning on using on the plastic scuttle vents/covers & mirrors.

[bexwoods]

Skuttles done!

It’s just satin black rattle can.... looks good in my opinion! Not bad for my first paint!
Last order came through from online car parts too this week.

Also treated myself to this sorry bank balance!

[bexwoods]

Oh and my brother has started to look at repairing my passenger seat.... and fixed the drivers seat!
Both mechanisms were KNACKERED!!

[rix313]

What a pretty car and great to see the lengths you're going to to replace parts

[bexwoods]

This weekends progress update....

Front end reassembled.
Foam replaced and toolkit polished.
Rear seats out and new buckles

[bexwoods]

More goodies for Errol 🥰

Confirmed the factory spec while I was at BMW and we’re all good FEW!!

[bexwoods]

More progress this weekend wingmirrors painted and the rest of the rear interior stripped out.
Found some absolutely SHOCKING speakers in the back of the car.... can anyone recommend replacements? Want to do the new Blaupunkt headunit some justice but equally don’t want to spend a fortune!

[martauto]

Thats a beautiful looking car and I just "LOVE" the polished tool kit.!!! it`s so neerdy it`s fantastic

Mart.

[bexwoods]

Thats a beautiful looking car and I just "LOVE" the polished tool kit.!!! it`s so neerdy it`s fantastic

Mart.

Thank you

[bexwoods]

So.... first proper snag hit. Got the car ready to go to the body shop tomorrow and went to get it out of the garage and for the VERY FIRST TIME it won’t start. No power to fuel pump and no spark. He turns over fine.
I am assuming it’s something to do with an immobiliser, but I had not engaged it and now the ‘key’ doesn’t seem to do anything.....
working on tracing the wiring through the loom in an attempt to bypass it but if anyone has any ideas I’d appreciate the help?
Wiring diagram, knowledge of what it’s all connected to etc?

It’s a factory install with the magnetic key that you insert into the door. (Not getting anything from the led on the door, which should illuminate) the car has been sat unlocked for a couple of weeks, on trickle charge. Have tried leaving battery disconnected for a while.

[BenHar]

If it is the factory immobiliser then it taps into a green wire above the glove box.

With any luck you will find a plug with a loop of green wire on it tied to the wiring there.

You can unplug the immobiliser connection there and replace it with the loop of wire.

Ben

[bexwoods]

If it is the factory immobiliser then it taps into a green wire above the glove box.

With any luck you will find a plug with a loop of green wire on it tied to the wiring there.

You can unplug the immobiliser connection there and replace it with the loop of wire.

Ben

Thanks Ben, we did this and it still didn’t work.... but a bit more investigation (thanks to the diagnostic wiki on here!) lead us to putting wires direct from the battery to the fuel pump, still not working.... so a mallet to the fuel pump and hey presto he starts!!!
All back together ready to drive to the shop tomorrow for work on the rear arch 🥰

[bexwoods]

I’m not going to lie, it’s been a tough weekend! But we made it through to the other side and I FINALLY got to drive him!
Brakes and shocks are shot but it’s at the body shop and will come back in a week or two and we’ll get to work on that! 🥰

[bexwoods]

So he’s at the body shop and these babies arrived today!

Buzzing as found this in the history! So he’ll look as if it’s completely standard!!

[Tzantushka]

Get your RAD mix tapes ready!

[bexwoods]

A little more work than planned for Errol so he’s still at the body shop just want to get started on the mechanics now!!

[bexwoods]

Progress update from today!
Hoping to have him home for Christmas

Please excuse the rotten arse brakes, shocks etc.... they’re all going before he goes on the road!

[martauto]

looking very good
Do you do all the mechanical work yourself ?
This will be a very cool car when finished

Mart.

[bexwoods]

looking very good
Do you do all the mechanical work yourself ?
This will be a very cool car when finished

Mart.

Thank you
Yeah, my brother is teaching me as we go

[bexwoods]

All done and home in time for Christmas 🥰

Can’t wait to get started on the engine bay in the new year

[martauto]

Nice one , and merry crimbo , keep the pic`s coming please ?

What is the bmw colour code please ?

Mart.

[bexwoods]

Nice one , and merry crimbo , keep the pic`s coming please ?

What is the bmw colour code please ?

Mart.

Of course, little break for me over Christmas as my brother needed to work on his Merc, but will be back at it next weekend

it’s 184 Dolphin Grey

[bexwoods]

My brother got itchy waiting for me to head over and get on with the car.....
Front seats fed, re-stitched and mechanisms all fixed

Rear arch and skuttle all sorted too 🥰 They did such a great job! Defo getting them to do any future paint/body work!

[martauto]

Looking very tidy indeed, will this be your daily ?

Mart.

[bexwoods]

Looking very tidy indeed, will this be your daily ?

Mart.

Thanks no it’s not a daily but it will be used a lot. I have a 2019 Mercedes A250 AMG Line as a daily (I don’t recommend them! Serves me right for deviating from beemer!!)

[bexwoods]

Shines bits delivered today and the rest of the rear bumper parts ready to collect from beemer tomorrow.... can’t wait to get back to work at the weekend