Thanks mate. It’s shocking how much is NLA now. Even serviceable items like a rocker cover gasket are now discontinued. Makes you wonder how hard it’ll be in another 10 years.
My 320i..
Moderator: martauto
Thanks mate. It’s shocking how much is NLA now. Even serviceable items like a rocker cover gasket are now discontinued. Makes you wonder how hard it’ll be in another 10 years.
Last edited by Mitchen on Sun Apr 17, 2022 10:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Okay so a lots gone on this last week, culminating in a solid bank holiday weekend of E30 graft.
Started off with a full inspection 2, with brake fluid and coolant. Whilst servicing the sports auto fluid, also saw fit to replace the rusty old sump. Pretty pointless addition but looks shiney
I also needed to replace the sunroof headlining. A common issue on these is that they end of disintegrating over time. The glue wears off and the foam falls apart, giving you a head full of debris everytime you open the sunroof. I struck gold by finding a mint example on eBay for £50.
Photo below is of the original busted up panel. You can get these re trimmed, but expensive and seldom match the original.
Started off with a full inspection 2, with brake fluid and coolant. Whilst servicing the sports auto fluid, also saw fit to replace the rusty old sump. Pretty pointless addition but looks shiney
I also needed to replace the sunroof headlining. A common issue on these is that they end of disintegrating over time. The glue wears off and the foam falls apart, giving you a head full of debris everytime you open the sunroof. I struck gold by finding a mint example on eBay for £50.
Photo below is of the original busted up panel. You can get these re trimmed, but expensive and seldom match the original.
So after that.. I was preparing for the installation of a new front valance.
Mine had seen better days and I took the opportunity to get the brake ducts and lower lip painted at the same time.
So it’s not a massive job, but mine was hindered by a lot of missing nuts bolts and speed clips, from historic body shops messing with it.
I went from this…
To this…
Can’t beat fresh new panels…
Mine had seen better days and I took the opportunity to get the brake ducts and lower lip painted at the same time.
So it’s not a massive job, but mine was hindered by a lot of missing nuts bolts and speed clips, from historic body shops messing with it.
I went from this…
To this…
Can’t beat fresh new panels…
Anyway back to today… I took the time on Saturday morning to wash and clay bar the car in preparation for a day of detailing today. I don’t have a garage so I was working against the sun. Washing the car again again at 10am this morning and then waiting until 2pm for the sun to go around my house, so I could start compounding.
I have a Flex forced rotation polisher and I use the Koch Chemie system of compounds and pads. I finish off with Car Pro Reflect and then some carnuba for protection. Doing 4 passes of the whole car between 2-7pm has annihilated me.. and tomorrow I will be doing nothing but resting these aching bones
However the results were unbelievable. Not a swirl or scratch in sight.
I have a Flex forced rotation polisher and I use the Koch Chemie system of compounds and pads. I finish off with Car Pro Reflect and then some carnuba for protection. Doing 4 passes of the whole car between 2-7pm has annihilated me.. and tomorrow I will be doing nothing but resting these aching bones
However the results were unbelievable. Not a swirl or scratch in sight.
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Tzantushka
- E30 Zone Regular
- Posts: 457
- Joined: Sat Nov 24, 2018 4:18 am
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
Looks fantastic!
And yes also have noted a few parts becoming NLA more recently
And yes also have noted a few parts becoming NLA more recently
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rix313
- E30 Zone Team Member
- Posts: 4939
- Joined: Fri Oct 31, 2008 11:00 pm
- Location: Silverstone
- Contact:
I've always been pretty impressed with what is still available. Problem is they peak and troff with what they decide to make and the prices fluctate like a bastard as well. 1 year ago you could get genuine front wings for £240 ish, now they are £460 and one side is essentially on an eternal lead time.
Ok so whilst the car is in winter hibernation I've decided to do some major surgery.
Although this car is pretty solid, any E30 owner that tells you their car is rust free is either a liar, delusional, or it's undergone a major/bareshell resto
The car has had 2 major repairs in the past and they've both been done badly. Firstly two rear inner arches back in 08 before I acquired the car and secondly a new rear panel in 2015/16 under my stewardship. Unfortunately I wasn't in the trade at the time and went with a bodyshop that I should have avoided. The old adage 'you get what you pay for' was made for car bodyshops.
Although I supplied a genuine rear panel the whole job was a bit of a lash up.. areas that should have been protected and treated at the same time weren't and sure enough fast forward 6-7 years and rust is starting to appear at the joins of the rear panel and rear quarter. It's also been letting water into the rear boot pockets. This is a prime of example of having a body shop that aren't familiar with the car or at least cars of a similar ilk... or maybe they were just s**t
Whilst the car was in storage the last 2-3 years I've been planning on getting this work done and just decided this winter is the prime time. Although my current bodyshop will destroy your bank account, their experience, craftsmanship and attention to detail is second to none.. especially when it comes to E30's.
Below gives you a jist of what was occuring through water going through seams that should have been sealed and then sitting with nowhere to go. Corrosion starts and then spreads.
Time to cut off the rear panel
The OS boot pocket was beyond saving and had to go...
Any one who's gone down this route will no doubt appreciate how scarce repair panels are nowadays.. particularly genuine parts. I managed to get a section of the boot pocket from Holland.. but the rest needs to be fabricated.
Although this car is pretty solid, any E30 owner that tells you their car is rust free is either a liar, delusional, or it's undergone a major/bareshell resto
The car has had 2 major repairs in the past and they've both been done badly. Firstly two rear inner arches back in 08 before I acquired the car and secondly a new rear panel in 2015/16 under my stewardship. Unfortunately I wasn't in the trade at the time and went with a bodyshop that I should have avoided. The old adage 'you get what you pay for' was made for car bodyshops.
Although I supplied a genuine rear panel the whole job was a bit of a lash up.. areas that should have been protected and treated at the same time weren't and sure enough fast forward 6-7 years and rust is starting to appear at the joins of the rear panel and rear quarter. It's also been letting water into the rear boot pockets. This is a prime of example of having a body shop that aren't familiar with the car or at least cars of a similar ilk... or maybe they were just s**t
Whilst the car was in storage the last 2-3 years I've been planning on getting this work done and just decided this winter is the prime time. Although my current bodyshop will destroy your bank account, their experience, craftsmanship and attention to detail is second to none.. especially when it comes to E30's.
Below gives you a jist of what was occuring through water going through seams that should have been sealed and then sitting with nowhere to go. Corrosion starts and then spreads.
Time to cut off the rear panel
The OS boot pocket was beyond saving and had to go...
Any one who's gone down this route will no doubt appreciate how scarce repair panels are nowadays.. particularly genuine parts. I managed to get a section of the boot pocket from Holland.. but the rest needs to be fabricated.
Here's the repair panel in all it's glory
Then came the craftmanship.. This is just the OS.. same still be done on the passenger side and then the new rear panel to be attached.
Then came the craftmanship.. This is just the OS.. same still be done on the passenger side and then the new rear panel to be attached.
Skill has to be learned , earned , only with time ,there can not be another way.
Unfortunately a lot of cash as well.
Well not really, you get what you pay for yes ????
It`s only expensive when it`s done more than once.
Very cool work, lovely to see "proper" skill.
Mart.
Only the E46 cab left now.
Just got too old.
Just got too old.
Absolutely. You'll be hard pressed to find a run of the mill bodyshop on an industrial estate that can do that level of work and remain true to the factory look. Most could carry out the task.. but firstly the crevices and gaps wouldn't look the same and secondly you'll be back in a few years time when it starts rusting again... just like memartauto wrote: ↑Fri Oct 14, 2022 4:21 pm
Skill has to be learned , earned , only with time ,there can not be another way.
Unfortunately a lot of cash as well.
Well not really, you get what you pay for yes ????
It`s only expensive when it`s done more than once.
Very cool work, lovely to see "proper" skill.
Mart.
So the time for attaching a rear panel to this old jalopy has arrived
And we have lift off....
And we have lift off....
So things are progressing nicely with this. Welding and bag sealing is now done..
We're now ready for paint.. which will be happening on Monday.
For those who care about such things here are some images of the finished article. Now stored away until Spring.
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fixedwheelnut
- E30 Zone Regular
- Posts: 906
- Joined: Sun Nov 20, 2005 11:00 pm
- Location: South East London
Excellent work, love it.