my E30 M3 replica build

[Alpina99]

Just read this through fully for the first time,
Excellent work, this will look great when it's finished,
Keep up the good work and keep the updates coming !!

[breakermart]

Is it just me or does that boot not line in properly?

Christ that is a lot of filler

theres not as much as you think, you may be mistaking f/g for filler with all the white patches.

[breakermart]

cheers alpina99, its great knowing theres people out there impressed with the build and so keen to follow my work, admitedly its not the best quality but the end result should be right up there as long as i dont fook this spray job up lol

[redcar]

Coming along really nicely.

What's the plans regarding engine and drivetrain?
Is it going to have e30 M3 suspension and an s14?

[bks]

Think it's just you man. Boot-line looks spot on to me, could be because he cut the rear springs and not the fronts.

[Greeny]

hope the painting goes ok and comes out ok as the prep work is epic!

[Ajsingh]

Looking better as it goes on mate!!

[breakermart]

cheers people, i realy hope it goes well too, dont fancy doing that prep work again, as for the driv train, most likely be e36 m3 5 stud setup and for now it will have the e36 2.8 engine with a coupple of tweeks, that will do wile i save up and purchase a 3.2 m3 evo engine but that one is a long way off.
im in serious need of the rear window glass if anyone can put their hands on one??!?!?! got every other bloody rare bit lol. by the way i now it can be got from main dealer, i dont know how much but i cant see it being cheap by far. just thought id try you lot for a wile see if one pops up

[goosiegander]

again, autoglass dude

[breakermart]

again, autoglass dude

iv tried them all, they cant help, they just point me to main dealer

[bks]

Check the yellow pages fella. My old man found a couple of dealers that got laminated glass for his motor and way cheaper than the main dealers, £30-40.

(Infact, does anyone use a yellow pages in this day and age?)

[breakermart]

lol your kidding. when you say your old man got laminated, you mean M3 laminated glass? il take 2 please lol

[bks]

Nah, it was for a piece of sh*t MK3 4-speed Golf, really you just need to shop around. I'm sure there's someone in your local area that sells laminated for pretty cheap.

[breakermart]

so whos got any good tips for when i spray the car, like where to start lol been told to do the engine bay first.....

[Sanchez]

If you lack spraying experience yes, start the with the bits you see the least.

[breakermart]

yeah my experiance in spraying is mainly doing a bit here n there, not had the pleasure of doing a complete spray job from start to finish, so looking for some pointers. but to be fair you might think im mad doing it myself but even the best of us had to do their first effort. whats the worst that can happen, i have to flat it down and try again, i can live with that. least it will be another tick in my box for DIY lol

[Sanchez]

Brave lad. Im not experienced in spraying at all but common sense says take your time dont get frustrated if its not going right.

Room temperature, body panel temp, wet paint thickness, quality of prep all makes a difference to the finished product.

[breakermart]

yeah im holding out for a sunny day to start, i have also learnt most of the quality in the finish is in the preporation, going to try n get a silky smooth finish on the primer with the old wet n dry before i spray, also going to build a tempory home made diy booth to keep elements away. not sure wether to do a coupple of coats with a flat inbetween or just go for a full cover in one hit, these are things i could do with knowing, anyone know their sh*t out there? its also going to be laquored aswell, then mop the sh*t outta it later to get a nice finish. half the reason i chose white is that its easy to spray, forgiving and doesnt reveal ALL imperfections say like black would, plus i think they look the dogs in white. shows off the lines nicely

[tonybtonyb]

Let's hope the weather gets better soon too much rain ,so looking forward to seeing the finish M3

[breakermart]

Is it just me or does that boot not line in properly?

Christ that is a lot of filler

oh as for the boot not seeming to line up, its because there is no boot rubber, rubber stops , boot latch, or boot trim at all, its just sitting with bootlid against metal at the moment, iv tried it with the rubber on and held it in line and it all sits perfectly, you surely dont expect i do this much detail and forget to line a bootlid up lol. speaking of wich, does anyone have and latches or bump stops for the boot lid. could well be same as regular e30's but i cant tell because i sold my bootlid as soon as it came off lol dammit

[bks]

From what I've watched over the years, and read, you take a couple of coats down first, thinly, then the last coat goes down pretty thick.

[jonb]

I dont think you will get a great job doing that at home especially if its your first time. But i think its great if your giving it a try.

The first coat should be a dust, just like you do with a guide coat. Then 30 minutes later do a thick coat, then another coat once that has dried. Tack in between so remove any overspray.

The problem with painting such large areas its trying to to get an even layer of paint, as if your base coat has to much high paint in certain areas you will get a wavey effect once its finished and it will look horrible. Do not put coat after coat on as few months down the line it will eventually crack and you will have to repaint the car again.

The key with laquer is to get plenty out of the gun onto the car on every individual stroke, Instead of spraying and then reapplying 20 seconds later as the laquer has already started to dry when you apply again, and will go dull once it has dryed. So your going have to get a decent gun.

Runs in the paint are easy to do, but just try not to do it on the based coat.

Dont paint if the weather is to hot, and dont do it if its damp or humid, but you probably know these things. Im not a painter by trade, but ive done alot of painting in the past and this has been the methods i have stuck to.

Defo go with the white.

[harry_p]

im in serious need of the rear window glass if anyone can put their hands on one??!?!?! got every other bloody rare bit lol. by the way i now it can be got from main dealer, i dont know how much but i cant see it being cheap by far. just thought id try you lot for a wile see if one pops up

190.00 euros according to bmw fans, so nowhere near as bad as the horror stories i'm sure ive heard in the past. maybe bmw have had a batch made?

should be a bit cheaper in ££s (but probably isnt)

will also add that i enjoy reading your updates regularly even if i don't post on the thread. im sure many others are similar so don't stop updating just because you dont get loads of replys.


must admit there's some superb work gone into getting the shape of the top of the rear wings right, will look even better once in paint.

[breakermart]

cheers harry_p. even if there anywhere round that price im made up. iv been fearing the worst. as for the top of the boot shut, iv actualy impressed myself with that one, realy happy with how its turned out, i know if you parked next to a genuine article you would clearly see difference but still.. im happy. by the way, could i tempt you with purchaseing a bootlid window rubber? i seem to have a spare genuine item, and thanks jonb your advice will be taken into careful consideration. just so badly want it painted now so i can build it back up. the best bit in my book.

by the way, call me thick, but can anyone tell me what number do i call to get through to sytner bmw leicester and ask them if they have a window in stock. tried looking on google and was unsure.

[Sanchez]

Sytner Leicester
Meridian East
Meridian Business Park
Leicester
LE19 1UY
Tel:
0845 481 2028
Fax:
0116 282 7007
E-mail:
bmw.leicester@sytner.co.uk

[Demlotcrew]

The Evolution rear screen is now NLA, but the stock M3 one is still available.

[breakermart]

iv just rang them now any they tell me there is only one rear glass on the system. and that is green tint. doesnt say anymore as to wether its heated or not, and for that there asking £240+vat. anyone got any thoughts on this?

[breakermart]

was that a conversation killer or what? lol or do people become shy at weekends?

[Demlotcrew]

It will be heated 100% and unless you can source an after market one from the likes of RAC etc you'll just have to go with it.

More importantly, I think the rear window shadow trim might be NLA, just double check!

Andrew

[kieran325]

First time I've seen/read this thread

Well done for the copious amounts of effort.

[breakermart]

thanks kieran325, this is my first attempt at a car project and with the mount of money and time and space that taken up, think it will be my last, il probably spend my future improving on this car as they say a project is never finished truely. im actualy constantly impressing myself with this as iv never done any of this before, if i get stuck or dont know about somthing then il ask you lot for info or just google how to.... my history/knowledge of cars is only from all you can gather purely just by breaking cars (stripping them down) and seling the parts on. im actualy going to cream myself when i can actualy build it back up as its somthing iv always wanted to do. but time and money will dictate as to how fast that will go. as iv gone along iv bought and saved parts ready for the build, plus some of the cars original old parts.

but basicly id like to say a big thankyou to you all for showing as much interest and support as what you have already, it makes me feel as though i actualy know what im doing haha. suckers well il keep the pictures coming as i progress further and i hope some of you are now tempted to go the same route and i can then share the interest and help with yours if i can. cheers all. Martin

[M1ckyy]

I was pointed into this direction to join this forum as I myself am doing a E30 M3 replica build too!
I've got to say you have done a great job on your car with the fibreglass conversion.
I started out by collecting fibreglass parts for my build (even having a replica C-pillar made out of fg) last year, but I then decided to go the expensive route & went with all original BMW panels!

If your stuck for a rear screen check out this company in Germany;
http://speedworxs.de/m3-e30/karosserie/index.html
They have a rear screen & trim in stock. I was going to order from them but just haven't got round to it!

Would like to see your car when its done as I am based a few junctions away down the M1!

Mike

[breakermart]

hey mike, im impressed with the german website you have found. thanks for sharing. not sure about trusting the glass to be posted all that way and make it in 1 piece though lol. has anyone delt with these people before?
also have you started your build yet? do you have pictures to share? what spec are you going?

[M1ckyy]

Some lads who deal with BMW parts in Birmingham told me about Speedworxs.de as I was after a few parts.
I haven't actually ordered from them yet!
My car is just about to leave a friends bodyshop as I've had rear Quarters, Panel, Boot floor believe it or not!
New Scuttle, front panel Let's just say I could have ended up with half a new car shell!!
People ask why I've gone so far? It's because this E30 has been in the family since new!
For the last 9 years it has sat on my uncles driveway.

I will share some photos soon! Not quite as far as you though!
Once the bodywork is done a Unique V8 is to be fitted with Uprated Drivetrain

[breakermart]

its not allowed to be better than mine and already it clearly is lol. git! genuine panels and a v8 all i will say is.... mine will handle better. yours will be nose heavy and tail happy what colour are you going to paint it?