Let The Polishing Commence...

[Jim320i]

Well, after the Midlands meet the other day, I thought to myself, I need to make my car stand out a bit as its a bit pants compaired to some that I seen, so, its time to polish everything in the Engine bay bit by bit...

The only real part I could be bother to take out was the ait box part... I started polishing and here is the current outcome... Still need to do loads on it and it takes absolutely ages but the finished product looks sweet...





My plan is to pick up replacement parts of all the metal parts on show and 'chrome' them up, then replace them when there done. Probably do it to the parts that come out to and sell them on.


Tell me what you think...

[stup86]

Looks good!

What do you use to get that finish?

[Jim320i]

Drill polishing kit from B&Q for about 7 quid... Its not the best in the world as all the pieces are so tiny and it takes a while. I have been looking for ages to get something to fit an angle grinder and buff them with that, but no luck yet.


I sanded it back first with some 1500 wet and dry to get rid of most of the dinks, but there is still loads that can be seen. It it is a mirror finish... Then just worked through the 3 stages of drill bits that come in that pack...

[pukar]

looks like it took a lot of elbow grease, well done mate!

how long did that take you?

[Jim320i]

Ermmm... I'm not sure mate, I lost track of time, not too long, couple of hours I think so its not that too bad, just as long as you can hold out... I can just focus and carry on though so Im lucky, some people get bored...

The crap bits are the corners as you have to do them and they take a while. Can't wait to get a inlet manifold to do and a rocker cover... Gonna try and pick some up tomorrow from someone I know... Then the throttle body, but I use the car daily, so its hard to take these parts off and do...

[Dezzy]

Looks like alot of effort mate. Big thumbs up from me. I just couldn't be bothered.

[Bob_S]

I should be able to polish items to an easy to maintain finish soon.. watch this space kind of thing

[Jim320i]

Well once I start replacing the parts with the shiny ones, I will polish up the other parts and sell them on so keep an eye out people.

[Nay]

Looking good!

(paint also works well, less effort too! )

[Dezzy]

Who said you can't polish a turd?

[Jim320i]

Paint is a flat colour though... I like to look at myself when I look at my car... lol... Only joking...


I think the chrome finish looks much better

[town325i]

ive got a rocker cover you can have for £10

[Jim320i]

I'll take it mate if I dont pick one up tomorrow. A fella I know should have one for me at the same price, but he lives 2 mins from mine. If he doesnt have one, I'll pm you.

[bootyman]

Mate i take my hat off to you. Mine is already polished and it takes me ages to polish everything before shows so i can imagine how long it must take you to start from scratch

http://www.modifiedcars.com/cars/18938/ ... ture/15908

[Dezzy]

Mate i take my hat off to you. Mine is already polished and it takes me ages to polish everything before shows so i can imagine how long it must take you to start from scratch

http://www.modifiedcars.com/cars/18938/ ... ture/15908

Fook that Ben. I can't be arsed to through a bucket of water over mine (I do every week) never mind polish all that metal.
Fare play fella. Not my thing but defos give you respect for the effort.

[Jim320i]

Well like I said, its a 320 Auto with a crap paint finish soI want to make it stand out some how so polishing the engine will do it I think.... Crazy... I know... My kind of thing... Yeah... As I'm weird... I'll keep you all updated as I go along.

[Cloggy Saint]

Getting it looking good is the easy part, keeping it looking good is a ball ache!

[Jim320i]

Show off. lol... What did you use to get your finish? I use to live in Holland, wish I was into E30's then as I would have tried to come and see yours. Lived in Arnhem.

[Cloggy Saint]

I used a dremel, various grades of wet and dry, steel wool and a whole load of elbow grease.

[BMJG]

i use a polish kit from screw fix does a great job

[Kedge]

Fairplay to you lot for polishing like that, mine all getting painted.

Jim, fancy polishing the raised sections of my inlet and rocker once they're painted

[Jim320i]

Yeah man, let me know when they're ready and I'll give em a go.

[Kedge]

Nice one fella, just got to decide on the colour and get the paint ordered.

[bootyman]

As said, getting it looking great is the simple part, but keeping it looking like that is th hard part. It takes me 2 to 3 hours to polish mine and my hands are normally bleeding by the time i finish! lol

I use brilliant 2 stage polishing liquid to do mine. Maybe it might be helpful if we all write what we use to polish. I'm always willing to try different products to see which is the best

[Jim320i]

Not a bad idea Bootyman, I need to find something that will keep them in good nick when I finish them... Picked up a new rocker cover and inlet manifold earlier for 20 quid for the both of them... Took them straight to my dads work to get them in the 'decarboniser' and my old man said they look like new already, but he is putting them through 1 more time and I'll collect them in the morning... Gonna not wanna polish them when I see them. lol

[mykez69]

Hello.

Nice work. Not sure if my following information is any good to you, but Maplin Electronics sell a polishing kit for around 10 pounds.

It fits to a drill but IIRC they was a nice size (that's what she said)

[Jim320i]

Right... Update on this... I picked up a rocker cover and inlet manifold and man its hard work. lol... Doesnt seem to want to polish so easily as the air flow metre...

I thought to myself, 'What if I get them chrome dipped?' Rang up for a quote, he said he couldnt do the inlet manifold, but could the rocker cover... 120 quid... I guess not then...

The problem I am having is when I think its ready to start polishing, I noticed the little dink and textured surface making it look like it has black spots...

Is there anything bigger I can use to get these things polished?

Prehaps starting off with 40 grit and working through them? Or would that be too extreme... So far,none of it is seeming to shine and the inlet manifold is gonna take months at that rate.

[Messenjah]

i dont know m8 but once they are polished try poorboys wheel sealant !

[Jim320i]

Thanks mate, I was gonna sk that at some point... Want to keep them nice and clean. Was gonna try waxing them or something.

[johnt0709]

Dont you have any metal polishers near you? Take all your parts in and get them done at once - would be far cheaper than getting it chrome plated - we have one along the road from us, seen him polishing alloys, He usually stands outside for a fag break looking like al jolson - must be heavy equipment they use?


just in case.......

[Jim320i]

Lol! I will have a try today... See what I can find. Al jolson... lol... Thats funny... Im still laughing.