325i Cabby Project/Resto -Small update 18-11-10

[bodger]

[quote="Alex"]Start off with the nice bits

Picked this up from touring whore, aka Guy on sunday, its fooking lovely, plan was to set tappets and fit new oil spray bar at the same time but the feeler guage didnt have a 0.25mm bit so only fitted the oil spray bar.



quote]


alex, get those hex head bolts out , they need to be replaced with the newer torx style ones

[Tedswagon]

Start off with the nice bits

Picked this up from touring whore, aka Guy on sunday, its fooking lovely, plan was to set tappets and fit new oil spray bar at the same time but the feeler guage didnt have a 0.25mm bit so only fitted the oil spray bar.



quote]


alex, get those hex head bolts out , they need to be replaced with the newer torx style ones

I have these bolt heads as well but I thought taking them out (one out - one in) could unsettle the head gasket - which currently is not leaking! Am I wrong??

[Alex]

Start off with the nice bits

Picked this up from touring whore, aka Guy on sunday, its fooking lovely, plan was to set tappets and fit new oil spray bar at the same time but the feeler guage didnt have a 0.25mm bit so only fitted the oil spray bar.



quote]


alex, get those hex head bolts out , they need to be replaced with the newer torx style ones

whats wrong with them? Which bolts? the ones on the top that there is 14 of

if it aint broke...... etc

[magpie]

you've been bit hard by the bug m8

keeping one e30 up to scratch is enough for me.

[bss325i]

The early Hex bolts can shear the heads off in use and the result is a bolt head rattling around the valve gear.

Remove one, the replace and torque down a new torx bolt one at a time untill all are replaced.

I think that it was somehthing BMW dealers did back in the day.

[e30topless]

Alex the Hex bolts are prone to snapping
have never had that happen to me but better to be safe than sorry !

not sure but it may be possible to replace them one by one without disturbing the gasket ?

[Alex]

Thanks guys, may aswell do them when i do the valve adjustments

i had a go at polishing the car today and i noticed the drivers side rear quarter has been sandpaperd in small areas

I'am thinking while its stripped take it to a bodyshop, i know a guy who seems very pally with me since he knows my parents and does work on my car exceptionally cheap, He also has a body shop I'am trying to get a job off him too

When i take my IS over for brake fluid renewal i might ask how much he would charge for a cab respray if i provide him with it allready stripped of bumpers and trim, which it is at the moment

Whats the going rate for a decent cabby respray ?? around a grand?

[bss325i]

It all depends on how much prep is needed as any one can give a car a quick rub down and blow over.

To get a car arrow straight takes time and effort.

White is good at hiding poor prep though.

The sanding marks you can see are prob prep lines from a previous repair/paint.

Generally a grand is too cheap.

[magpie]

do the brakes yourself with an easy bleed till the black crap runs clear.

first link google offered

http://www.carparts-direct.co.uk/Brake_Bleed_Kit.cfm

[Alex]

do the brakes yourself with an easy bleed till the black crap runs clear.

first link google offered

http://www.carparts-direct.co.uk/Brake_Bleed_Kit.cfm

i couldnt be arsed for £30

my local bmw specialist wants £65

[Alex]

It all depends on how much prep is needed as any one can give a car a quick rub down and blow over.

To get a car arrow straight takes time and effort.

White is good at hiding poor prep though.

The sanding marks you can see are prob prep lines from a previous repair/paint.

Generally a grand is too cheap.

fair enough

its as if someone has took sandpaper to it its not a big area, just looks wierd, the bonnet is like that too along with a piss poor respray, but that will get changed. I use it as a work bench at the moment.

[magpie]

do the brakes yourself with an easy bleed till the black crap runs clear.

first link google offered

http://www.carparts-direct.co.uk/Brake_Bleed_Kit.cfm

i couldnt be arsed for £30

my local bmw specialist wants £65

you only need to buy one once.

[Simon13]

people lets not over hype the hex bolt saga.

If they were going to go, they would of by now. i bought a 325i touring with over 200k on it on hex bolts no problems. A rocker snapped first hitting the redline in 3rd on the M25 chasing Oz a few years ago with 216k on the clocks. the bit of rocker fell by the valve spring no damage done. This engine had had a headgasket done on 190kish and the gargae re used the hex bolts!

Its no worse than a snapped rocker. Imo you've more chance of snapping a rocker as most M20 top ends are knackered old sh!t now

Many years ago Dave no Touring bought a Diamond black sport which was "overheating!" off a Vdubber for £300 with T&T. The car did overheat on the journey home. The rocker cover came off and it had snapped a hex bolt. BUT it had again fallen out the way. I've also had my old 4dr 325i which had hex bolts..... that was written off before they snapped lol

Alex its not the doom people can say so i wouldn't feel pressured to sort this out yesterday kind of scenario

[bss325i]

A sport for £300 with t&t!

[Alex]

people lets not over hype the hex bolt saga.

If they were going to go, they would of by now. i bought a 325i touring with over 200k on it on hex bolts no problems. A rocker snapped first hitting the redline in 3rd on the M25 chasing Oz a few years ago with 216k on the clocks. the bit of rocker fell by the valve spring no damage done. This engine had had a headgasket done on 190kish and the gargae re used the hex bolts!

Its no worse than a snapped rocker. Imo you've more chance of snapping a rocker as most M20 top ends are knackered old sh!t now

Many years ago Dave no Touring bought a Diamond black sport which was "overheating!" off a Vdubber for £300 with T&T. The car did overheat on the journey home. The rocker cover came off and it had snapped a hex bolt. BUT it had again fallen out the way. I've also had my old 4dr 325i which had hex bolts..... that was written off before they snapped lol

Alex its not the doom people can say so i wouldn't feel pressured to sort this out yesterday kind of scenario

will probably leave them anyway, if it aint broke ......

[Simon13]

served for around £3000 shortly later!

[magpie]

will pay for the m50/2

[Alex]

Had some agro with this drivers seat

The mechanisms didnt click into place when you tried adjusting the seat back rest so i decided to fit new mechanisms.

The first side came off nice and easy however the side closest to the door was rusted solid and ended up looking like this when i had finished with 30mins non stop with a hammer (was fun)





after i had removed these i never thought wether the mechanisms i had bought were for passanger or drivers seats., never even crossed my mind they would be different.

Anyway they were for the passanger seat, non cabby so i had to drill the handle out of the old cabby one







i then drilled the "passanger side" clip out to fit the handle for the drivers side







Fitted Cabby handle with nut and bolt





Next i had to drill the handle out and fit a non handle clip













The finished product.







I deffintly want black leather eventually though

[Ollie_bwoii]

Alex, really good work, and if it wasn't for both of us having a blonde moment would have realised the mechs were seat specific.

Still you have done some great fabrication to get them too fit. Fantastic.

[Alex]

i knew that cabbys differ from normal sport seats, as the handle is a different shape and the recline further (hardly an issue really)

Just need to find the covers for the seat mechanisms now

[Ollie_bwoii]

Now they are different for either side.

[Alex]

Also got this ready to be fitted

yes i know the speedo should say Alpina too

[Alex]

Small update, got a new rad for it, bought it off dips, i think its an aircon rad, hence the extra bit on the bottom

This is how it looked when i bought it



Cleaned it up masked it off and gave it a few coats of high temp silver paint.

Looks like a new rad





ive also bought a bung for where the aircon temp sensor is sticking out, about 80p from the dealers.

ive also been fannying about with the polish, as you do





Need to get some seam sealer for this bit





i deided to cut some of the rot out, however i dont have an angle grinder at the moment, so i made do Dont laugh

vvvv Its not quite finished yet



before



I will getmyself a cordless angle grinder to finish it off

Might get myself a cheap used welder of ebay, and get practicing

some of the welding i might leave to a pro such as hole in inner arch and patch where the Door opens

got a fair bit of sheet metal in the garage so i need to somehow replicate the corner bit

Would a small ish generator power a welder ???

[Ollie_bwoii]

Pure rad porn.

BTW you still want them part numbers? As I've ordered what I want.

[Alex]

Little bit of an update.

got loads of little bits done

Removed old hood
Polished inside the horseshoe, looks nice now
Red/black wire mod
Fitted a drivers door loom
Fitted all CL solenoids, all the CL now works
Re alligned the rear windows
painted rear vlance with stone chip
fitted from fog light holders
fitted dash clocks and steering coloum cowling
fitted glovebox and all the inner parts
the list goes on....

the interior now, i just need a few bits of clips and speaker terminals so i can get kick panels and all the lower trim back together.



Ive also been buying a few Alpina Trinkets

A Full Decal set, its not an original as there around £350

the seller also included a few extra stickers although non will really be any use to an e30. the front spoiler is different to an e30 one so i sent the seller an email and there going to send me another "middle" side bit out which is the same as the front spoiler

I'am nearly convinced i need to buy two new wings from bmw, would be a shame to fit this decal set to some knackerd wings. Ive been quoted £75 for two front wings to be resprayed in Alpine White II which i think is good.


its the same decal set as this



Ive also got a genuine front spoiler which needed some TLC as you can see it has bits of filler on that still need sanding down

(PS the runny bits are where ive tried to spray inside surface cracks to try and make them less noticable. ive allready spent around 4 hours filling and sanding the spoiler, then when i painted it in plastic primer it showed up loads more )




Ive also got an Alpina Heckspoiler





I belive these are usually all colour coaded however ive painted it satin black and will paint the middle bit Alpine White. I was supprised that it isnt removable like the tech 1's

Rear valance has been stone chipped as one of the prevoius owners has sanded parts down to check for rust. Awaiting Alpine White II Paint.



The top coolant hose decided to burst when i had it running the other day too

[RM2186]

Well done Alex, it's come a long way

[Blitz]

Nice trinkets.

[ImysE30]

Looking good Alex, nice decals

[Alex]

thanks guys, i feel if my welding is any good and the repairs seem like they will last then a 2.7 manual would seem a better choice or m52

[Rav335uk]

Got a steering wheel yet Alex, and wheels?

[Alex]

I have'nt forgot Rav you will be the first i contact when i'am after wheels

i will be after a steering wheel too but i will wait till a cheap one comes up

[Kammy]

Alex just read the whole thread, very good job you're doing and hands up for saving another e30 cab. I just hope the one I got can be as good as this one.

Kam

[Alex]

Thanks, progress is slow, however i'am now doing 39 hours a week at work so ive got extra funds so hopefully things will speed up. Still unsure how i'am going to go about the welding as ive got no electricity where its at think i need to bring it back home somehow

[Kammy]

You know what they say mate, good things come to those who wait. If you want it doing right you may as well take your time. Mine's also with a mate who has it in his home garage. He does insurance approved work and has his own body shop so I've left it with him to take his time and make sure a good job is done. I can't wait to get it back all done.

Kam

[e30topless]

Still unsure how i'am going to go about the welding as ive got no electricity where its at think i need to bring it back home somehow

you don't need electric to use P40 !