318i LUX Convertible

[daboy3000]

I picked this old girl up last year and intend to restore it back to a fairly high standard. Any engine work or bodywork will be done by my trusted mechanic, everything else by myself or with help from a friend.

So far I have been fixing little things inside and out, like new fog and indicator lenses, replacing broken or missing interior parts. I removed a seized actuator from the passenger door, that was a tricky job as the door was stuck shut.




New fog lenses fitted



Also fixed a problem where the roof cover doesn't close fully, as you can see its perfect now. Very easy to do, 10 min job and a £30 part form BMW.



Most recently I stripped the front end off to replace all worn suspension parts etc, lots to buy now. Also the lights, grill etc to clean it all up and replace the cloudy main beams.



Still lots to do and its going take around 2 years and I have budgeted about £5k. I don't have a lot of time as I am doing up a house to but will update when I can.

If anyone has any tips or advice feel free to shout and visa versa but I am no mechanic.

[andysheep]

I have the same coulor cabby in m20b20 form,a £200 wreck,im just a month to finish now.major rot ,12months welding done. recoulored alpinweiss white inside and out,iv the blue ish leather a broken fog light and broken hood(hope mine is only £30 part)fixed fog light for glass from sergy on the zone,polishing off paint started last night ,paint was aplyed be my fair hand over my january holiday.so got to finish brakes,soft lines and recon front caliper.top up fluids and turn key i bet your looking forward to the summer too?

[daboy3000]

Yeah, its going to be a good summer, but only if the replacement cam fixes my engine problem, which I pretty sure it will.

I got my fog light glass from him too, does the job. What's wrong with your hood?

You got a build thread or any pics?

Good luck with yours.

[andysheep]

Im not computer savy enough to post pics,but i have photoed it all the way through,crist you should see the abuse this poor girl went through! the archs begane to rot so they welded 5mm metal strips on to the body over the plastic trim!pacer pete would love to see my gape pics the hood scares me(its electric)it had the motor disengauged when i got it,ì have photoed it striped it out to paint and reassembled it but getting it to work is going to be a bitch,its not even folding away in to the compartment at the mo,and i cant open it out cos my garage roof is to low i have though about going manual,but ill do some more work on it,then when the time comes go begging to gert,hes close and from what i hear hes a hood guru,

[daboy3000]

My roof is auto, currently works well but it does need a helping hand to fold down nicely.

I have heard if the motor goes then don't bother trying to fix it.

I don't have too much rust, mainly the rear panel the meets the doors and the door seal.

[andysheep]

Boy are u lucky that you dont have much rust but looking and your pics shes tidy and been repected.unlike mine .iv heard the same about the roof,but i will try and figure it out,the hoods not in great shape so a total swap out for a manual roof and maybe manaul conversion on the box too depending on my knees not being in great shape either..good luck,,

[daboy3000]

I have been buying lots of parts over the last few days. Sure does start adding up!

[Mr-Lachs]

Your cars looking great: all the best with it

[daboy3000]

Been having some fun over the last few days.

Bought all new parts to do the suspension except the struts, have really shopped around a bought nearly all Febi Bilstein stuff at great prices. The only thing I had trouble with were the springs, loads of places tried to sell them to me but didn't actually have the stock, I even spoke to Bilstein UK and they said they can't get them so I ended up buying direct from BMW at £145 instead of circa £70.

Finally got the inserts out of the struts. My mate made up a jig and used some heat and they came out with little force.



Still got to put them all back together but I thought while the struts are off I would clean them up and blow them over with some anti rust paint.

[andysheep]

Sounds like them struts gave you a fight
Andy

[daboy3000]

Spent some time working on it over the Easter break. Put the lights and grill all back together and built up the struts and installed them. Still got to replace the drop links and a brake hose and put the rest back but hopefully should be back on its wheels soon. Also discovered my seat frame is broken so I'm going to have to replace that too, getting that base apart looks like a bitch of a job too.

Before, primed and finished light surrounds.







Struts built, ready to go on. New gas inserts, coils, rubbers etc



Also fitted the spoiler, going to trial it for the summer, see if I like it before the car gets painted.

[daboy3000]

Today I took it out for the first time this year. The new suspension on the front feels brilliant and I just need to adjust the tracking slightly.

Here's some pics.

[daboy3000]

Just got the car back from the garage after having a new camshaft, belt and water pump fitted and am very pleased. She now revs freely over 4500 and idles faultlessly.

Now to fix the electrical issues over the summer, which include;

Central looking (rarely works)
Fog lights (front and rear not working)
Heater motor
weird indicator/reverse light problem

[daboy3000]

Spent some time cleaning everything up and now its looking mint under there.

[rix313]

Like this a lot

[daboy3000]

Thanks, she has a way to go but I am so happy with how she runs and rides. Its like a new car!

[paul007]

hey i have the exact the same car a 318lux k reg cabby however i have lost hope with it - i bought it a few years back even bought a genuine mk2 kit for it -im no mecahnic or body guy -got someone to put the kit on but they didnt do a great job -so was looking for a good body guy who could sort out the kit and do a full respray -however i have already got to the £5k mark cant find a decent body guy and have decided to just to cut my losses and sell it i would post a pic but havent worked out how to do that on here.

love your cabby though it looks mint.

[paul007]

btw where did you get your rear spoiler from? and who will you get your respray from?

[daboy3000]

I too decided to sell the car, I got a good offer and didn't feel that I wanted to spend another £5k getting it mint so I bought a 911 instead.

Spoiler was on a bootlid I bought. I just cleaned it all up.

I have a mechanic in Penge (south london) he would have done it as he has always painted my cars, it would have cost around £2-3k at least.

I do miss it though as it ran really well after all the work.

But now I have this!