The evolution of ‘Errol’ the 325i Cabriolet

[bexwoods]

Great work!

I've just read from start to finish and now shattered just thinking about all the hours you and your brother have put into the car, so far...... I hope you have him a Christmas card

Looking forward to seeing the end result, fantastic

What an extremely kind message, thank you!
Lots of hours but most of which have been enjoyable. I’m living learning and seeing my coming back to life! My brother is a bloody legend and I am very lucky to have his support on this, so yes he has been treated well this Christmas!

As soon as is physically possible ‘Errol’, Ollie and I will be at as many car shows as possible next year so hope to see some of you there!!

Merry Christmas Guys, and here’s to a happy and healthy new year xx

[bexwoods]

Good progress this week so far... bloody freezing in the shed tho!! 🥶

Tappets sorted, new spark plugs, refurbed leads installed, new fuel lines, refurbed fuel pressure regulator fitted, refurbed throttle body and coil fitted and cam cover sealed in place too!

[bexwoods]

Pre-lockdown progress shots!

[bexwoods]

Goodies for Errol arrived today

[bexwoods]

Engine bay resto and service done!

Before:

After:

Now to head ‘down under’ and get the suspension, brakes, exhaust etc all changed!

[HenryM3]

Every time you lift your head up after twating your thumb on a stubern bolt that engine bay will remotivate you. Excellent, well done

[bexwoods]

Every time you lift your head up after twating your thumb on a stubern bolt that engine bay will remotivate you. Excellent, well done

Thank you

[martauto]

Every time you lift your head up after twating your thumb on a stubern bolt that engine bay will remotivate you. Excellent, well done

Mart.

[Murt97]

Engine bay resto and service done!

Before:
5B89CB76-E27A-4477-9433-9C0B079FEA51.jpeg

After:
7A264C49-66B8-42ED-B923-737D7C3C929D.jpeg


Now to head ‘down under’ and get the suspension, brakes, exhaust etc all changed!

Amazing refurb!! Very jealous as I’m trying doing something similar to my E30 lol. What kind of paint did you use on the cam cover and inlet manifold?? Or was that part of the vapour blasting service?

[rix313]

Awesome transformation Bex

[bexwoods]

Engine bay resto and service done!

Before:
5B89CB76-E27A-4477-9433-9C0B079FEA51.jpeg

After:
7A264C49-66B8-42ED-B923-737D7C3C929D.jpeg


Now to head ‘down under’ and get the suspension, brakes, exhaust etc all changed!

Amazing refurb!! Very jealous as I’m trying doing something similar to my E30 lol. What kind of paint did you use on the cam cover and inlet manifold?? Or was that part of the vapour blasting service?

Thank you it’s taking a while but will be so worth it!!
I sprayed it (just a light coat) with VHT high temp enamel paint.

[bexwoods]

Busy weekend stripping again

Also offered up the new rubber to make sure I liked them.....

[Murt97]

Engine bay resto and service done!

Before:
5B89CB76-E27A-4477-9433-9C0B079FEA51.jpeg

After:
7A264C49-66B8-42ED-B923-737D7C3C929D.jpeg


Now to head ‘down under’ and get the suspension, brakes, exhaust etc all changed!

Amazing refurb!! Very jealous as I’m trying doing something similar to my E30 lol. What kind of paint did you use on the cam cover and inlet manifold?? Or was that part of the vapour blasting service?

Thank you it’s taking a while but will be so worth it!!
I sprayed it (just a light coat) with VHT high temp enamel paint.

Do you remember which brand and colour of paint you used? It makes the engine bay look phenomenal!

[rix313]

Bex if you are planning to powder coat some parts. SW Powder coating in Banbury are unbeatable on price. The blast as well. I had a tonne of stuff done with them and I had to ask they were sure when I got the bill. I've got a load more stuff to take over there this or next week.

[MrBenn]

Quality job on that engine bay, looks better than new

[bexwoods]

Amazing refurb!! Very jealous as I’m trying doing something similar to my E30 lol. What kind of paint did you use on the cam cover and inlet manifold?? Or was that part of the vapour blasting service?

Thank you it’s taking a while but will be so worth it!!
I sprayed it (just a light coat) with VHT high temp enamel paint.

Do you remember which brand and colour of paint you used? It makes the engine bay look phenomenal!

I’d like to think it’s not just the paint but the brand is VHT, in Aluminium.
It’s just a dust coat on top of fresh blasted parts.

[bexwoods]

Quality job on that engine bay, looks better than new

Thanks very much

[bexwoods]

Bex if you are planning to powder coat some parts. SW Powder coating in Banbury are unbeatable on price. The blast as well. I had a tonne of stuff done with them and I had to ask they were sure when I got the bill. I've got a load more stuff to take over there this or next week.

Thanks for the tip, I’ll bare them in mind. The only thing planned at the mo is the wheels tho, and they’re going to Lepsons once I’m allowed to travel!

[rix313]

I’m having a few sets done by DS Refurbs on Kent at the moment. Hoping to have them back soon. Taken inspiration from you and have started the same with my engine bay

[Murt97]

Thank you it’s taking a while but will be so worth it!!
I sprayed it (just a light coat) with VHT high temp enamel paint.

Do you remember which brand and colour of paint you used? It makes the engine bay look phenomenal!

I’d like to think it’s not just the paint but the brand is VHT, in Aluminium.
It’s just a dust coat on top of fresh blasted parts.

Thank you for sharing! The car as a whole is looking great. you have inspired me to restore mine too. I’ll be sharing pics and vids soon

[bexwoods]

So pleased to hear a few of you are looking at my car and thinking .... I should do that with mine! Ultimate complement, thank you from me and my brother!

[bexwoods]

Off to Lepsons
5 new tyres and 5 rims (with old tyres fitted) plus centre caps all fitted nice and safely in the Tiguan’s boot and rear seats

[bexwoods]

And they’re back

[bexwoods]

Sorry for the lack of updates on the car guys.... not really felt like photographing progress on the ‘strip down’ of the break assemblies, suspension, drive shaft and fuel lines.... it’s been fighting us EVERY step of the way.

Yesterday was ‘shocks day’ in the hope that we could salvage the struts which are in pretty good shape but the shocks were SHOT!
Brute force, stilsons, blunt chisels and fire were involved but we got the shocks out in the end

We next weekend is final strip downs hopefully before blasting, plating and powder coating and rebuilds begin!

[bexwoods]

Centre caps rebuilt after getting the Lepsons treatment

[bexwoods]

Onto Dif work this weekend and first step was to clean it up..... and I found a little something something under the grime that I was NOT expecting......

JACKPOT!!!

[Dr Firefly]

JACKPOT!!!

Is it an LSD?

Loving the thread so far... it’s both inspiring and despiriting as I know I’ll never have the time to do this to mine!!

Amazing that all these regular parts are still available isn’t it??

[bexwoods]

JACKPOT!!!

Is it an LSD?

Loving the thread so far... it’s both inspiring and despiriting as I know I’ll never have the time to do this to mine!!

Amazing that all these regular parts are still available isn’t it??

It is indeed! Had no idea, and wasn’t expecting a non sport to have one.

Thanks very much, it’s a lot of work but am soooo looking forward to late summer drives to the coast, caffeine and machine and shows!!
Hoping to have him done for Goodwood in July but that’s a bit of a stretch I think.

[Dr Firefly]

Are you going to dare to drive him? His engine bay might get dirty?!!

[bexwoods]

Are you going to dare to drive him? His engine bay might get dirty?!!

Absolutely!!! I’ve been waiting 18 months to drive him..... he’s been built to drive and appreciate but certainly won’t be daily’d...... no salty roads going anywhere need him!!

[bexwoods]

It’s been a while (thanks pandemic!) but a bit of progress on Errol…. Full refurb on the callipers completed!

[bexwoods]

Shiny post…. New bolt kit arrived from Germany today!

(Note, there are two kits in the picture! One for me and one for my bro!)

[bexwoods]

You’ve gotta laugh, or you’ll cry!!! Three weekends down and I’m still ‘cleaning’ the underside of the car, ready to re-do the under seal.

[Qasimahmed]

You’ve gotta laugh, or you’ll cry!!! Three weekends down and I’m still ‘cleaning’ the underside of the car, ready to re-do the under seal.

DBA6858F-9320-43BE-90EF-20FAC85A656B.jpeg

Haha I know the feeling. I think it took me about 3 months before I found the motivation to get back under it and steam clean the underside

I love those callipers though, they look really nice

[aimlessrock]

loving this thread Bex, proper job.

it will almost be a shame to drive that car of yours...for fear of getting it dirty.