The evolution of ‘Errol’ the 325i Cabriolet

[Mitchen]

Looks fantastic. I did something similar 10 or so years ago on my ol' jalopy. However, unless dry stored and used sparingly on dry sunny days, it's amazing (and very demoralising) just how quickly the gold passivate and shiny bits vanish and corrode. I was so careful with mine, very rarely drove it and only got caught out in the rain a few times... yet a year later the degradation was massive. After that I swore blind never again (unless I win the lottery, bare shell it and dip it )

[bexwoods]

:Does that stuff set fairly hard or does it stay spongey? I did the underside of mine with Terra Shutz literally the day before you posted what you were using:(

It feels like rubber, a little bit of give, but feels sturdy.
Have overcoated it with Sierra Beige (closest colour match I could get) as wasn’t happy with the ‘yellowy’ tinge to the ‘sealant’. Extra protection isn’t a bad thing anyway

Before paint pick for reference:

[bexwoods]

Looks fantastic. I did something similar 10 or so years ago on my ol' jalopy. However, unless dry stored and used sparingly on dry sunny days, it's amazing (and very demoralising) just how quickly the gold passivate and shiny bits vanish and corrode. I was so careful with mine, very rarely drove it and only got caught out in the rain a few times... yet a year later the degradation was massive. After that I swore blind never again (unless I win the lottery, bare shell it and dip it )

Don’t worry I’m under no illusion it won’t look this clean for long, just trying to do what’s right by the car and enjoying learning along the way.
He will be used! Not doing all this work to not use it!
But I have a garage spot waiting for him when to in use and have no intention to use is really bad weather or when there is salt on the road.

[martauto]

You may never get the chance to do this again for various reasons so carry on with the marvelous work and above all.......enjoy the journey

Mart.

[bexwoods]

Went shopping today…. Ready to finish the inner wheel arches.
Would fully recommend SPS for anyone in the Northamptonshire area looking for custom mixed paint. Service was spot on, existing car paint scanned to ensure a perfect match too 🤌

[bexwoods]

Rear arches restored

(Overspray on chassis rail is deliberate, as no masking done in the factory)

[bexwoods]

*note VERY pleased with the colour match!!! Amazing what some people can do!

[martauto]

Looking great , as usual Bex
There cant be too much left to do now.............................. can there ??
Mart.

[bexwoods]

Looking great , as usual Bex
There cant be too much left to do now.............................. can there ??
Mart.

Thanks Mart!
More than I’d like, confident it’ll be good for a run before Xmas tho

[bexwoods]

Rear valance re-sprayed this weekend….
I HATE prepping for paint! pleased with the results tho!
No more weird ‘drip’ marks

[bexwoods]

Rear bumper refitted
No idea why but it needed a lot of careful adjustment to get it even. Never coming off again

[bexwoods]

This weeks job…. Finish all things paint (apart from the exhaust system!) before it gets too cold!

Mission accomplished

[Tzantushka]

Nice!
A small but significant win to keep tin worm from taking over.

[bexwoods]

Nice!
A small but significant win to keep tin worm from taking over.

It’s all about the small wins for me…. With the car stored 20 miles away from me, a full time job, the fact I’m learning as I go and obviously the money needed to do these restorations it’s taking a while but I’ll get there!!

[bexwoods]

Quiet couple of weeks due to other commitments, but a few little bits of progress…..

Rear lights polished up, new gaskets fitted, number plate surround fitted and rear towing eye cover added (not strictly correct for this car but looks neater/cleaner I think!)

[biffer]

Knew about the trims for the front tow-eyes, but never realized there was one available for the rear one. Thanks!

[bexwoods]

Knew about the trims for the front tow-eyes, but never realized there was one available for the rear one. Thanks!

Part number is 51711920010 I ordered it direct from beemer, had to come from Germany but got it in a week or so

[biffer]

thanks for that, already tracked the number down and ordered.

[bexwoods]

After a bit of a hiatus for personal reasons I’m back at it and determined to get this little guy on the road (new target, sommerfest!) I estimate 16 full days and 30 evenings work, so I’ve got my work cut out fitting that all in around work and other commitments, but we all need something to work towards right?!?

Anyway!
Last nights job was fitting the new fuel filler neck, rubbers and expansion tank. One tick off my very long list done

[fixedwheelnut]

After a bit of a hiatus for personal reasons I’m back at it and determined to get this little guy on the road (new target, sommerfest!) I estimate 16 full days and 30 evenings work, so I’ve got my work cut out fitting that all in around work and other commitments, but we all need something to work towards right?!?

Anyway!
Last nights job was fitting the new fuel filler neck, rubbers and expansion tank. One tick off my very long list done

19EEF2CB-695F-4A79-9B50-42B64E65A710.jpeg68922D12-B3E4-40FC-95C3-2ABCB3B3C3FE.jpeg

Never underestimate how much time you waste looking for nut's, bolt's and sockets that you are sure you had in your hand a few seconds ago

I worked out I have spent approx. 630 hours on mine so far.

[bexwoods]

Little bit of spare time so started routing the wiring…

[The_Glory]

A great approach to work and a great result!
I also do about the same thing)
I read your entire thread but didn't see a photo of the interior. Is there a phone in the car? At the beginning of the topic, I saw a photo of the trunk with a bracket on the left wing. Is this a bracket for an AEG phone unit? I saw it at ETK and ordered it out of curiosity. But I don't understand where it is attached? Need to drill a fender? Does the skin cover it completely?
I installed the phone under the rear shelf, but now I'm thinking maybe I should move it to the fender...? Especially since I already have such a bracket...

[bexwoods]

A great approach to work and a great result!
I also do about the same thing)
I read your entire thread but didn't see a photo of the interior. Is there a phone in the car? At the beginning of the topic, I saw a photo of the trunk with a bracket on the left wing. Is this a bracket for an AEG phone unit? I saw it at ETK and ordered it out of curiosity. But I don't understand where it is attached? Need to drill a fender? Does the skin cover it completely?
I installed the phone under the rear shelf, but now I'm thinking maybe I should move it to the fender...? Especially since I already have such a bracket...

Heya, thanks
No phone in the car but that doesn’t mean there wasn’t one before I owned it. Focusing my cash on getting the car on the road finally but never say never

[The_Glory]

I understand you perfectly.
I would greatly appreciate it if you could take a picture of how this bracket is attached. Judging by the photo, the block and wiring remained there. I think it might be a phone…

[bexwoods]

I understand you perfectly.
I would greatly appreciate it if you could take a picture of how this bracket is attached. Judging by the photo, the block and wiring remained there. I think it might be a phone…

PM’d you hun

[bexwoods]

So after spending an age cleaning the outside of my fuel tank, sanding it all (back to bare metal where it had rusted) and etch priming it ready for paint I discovered rust on the top inside (from the car being stored almost full previously)

Annoyed at the amount of time I’d spent on it ahead of this and scared witless at the price of a genuine replacement I tried to use rust remover, ‘made by Ollie’ sender and pump hole covers, 500 washers, as much time shaking the dam thing as mine and my brothers arms would allow and hours of soaking.
Exhibit A:

But a week later it was still not 100%, so I admitted defeat (temporarily, I am hopeful but just couldn’t afford to waste anymore time) and brought a shiny new tank!
BUT when it arrived it was grey, and looked crappy next to my shined new beige undercoat, so attempted to get it powdercoated, thinking of the long game always! But sadly no1 would touch it, to blast or overcoat (and after being told the reasons why I agree with their decision, I might add) so, I spent 5 hours flatting the brand new tank back and giving it many coats of chassis black

‘Prepped’

And Painted!

Next job, fit it! With new hoses, fuel pump etc

[martauto]

Good call and great work as always Bex`s

Mart.

[bexwoods]

Good call and great work as always Bex`s

Mart.

Thank you 🫶

[bexwoods]

Refurbed LSD rebuilt today
Fresh paint, gasket, bush and torqued bolts (with factory replicated yellow paint markers so we can make sure there’s no movement after shakedown)

[twenty]

Refurbed LSD rebuilt today
Fresh paint, gasket, bush and torqued bolts (with factory replicated yellow paint markers so we can make sure there’s no movement after shakedown)

FFA11566-46CA-41E6-A826-A3FD3AAEFC8B.jpeg

Nice! What ratio are you running?

[bexwoods]

Refurbed LSD rebuilt today
Fresh paint, gasket, bush and torqued bolts (with factory replicated yellow paint markers so we can make sure there’s no movement after shakedown)

FFA11566-46CA-41E6-A826-A3FD3AAEFC8B.jpeg

Nice! What ratio are you running?

3.73

[twenty]

Refurbed LSD rebuilt today
Fresh paint, gasket, bush and torqued bolts (with factory replicated yellow paint markers so we can make sure there’s no movement after shakedown)

FFA11566-46CA-41E6-A826-A3FD3AAEFC8B.jpeg

Nice! What ratio are you running?

3.73

Cool. I picked up a 3.38 - although I'd have preferred a 3.73 as you have on an auto. Would love to hear about the driving experience.

[bexwoods]

Nice! What ratio are you running?

3.73

Cool. I picked up a 3.38 - although I'd have preferred a 3.73 as you have on an auto. Would love to hear about the driving experience.

I’ll let you know when it’s finally on the road

[bexwoods]

Tell me you’re a perfectionist without telling me you’re a perfectionist……

Decided a new wing was ‘easier’ than attempting to sort the rust issues on mine…. Found a minter but it’s blue so taking it back to bare metal myself before it goes off for paint with the front valance.
I’m a glutton for punishment! These new ‘compliant’ paint strippers are useless!

[bexwoods]

Productive day of new shiny bits being put back on the car 🫶
Exhaust and gearbox brackets, crossmember and fuel tank including new fuel pump.