Jim's Chromie Thread - Hail Storm Aftermath

[Jim320i]

Pm me some details jonny!

[jonny323i]

pm'd

[rustfree0]

How do you manage to get the engine and the engine bay this clean?

[jonny323i]

he left the bonnet open when it rained sorry mate i couldnt resist

[Jim320i]

How do you manage to get the engine and the engine bay this clean?

Like Jonny said, I just let nature take its course And sent the missus out to clean it


No, I cleaned it all very slowly over time rather than in one go. Did take some tme but if you break it all down into sections and only do a bit at a time it starts to come together... If you try to do it all in one go, you get bored quickly and move onto another area of the bay...

Focus on one part, i.e passenger strut and surround, and clean that until its showroom, then leave it for a bit and have a crack a few days later unless your enjoying it

[Jim320i]

Few more pictures from the other day after I gave it a quick squirt with shinny spray to take the dirt of it so that I could see the damage a bit more... Usually I would wash it down before just spraying it covered in dirt and wiping it off, but seemed pretty pointless














Been out on it today a little... My unit is fooked too, roof is leaking, the ground is flooded, not having much luck at all at the moment! The one part of the unit that stays dry is where all my chromie parts are, so thought I would start clearing it out a bit and try getting some of it back in the car.

Carpet went in the other day and thought I would crack on with the dash too, but no joy as it started pishing it down.

Managed to get the wiring and the maplight mirror installed, just need to figure out where I can slice in for that as its just 2 wires, the original was cut so I just ran a new length from it and down to the passenger foot well, Rav mentioned thats where the original plug is so still might try and get the actual conntector for that.

Got the stalk for the cruise control in too and was just popping the wriging through the bulkhead on the passenger side. The kit is from a LHD car so its not actually long enough to be installed properly at the moment, but I thought I would get the wiring in now and sort it later on and not have to faf about too much other than extending the wiring of it all.

Then the ran started so threw everything into the car and got the cover on to it before it got wet (Which I purchased from Meatballs82 at Euro Car Parts )

I also took the shine off the paint too the other day with some sand paper, just to make sure I cracked on with it and didnt just leave it with dinks... Shes looking sorry for herself now


But, should have the interior all back in on the next clear day, which means I can fire her up once I get some fuel for her as its got a new/refurbed fuel system.

Once thats done I can get her back up onto them ramps and do the underneath at the front, then think about getting her painted.

[penton08]

Gutted for you mate I would not even bother to try and fill the dents in the roof yourself. Swap what ever panels you can and get a dent man on the roof first and what ever he cant sort get a bodyshop to finish. A roof is a nightmare to get right and a black one is even worse.

[Jim320i]

Well im waiting for my dads mate to get back to me with a price still since it happened, although I havent chased him for it, and im rely on my dad to ask, which he has probably forgot. But he still might keep it the same price as before, but we'll see.

Unfortunately, at the moment, there are about 5 or 6 things that need paying/my time for that have priority over the chromie so im not in a rush with it.

Panels, I'll wait for a breaker to come in next with some decent panels as obviously, all mine got damaged at the same time so no panels without dents unfortunately.

The roof, I dont mind tackling it, I know it will be hard work, but if someone else is capable, then there is no reason why I shouldnt be able to do it, albeit at a much slower pace, but again, im in no real rush now.


I should be having Rick's 323i at the end of the month too as he has lost hope with it, so I may just use that as a daily for now, with all the dents, but then sort that one out at a later date.

[pacerpete]

Well im waiting for my dads mate to get back to me with a price still since it happened, although I havent chased him for it, and im rely on my dad to ask, which he has probably forgot. But he still might keep it the same price as before, but we'll see.

Unfortunately, at the moment, there are about 5 or 6 things that need paying/my time for that have priority over the chromie so im not in a rush with it.

Panels, I'll wait for a breaker to come in next with some decent panels as obviously, all mine got damaged at the same time so no panels without dents unfortunately.

The roof, I dont mind tackling it, I know it will be hard work, but if someone else is capable, then there is no reason why I shouldnt be able to do it, albeit at a much slower pace, but again, im in no real rush now.


I should be having Rick's 323i at the end of the month too as he has lost hope with it, so I may just use that as a daily for now, with all the dents, but then sort that one out at a later date.

Trust me and the others Jim, you need a dent man on that roof. Pugging it up will end badly, never mind the fact that the materials will cost more than the dent man, let alone the time.

[Rav335uk]

Jim, the plug for the Maplight mirror is behind the passengerside speaker.
That does look bad mate.
If you need any help, let me know.

[penton08]

It is not the time involved but the skill!! I worked at a bodyshop about 8 years ago when we had a similar hailstorm here. Most cars had new roof skins and the ones that did not where all repaired by the same panel beater because no one else wanted to touch them.


Number plates where used to apply filler and a meter long block to knock it down It will look and feel fine until a shiny coat of black goes on then it will look a total arse

[Jim320i]

I may give a dent man a ring then and see what they say, how do they actually remove them? Just a puller? Rick bought a puller thing but it didnt work on his, didnt even bother on mine.

[kitch]

That roof needs a dent man on it 1st, as has been mentioned. You need to get it as smooth and dent free as possible so you can have the smallest amount of filler as possible, otherwise it's a bastard of a job to do, and after time deep filler can often shrink back and start to show dents again.

[Kedge]

I may give a dent man a ring then and see what they say, how do they actually remove them? Just a puller? Rick bought a puller thing but it didnt work on his, didnt even bother on mine.

They use all kinds of levers and pullers combined with shit loads of skills and experience.

[Jim320i]

I'll try and remember tomorrow to ring one and get them to give me a quote... Not paying per dent though