E30 primered and about to paint any ideas? May the Schwarz be with you!

[Fanzotti]

Hi this is one of my first posts but i've been poking around for a while. I have a black/schwarz 89 325is that has been in the family since 91, I'm getting it ready to be the family heirloom. I have been body working/primering/sanding it for about two months, it's almost guide coat sanded and ready for paint. I'll post pics soon.

After looking at all of the ways to modify E-30's i've decided to leave my car body pretty much stock, meaning no body kits, i thought about side skirts but dont think i'll be going that route. I will modify the suspension, brakes,maybe headers, etc. as they wear out. It Currently has a chip, a high flow cat and a ansa cat back exhaust.

So what I'm looking for is some body/paint ideas/suggestions/pics pics pics. Shadowlining it. I'm probably painting it schwarz to match the jambs, is there another black out there that people have sprayed that is close and they like better? I'm thinking about painting and leaving the rockers schwarz and not applying the undercoating over the bottom, Same thing with the rear and the front valences. If I do this should I sand them smooth instead of painting over the old bumpy undercoating? Smooth pics? All Black pics? thinking about either leaving the front lip bumper black or spraying it schwarz? For some odd reason/cost savings in 89 bmw painted the bumpers and i believe trunk spoilers diamond schwarz, i am leaning towards painting these just plain ol schwarz. Would not mind black/white emblems or would love red/black emblems.

Any other good schwarz ideas? Purists, Modders and rice heads are welcome to try and sway me.

[Teaguer]

I would stick with what you are doing and just strip the textured finish off of the valance and rockers .
Just use a putty scraper and then finish up with sanding and metal glaze as needed .
Then paint it all body color .

Don't know what you are smoking when you say that BMW painted the bumpers and rear spoilers in metallic Diamond Schwartz .
Not the case at all .

[Van Westervelt]

In 89, the Schwartz did have Diamond Schwartz bumpers. Almost everyone has them unless the car has been repainted, its wierd. I have had two and they were both that way.

[Fanzotti]

Diamond Schwarz for sure!

Don't know what you are smoking when you say that BMW painted the bumpers and rear spoilers in metallic Diamond Schwartz .
Not the case at all .

I wish the shit I've been smoking was that good, not sure if all 89's had Diamond Schwarz bumpers/trunk spoilers but mine came from the factory this way.


Teager, I'm glad you responded! Your car is one of my favorites, the other one I've been checking out is the black 4 door that is pictured in the snow. it looks like your rear valence has the texture on it? Do I take all the texture off or leave the bottom? Not sure if i want un-textured body painted or textured body painted valence/rockers yet? may even put the protective tar over the paint? Please post pics of "smoothed"/body color painted/stripped textured finish valance and rockers . Please tell more about stripping the texture off. I'm at my wits end with this bodywork thing and I'd rather not mess things up and waste time. is it painted underneath the finish or am I going to have to re prime?

Do you guys think i should keep diamond schwarz bumpers/trunk spoiler for originality or go schwarz for looks?


Please give your.02 on any other before painting cleaning up the stock look ideas you have for my e30....

[Teaguer]

WTF ? Thats the first I've heard of this .

My black car is an 89' and my bumpers and rear spoiler were a perfect match until the day I swapped them .

As far as stripping the texture ...it will usually pull off in little sheets if you use the scraper .
It will usually leave raw metal behind so sealer and primer would be on order .

I would say strip all the texture off and if you want you can add undercoating to the lower part of the rockers and rear valence if you like .

Oh and thanks for the props .

[Jarvis]

Normally I'd vote against changing the color (so the door jams/engine bay/trunk/etc still matched the body), but go with d-schwarz. Plain black is boring and more annoying to maintain.

[kylebes1]

I am going to paint my black MB 300e in the not so near future... I have worked in body shops so I got to mix paint...

Straight black would be the most cost effective... but I was thinking about adding the 101 toner (diamont), it is a milky metalic. I think that would be the solution to a "boring" black car. IMO black is the best, just have to keep it clean and waxed.

IMO go for some side skirts (e36 328is I think), Infinity 2 lip, some sort of rear apron (maybe try something blingin like Jordan's). Get rid of all the textured areas. Pull your chrome trim off, paint where it was, and order the factory shadowline trim.

I also would shave the antenna, and the molding that runs the length of teh door... pull it off, weld the holes and metal glaze it. Paint the belt molding the body color too.

Are you going to remove all the glass? I would do the front and rear...

I should ask so I do not insult you, do you have painting experience or are you having the base/ clear sprayed on by a pro?

[Fanzotti]

Thanks for the suggestions

I thought about doing some shaving/antenna but have decided to keep the car close to original. Would love to see some pictures mostly of the shaved moldings..will also search for it. Seen many pictures of spoilers/skirts etc and don't think it's for me but if you have a picture that may sway me....

I did the bodywork/shot the hi-fill primer/Sanding guide coat. The guy at the bodyshop has been way cool, he rented me the booth to shoot the primer. Would like to shoot it myself but seeing that it's a black car and that hi-fill was the first time in the booth I've decided to let the guy do it. I've been working my can off for the last two months and I'm not messing it up cause I want to paint it vs. EXPIERIENCE.

So the guys shooting it for $250 plus the paint which is another $210 for Nason? 3 coats of o86 schwarz black/or other if i sway towards a better/similar possibly schwarz black and three coats of clear.

Pulled everything, Cant get the bolts out of the F(*&^ng bumpers, Used an air impact and have been soaking them in some wonder juice for days! Tell me more about pulling the windows, still driving the car back and forth to the bodyshop so there still in. I heard it was a pita/new parts/installer/CA$h to put the new ones in...haven't done it yet.

Any design recomendations welcomed