Help Learning to drive Manual (OH/NKY)

[fiveightandten]

I haven't been able to go see it since the weather was real bad last weekend. I did find the restore thread on the forum however.

Owner replaced timing belt, water pump, power steering hoses and reservoir, thermostat, front control arms, bushings and ball joints, master/slave cylinder, muffler, rear brake pads, and changed interior carpet/seats. No rust in pics under carpet/trunk or visible on body. Paint is shot and clear coat is worn.


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'86 325e shouldn't have clear coat, unless it was resprayed with dual stage paint. Fading can usually be brought back to a proper finish if you know how to use a buffer properly (fading, not full blown oxidation or paint failure). Paint chipping will not.

Sounds like it's had some nice maintenance. Find out when that stuff was done, specifically the timing belt.

[itsonlygeorge]

Help Learning to drive Manual (OH/NKY)

Timing belt was done last year. Paint is "Cosmosblau Metallic" which as I understand is 2 stage since it's metallic. I would love to be able to cut and polish the paint and seal it up.


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[fiveightandten]

Timing belt was done last year. Paint is "Cosmosblau Metallic" which as I understand is 2 stage since it's metallic. I would love to be able to cut and polish the paint and seal it up.


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Interesting. I've never heard of that color. If it's dual stage and the clear coat has failed, it needs to be re-cleared.

If you've never cut paint, it's not hard to learn. But dark colors can be difficult. Watch some youtube videos on paint correction. There are a lot of very good ones out there.

As mentioned, check for rust in the battery tray, and the metal valances. Also check around the windshield, near the bottom where the little black vents are, and around the edge of the glass. If you see bubbling there, it's gotten into the pillar. Be more concerned about any rust you find on painted panels. The stuff on the underside can be ground down and sealed, or even have new metal welded in. Painted panels are where costs get crazy to fix it.

[itsonlygeorge]

The clear coat would have to be stripped completely and the faded paint touched up before respraying clear coat?


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[fiveightandten]

The clear coat would have to be stripped completely and the faded paint touched up before respraying clear coat?


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It depends on how bad it is and how nice you want it to look.

Sometimes wet sanding it down and just re-clearing it will get you acceptable results. If it's badly chipped and there's damage going down into the base coat, it would probably need to be sprayed with new base and new clear.

The best thing to do if you plan on spending money (if necessary) is to show some pics (or better yet, the car) to a reputable body shop and see what they have to say.

You'll often find there's a cheap way out, and a proper way. Decide how nice you want the car to look and go accordingly. But again, it depends on how bad it is.

[itsonlygeorge]

Restore/Repair Thread:

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=273246

Pics of paint inside and majority of work done on car.

[Zreberlcoe]

Man I would say take a stab at it or better yet get your friend to test drive it! The only thing you have to do is ask, you would be surprised on what can come out of just asking. I learned to on a e39 M535i (i think, it was a long time ago) on a frozen lake, good times.

[itsonlygeorge]

Yeah. Well my buddy backed out since it's a 3 hr drive and he's gone this weekend.


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[goldfishe666]

Have you found a car to drive it on yet? If not don't worry. Just imagine riding your bike but instead of the left hand on the clutch, its the left leg. Same thing with the right hand and right leg.

The 325 isn't really a "sports car" that has a "sports clutch" so you shouldn't worry. It's difficult to stall and is very user friendly. All the cars I've driven before were much harder (rx7 fd, rx7 fc, subaru sti, COROLLA)

Seems like you are a few hours away from the car. That means once you're on the highway its easy from then on. Just remember to clutch when you change gears. I know some people dont clutch it on bikes once they get moving.

[15Michaeljoseph]

Then when the ladies ask 'whats that youre doing' you can say 'excersize'.


--sent from my igloo via carrier penguin

[dannyyisntt]

I taught myself to drive a manual in a tapped out pickup truck with throws a mile long. I'm sure you can pull it off in an e30.

Just tell the owner you don't know how to drive a manual trans. My uncle bought a fox body mustang new from the dealership back in the day without knowing how to drive a stick and had the salesman teach him during his test drive.

[itsonlygeorge]

That may work, however problem is getting out there too... Timing chain on my truck is shot so long trips are pretty much one way....


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[Zreberlcoe]

That may work, however problem is getting out there too... Timing chain on my truck is shot so long trips are pretty much one way....


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Bus, friend, bike, feet, etc. be resourceful!

[itsonlygeorge]

Working on it.


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[itsonlygeorge]

Major concern about car is drive shaft seals/gaskets are of unknown age.


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