Low-Budget Cosmetic Mods.

[StereoInstaller1]

OK, bubba, since you seem to be an intelligent guy, I am gonna give you the benefit of the doubt here and ASSUME your car is in fine shape mechanically, but has been abused cosmetically.

Being red is kind of a bummer. Red paint apparently starts fading just after it leaves the spray gun. My wifes car will go from shiny nice red to pink in 3 months...new paint this spring, come hell or high water. Just gotta get that 3rd E30 done first.

So back to the "make my car look better for $25 please" thread...


Pull off EVERY bit of trim. ALL of it, dammit, all of it. Bumper shrouds, shadowline, mirrors, cowl vents, grilles, taillights, (side moldings you might want to leave on, but masking sucks) Go buy yourself a bunch of 600 and 800 grit wet or dry, then some Duplicolor "Bumper Coating" and their "Adhesion Promoter" and get busy. Not less than 3 cans of paint and 2 cans of promoter.

Wet sand the shit out of everything, then paint. Make all of the trim nice and purdy, and match. I say satin black mirrors are the best look on a red car, hands down...but everyone has their taste.

Do what you will with the tails. I think black smoked looks great on a red car, stock second, and cannot imagine red looking good, ever. That is just my opinion, do as you will, but just don't hurt no one.

I assume you have either a professional buffer ready to rock on your car or at least a orbital waxer...but SOMETHING motor driven. Now, while everything is off of your car is the time to wax the living hell out of it. Medium duty rubbing compound, fine compond, polish then WAX. I use a true Carnuba from Meguires (the best of the cheap shit, IMO) applied by hand. Use the appropriate bonnet while rubbing out your finish or life will suck ass.

This is where knowing a professional detailer really comes in handy. The one I know STILL owes me, but he is a fucking idiot and does not buy proper materials...but he works for me for free, so WTF. Second rate is OK for now. After the paint, he will never touch my cars again.

Oh yeah, did you ever see this thread? http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=83003

There are a few shots of what can happen.

Plan to replace tail light gaskets, antenna grommet, lockstrips in front and rear windows and late model side moldings look 100X better than early.
Personally, I say the is/es airdam is the absolute best looking front end on any E30, ever. Early cars can look great, and anything is gonna look better shiny and clean that beat down and shitty.

So, go get busy!
Luke

[Charlie]

Rear end another car and start to part it out before insurance shows up.

-Charlie

[-Jelko-]

^That's true but I think everyone is trying to say that a reliable car is better. No point in having the car look good if you can't drive it.

Same thing with me,i brought my e30 to top contidion,rust fixed,all maintance,many new things...but when i tell someone that all they ask when spolers wheels are coming

[z31maniac]

^That's true but I think everyone is trying to say that a reliable car is better. No point in having the car look good if you can't drive it.

[-Jelko-]

this is a awesome thread. theres the 3-5 people telling you to save your money and replace parts first. then theres the 2 guys telling you to use stained glass spray on your tail lights and paint your sealed beams.

youre pulling interest from either side of the fence on this subject. im amused. continue

He said cosmetic mods,if he wanted he would put "what to replace first"...

[smonkbmw]

this is a awesome thread. theres the 3-5 people telling you to save your money and replace parts first. then theres the 2 guys telling you to use stained glass spray on your tail lights and paint your sealed beams.

youre pulling interest from either side of the fence on this subject. im amused. continue

[PhillyG]

There are few of us left.

Although today for some reason I think I decided I want paint my Works Olive Drab.

Probably would look sick.

[z31maniac]

Stay strong my brotha.

There are few of us left.

Although today for some reason I think I decided I want paint my Works Olive Drab.

[j30]

^^maybe but im in no real hurry it was just something that i always wondered

[Stephen]

o thanks stephen i doubt ill be doing this since i dont think it looks too good on red cars

German flag stripes maybe

[j30]

o thanks stephen i doubt ill be doing this since i dont think it looks too good on red cars

[Danny]

WRONG!

Stay strong my brotha.

[Stephen]

lol im just wondering now, how does one go about getting the m3 tricolor stripes on the front corner of the hood? i also saw one that was on the lip of an e30 and it looked pretty cool, subtle but cool. is it a decal or custom paint?

You could do it either way but having a vinyl made is going to be more cost effective unless your good at painting

[j30]

lol im just wondering now, how does one go about getting the m3 tricolor stripes on the front corner of the hood? i also saw one that was on the lip of an e30 and it looked pretty cool, subtle but cool. is it a decal or custom paint?

[madjurgen]

If youre worried about spending a few hundred dollars on a 20 year old car maybe you should hold off on buying it...