OEM+ Sterling Silver 1990 325is

[Zeemz]

I hadn't had a chance to give the car a good detail since I picked it up this fall. So I decided to give her a proper detail in prep for The Vintage next weekend.


Wash, Clay, Wash, 2 Stage Polish with the Porter Cable, and 3 coats of Zaino.

I had only used the Porter Cable on small areas before, this was the first time I had tried to do a full car polish/paint correction. I probably could have been a little more aggressive, but I was happy with the results. All the swirls came out nicely.

Here is the car right after the 2 Stage Polish with Meguires M105 & M205



And finally after 3 coats of Zaino


I know there are a lot of new types sealants out there, but I have been using Zaino since 2005 and love the stuff. Awesome shine, easy to use and lasting protection. A lot of people complain that it takes too long, but it is all in the prep and that is what takes time.

[squidmaster]

Best exhaust there is for the e30 good choice!

Sent from my Robin using Tapatalk

[Sail Boat]

Good times. Your new exhaust sounds and looks great. We have to take a trip to Katie's at some point this summer!

The cars look great!

[mike.bmw]

Good times. Your new exhaust sounds and looks great. We have to take a trip to Katie's at some point this summer!

[Zeemz]

Got my Stromung installed Friday. Great fit and finish, looks perfect and sounds great. Can't wait till I get some miles on it and it opens up a little more.






Also met up with Mike.BMW for Cars & Coffee in Dullas this morning. He has an awesome and super clean 318is. He posted a few pics up in his build thread, but here is one that he took.

[getouth]

1 word.......Proper!

[Zeemz]

Stromung exhaust just arrived. It is going on tomorrow!

[Zeemz]

Thanks for the picture of the pinch welds. If they were able to straighten that out, I'd be pleasantly surprised, as that's pretty much just what mine look like. Any idea what technique they used?

Not sure how they did it, but they did a great job.

[c0rbin9]

Thanks for the picture of the pinch welds. If they were able to straighten that out, I'd be pleasantly surprised, as that's pretty much just what mine look like. Any idea what technique they used? I've heard of people using pliers or hammer and dolly.

The problem for me is that without side skirts the pinch welds are actually visible from certain angles. And they look much nicer if they are ruler straight.

[c0rbin9]

Makes sense with the black rockers - my car has been repainted and the rockers are body color, which has a similar visual "balancing" effect to side skirts.

[Zeemz]

OMG, just read through the thread - you had somebody fix the pinch welds?! I've been wondering about that since I got my car, as mine are mangled to shit. I'm very interested to hear about how they were fixed. Were you pleased with the final results?

Pretty much this was a result of shops jacking the car up by the hand jack points and other spots along the pinch welds with floor jacks or lifts over the years.

It wasn't something I really wanted to do, but I figured I spent money to have a clean West Coast car shipped out East I wanted to make sure rust wouldn't be an issue down the line. The body guy said it was just surface rust at this point and I could wait a couple years, but it would likely be a much more extensive repair if I waited.

I don't have any after shots. I will try to get some next time I am under the car. Here is one of the spots that had been messed up.

[Zeemz]

Your car almost has me liking sideskirts, and I'm a die-hard stock-body guy. Must be doing something right...

Can't go wrong with OEM skirts, especially on a 325is or 318is, or someone rocking a painted IS lip.

Without the skirts I always thought the IS lip sits too low compared to the rest of the car because of the black rockers. To me painted OEM skirts helps overcome this issue. I am not a fan of leaving the front lip black, but understand why some do to flow with the black rockers and lower black portion of the rear valance.

At some point I will have my rear lower valance painted all silver.

[c0rbin9]

OMG, just read through the thread - you had somebody fix the pinch welds?! I've been wondering about that since I got my car, as mine are mangled to shit. I'm very interested to hear about how they were fixed. Were you pleased with the final results?

[c0rbin9]

Your car almost has me liking sideskirts, and I'm a die-hard stock-body guy. Must be doing something right...

[pilotskillse30]

Beauty