Originally posted by Northern
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Yep it got shared on the FB group too, people seem to be particularly interested in the removable front core support vid.
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Since the removable core support, I've been very busy in the E30's engine bay, here's the latest update!
The Novol 2k Epoxy Primer delivered for me despite using the wrong spray gun and barely having enough to paint the whole bay. It's bloody amazing stuff to be fair, great to work with and feels close to a powder coat in terms of durability. I'm glad I decided to paint the whole thing rather than putting it off for the future, the engine bay looks so much better in one colour and without that flaky clear coat, even if it is just primer!
What it does mean though, is I'm going to need to decide on a paint colour for the E30 build much sooner than I thought I needed to, and it's been one of the big unknowns for me.
My brain is all over on what colour I want to go for, so if you have any good suggestions, let me know. There have been a few very interesting ones in the video comments already, but it's still all to play for. I'm quite excited by the possibilities here, it's not every day you get such a good opportunity to repaint an entire car in whatever colour you like.Comment
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Looking really great. Occurs to me to ask, are you going with the original color, or are you reaching into the more rare colors. I was surprised at how many very rare, very beautiful colors these came in. I think mine is the rarest and I looked specifically for a violet one, but I would have loved Laguna Green, Lazerblau, Neongruen, Gletscherblau Metallic, or Zinoberrot (closest to orange). I suppose you won't choose Daytonaviolett Metallic, but if you did, I think yours would be the only coupe in violet.
https://bimmertips.com/bmw-e30-paint...color-options/Comment
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No reason you have to stick with a BMW colour either.Originally posted by benfidar View Post
I went with an "Audi exclusive" branded colour on my E30 and I'm very happy I chose it over BMW Marrakesh Brown, which was my original choice.
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It's tempting to go with the original colour for ease, but I think I've got to grab the opportunity to paint the car in a colour that really lights my fire. The original Titian Red seems really dull, especially beside my Imola Red E46.Originally posted by benfidar View Post
Those are some great suggestions! I'm a big fan but a Daytona Violet coupe could never be as cool as a touring. It's definitely on my shortlist though!
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This is very true! And that opens up a world of possibilities and interesting colours like your Audi brown. I'm not sure it will help me narrow down my selection though, and I'm finding it difficult as it is.Originally posted by Panici View Post
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I can finally reveal my colour choice for the E30 build! I can't tell you how difficult it's been to actually make a firm decision and buy the paint. I ended up going with a colour that's been in the back of my mind for a long time.
I'm sure the selection will split the crowd, some will love it, and some will hate it. But I've always thought it a stunning and unusual colour so I'm really excited to be on course to own a car painted in this colour.
It's BMW Mora Metallic 359 (Morarot), don't be fooled by my video thumbnail.
I even picked up a new spray gun for the occasion, which should be a game-changer for when I paint the exterior. Painting an engine bay is super difficult, especially for an inexperienced painter like me. It's such a complex shape it's nigh on impossible to get an even finish.
While I was painting in my dull garage, I was convinced the paint shop had mixed up the wrong colour for me. But after it'd dried I was relieved as I took the front core support into direct sunlight and saw the flash of purple/pink over dark red I was expecting to.
I've still got a heck of a lot to learn about painting as the finish is far from my best work, and unfortunately full of dust particles - almost definitely from the previous epoxy primer coat. I will have to make sure I learn my lesson on the masking with that.
Luckily its more than good enough for an engine bay, so it's a job done!
What are your thoughts on my choice of BMW Mora Metallic 359??Comment
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Perfect! I will take credit for suggesting purple.Comment
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I like the colour!
Looks red and flashes to purple. Very dynamic depending on lighting which makes photography a ton of fun!Comment
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Cheers guys, I'm really pleased with myself for being brave and picking a more obscure colour. Sometimes you just gotta go your own way with these things!
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Another E30 build update here - I've been deciding which steering rack to swap in and figuring out how to fit it.
It ended up being between the E46 Clubsport "Purple Tag" rack which is 3 turns lock-to-lock and the slightly better Z3 1.9L rack which is 2.7 turns. Both mega upgrades over the E30's standard 4 turn steering rack.
The 318is I had a few years ago went away for the purple tag rack upgrade, and I remember being surprised just how agile the car felt after the swap. So I knew for a fact the purple tag rack is a major improvement.
But I decided to take it one step further and go for the Z3 rack which I think is the ultimate rack for an E30, bar something custom.
Fitting it up with the 14mm spacers was pretty straight forward, and so were the tie rods after I realised I could simply use E36 inners and outers.
One thing I am unsure of though is the use of the inner holes on the subframe steering rack tabs. I can't help but think the tie rods would be at less of an angle if I used the outer holes, but all sources online seem to insist that the inner holes are the correct ones for PAS racks.
Does anyone have any advice for me on that??
I'm also scratching my head a bit about how I'm going to bend those hard PAS lines to match the new Z3 rack ports, but I'll have to hunt around for some pics of someone else's to see how they overcame it.
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I love the Z3 rack. Paired with a slightly smaller steering wheel and it's a perfect setup!
Post 255, 268 & 401 of my build thread have pics if you like.
Last edited by Panici; 05-23-2023, 09:30 AM.Comment
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Yep, can't wait to feel it on the road, but that might be a way off still... I know it will be mega though from the experience I had with the purple tag rack in the past.
Awesome, looks like you had some interesting lines there, are they custom? I'm really scratching my head about how I can make these RHD lines work still to be honest. Or where to even get custom ones. I can't get over how awesome your thread is though!
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Power steering lines are OEM.Think they are regular E36 and fit with slight bending.Originally posted by SPANNER RASH View PostAwesome, looks like you had some interesting lines there, are they custom? I'm really scratching my head about how I can make these RHD lines work still to be honest. Or where to even get custom ones. I can't get over how awesome your thread is though!
Although I have no idea if the same can be done with RHD lines.
Thank you, it's been an absolute blast! So glad I documented everything.
As for custom lines, you might be able to make something like this work. Maybe he will make custom lengths if you measure out what you need?
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I tried bending lines and maybe it was just me but I had suboptimal results with leaks and things not fitting properly. I ended up seeing a hydraulic shop nearby and getting custom lines made which have been trouble and leak free for about 6 years. I think the cost ended up slightly more expensive than if I had attempted making my own AN lines.Comment
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