My 325es Project

[FunfGan]

The new progress is looking great! Looks much better with some contrast, keep it up :)

[CW325]

The new progress is looking great! Looks much better with some contrast, keep it up :)

Thanks dude. Had to put the black kidneys back though. The chrome kidneys just didnt look right but im glad my bumpers aren't painted anymore!

[CW325]

So I picked up some overplayed wheels from a local e30 guy. THey had some rust so I primered them and hit them with some paint. Other than the centers, the polished lip was in good condition and tires were still good.

Before:


Painted!


Test fitting the rears, still need some spacers for the front. So much poke

[KI4UJO]

A single stage spray can job will be very hard to get a good gloss out of. I did this to a computer case panel to test it for a friend of mine, but is is the exact same situation you have here. Buy some rustoleum spray can clear, and put 2-3 coats on the car. At this point, go to your auto parts store and get some professional automotive green masking tape, 1000 grit sandpaper, 2000 grit sandpaper, rubbing compound, and polishing compound. Unless you want to buff by hand, get a cheap electric buffer or a powerball to put on an electric drill. After spraying the clear, let it cure for at least a week. Tape ALL of your body lines at this point. Wet sand with 1000 grit, and then step up to 2000 grit. What you are doing here is removing the orange peel that occurs when enamel hardens. Now, apply the rubbing compound and buff. When buffing, move the buffer back and forth over a large area, never focusing specifically on one part of a panel. When you think that all of the compound on the car is gone, throw some water on to it to dilute the remaining compound, so you can continue buffing. Once you start to get a shine (it will not be anywhere near the final result), switch to the polishing compound and repeat as you did with the rubbing compound. This will result in the "wet" look that Base/Clear painting offers.

(This panel was originally textured, so that is why you see the dots. They came through in color sanding)
Anyway, nice build. The budget theme is a large part of mine as well (I may have the only e30 shot in Duplicolor lacquer), so glad to see someone else returning another e30 to its former glory on the cheap. Also, nice floors (coming form the guy whose drivers' front pan is aluminum flashing w/fiberglass laid over it).

[MadSci]

coming along very nice man

[CW325]

coming along very nice man

THanks!

And thanks for the tips KI4UJO, I'll keep that in mind in the future once I finish all my bodywork.

[FunfGan]

Want to see these new wheels, tires look pretty chunky for diamonds!

[CW325]

Want to see these new wheels, tires look pretty chunky for diamonds!

I still have to finish the fronts. Waiting on 5mm spacers and I have to grind the caliper brackets a bit. The wheels came with a surprising amount of tread left, might have to flip the rears soon though.

[FunfGan]

Sweet, I know about caliper grinding haha. Are they now white or silver? Cant tell from the pic.

[CW325]

Sweet, I know about caliper grinding haha. Are they now white or silver? Cant tell from the pic.

They're metallic silver, took the pic at night so the lighting was wierd. Hopefully I'll only have to grind a little with the 5mm spacers.

[CW325]

Got my front wheels mounted Grinding the calipers wasn't as bad as I thought. Can't wait for the spacers for the back!

8-)

[///Bimmerfan]

you should do the other home depot lip it would give your car a much cleaner look Imo. Nice work though your car is coming along great!

[CW325]

you should do the other home depot lip it would give your car a much cleaner look Imo. Nice work though your car is coming along great!
[IMG][/IMG]

Thanks! That actually looks pretty good.

[///Bimmerfan]

Thanks! That actually looks pretty good.

ya it looks like the is lip kind of.

[Ninz30]

looking good!