Project Lessmeister: 91 318iS Restomod w/ MTech2 and modern drivetrain

[kronus]

are you going to take anything off the car for color sanding? I had my white e30 color sanded, and the guy that did it seemed insistent that working on a bare shell is significantly preferable to him than working on a fully assembled car.

[Jordan]

Yes, color sanding is a term used to describe final paint finishing.

No matter how good your painter and equipment is paint just doesn't lay out flat like glass, that comes from color sanding.

The entire car needs to be sanded with 1500, 2000, 2500, 3000, and 5000 paper then polished to a brilliant shine. This will anihilate all traces or orange peel and completely level the clear coat for a show car finish.

2.5 gallons of clear (PPG Deltron DCU2021) was used to paint the car inside and out. That is 3.75 gallons sprayable with consideration for the hardener and reducer added at 4:1:1. Just the clearcoat related material was over $800.

I don't know what that equates to on coats, but rest assured its a lot more than normal.

[E30 Wagen]

Then drop the car back off at Imperial Collision for them to do the final color sanding and such.

Do you mean the final clear coat sanding/buffing/polishing? The paint work looks very good and I wonder if they sanded/leveled the base coat before applying the clear. Do you know how many clear coats they applied? I have a feeling this was answered already but meh. I have a lot of respect for a highly detailed paint job, in my opinion the most important part of a build like this.

Has anybody seen the orange peel on new BMWs? It's disgusting.

[nando]

what's funny is I was going to swap out my FP with one from an E46 M3. I had recently bought a new pump for my E30 - when I pulled them out, I realized they were identical. Decided to just leave the new replacement pump in there.

but yeah, the E46 and E36 pumps fit right into the (late) E30 carrier. Even the sock fits right on. I have an '88 carrier that needs some modifications but you could make that work too.

[Jordan]

I'm only swapping the physical pump into the E30 hanger, and I've done it plenty of times without issue. Its a cheap, readily available and very reliable pump that is up to the task of 450-500hp no problem.

E30's don't have a float arm. The level sensors are fully encased, nothing to stick.

[Javier h]

Speaking of fuel pumps

what's the deal with factory E36 M3 OEM fuel pump?

You might encounter some issues when installing that new pump.

I read somewhere that the design changed (later e36s were a bit different) and that new design wont work well.

Specifically, people report that the gas gauge reads only half way when the tank is full. Something about the floater arm sticking?

I am sure you've done your share of fuel pumps on E36s for clients. Have you ever encounter such an issue?

[UNHCLL]

[Jordan]

Only a handful of small things.

I want to change whatever fuel pump out that came with the car to a E36 M3 unit I already have on hand. The one in there now works fine but it's loud. Probably a cheap Airtex or something.

I have to run a hose from the evap line by the FPR to the evap valve.

Finish wiring the amplifier, and install the trim panel.

Then drop the car back off at Imperial Collision for them to do the final color sanding and such.

[flyboyx]

What do you have left to go?

[CorvallisBMW]

Those tips look perfect, nice choice.

[0-60 freak]

Wow...looks great

Sent from my SM-N920P using Tapatalk

[Jordan]

OK, so some updates here....

I haven't been able to do much over the last week because my wife blew up her AT in the E39 528i Touring on the 26th. I'd sort of already planned on that eventuality being its was a shit GM 4L30E and it had 212k on it. I had everything to swap it to a 5MT sitting up in my parts stash at work. Took a few days to get everything out and swapped over, wires added for the reverse switch and clutch switch, programming of the EWS/IKE/DME etc. All and all a simple swap. Car is much quicker now, more fun to drive, and gets considerably better MPG to boot.

Moving on....

My special edition "MOSS" E3010 from German Audio Specialties showed up. Very nice construction here, Luke upgraded me with a fully sealed (waterproof) coating on the inside and out of the MDF box. The MOSS edition box has a recessed amplifier cubby, LED lit and fan cooled. The trim panel finisher should be here today or tomorrow.







Woofer is a JBL 1014D.

I also finished up the catback exhaust fabrication this week, as seen tacked and ready for TIG in the second to last photo above. I brought it over to my friends Wil and Alex at IDB Racing and they TIG'd it up while I hung out.

Finish welded, can resprayed in original style as supplied from Remus.



Installed on the car:





Car is much much quieter with a muffler now. Still sounds great, but much subdued.

[stonea]

Thats fantastic! Can't wait to read it!

[Jordan]

I'm happy to let you know I'm working on putting together all I've learned into a much needed concise M54 swap thread, which will be stand alone to this one. I work on it as I have time, its getting close.

[stonea]

Thanks! I've been trying to condense all of your M54 swap info down into some notes. There not really any good M54 build threads out there and Hakentt's write up isn't really the best or most informative.