Let's make an E30 M3! (M3 S14 cabrio clone project)

[WestCoastEta]

Yeaaah lookin good!

[flyboyx]

you probably already know this but be sure to do the rear quarters before you work on the fenders. start at the back of the car, line everything up, adjust the doors to fit the quarters, then do the fenders last.

my m3 fenders are hanging on my car just like yours are. they seem like such a small project in comparison to the quarters, i just want to start into the metal fab on them but i always stop myself.

[2mAn]

Lemme get that side trim, you wont need it. I do thx

[george graves]

I've done some body work in the past - but I'm no pro for sure.

My question is: How do you fill the run strips(side molding) in the door? The e30's doors are different then the m3 doors, as they don't have the recess for the rub strip. Since you won't just be leveling it out, you have to create a new profile with a tight inside corner for the length of the door. That profile, the inside of that corner - is what I'm asking about.

I know Jordan did it, but getting that inside radius perfect for the entire length of the door seems like magic to me. Plans? How to? Thoughts?

Pic for reference:

[IronJoe]

my m3 fenders are hanging on my car just like yours are. they seem like such a small project in comparison to the quarters, i just want to start into the metal fab on them but i always stop myself.

I know, same here. I've been itching to just buzz off the bottoms and bolt them up fully but I am trying to be patient.

Lemme get that side trim, you wont need it. I do thx

You got it man. I'll save it in a pile for ya.

I've done some body work in the past - but I'm no pro for sure.

My question is: How do you fill the run strips(side molding) in the door? The e30's doors are different then the m3 doors, as they don't have the recess for the rub strip. Since you won't just be leveling it out, you have to create a new profile with a tight inside corner for the length of the door. That profile, the inside of that corner - is what I'm asking about.

I know Jordan did it, but getting that inside radius perfect for the entire length of the door seems like magic to me. Plans? How to? Thoughts?

Good catch George. I have seen this done a few different ways - the easiest and least-appealing is to fill them in with body filler. I am not going this route as this car will not be packed with bondo like some ghetto-fab car.

The lower "bump" just underneath the "channel" is identical to the "bump" on the M3 doors - I know this because I had them both side by side and measured them extensively. So really, all you need to do is fill in this channel with material (while keeping the plane of the door skin level). Our plan is to weld in a strip of metal into the channel, thereby bridging this gap.

Only the doors need this modification, as the front fenders and rear quarters are already this way.

It's difficult to explain, so I had one of my CAD guys draw up this accurate to-scale diagram.



If you take a look at this picture of my M3's door, you can see that there isn't really a radius there - they are sharp lines.
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/k...ps20a1rdl7.jpg

[IronJoe]

Last night I scored a major item I've been wanting since I started this project - a factory hardtop!

This one is immaculate - I've not seen one in this good of shape before. It also has a professionally reupholstered headliner (with receipt!). I definitely stole this one. I had passed on a few examples that needed work, but I'm so glad I waited and found this one.

[2mAn]

Damn this thing is totally coming together... very nicely too

[IronJoe]

Damn this thing is totally coming together... very nicely too

Thanks brother! Brand new euro front bumper will be here Wednesday. And I have something big in the works I can't reveal just yet...

[AWDBOB]

Goodness gracious those wheels tie the car together. Whoof

[WestCoastEta]

:popcorn:

[IronJoe]

Goodness gracious those wheels tie the car together. Whoof

Thanks! I'm really happy with the way they turned out with nice meaty tires - this ain't no stancewagen ;)

[e30austin]

I need a left side pink Startec if you feel the need to split them up :)

Coming along very nicely!

[bobaflesh]

Great project, subscribed!

[IronJoe]

New front bumper & associated bits are all together.

Euro bumper
New carrier, mounts, foam
New ZKW foglamps
Euro tow hook covers

I had a couple hiccups getting all the fasteners and such but it's all good now.

Hopefully will get to welding the new M3-specific mounts to the body this weekend. The front end is looking pretty convincing!

[MR E30 325is]

Still digging this project. Excellent work!

The final product is going to be one to remember!