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

[bradnic]

seriously well done sir.

[IronJoe]

Incredible work
I take it the M3 rear inner wheel arch sheetmetal is NLA?

That's right. I have had them on backorder since early 2016, exhausted every avenue in attempting to get a pair. There was a point at which a fellow enthusiast had parted a car and was going to sell me one side, but he ended up deciding to keep it. However, luckily I ended up with several photographs that were helpful. I have seen the new arches close-up and I can say they truly made them look great. I am looking forward to getting the car home so I can take detailed photos of everything.

The same work was done to the Griot's Garage Detailwagen.

[bradnic]

Incredible work
I take it the M3 rear inner wheel arch sheetmetal is NLA?

[rzerob]

Awesome.

[parkerbink]

So very cool!

[MR E30 325is]

x2

[2mAn]

[IronJoe]

Alright, here's the first batch of photos from the shop which details the driver's side rear quarter panel and wheel arch. I will do my best to narrate as we go along...


Here's the car as I dropped it off at the shop.
21125646_10155379546725239_3067627716937555058_o by IronJoeT16S, on Flickr


Another one. You can clearly see where the rear bumper is supposed to mate with the quarter panel and the good 2-3 inches width difference!
21167296_10155379545255239_1131030189542279144_o by IronJoeT16S, on Flickr


As shown previously, here's the M3 quarter panel trimmed:
21083472_10155379546895239_9083768642156192589_o by IronJoeT16S, on Flickr


Say goodbye to the old quarter panel!
21122241_10155379549525239_5554460414976877785_o by IronJoeT16S, on Flickr


...and it's gone. You can see they left the wheel arch alone at this point.
21122352_10155379551980239_1892671627601789163_o by IronJoeT16S, on Flickr


Next, they fit up the M3 panel to begin planning the wheel arch.

21125406_10155379551145239_7011516779294292034_o by IronJoeT16S, on Flickr


Huge difference here. They decided to split the stock wheel arch and add material to replicate the factory M3 wheel arches.
21167061_10155379553210239_1473511007473473488_o by IronJoeT16S, on Flickr

Working on the inner arch... getting exciting!
21200620_10155379552110239_6959773953729972096_o by IronJoeT16S, on Flickr


Building out the inner arch
21122472_10155379544500239_4295053936372579645_o by IronJoeT16S, on Flickr


And the completed wheel arch, welded and seam sealed. It admittedly looks ugly from this view but from underneath it looks like one smooth piece. It will get factory undercoating and appear totally stock.
21125680_10155379551920239_3360211932534266920_o by IronJoeT16S, on Flickr

21199505_10155379552290239_119846476627173766_o by IronJoeT16S, on Flickr


After completing the wheel arch work, they make the final trim & cuts and prepare final fit up of the panel.
21122661_10155379553245239_7970896711290525688_o by IronJoeT16S, on Flickr



And there she is, ready for tig welding.
21125665_10155379552830239_3360054940645292623_o by IronJoeT16S, on Flickr






As of yesterday I am told the final TIG welding is in progress and they will then move onto the doors. I am expecting another batch of pics soon!

[parkerbink]

We really need a PSA to tell people to stop removing their broken PB links and instead encourage installing the fix. If you remove the link, the extension is useless and so is the thread.

Edit: Here's something to hold ya over ;)

Super light weight!

[delamaize]

Damn, they are really going all out...

[IronJoe]

between this thread and Mr Wolfe's build the lack of pics is killing me lol.
on the plus side there's a photo bucket extension for firefox and chrome that works (at least for now).

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/show...65&postcount=1

We really need a PSA to tell people to stop removing their broken PB links and instead encourage installing the fix. If you remove the link, the extension is useless and so is the thread.

Edit: Here's something to hold ya over ;)

[bradnic]

between this thread and Mr Wolfe's build the lack of pics is killing me lol.
on the plus side there's a photo bucket extension for firefox and chrome that works (at least for now).

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showpost.php?p=4818265&postcount=1

[AwakenNoMore]

I'm pretty excited to see it all boxy flared.

[IronJoe]

i was really hoping you would post lots of photos of the work as it is being done. i feel like this just isn't going to happen.....:(

Patience my friend! I will see if I can get down there today for some snaps.

[flyboyx]

i was really hoping you would post lots of photos of the work as it is being done. i feel like this just isn't going to happen.....:(