1983 Henna Red 323i

[Japandrew73]

It's crazy how daring you are with your paint!

[kdevitt]

Today was quite tough! I put down a layer of primer on the offside quarter panel yesterday. Probably wasteful, and definately something a pro wouldn't do (that said, a pro wouldn't be painting a car out in the open with aerosols :D) - but having the primer down helps me spot impurities in the paint underneath, so I can smooth it down.

After a small bit of sanding you can see the red coming back up under the primer

I really wasn't happy with the full panel though, and from my experience with the bootlid, I knew that messing around smoothing off rough areas into slightly less rough lumps wasn't going to keep me happy.

So about 4 hours later...

This was tiring work, my arms were hanging off me by the time I was finished.

I put down another two light coats of etch primer, and the finish this time was much smoother thankfully.

I spent another 40 minutes or so wet sanding this down to get it as smooth as possible, and it started coming out really nice.

I re-covered any spots which were a bit light on primer after the wetsanding, and these will be done again tomorrow.

With the primer dry, I was able to put some paint down in the lights and inside the arches.

I was also able to get to coats down on the door jam.

[BrewCity11]

Nice! My winter car came with that in perfect shape except for one cassette holder. I managed to find one used. It's on its way. Hopefully it looks new like that!

[kdevitt]

Managed to pick this up off eBay a few weeks ago - meant to post pictures before. Its not often that brand new OEM E30 parts come up - well it probably is, but thats besides the point :D

I actually don't think I'll be using it after all, but I'm sure I won't have too much hassle shifting it!

[JoeMadoo]

beautiful car man

[kdevitt]

Quick question for all you guru's :D

What product can be used to get the textured OEM look on the bottom of the car - in and around the sills??

[Bimmerista]

Amazing progress....good work!!

[Jean]

Glad you changed your mind, m-tech I looks great!!!

[Motorsports]

I really like what your doing with this car. An Mtech 1 323. Thats hot. You really have some balls doing all this work on your own.

[T3rd Ferguson]

man i miss my old tech 1 car.

[Huff]

A Hennarot Mtech1.



Could be one the the world's coolest e30's ever.



There.. I've said it.

[Japandrew73]

DEFINATELY keep the tech 1 kit.

[kdevitt]

Another quick update!

Had no takers for the Tec 1 kit which was surprising enough, so decided to have a go at spraying the front bumper and seeing if I like it on the car. It took a while to get it all separated - taking it apart gives you a good idea of how its meant to go back together though!!

Gave the valance a good sanding, primed and sprayed it last night

Took off the front valance I fitted the other day - I needed to remove the fogs from it.

There were 4 bolts holding in each fog light - once I had the whole unit removed I needed to just remove the fog light itself from the holder - it fits straight into the new bumper.

The new bumper was reassembled and fitted - its not aligned or fully bolted in, need to get the offside wing done first! I think I'll go ahead with the rest of the kit now though!!

[kdevitt]

Great job, and welcome to the site!!!

It's interesting that even though we both have early cars, your fuel pump/sender is one unit? My fuel level sender comes out w/o remove in intank pump... wierd.

Thats a sender unit only - the pump is external from what i know.

[chameleonleather]

wow, I do not have your patiance. Impressed.