SoCal General Chat

[mkcman17]

Smegma

[mkcman17]

Anyone know the bulb number for the cluster backlight bulbs?

Just take one out and compare. I don't think parts stores have one with as low of wattage...I got a slightly more powerful amber bulb and took off the colored cap so it wouldn't melt

[IRON-E]

Smegma

Jack ass.

[thebutcher37]

I too thought you could just ignore them (didn't even know they were still being issued). Seems like there's a grey area. Check this out, it's a good read.

Thanks a bunch... Seems like I have some reading to do.. DAMN!

Only plus right now is that The photo of the person driving is not the registered owner. So theres the "its not me" defense, and there is no law saying that you have to identify the person that was photographed.

[QUKBMER]

Sup !!!! ..................and now good night.

[E30_Pare]

What's everyone using for metallic paint wax/polish?

I want to do my car but I'm affraid to crack the clear, like I did when the car still had original paint.

How many layers of clear do u have? Any thing over 5 wont last long. Dealt with a lot of muscle show cars with 7+ layers of clear. Just gets hards and tends to crack over time.

How bad are the swirls? Basics are to not let the wax go dry. "play-time"
Watch how hot the paint gets with your palm. Use low speeds with foam finishing pads. Going to take a lot of passes if swirls are bad, but going to be worth it.

Can use anything off the shelf, but I like anything meguiars.

[einstein57]

For the fresh wet look I clay bar then use Nu Finish. Made in Germany so you know it's good.

[E30_Pare]

Oh and should start using the 2 bucket method to wash your car. I always have separate microfibers for the rockers and wheels/body. Try to get most of the dirt off with the initial rinse will save u from rubbin it into the paint.

[mkcman17]

I don't always wash my car, but when I do, it's usually involuntary and with rainwater.

[turge]

Sup. Who's going to Coronado Speed Festival this weekend?

http://www.coronadospeedfest.com/

[MR 325]

In other news...I changed the look of my M3 again in preparation for SoCal Vintage. I finally found the key ingredient I have been looking for. Can't wait for Van Nuys next week.

Excellent! Will you be making the Car B Que meet next weekend?

Went to replace the master, turns out the clutch pedal bracket is cracked...
Can't figure out how to get the assembly off on an airbag car. It's like sandwhiched by the steering column. Anyone ever attempt this?

Well shit, that explains it! You have to drop the column to pull the pedal assembly on an airbag car. I've never done it actually but my buddy Dave knows the quick way to make it happen.

[IronmanE30]

Good Morning, TGIF!

We have pulled a few air bag columns. Dave's method is to loosen the slip joints at the base of the steering column and then push the column forward to slide the plastic inserts out of the mount. This method takes quit a bit of force to get the column to slide forward toward the firewall but it works. It's a good idea to have some spare plastic inserts handy just in case, using either method because they like to bust during removal.

I like to get under the dash and use a dremel with the small round metal cutting blade and remove two of the sides of the 2 factory bolts. These bolts have a small torx shaft that snaps off when it gets to the correct torque. The rest of the head is conical so it's hard to get a grip on them. Sometimes vice grips work but if you notch each side you can get a 10mm spanner on it and they come right out. Either way it's not that hard if you take your time. Once the bolts have been removed we use standard bolts with some blue locktite to reinstall the column Don't over torque the bolts because they are designed to slip forward if you get into a wreck and that will save you from busting yourself up too bad.

On the paint I would clay bar it first then if you have a buffer then use some soft compound to remove the swirls. I would not attempt to buff out swirls without a power buffer. Then apply the wax. I just got the Meguiars DA Microfiber Detail package that comes with pads and compounds. It works great if the swirls are not too bad but will not take out the deep ones. We have used this on three of the cars with good results.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhJYFLgIjhE

Cheers,

Jim

[IRON-E]

Good morning y'all and thanks for the responses., I'll be looking into some Meguiers products this weekend.
The one thing I'm not clear with is "are there special polish/wac/compounds" for metallic base paints. I have done colors with much success.before but I'm always scared to do my own car because of previous fails.

I don't always wash my car, but when I do, it's usually involuntary and with rainwater.

CALLATE!

[IronmanE30]

Good morning y'all and thanks for the responses., I'll be looking into some Meguiers products this weekend.
The one thing I'm not clear with is "are there special polish/wac/compounds" for metallic base paints. I have done colors with much success.before but I'm always scared to do my own car because of previous fails.

We used it on Brian's Lagoon Green car which is metallic and it came out great. The only thing else you may want to do is to wait a day or two and then use some better wax so it will last longer. The cheaper wax's are fine but just don't last as long or give you the depth that a high end carnauba wax will give you. But that stuff is kind of expensive.

BTW, for the most part the clear coat is harder than the early cars paint without the clear. Of course that all depends on what clear your car was painted with. Cheap clear coat is softer than the expensive clear coat from what I have been told.

I wish you were closer buddy, Brian and I have it down to a half day job with both of us working on the car and using a DA buffer. If you want to make the drive we could help you.

Cheers,

Jim

[IRON-E]

We used it on Brian's Lagoon Green car which is metallic and it came out great. The only thing else you may want to do is to wait a day or two and then use some better wax so it will last longer. The cheaper wax's are fine but just don't last as long or give you the depth that a high end carnauba wax will give you. But that stuff is kind of expensive.

BTW, for the most part the clear coat is harder than the early cars paint without the clear. Of course that all depends on what clear your car was painted with. Cheap clear coat is softer than the expensive clear coat from what I have been told.

I wish you were closer buddy, Brian and I have it down to a half day job with both of us working on the car and using a DA buffer. If you want to make the drive we could help you.

Cheers,

Jim

Thank you Jim, I do wish I was closer too.

I do have a kit I purchased, at one of the Bimmerfest shows maybe I can use that stuff this time around and if I remember correctly, it is carnuba based.

Thanks for the tips boss.