The 5 Year Restoration - E30 M3 Reborn

[CurrusDei]

More shiny....this is a lot of work, but the results are very satisfying



Some befores for comparison




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[CurrusDei]

2.5 Years In... M3 Build Thread...PAINT COMPLETE!

My rear windows still had the remnants of the Quality Assurance Vehicle Preparation Center stickers on them. I peeled off the passenger one long ago but left the driver one on. Anyone else have these?



I'm having mine reproduced. Got what I could from a hand tracing





And of course...more shiny...








This is a nice before/after







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[M-technik-3]

Off Topic but where did you get the garage flooring?

[CurrusDei]

Off Topic but where did you get the garage flooring?

Racedeck


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[CurrusDei]

Rear trim painted




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[bradnic]

that's just about wallpaper worthy.

[TimeMachinE30]

How do you like the RD flooring? Jacks, stands? How often do you pick it up to clean? Really that great for a working garage? Better for parking instead?

Good build. Like to see those fasteners restored to spec. Nice to see DIY, too. Looks like you got a good process in place. How much time to create the coating?

[CurrusDei]

2.5 Years In... M3 Build Thread...PAINT COMPLETE!

that's just about wallpaper worthy.

Ha! Thanks.

How do you like the RD flooring? Jacks, stands? How often do you pick it up to clean? Really that great for a working garage? Better for parking instead?



Good build. Like to see those fasteners restored to spec. Nice to see DIY, too. Looks like you got a good process in place. How much time to create the coating?

The flooring has been great - it wasnt cheap but it easily makes the garage feel more finished, and seriously keeps dust down, both concrete dust from below and dust that settles into and under the tiles. It makes it feel more like a room and less like a garage.



I'm getting better at the fasteners. I'll do a fuller writeup on them when I finish, but i'm getting to the point now where i can pretty well estimate the square inch surface area of a set of pieces from looking at it, and translate that into amperage (SA x .14 = Amps). I said a while back that exact measurements mattered, and they do, but not as much as the right temps and mixtures. I'm erring on the low side, because all that does is make it plate slower (normal time is 20 mins), but too much current will blacken the plate or make it splotchy, then you end up with spots that dont get plated and its back to the acid bath to start over.



Also drying by lightly touching the edge of a shop towel to the piece in various spots to draw off excess water, and drying with a heat gun on low (a hair drier would be better as it moves more air) has helped a lot.

[greyis89]

Bravo! Continuing to look great sir!

[CurrusDei]

Ceramic coated engine bay and rear bootlid. Ready to come back home








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[bradnic]

More details on the coating please :-)
My favorite r3v thread. Seems like I say that at least twice a week lol

[DesertBMW]

We are all jealous

[CurrusDei]

Thanks for the compliments. These are the guys doing the coating. They're amazing.

https://onsiteshine.com/

The product they're suing is GTech Crystal Syrum (the pro version, not the lite version available to the public). I purchased and tried out the lite version, which can be buffed off if you mess up. I used it on the inside of the trunk (not the lid, just the floor and walls).

The pro version is serious stuff. Once it cures its so hard it cant be buffed off - it has to be sanded off. I'm not shy about DIYing, but that on a new paint job - I'll leave it to the pros.

[CurrusDei]

2.5 Years In... M3 Build Thread...PAINT COMPLETE!

Just ordered a new, old part number (metal) roundel from the Netherlands [emoji1179] Guy has had it for 20 years uninstalled




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[MukeM3]

I like your style to make things. Nothing has been compromised. All those little details and the accuracy of how you work. One of the best projects I've seen. Thank you when you show it to us.