Project finished - 'MY22' 318is - bare metal, nut and bolt restoration

[TeXJ]

really looking awesome!

[burkey001]

it's a chance to do things smarter too...
I really dont like those plastic cable clips that proliferate in the engine bay.
Much neater to use a rivnut in the original hole and then use a TytonHellermann loom standoff and top if off with a nice Thomas&Betts cable tie :)
no cable rub on body, looks nice neater, easier to keep looms aligned and nice on the body.
example..

[econti]

That's a nice idea. Where have you been buying them

[burkey001]

Rs components have all that you need��

[MyE30]

oh my.

[Melon]

Interested to see how it looks installed.

[pipeuy]

Insane build so far, loving the color you chose. In for more :D

[FredK]

Whoa. Absolutely stunning!

[burkey001]

So, now, it’s painted and mostly sanded & polished… major reassembly can commence.
It will get another mild sand/polish in a few areas once its all done… gives the paint a chance to cure and move a bit too. It’s a ‘hot rod’ paint job, not an OEM one (read… a LOT of paint on the thing…) mixed feelings about it, stone chips will be like craters. But, sure looks nice.
Most of the car will be clear wrapped anyway, so that would mitigate most stone chip concerns.

With reassembly comes parts…. Hundreds and hundreds of new parts. New clips, plugs, screws, nuts, trim, body parts, interior stuff….
To make my life easier, I have ordered all this stuff into bins / tubs / trays so I can find what I need


Theres a fair amount of re-wiring going on. Engine bay in particular, OEM harness is messy. I will not do a ‘tucked’ engine bay, but I will do a ‘motorsport look’ engine bay. i.ee concentric wrap wires, tidy, DR25 tubing etc. I have this on another one and it just looks great and is very functional too. This means much reverse engineering of the body loom…
From the basic scratch pad..

To the ‘this how it works’ view

Speaking looms, the engine bay plugs cop a hammering from heat & ozone… lucky have secured all new plugs for everything

Testing a few label styles

Now, as it’s a ‘hot rod’ paint job, one thing that slightly annoyed me (but have since dealt with) is that every panel was painted separately because ‘that’s how we do it’.
It meant that the bolts that hold the front fenders to body – as one example – were not painted as one… so they would stick out.
Solution.. pro-bolt orange hardware!


Assembly is a really blissful thing, if you have the clear time to spend.. pressing in new clips and plugs is strangely satisfying





And it begins to look like an e30


(don’t worry, door hardware will not remain painted orange… that’s just a dummy set)

I’m putting the OEM side skirts on this, so all holes were drilled and treated before any paint went down… hopefully means no rust

As significant chemical stripped was ladled on the car, I’ve been pretty thorough on hitting every nook and cranny with HEAPS of 3M cavity wax. Really nice stuff, comes with a 1 metre applicator tubes.. gets right down into all the frame rails.. awesome




Behind the windscreen cowl


Lastly.. time to chase a few threads


(cavity wax behind)
Hang a few more things




Heart new hardware

Sometimes you need some shine



Thanks
:)

[Melon]

Looks great!

I appreciate the pics, I'll be able to use some as reference.

[econti]

Looks great!

I appreciate the pics, I'll be able to use some as reference.

Same

That orange would be eye searing to work with up close. I find with my Ducati after working on it (and particularly polishing it in the sun) due to the red content the colours that my eyes produced had changed.

[rturbo 930]

So is anyone gonna point out that the title says "but and bolt" instead of "nut and bolt"?

[burkey001]

yeah, i know :)
how do i change that?

[rturbo 930]

You used to be able to edit titles on here, but I'm trying it with an old thread of mine, and I can't figure it out. Maybe a mod has to do it.

[flyboyx]

I think it is in the go advanced section.