Forums Forums Enthusiast Forums A - Z Autowirral Ste: BMW E30 325i

looks like you've got a giant Everton mint on your bonnet...

Stayed behind after work tonight to finish off the spray job on

the bonnet, rubbed the whole bonnet down with 1500 grade

wet n dry...



Heres the white part rubbed down...




Next i rubbed it down with a 3000 grade grit pad to get rid of

any fine scratches...




Dried off (This helps to show any imperfections which can

then be ammended)...




Next i buffed the bonnet using autosmarts R3 fine liquid

compound...




Dried after buffing...



I buffed again the excess off with water and then used a

polishing cloth to go on the head of the buffer and some

autoglym high resin polish...



These next photographs show the end result ....










I have to say i have never painted anything this large before

but as the bonnet was in such a mess anyway i decided to give

it a go, wonderful results and i`m going to be doing a lot more

painting myself from now on

Ok Ste I will let you loose on my punto now.

Did you keep the bonnet on the car the whole time Ste?

lol



Yes mate, no masking tape was used either, I used the edges of the middle of the bonnet as a guide for the black then rubbed down to get a straight line either side.
The bonnet was up when I sprayed it.

Ah cool... cheers!

You've done a top job Ste... need to do the rest of the car!

Bought a new windscreen wiper motor and fitted it. Must thank Andy for lining the damn wipers up properly

Got rear lights working properly.

Just got these headlights, will be fitted tomorrow, I only needed one but these are a newer set so will have to replace both. Bosch ones too which is a plus

You did well fitting that motor back in, I remembered the plastic bits flying out at all angles when it came out, I didn't have a clue where they went

Couldn't believe our luck at getting the angle right on first guess, that saved a few Grrrs

Id also consider a decat

Failed on....

Slight leak in petrol tank

Horn not working

3 bulbs (which were working so loose connections)

2 small brake pipes

Welding needed.

As I have been delivering a van I sold to Preston today the car was locked up in the MOT bay so I'll be getting it back tommorow and repair will commence

Realised at last minute that the washer bottle and motor were missing so Wirral spares were at hand with a replacement prompto.
Cheers guys

I'll start work on this tonight, I gotta take the propshaft and gas tank off so dilly can do the welding and brake pipes, the amount of welding is ridiculous. May as well replace the crankshaft oil seal while it's stripped, I gotta take the damn carpet out too

Think I'll be selling this one and getting a newer model, this is a 1987 and I don't like the colour red on these anyway.

Fuel tanks are steel on the E30s and Ive had one thats leaked where the 2 halves are joined - was ok with less than 1/2 a tank

If you take the tank out, there are also brake hoses that run over the top of the tank - well worht replacing those if they look a bit suspect. Very rare they get spotted in an MOT as they cant be seen above the tank.

They are the ones that need replacing stu, they are really bad.

I was quite surprised to see two tanks when i got under the car

Thanks to andy for his help last night

Is right Ste, it's getting there

Damn things Christine, it ate my finger (well, burst it like a balloon not a pretty sight the insides of your finger coming out).

Have to also put 2 new flexi hoses on the rear of this as the pipes are so badley corroded

Giving the mileage on this i`d say most of the parts are the original ones from 1986