Whackamac
06-29-2007, 12:28 PM
Well if you know me thus far, I got my bimmer for $750 from a convict... The car had a new S50 engine mated to the stock tranny/diff :(.
Well the car was missing a lot of little shit like screws, ashtray, foglights, and a bunch of other stuff... well Phase 1 (interior restoration) is complete.
I scored a set of freshly recovered seats from a gal in Monterey for $100 a few days ago (SCORE!!!:redspot), and I was able to use my local pick-n-pocket (pull) to find the rest. Here is what I have done so far. I will post current before/afters soon:
--INTERIOR--
New seats
New ashtray (took 3 to get the right color of parchment seeing they changed the "tan" content in '92+
New glove box latch
Fully installed the inside glove box panels the right way
Replaced Cabin Filter
Replaced broken front speaker grill
Replaced rear drivers speaker and assy
Replaced all burned out lights in OBC and Dash
Fixed handle on driver's door panel (screw nut for the handle broke) cost .79 cents from the dealer for the nut and I was proclaimed as buying the cheapest amount of parts in the history of Valley BMW in Modesto.
Complete Stereo re-wire and upgrade w/amp and sub
Cut out the Ski Door for trunk access and bass amplification (worked really good...)
Installed aftermarket radio antenna (hidden) seeing PO cut the OEM one
Installed Blue inside trunk light bulbs and a plasma light bar in front of the sub (the trunk looks GOOOOOOOD...)
Now all I need to do is sand and recoat my wood panels that are cracked, and do a full shampoo and detail and this baby will almost look new inside again...
--ENGINE AND EXTERIOR--
Replaced missing door trim on rear drivers door
Replaced handle surround on drivers door
Replaced freeform headlights with OEM Hella Projectors and Projector fogs
Upgraded Low beams to 9005 bulbs
YES I KEPT THE AMBERS!!! (you know who I am talking to on this one...You were right it does look WAY better than clear on Oxford paint...:D)
New Brembo Rotors and Ceramic Pads and sensors
New upper control arms
New Sway links (they needed a retorque after a few weeks but they are fine now.
Full A/C recharge with R134
New NGK plugs
Full transmission service and filter/gaskets
New tranny mounts
New radiator brackets
Now I still have to change the valve cover gasket, and one more seal and the engine will be 100%. When the PO changed the engine, he only got the longblock and used the valve cover and plastic cover from the original M50. If you saw the "quality" paint on the Cover, you would probably want to slap the PO like me. I am now looking for an M3 valve cover and plastics so the engine can be what it is... an S50.
I also have to replace the rear bumper cover (off hellrot car and sprayed flat black), and the front bumper trim still. And that's about it for everything as far as broken, incorrect parts. I'm SOOO CLOSE!!!:buttrock
Then Phase 2 is complete interior shampoo, detail, and wood refinishing.
Phase 3 is paintless dent removal
Phase 4 is other dent removal and paint prep
Phase 5 Squirt it!
Phase 6 (or maybe 3 1/2) Rims and Drop.
I really want to do some of these Meets and Drives that you guys are doing out here in the bay... I missed the last one cause my car looked like complete DOO DOO... But now I sat in the bimmer this morning reflecting on what I finished yesterday and WoW... It feels like a $40k car now.... All you see wrong now is a bad clearcoat and some dents. It looks great at night now.... and in the rain...:D
Well the car was missing a lot of little shit like screws, ashtray, foglights, and a bunch of other stuff... well Phase 1 (interior restoration) is complete.
I scored a set of freshly recovered seats from a gal in Monterey for $100 a few days ago (SCORE!!!:redspot), and I was able to use my local pick-n-pocket (pull) to find the rest. Here is what I have done so far. I will post current before/afters soon:
--INTERIOR--
New seats
New ashtray (took 3 to get the right color of parchment seeing they changed the "tan" content in '92+
New glove box latch
Fully installed the inside glove box panels the right way
Replaced Cabin Filter
Replaced broken front speaker grill
Replaced rear drivers speaker and assy
Replaced all burned out lights in OBC and Dash
Fixed handle on driver's door panel (screw nut for the handle broke) cost .79 cents from the dealer for the nut and I was proclaimed as buying the cheapest amount of parts in the history of Valley BMW in Modesto.
Complete Stereo re-wire and upgrade w/amp and sub
Cut out the Ski Door for trunk access and bass amplification (worked really good...)
Installed aftermarket radio antenna (hidden) seeing PO cut the OEM one
Installed Blue inside trunk light bulbs and a plasma light bar in front of the sub (the trunk looks GOOOOOOOD...)
Now all I need to do is sand and recoat my wood panels that are cracked, and do a full shampoo and detail and this baby will almost look new inside again...
--ENGINE AND EXTERIOR--
Replaced missing door trim on rear drivers door
Replaced handle surround on drivers door
Replaced freeform headlights with OEM Hella Projectors and Projector fogs
Upgraded Low beams to 9005 bulbs
YES I KEPT THE AMBERS!!! (you know who I am talking to on this one...You were right it does look WAY better than clear on Oxford paint...:D)
New Brembo Rotors and Ceramic Pads and sensors
New upper control arms
New Sway links (they needed a retorque after a few weeks but they are fine now.
Full A/C recharge with R134
New NGK plugs
Full transmission service and filter/gaskets
New tranny mounts
New radiator brackets
Now I still have to change the valve cover gasket, and one more seal and the engine will be 100%. When the PO changed the engine, he only got the longblock and used the valve cover and plastic cover from the original M50. If you saw the "quality" paint on the Cover, you would probably want to slap the PO like me. I am now looking for an M3 valve cover and plastics so the engine can be what it is... an S50.
I also have to replace the rear bumper cover (off hellrot car and sprayed flat black), and the front bumper trim still. And that's about it for everything as far as broken, incorrect parts. I'm SOOO CLOSE!!!:buttrock
Then Phase 2 is complete interior shampoo, detail, and wood refinishing.
Phase 3 is paintless dent removal
Phase 4 is other dent removal and paint prep
Phase 5 Squirt it!
Phase 6 (or maybe 3 1/2) Rims and Drop.
I really want to do some of these Meets and Drives that you guys are doing out here in the bay... I missed the last one cause my car looked like complete DOO DOO... But now I sat in the bimmer this morning reflecting on what I finished yesterday and WoW... It feels like a $40k car now.... All you see wrong now is a bad clearcoat and some dents. It looks great at night now.... and in the rain...:D