How about a build thread thread? Let's call it my Final Chapter and my Nephews first

[franco90]

WOW nice

[cyclops2]

OK, I am doing TCG replacement, valley pan, VC gaskets, intake manifold rebuild, etc etc.

What bolts should I be replacing?

Here are what I know:

Jesus bolt
water pump bolts
replaced torx bolts in intake manifold with hex head (PCV, Throttle body)

are there others?

Thanks.

[cyclops2]

This picture doesn't do the job justice. But did final detail cleaning (cleaned 3 times) of rear seats and then redyed the seats black using Kiwi leather dye (for shoes). Turned out really good, very satisfied with the outcome.

very easy straight forward job. Need to check it today to make sure coverage is complete and even and if so to treat the seat with saddle soap. Will do the front seats today and that will be the real test since they are much more worn (dry cracking). I'll try to get better pictures of the front seat work.

[Hueristic]

Looks great, but I'm not sure that shoe dye stuff was the best choice.

[cyclops2]

Parts Needed: 5/96 build 740iL


I will use this space to list parts that are needed and/or on wish list:


knee bolster
sport wheel w/air bag (single stage)

[cyclops2]

BAM!



Continuing to make progress on the interior dye job. Will wrap up initial dye effort on 5/1 and move on to other areas. Getting ready for TCG, but while waiting for parts we are finishing other areas.

The dye job using Kiwi leather dye is working out, but it is tedious and takes multiple applications to make it look right. I am liking the outcome so far. Tonight I applied saddle soap to the front seats and will do that to the rest of the interior tomorrow. The saddle soap makes it nice and soft. Massive improvement from where I started.

[NordmanMg]

Looking good

[Hueristic]

W0w!

Update how that kiwi stuff holds up in 6 months or so.

[cyclops2]

Looking good

W0w!

Update how that kiwi stuff holds up in 6 months or so.

Thanks guys. There are many projects revealed in that interior picture and the kiwi dye work was actually just a small part. Brushed aluminum skins over the wood trim. pixel repairs of the cluster and MID. White faces and metal rings around cluster gauges, repaired glove box, repaired all parts of center console, replaced steering wheel (used kiwi dye on it). Installed aluminum pedals. replaced accelerator pedal, cable and bushings. painted speaker grills silver. Repaired doors. Installed USB chargers. Still lots to do.

Used the Kiwi dye on: tops of door panels, dash from trimline down (including glovebox), steering wheel, front seats, rear seats. It not just wipe in on and go, there is some work to it, but you are right Hueristic - how will it hold up? I rubbed the front seats with Saddle soap last night and very little black dye is removed. From what I have read on the Internet, many people have had success with this product and technique. I can't vouch for it yet though - update in 6 months!

Here are a few more shots of the Kiwi dye work:

[clarkitect]

Guy that looks awesome! I think you need a sport steering wheel though.

http://nh.craigslist.org/pts/4988596282.html

Def post updates on the dye job.

[cyclops2]

Guy that looks awesome! I think you need a sport steering wheel though.

http://nh.craigslist.org/pts/4988596282.html

Def post updates on the dye job.

Thanks! and I agree. I just sent an email to that seller asking if it was a stage 1 wheel. Thanks a lot for the lead! It is out of my budget, but the last 3 months has been out of my budget! HAHAHAHAHAHAHhahahahahah....hmmmm.....


ok, more later. Tonight is final dye and saddle soap work and wash the exterior getting ready for buff and wax on Saturday.

The TCG job is NEARING!

thanks again guys!

[clarkitect]

Thanks! and I agree. I just sent an email to that seller asking if it was a stage 1 wheel. Thanks a lot for the lead! It is out of my budget, but the last 3 months has been out of my budget! HAHAHAHAHAHAHhahahahahah....hmmmm.....


ok, more later. Tonight is final dye and saddle soap work and wash the exterior getting ready for buff and wax on Saturday.

The TCG job is NEARING!

thanks again guys!

You know the seller lol. Good luck on TCG job. Lots of work but very rewarding.

[cyclops2]

Guy that looks awesome! I think you need a sport steering wheel though.

http://nh.craigslist.org/pts/4988596282.html

Def post updates on the dye job.

Thanks! and I agree. I just sent an email to that seller asking if it was a stage 1 wheel. Thanks a lot for the lead! It is out of my budget, but the last 3 months has been out of my budget! HAHAHAHAHAHAHhahahahahah....hmmmm.....


ok, more later. Tonight is final dye and saddle soap work and wash the exterior getting ready for buff and wax on Saturday.

The TCG job is NEARING!

thanks again guys!

- - - Updated - - -

You know the seller lol. Good luck on TCG job. Lots of work but very rewarding.

I thought those mats in the car with the steering wheel for sale looked familiar. But I can't place the owner at the moment.

+++++++++++++++++

UPDATE: seller informed me that wheel was a dual stage wheel and won't work with my car. I would be interested in a single stage wheel with airbag for $100 (got to have a budget in place somewhere).

[purplecty]

Interior looks like new! Im not a fan of the wood wrap or silver speakers but lots of good work there...

[cyclops2]

Interior looks like new! Im not a fan of the wood wrap or silver speakers but lots of good work there...

Well I find that the digital camera hides a lot, but thanks, it is looking better anyway.

Now that brushed aluminum vinyl wrap and some other things (cluster, shifter, pedals) are at the request of nephew 1 and later nephew 2. Now these guys are 17 - 20. The car will be nephew #2 when completed. Anyway, nephew #1 made the comment "it feels like an older person's car with the wood and he showed me a picture of a car with brushed aluminum. I said, well we can probably do it if you want, so I did some test pieces which he loved.

I am kind of liking it myself. Kind of sport and it does brighten up the interior.

What's fun about these cars is a lot of people are trying a lot of different mods to them and kind of expressing different things they like. That's cool.

Well better get going and get a wrench in my hand!

Thanks again!

[TxDarth]

I think I would use Fiebings leather dye over Kiwi - you can get it on Amazon or at many shoe stores. It is great stuff - I have used it for at least 50 years.

[Hueristic]

I think I would use Fiebings leather dye over Kiwi - you can get it on Amazon or at many shoe stores. It is great stuff - I have used it for at least 50 years.

Thats what I used, Worked great on Tan to black. I even did the center armrest for shits and grins without prep as a test and it is only wearing after 2 years.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...gs+Leather+Dye

[Sobek]

I think I would use Fiebings leather dye over Kiwi - you can get it on Amazon or at many shoe stores. It is great stuff - I have used it for at least 50 years.

I'm curious. Do you know if any of their dyes are a good match for the standard grey leather seats in our E38's? Got a couple of minor marks I'd like to try and touch up if so. Grey is so hit and miss with dyes...

Looking fantastic so far! Interesting choice with the trim wrap. I've actually got a roll of dark ash walnut wood grain vinyl on the way that I'm going to be using on mine. This is what it looks like;



Real excited. As you say, it's neat seeing all the individual changes people make, I don't judge one bit. Keep at it!

[kulgan]

That interior looks so clean and new.
As much as I luv the wood in our cars I think what you've done with the wrap has given it a more modern feel. Very nicely done.

[cyclops2]

Santa stopped by again today. I like him coming by, but my accountant called and said "he doesn't exist" somehow the list of parts needed/wanted just keeps growing.

How about these goodies at the tune of $810:

fan, fan shroud, fan clutch, thermostat, idler pulleys, belt tensioners, seat track trim/covers, strut bar, accelerator pedal refurb parts, grommets for valve covers, coolant manifold gaskets.

Most of items from BMW of Morristown. Also from EEuroparts (Behr fan clutch), FCP Euro (Behr shroud) and Ultra Racing strut brace (from eBay).



I have rented the timing tools/locks from jaxmustang50 and now ready to resume working on this project.

[cyclops2]

Replacing motor mounts. Found this:

one mount was original OEM (19 year old) and other FCP Groton aftermarket (9 years old). Both shot.

VIDEOS:

Passenger side: OEM 1996

http://tinypic.com/r/23lbiag/8


Driver side: FCP Groton 2006

http://tinypic.com/r/33vlwtv/8


New mounts are Corteco (OEM) from www.autohausaz.com



This picture shows how the old mounts are collapsed/crushed as well.

[Chief Jimbo]

Wow that will make a difference right there.. Great work!

[cyclops2]

Santa came by again today. This time I had to ask him to give it a rest so I could get back to wrenching. He laughed and said "yeah right!" as heading out the door. Why Santa charges me I haven't figure out, but these "gifts" were $285.



Anyway, these 2 deliveries are important. Because one sources metal water pump and metal power steering pulleys to replace the original plastic ones. The plastic ones have been known to disintegrate leading to a lot bigger problems. During my build project I noticed some chips in my pulley and I got to wondering if there was any alternative (i.e. metal). so after doing a bunch of research, I found that eEuroparts.com offers URO aluminum replacement pulleys. I "inspected" them today and they appear decent quality. This may be the only time I'd recommend URO. Remember, I recently posted a $25 off $100 purchase at eeuroparts.com deal.



Aluminum Water Pump Pulley: 11511742045A Price (ea): 20.99

Aluminum Power Steering Pulley: 32421736934A Price (ea): 24.99


The 2nd order was from Morristown BMW (NJ) and it included motor mounts. Earlier in this thread I noted installing new motor mounts. There is another thread running where I discuss problems I had with those mounts (Corteco from Autohausaz) and became suspicious that they were not the Corteco's of day's gone by. Here's my conclusion (if you want the best motor mounts, buy BMW = it is the only way you are assured to get OEM and the best quality). These mounts were the best price I found as well at Morristown http://bmw-oem-parts.com about $180 shipped.



Here is the link where I discuss this investigation in more detail:

http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/sh...3#post28572033

[cyclops2]

More stuff. only $65 this time from autohausaz. I must be running out of things to buy... lol

This is oil "system" parts; filter canister cap, oil fill cap, filter kit, orings, crush washers; everything to "seal up" the engine oil fill/filter components.




So enough already, been reading DIY procedures and getting parts; not it's time to return to the wrenching. There is still a lot of "prep" work to do before doing the TCG replacement; such as, motor mounts, aux heater valve rebuild, fuel line elbows (between engine and pass wheel well), coolant manifold and heater hoses, oil system parts... and still lots of cleaning, prepping and painting.

Here is how the car sits... ready to begin again!

Hood locked at 90 degrees. When no work being done there are moving blankets covering the engine bay.




Leaving the car under cover as whenever possible.



Hopefully there will be steady progress now. stay tuned!

[cyclops2]

Progress at long last...

No pics (WHAT?!!).. sorry.

1. rebuilt aux heater pump (valves) - unit from junkyard wasn't really in bad shape actually. But did rebuild to be sure.

2. additional degreasing of engine bay in area of hoses from filter canister to engine and steering gear - what a oily mess. Prepping for replacement of orings on hoses from filter housing to engine.

3. completed install of BMW brand engine mounts. 16 ft lb torque for bottom nuts to carriage bolts, 33 ft lbs for nut on top stud.


Goal this week is to complete all peripheral work and prep to start TCG replacement project. Want to finish prep, clean, paint, etc etc, before starting so that when we start the TCG assembly everything is ready to go and we just build!

stay tuned...