RVAE34's next E38 project

[pavrom]

Did he powder coated it or painted ?

[RVAE34]

He used powder coat and I might have him clear coat with PPG DBC to achieve the original high gloss. Broke out the DSLR for some good shots of the E38 this morning since I took photos of a friends E46 M3 for bring a trailer.

[blackknight530i]

Car looks so damn beautiful Brandon. Did you ever get that wheel weight glue residue off the M-pars? Tyler's has it too

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[DennisCooper]

Hi Brandon,

Trials and tribulations aside, the car is looking beautiful ! Once the awesome wheels are back on it'll be even better !

Quick question, what's the spec on the DSLR and Lens(es) you are using? I'm shortlisting a couple of cameras to purchase !

Cheers, Dennis!

[PiotrC70]

Hi Brandon,

Trials and tribulations aside, the car is looking beautiful ! Once the awesome wheels are back on it'll be even better !

Quick question, what's the spec on the DSLR and Lens(es) you are using? I'm shortlisting a couple of cameras to purchase !

Cheers, Dennis!

I'm sure many others will chime in as this is one of those things that has A LOT of answers but check out www.dpreview.com for comparisons on specs and kenrockwell.com for some great (and sometimes biased) info. Back in the day he used to be strictly Nikon but does review Canon as well. As long as you stick with those big 2, you can't go wrong. When it comes to cameras, some believe that the more expensive camera, the better the pictures but it's really the other way around... it's more about the glass(lenses) than the camera so much. Regardless of which you choose, starting out with a 50mm f1.8 is a no brainer because it's about $100 for either platform and will teach you about aperture and depth of field and you'll be able to get about 80% of the shots you're looking for with that lens. To achieve the REALLY nice pictures that blur out the background creating a damn near 3D picture, you'll need something with a higher focal length like a 90mm f2.8 or longer with a low f-stop. If you're doing pictures of cars, you'll also want something ultra-wide angle like a 12-24mm or 10-20... just anything low so you can be 5 ft from the car and get the whole car in one pic. This is also essential for interior shots like Brandon posted above.

Oh, one last thing... the majority of "kit" lenses that come with the camera body are crap. You're better off finding just the body and buy your lenses separately since kit lenses will come with something like an 18-55 and sometimes a 50-105 or 55-200... you get the idea.

Good luck!

[RVAE34]

Thanks, Paul! I haven't even removed the weights. This is the first time I have run the M pars again in a while and I hope they won't be on too long.

Dennis, I am using a now 10 year old Canon 40D. I only have the Canon 50mm 1.4 and the Signa 10-20mm 4.5-5.6. I am in the market for a 7D now but need to find a good used one.

[cazal740i]

Car is simply Perfect!!!.. I would just store in the living room

[RVAE34]

Thanks!! If I could, I would

I actually always wanted a house with a sliding partition between the garage and living room

[cazal740i]

on a rotating table

[RVAE34]

Yes, that too

[NordmanMg]

Guys, Guys, stop teasing Brandon, we don't want him to be kicked out of the house by his wife)))
we love you B

[RVAE34]

My wife has known me since I was 19 so she knew what she was getting into speaking of which, our 7 year anniversary is this Friday. Amazing how time flies!

[Dan750iL]

Early Happy Anniversary!!!

[cazal740i]

Did I ever have a shock while ago - went to the car wash yesterday with Darth and while washing a section of the C pillar trim rubber went flying off. I bought the passenger side in Dec of 2015 after a section of that broke, $107.00 today the drivers side is $351.00 ( same for the pass)best price I could find locally. I did go on line and Pelican had it for the same but ECS and Turner(now one in the same both listed it for $251.00).

I guess the parts for our cars are going to go out of site price wise now that they are antiques!!!!!

Rog, you can change the subject with the best of them

[NordmanMg]

My wife has known me since I was 19 so she knew what she was getting into speaking of which, our 7 year anniversary is this Friday. Amazing how time flies!

Hey happy upcoming anniversary Brandon

[RVAE34]

I was really tempted to do some exhaust on the E38 but I am completely torn as a big part of me loves how quiet it currently is. Instead I decided to spend some extra funds on the V70R I ended up getting a massive Snabb front mount intercooler, Snabb 3" downpipe with high flow cat, 3" IPD exhaust, Evolve cold air intake, IPD front and rear sway bars, all new 4c struts/shocks and mounts, new control arm bushings and random new cosmetic stuff that needed help. I started driving it again as a DD and kind of fell in love with it again. It should be a beast after all the work. I also finally broke down and bought a 20 ton floor press which will make a ton of jobs much easier and cheaper!

[CSBM5]

V70R?! Wow, we went through two of these (wife's daily drivers) that were absolute nightmares to own, and they were bought new and had full warranties thankfully. We bought one of the first ones in the country in the summer of 2003 which had so many issues, so many days in the shop that, in place of lemon-lawing the car, Volvo made us a deal we couldn't refuse in late 2004 to order and buy another one, a 2005 this time. THAT car exhibited many of the same issues too. As soon as I experienced the ABS ice-mode fault on dry pavement and found it to be a common issue (swedespeed), I sold it within a couple of weeks after 11 months of ownership, 16k miles. In those 16k miles, it had a huge folder full of service receipts (even stuff like a rear wheel bearing failing at 12k miles).

It was fun taking that car to VIR though . In 2004-5 a "wagon" was an uncommon site at the track. With R-comps and PFC01 pads, it could hold its own pretty well. I turned 1:23 on South course with it for example.

Hope you have better luck with yours. There is a suspension design issue with the rear suspension (imo) since it experiences a lot of toe change with compression. You'll notice the "side-step" on one-side hit bumps, especially if you're cornering. We had some harrowing times on the PA Turnpike at speed dealing with that. Volvo came out with "updated" rear subframe bushings, but they didn't change anything.

[RVAE34]

Yeah I've owned the R for 5 years and put 80k plus miles on it. Now at about 150k. It's been pretty good to me for the most part but I've done a lot of maintenance too.

[TxDarth]

The V70R wagons were here before '03 - I had a new '98 while living in CT. It was meant to replace a 94 Jeep GC, which it did not on snow or wet winter roads but it was more on performance. In 99K miles before selling it and other than brakes, SAS and secondary air pumps twice, it was trouble free. IT was a DD on an 84 mile per commute...

[CSBM5]

The V70R wagons were here before '03 - I had a new '98 while living in CT. It was meant to replace a 94 Jeep GC, which it did not on snow or wet winter roads but it was more on performance. In 99K miles before selling it and other than brakes, SAS and secondary air pumps twice, it was trouble free. IT was a DD on an 84 mile per commute...

I was referring to the P2 V70R which arrived in ~June 2003 (2004 model year).

[Jimmy E34]

Love it with the M-pars!

[chris33]

Are you using spacers with the M-Pars? If so, what thickness?

[RVAE34]

I am indeed. 10/12 IIRC. Might be 12/15. I have a whole bunch of H&R spacers in my tool drawer so hard to keep track. I even have a brand new unopened set oddly enough.

[RVAE34]

Off topic but awesome. Got my Snabb front mount intercooler for the V70R. Very nice kit. Spending all day Sunday installing all the new goodies.

In regards to the e38, my wheels should be done this week and I cant wait to see them on the car with the new color!

[Dan750iL]

...In regards to the e38, my wheels should be done this week and I cant wait to see them on the car with the new color!...

I bet you will be. Getting the wheels right seems to have taken longer than the rest of the build. Looking forward to the pics!