Bought an old BMW M3, filled with regret...

Use rags you don't mind binning, they will start out one colour and end up black :D

I use s dab of chemical guys trim gel on the black bits and damp cloth on everything else, wedge your fingers in there tightly and have a rummage to loosen any old gubbins and wipe
 
When I say "Wiping dry" I mean wiping it dry (from wet), not wiping it when it's dry :p

It was on cloudy weekends too so completely couldn't tell until the sun started to come out properly.

Autofinesse Tripple should sort it out though I'm sure, waiting for the end of the working week.

paradigm said:
mrk, sorry to ask what has likely already been answered, but does the Asteroid work with your steering wheel controls? If so, did you need any additional harnesses?
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It works yup, you get volume, voice command via the mic button and skip tracks. The RT button doesn't do anything though but I think if you get the official Unika steering interface module then it can be remapped to do something else.

I have have a non unika one which does essentially the same thing but cost half as much. It sits between the Asteroid and BMW harness and essentially replaces the standard BMW<>ISO harness.
 
Ah yes, I've never had a towel that large before (never needed one) - But Carbon Black is a different beast of a colour so will use that method now.
 
Already bought one sadly! Though I checked the reviews beforehand of course so don't worry :p

Sonus Blue Perl Drying Towel and the Ultimate Ultra-Plush towel set.
 
Less dust is a must, on silver I didn't mind as it was almost invisible, but on this it shows up like stink!

Thursday is the day, after work. Friday we are due rain and I've got a photo shoot so busy all day sadly.

badgeruk said:
Hope you post up some before and after photos. Interested in trying it if it works for you.
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Will do :)
 
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So spent 4 hours today after work giving the car a once over with Autofinesse Tripple.

Once washed and dried I noticed the swirls/marring you saw in the photo posted before weren't as obvious any more. Perhaps dirt and stuff added to the severity of how it looked in the photo?

This made it hard to do a before/after photo as it looked really good for 10 year old paint :/

Either way, Tripple I found to apply really easily and buff off the same. No dust left behind either. Applied a coat of 476s after too, so this should sort me out until this time next year~.

tripple.jpg



This area ran all the way along with fine swirls like this:
tripple_before.jpg


After applying Tripple to one area along that bit:
tripple_after.jpg


Sadly the sun went under by the time I'd finished that side.

Nevertheless, this is good, I am happy :)
 
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Today I received a replacement pair of side repeater lenses. The old ones had gone from a nice clear colour to slightly yellowing from weathering and moisture over the years. This is pretty common on all BMWs of this age. Thankfully things like this are not hugely expensive to replace, and doing so freshens up the look.

Old vs new:
side-repeater-new_vs_old.jpg


I also found genuine brake discs at a really good price via Ocean BMW's eBay store:
discs.jpg


£579 for all 4. I phoned up the local Scotthall dealer and enquired about a price match as they initially quoted over £750 4 all for as standard price (:eek:), he said he'd have to check with management if they can match that price. The next day he called back with £572 delivered. Figured I'd buy these now and shelve them as no doubt the eBay store will stop selling the bundle when I come round to replacing them.

I've ordered a set of Performance Friction Z-rated pads to go with them too but they are on a 3 week stock wait list. Got a good deal on those too at £160 via Evolve.

I decided going BBK was going to be a waste of money for road use. It makes the car look nicer with the BBK callipers, but won't make a cost worthy difference in stopping power, what will make a greater difference are new OEM discs and high performance pads like the Z-rated.

Essential wear items are well and truly in hand then for many years :cool:

I also had BMW check my subframe, they gave it the all clear but I am getting a 2nd opinion from E T A tomorrow, as I've heard about BMW missing cracks on cars and giving them the OK...
 
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Aye BMW checked that although I'm not sure how much I trust them lol as ETA checked my subframe just now and gave it the all clear too, but they had to wipe away the layer of road filth from around the area to check properly, BMW mechanics must have xray vision...
 
So after 2 months+, they have finally arrived:

rps20150905_184206_640.jpg


So the plan is to refurb the brake callipers first, then get the pads, SS braided lines and new discs fitted. That will make my brake dust woes go away, and make the brown callipers look new like they once did :cool:
 
Awesome! I did read about the dust reduction benefits and as they're performance pads made for both track and road, I guess I can consider the odd drift day and whatnot here and there - And also would sort me out for a 'Ring tour in the Spring as a mate wants to go there in his Jaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaag (XFS 4.2) :p
 
When I did the braided lines in the old car I never knew my current indy, but a local tyre specialist charged £20 per corner. The indy charges £35/hr so I imagine it will be rather decently priced as far as labour goes!

I'll be getting them to replace the AC compressor at the same time, so all in one go sort of dealio.
 
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Right so my indy has quoted me for [discs, pads, lines, and bleed] + [exhaust clamp flange clamp swap (common corrosion item) + AC Compressor/drier receiver swap & re-gas.Said I'd need to leave it with them all day, which is fine.

£250+VAT.

Not too bad.

On another note, the AC Compressor has not arrived yet, it was posted on the 28th... Got a reply from the seller (the one you linked Pepsilol!) and it was posted using --wait for it-- Yodel :eek:
 
AC Compressor arrived in the end, in one piece. Everything has been fitted, no issues to note.

The pads seem to be very good, a lot less dust than the stock pads. The 300~ miles I've driven yesterday have only applied a light layer of dust, whereas before just driving around town would result in the same layer. The fronts are almost bedded in, the rears are still bedding in. The bite has steadily improved throughout the day. Liking the pedal feedback from the SS lines too, back to how it used to feel on the old E46.

Happy :)
 
No new callipers, I'm just going to refurb them in the near future, as they do look like 10yr old callipers whereas the rest of the car doesn't :p

Cosimo said:
How much have you now spent since you bought it eight months ago?
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About 2700 inc the brakes. 500 or so of that was just on the nav unit and gubbins however.
 
Aye, though most will forget that I'd have spent the same (if not more) had I bought a cheaper example anyway. Probably 85% of all that cost was personal preference items, the small things all add up like the exhaust tips, lip spoiler, genuine mats, LED turn signal bulbs on the sides and font, Xenon bulb upgrade etc. Oh and not forgetting the couple of times I kerbed the wheels and had them refurbed :o

Nearly a grand on the brakes, that is something that would have come about anyway, and I decided to fast track that given the discs were getting on a bit!
 
Yup at ETA Motorsport. All clear. They said they've seen cars with very little use get cracked subs, yet trackbcars without any cracks at all. It's all a lottery and I think mine has been lucky so far!
 
So most will have seen the pics in the other thread about being rear ended the other night.

Today BMW are collecting the car to be taken to the Winchester bodyshop after I cancelled the other insurer's approved non BMW repairer. No doubt it's repairable, but who knows!

Certainly the things I know it will need are:

New bumper.
New diffuser.
Possibly new parking sensors.
Boot lid panel repair.
Boot lid weather seals.
Some frame beating behind the bumper to restore the boot floor and wall.
Exhaust repairs or replacements.
New wheel alignment.
Rear end respray.
New front alloy refurb which I may have to get done myself at the place that did them before and recover the cost from the 3rd party insurer.

And anything else they find. I'm more concerned about subframe damage. The exhaust has been pushed back a few inches. I suppose of that's needs sorting then I'll have a new subframe :p
 
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