Just dropped a deposit on some M Power - Trackday Project Car

[Gibbo]

Nice, out of interest how much is this job costing? I'm thinking of a potentially similar job...

The owner is a friend, so the price I pay may not be the price you pay, but £1000 and hence why its taking weeks/months as he is doing it in his spare time or when he feels like it and he knows I want it like glass.

He removed as much from car as possible. The window surrounds have been left due to them simply not coming away. Hence deciding to leave them in place.

Front and rear screens were removed for the roof, when they were out all the hard to reach parts were prepared ready for painting then.

But seeing it yesterday it looks superb and that is what counts.

 

[sigma]

That's a billy bargain.

 

[Gibbo]

Hi there

Progress is slow but it is coming along, all major painting is now complete and he is starting to put parts back on the car, he is only doing about an hour or two on it per week to ensure it is all done spot on, he has had a couple of issues with parts breaking as they come off, so he is putting in new fittings so they go back together as per OEM.

I also know a few people were not too fond of the carbon side strips, as such originals are being re-painted and refitted considering the car has pretty much gone a full restoration it is about keeping it looking original equipment within reason unless the modification benefits the car, such as the wings benefit the car by not rusting, saving rate and reducing lift on the front-end.

Told him I am going away to USA now until next month and have requested the car is complete and finished by end of March so I have it back in time for good weather at which point the car can have a full detail and protection, also full interior clean and engine bay clean up too.
He is also going to sand down the front splitters, polish and re-lacquer them to rid the carbon of all the stone chips, otherwise they will detract from an otherwise unmarked front-end.

I've also noticed my lower windscreen scuttle panel is heavily faded and the rubber cracking, as such I just rang BMW for a price on a new one expecting to bend over and lube up, however I was pleasantly surprised to be told a new one was only £51.70 +VAT, so got one of those ordered up for the car.

 

[Gibbo]

Hi there


So went to check up on the M3, she is practically done, everything is fitted bar some interior trim and number plates.
I am ordering fresh plates and a new scuttle panel from BMW.

I've not being particular excited, but when I inspected the car today I got really excited seeing how amazing it looks, unfortunately the photos don't come out so well and the car is covered in typical bodyshop dust, but the front-end looks brand new with the new headlight lenses, new indicators and front plate plinth remove (car will run without front plate). They also re-lacquered the carbon splitters due to all the stone chips in them, which fixed those up a treat.

As such the scuttle panel looks aweful, faded and the rubber has cracked but only £55 from BMW for a new one.

Also the mesh they have put into the wings, is from a Mustang front grill, so the BMW has some Pony car DNA.

We have agreed collection next Friday, I shall drop of the scuttle panel and new plates next week, on Thursday they shall polish the car just prior to me collecting so its not covered in body shop dust.

As the paint has now being settling for around a month whilst they did the small jobs the car shall be getting booked in for a new car seal and protect along with any necessary paint correction and further polishing if required.

I truly cannot wait to see the car sitting all clean and in sunlight, it should look incredible and be one of the cleanest if not cleanest M3 in the UK.

 

[Akagi]

Don't fancy taking my E30 there and telling him its yours do you?

£1000 for a re-spray is perfect because I'm a pauper, and most places who charge that much will do a rubbish job.

Looking good...

 

[Gibbo]

Don't fancy taking my E30 there and telling him its yours do you?

£1000 for a re-spray is perfect because I'm a pauper, and most places who charge that much will do a rubbish job.

Looking good...

If your willing to leave it with him for a few months am sure I could get you a good deal, remember he has being doing this for me when he has had time, any other jobs coming in take priority.
To be honest his dealership contracts keep him very busy as dealerships are forever damaging new cars it seems.

I am very happy with the result, looking forward to next Friday if all goes well. Which just leaves caliper re-paint and then a full polish/seal and enjoy the car during Summer along with the Jaaag.

 

[Akagi]

I was semi-joking, but if you are serious about putting a word in then I would definitely be interested in finding out if he would take it on at some point.

Don't mind waiting a while if it is worth it.

 

[Berger]

When was the last trackday you did in this? Have you done them incrementally between mods.

Have to say spending money on wheel refurbishment and respraying the body seems a waste to me.

 

[Gibbo]

When was the last trackday you did in this? Have you done them incrementally between mods.

Have to say spending money on wheel refurbishment and respraying the body seems a waste to me.

Had the car for nearly 5 years, done around 15 track days over that time and yes the first track day was done how I got it and then track days as it progressed. Last track day was around six months ago.
It is also now used heavily as a road car, even being a daily and for road trips and weekend toy.

Well the next part on the list is caliper refurbishment, might be a waste to you, but not to me.

 

[Gibbo]

It returns, needs a real good washing (dust & compound over it) then along with some high gloss wax and maybe a paint enhancement though being fresh its pretty swirl free but a polishing will do no harm, though it is orange peel free anyway. Hoping for a dry weekend so I can at least give it a good washing, extremely happy with results.

 

[Akagi]

Proper car, lovely.

 

[Havana_UK]

Looks really good Gibbo!

 

[Simon]

Looks great. Roof looks spot on

 

[Scania]

Saw your Faceache post earlier, it looks great!

I’m sure Ben Lawton would love to finish it off for you, he’s certainly got a thing for e46 M3’s.

 

[Gibbo]

Saw your Faceache post earlier, it looks great!

I’m sure Ben Lawton would love to finish it off for you, he’s certainly got a thing for e46 M3’s.

Yeah I keep trying to book with him but for whatever reason I either can't make the date or he cannot. His work is fantastic and he really is very good, though he aint a million miles away just not so easy to get to him and leave a car there, hence why I just tend to work with local guys like Autobrite as they are 5 mins away from OcUK.

 

[Scania]

Yeah I keep trying to book with him but for whatever reason I either can't make the date or he cannot. His work is fantastic and he really is very good, though he aint a million miles away just not so easy to get to him and leave a car there, hence why I just tend to work with local guys like Autobrite as they are 5 mins away from OcUK.

Yeah, I can certainly vouch for his work.

Autobrite are down by Euro Car Parts off the A500 aren’t they? - Ben suggested them for some cleaning stuff for my car.

 

[Gibbo]

Yeah, I can certainly vouch for his work.

Autobrite are down by Euro Car Parts off the A500 aren’t they? - Ben suggested them for some cleaning stuff for my car.

They are indeed, hence very handy for me as 5 mins from work.

Good products, if your maintaining your finish I would recommend:

- Autobrite snowfoam, just buy a 5l tub.
- Any PH neutral car wash, Meguiars NXT, Autobrite banana rama, anything just PH neutral.
- Meguiars mit, find them the best.
- Autobrite drying towel, the big red one, think its called Reaper, fantastic.
- Carplan no.1 super gloss, trust me it is the easiest sealant you will ever apply, cost £6 from JTF, either mist on panel and reaper towel whilst drying, or dry car and then two squirts per panel and wipe, that is it, wipe, no buffing, streak free and leaves a lovely protective skin, you can also apply it to everything, plastic, glass, rubbers, paint, wheels, super impressed by it and only £6.


That is it really, quite easy to maintain a car that has being properly enhanced/corrected and then sealed with good product.

 

[Gibbo]

Could not help myself, sun came out, so I went and parked in sun and grabbed some pictures, excuse the dust and bodyshop white gunk everywhere:

P.S. Noticed the bodyshop forgot to re-fit the rear M badge, time to go the dealership and lube up for one, lol.

 

[Gibbo]

Seems the car is not too happy about being sat un-used for several months, I am getting clunking from the rear under light acceleration at low rpm, thought it was just brakes at first but after a few drives it is still present though calmed down a little.

Symptons are, when cold knocking from rear under light acceleration even in a straight line, which after ten minutes or so driving gets quieter.
Turning right there is no noise.
Turning left the noise is loudest, doing circles in a car park in 2nd gear at around 5-10mph makes it very audible.

As everything in the rear is brand new, except the half shafts my guess is either a dry inner or out CV joint due to the car being stood for months.

All the other things I can think of which could cause this are new, diff, subframe, bushes, rtabs, boot floor are all brand new, like I say only items not done on half shafts which would be CV joints either inner or outer and the wheel bearings I've not changed but I've never experienced a wheel bearing making this noise, so ruled it out.

Drove slow with handbrake on just in case it was stuck or corroded, given the brakes some good use and torqued wheels. So can only conclude CV joints, hoping one can repair or replace them without having to buy new half shafts?

 

[sigma]

If it's all quite new perhaps it's just settled and needs re-tightening?

Edit - oh, it's constant?