Discussion
Quick update as ETA motorsport have fixed the tear in the bootfloor. Matt, who did the job, said the crack looked about an inch long but on further inspection was nearer 4 inches! All welded, plated, seam sealed and rust proofed now, with the box sections wax injected for good measure. No pics unfortunately.
Doesn't drive any different, but I can drive it differently, secure in the knowledge that I'm not about to provide another donor floorpan/ shell for a Renault Espace reader's car thread!
Next job will be the tyres (dangerously cracked on the inner sidewalls) and leather restoration, interior plastics and stereo or a wheel refurbish or something, there is always something more to do.
Loving the car though and it was nice to drive home today in switchtronic mode and really use the engine a bit. :-)
Doesn't drive any different, but I can drive it differently, secure in the knowledge that I'm not about to provide another donor floorpan/ shell for a Renault Espace reader's car thread!
Next job will be the tyres (dangerously cracked on the inner sidewalls) and leather restoration, interior plastics and stereo or a wheel refurbish or something, there is always something more to do.
Loving the car though and it was nice to drive home today in switchtronic mode and really use the engine a bit. :-)
Copying this over from alpina forum-
time for some grotty pics...
I just put an order in for some new interior plastics to freshen up some very tired parts, and to prepare for installing a decent stereo in place of the senile pro nav stereo thing.
horrible:
Ordered arboseal tape to deal with this ugly bodge (not sure what that white "matter" is!
Can you handle more?
Wheels in need of lepsonising:
Can you make out the crazing on the wheel centre cap? I have the lock cover safely kept by (it fell off)
and it's an early E46 so:
under the bootlid as well:
I guess that's enough for now. All going to be put right in time.
After pics to follow for the interior- probably not for a week or two until I receive the parts and have time.
I'm looking forward to sharing pics of a polished, clean Alpina with 4 perfect alloys and a body free of rot. At least it's free of cracks and busted welds now.
These arrived:
Should make a bit of difference to the feel of the cabin. When I get time to install them!
time for some grotty pics...
I just put an order in for some new interior plastics to freshen up some very tired parts, and to prepare for installing a decent stereo in place of the senile pro nav stereo thing.
horrible:
Ordered arboseal tape to deal with this ugly bodge (not sure what that white "matter" is!
Can you handle more?
Wheels in need of lepsonising:
Can you make out the crazing on the wheel centre cap? I have the lock cover safely kept by (it fell off)
and it's an early E46 so:
under the bootlid as well:
I guess that's enough for now. All going to be put right in time.
After pics to follow for the interior- probably not for a week or two until I receive the parts and have time.
I'm looking forward to sharing pics of a polished, clean Alpina with 4 perfect alloys and a body free of rot. At least it's free of cracks and busted welds now.
These arrived:
Should make a bit of difference to the feel of the cabin. When I get time to install them!
Arboseal tape was (so far) a complete success at restoring the door seal to its correct position, once i had scraped out the mass of white hardened gloop that had been bodged behind the seal to attempt to stick it back.
I think you can just about imagine an E46 coupe door seal in correct position, at least if you cast your mind back to a new car at the dealership!
Original idea for arboseal came from here-
http://www.bimmerforums.co.uk/forum/f4/e46-how-re-...
onto the next fix!
I think you can just about imagine an E46 coupe door seal in correct position, at least if you cast your mind back to a new car at the dealership!
Original idea for arboseal came from here-
http://www.bimmerforums.co.uk/forum/f4/e46-how-re-...
onto the next fix!
A few little updates. Today I attended to the minor rust bubbles that i have- one front wing had several, the other had just one, also a few bubbles on the sill below the driver's door, and the usual spot below the bootlid- this was the worst. I've cleaned back the bubbling paint and applied kurust and will touch them up tomorrow.
Also fitted the new centre console pieces:
lovely unscratched new plastic
They make such a difference from the driving seat.
Then fitted the castrol sticker from pukar design
notice anything else this B3 has had to endure? Someone had thought it would improve the engine bay to stick some stickers in there, and i'm left with the residue
any ideas how to remove it?
that's it for today.
Also fitted the new centre console pieces:
lovely unscratched new plastic
They make such a difference from the driving seat.
Then fitted the castrol sticker from pukar design
notice anything else this B3 has had to endure? Someone had thought it would improve the engine bay to stick some stickers in there, and i'm left with the residue
any ideas how to remove it?
that's it for today.
Edited by Polynesian on Thursday 22 August 22:04
This stuff has always worked for me, and shouldn't damage anything you don't want damaged underneath:
Sticky Stuff Remover
Sticky Stuff Remover
Thanks for the tips all.
As to prices. Yes, for some moulded plastic it's a lot of money. I bought from bmmini parts, and the centre console, console insert and a sunglasses holder for the dashboard came to £134.08 with VAT and postage. Silly really, but the do make such a difference after such a scratched and tired looking interior. Lots still to do- wheel refurbish, tyres (current ones have plenty of tread but also cracks on inner side walls), leather work, new wings at some point, stereo fitting (junking the temperamental sat nav for a becker headunit) and then maybe some interesting stuff as well.
Be careful, looking on OEM parts or ECS tuning's site for replacement parts is a bit dangerous... it sucks you in! (though i haven't gone anywhere near M Stewart levels of dedication!
As to prices. Yes, for some moulded plastic it's a lot of money. I bought from bmmini parts, and the centre console, console insert and a sunglasses holder for the dashboard came to £134.08 with VAT and postage. Silly really, but the do make such a difference after such a scratched and tired looking interior. Lots still to do- wheel refurbish, tyres (current ones have plenty of tread but also cracks on inner side walls), leather work, new wings at some point, stereo fitting (junking the temperamental sat nav for a becker headunit) and then maybe some interesting stuff as well.
Be careful, looking on OEM parts or ECS tuning's site for replacement parts is a bit dangerous... it sucks you in! (though i haven't gone anywhere near M Stewart levels of dedication!
Cheers, yes its a bit of a different story getting bits for the green beast but then limited model runs are always tricky parts wise regardless of manufacturer I guess. (ironically though the interior plastics seem to wear better than the more modern BMW)
When I bough the M3 I purchased a new drivers door black cube trim as it was worn on the handle and that was about £120+ just by itself, so hence the price you quote wasn't such a shock.
When I bough the M3 I purchased a new drivers door black cube trim as it was worn on the handle and that was about £120+ just by itself, so hence the price you quote wasn't such a shock.
Bit of a Christmas update and a question for you.
B3 has had ups and downs recently. More work done on it but some unfortunate incidents like a broken side window (by me!) and a puncture that have been a pain. Of course since the replacement the glass is not flush against the seal, so needs sorting.
More than anything, I'm seeing that new front wings and some sorting of debts and previous poor quality paint will need doing. So... Thinking to stay with black paint but move from the solid black to either:
Citrin black
Azurite black, or
Carbon black
Any opinions? Citrin has some brown flake which is beautiful and could complement the champagne leather, but carbon and azurite are stunning too!
Not in a rush to do it, but have found a couple of well regarded places.
Plenty more to share on the B3 soon.
B3 has had ups and downs recently. More work done on it but some unfortunate incidents like a broken side window (by me!) and a puncture that have been a pain. Of course since the replacement the glass is not flush against the seal, so needs sorting.
More than anything, I'm seeing that new front wings and some sorting of debts and previous poor quality paint will need doing. So... Thinking to stay with black paint but move from the solid black to either:
Citrin black
Azurite black, or
Carbon black
Any opinions? Citrin has some brown flake which is beautiful and could complement the champagne leather, but carbon and azurite are stunning too!
Not in a rush to do it, but have found a couple of well regarded places.
Plenty more to share on the B3 soon.
BMW also do a black with a green tint, but I can't remember the name, which would contrast well with with your interior.
My brother's B3 has the same colour leather as yours, the body is a metallic green, not Boston, it's slightly lighter than that but the colour combination looks excellent.
I have a carbon black 5 series and not quite sure the blue/black works as well as the other tints.
My brother's B3 has the same colour leather as yours, the body is a metallic green, not Boston, it's slightly lighter than that but the colour combination looks excellent.
I have a carbon black 5 series and not quite sure the blue/black works as well as the other tints.
Thanks, these are really helpful replies and getting me to think about the colours I love from some different perspectives.
As you give ideas, bear in mind I'm likely to swap to a black buffalo leather interior (also Alpina, with roundels) and that currently has a red piping - obviously can be changed.
Never really liked ruby black but it's on the list to consider now.
Idea is to keep it subtle but with a nice look in bright sun, ie once a year.
As you give ideas, bear in mind I'm likely to swap to a black buffalo leather interior (also Alpina, with roundels) and that currently has a red piping - obviously can be changed.
Never really liked ruby black but it's on the list to consider now.
Idea is to keep it subtle but with a nice look in bright sun, ie once a year.
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