850 CSi - first steps
Discussion
not much of an update as little has happened but at least a photo of the partly resprayed car in daylight...the colour looks amazing!!!
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|http://thumbsnap.com/sqKmW5lW[/url]
and now with its new wheels on!!!
no, not really. Gerry was kind enough to lend me a spare set of wheels as I took off the Style 5's for their imminent refurbishment.
url]
|http://thumbsnap.com/sqKmW5lW[/url]and now with its new wheels on!!!
no, not really. Gerry was kind enough to lend me a spare set of wheels as I took off the Style 5's for their imminent refurbishment.
Sorry guys, have been scarce with updates due to some serious lack in progress...matters require more time but we are edging closer to the final day, apparently.
Status quo: car is fully resprayed. Most parts are refitted apart from a bumper, the roof lining and the rear window. The rear and front windows could not be saved after they were dismantled for the respray.
The rear window is on two-week back order from Germany, and costs a painful £1k fitted.
The wheels were refurbished, although only superficially for the moment as a proper refurb will take at least 4 weeks. I haven't seen the result yet.
Hopefully soon now, cannot wait to get my car back!!!
Status quo: car is fully resprayed. Most parts are refitted apart from a bumper, the roof lining and the rear window. The rear and front windows could not be saved after they were dismantled for the respray.
The rear window is on two-week back order from Germany, and costs a painful £1k fitted.
The wheels were refurbished, although only superficially for the moment as a proper refurb will take at least 4 weeks. I haven't seen the result yet.
Hopefully soon now, cannot wait to get my car back!!!
Sorry guys, went a bit quiet there for a moment.
Here some updates with a lengthy introduction.
In view of the car being resprayed and mechanically sound we planned to do a "youngtimer" trip through the Alpes for a week. Two E31, 850i and 850CSi, one Porsche 993 and one other yet to be defined - but it has to be from the 90ies.
That should be a nice test under Alpine, serpentine and elevated conditions!
However, before the trip starting end of next week I had planned to stop over at a E31 specialist in Germany just before for another thorough check before I take this car onto a 2k miles trip.
When I got the car back recently the car felt very different. Slow, non-responsive, non-smooth - just not right. I drove it around for about 50 miles and was thoroughly unimpressed about the performance. Therefore I contacted the guy in Germany and asked whether I can drop it in a week earlier, which was last weekend. He luckily was able to fit me in, and I started my journey on Saturday morning towards the tunnel.
Here some updates with a lengthy introduction.
In view of the car being resprayed and mechanically sound we planned to do a "youngtimer" trip through the Alpes for a week. Two E31, 850i and 850CSi, one Porsche 993 and one other yet to be defined - but it has to be from the 90ies.
That should be a nice test under Alpine, serpentine and elevated conditions!
However, before the trip starting end of next week I had planned to stop over at a E31 specialist in Germany just before for another thorough check before I take this car onto a 2k miles trip.
When I got the car back recently the car felt very different. Slow, non-responsive, non-smooth - just not right. I drove it around for about 50 miles and was thoroughly unimpressed about the performance. Therefore I contacted the guy in Germany and asked whether I can drop it in a week earlier, which was last weekend. He luckily was able to fit me in, and I started my journey on Saturday morning towards the tunnel.
Edited by niki0712 on Friday 1st August 15:38
well, it just didn't feel right.
Anyhow, Saturday morning, no traffic, and I made it through the tunnel, France, Belgium and Holland to Germany.
When I arrived in Kaarst near Dusseldorf Wolf, the German specialist (www.wokke.de) was not impressed at all. Hi rather Germanic opinion was "your car sounds like s
t".
We had agreed that we do diagnostics on Saturday, and that I would leave the car with him after that to do the repairs necessary and essential for the Italy trip. That Saturday resulted in two impressive to-do lists, but more about that later.
I had never seen the car up on a hydraulic ramp, only on little stands. I regret not taking photos but now the entire result of the car being parked outside for 12 years became apparent...
Nothing is badly damaged but rust, even though superficial, is everywhere. Easy to sort out but currently not pretty...
Anyhow, here are repairs to be done before my trip:
- replace cooler
- replace break lines with steel flex lines
- refurbish brakes, clean break pads with glass perls, grind all break discs
- replace ABS sensor
- replace lambda sensor and both lambda probes
- replace heating sword (?)
Those are the most pressing repairs.
Further did the bodyshop manage to return the car to me with a broken electric seat adjustment passenger seat and non-functioning tilt-mechanism driver seat. Pretty pissed off about that to be honest. Anyway, those will also be done.
Anyhow, Saturday morning, no traffic, and I made it through the tunnel, France, Belgium and Holland to Germany.
When I arrived in Kaarst near Dusseldorf Wolf, the German specialist (www.wokke.de) was not impressed at all. Hi rather Germanic opinion was "your car sounds like s
t".We had agreed that we do diagnostics on Saturday, and that I would leave the car with him after that to do the repairs necessary and essential for the Italy trip. That Saturday resulted in two impressive to-do lists, but more about that later.
I had never seen the car up on a hydraulic ramp, only on little stands. I regret not taking photos but now the entire result of the car being parked outside for 12 years became apparent...
Nothing is badly damaged but rust, even though superficial, is everywhere. Easy to sort out but currently not pretty...
Anyhow, here are repairs to be done before my trip:
- replace cooler
- replace break lines with steel flex lines
- refurbish brakes, clean break pads with glass perls, grind all break discs
- replace ABS sensor
- replace lambda sensor and both lambda probes
- replace heating sword (?)
Those are the most pressing repairs.
Further did the bodyshop manage to return the car to me with a broken electric seat adjustment passenger seat and non-functioning tilt-mechanism driver seat. Pretty pissed off about that to be honest. Anyway, those will also be done.
now to the engine...
First he checked whether the lambda probes were swapped accidentally, apparently easily done and often cause for loss in performance. After that he swapped the distributor caps but also both working. The engine was getting sparks and clean air. Quite impressive to see somehow listen into an engine with a stethoscope!
Then he took a temperature gun (for the lack of a better word...) to the exhausts and finally found something...one side was a cool 50 degrees C, whilst the other side was more like 160 degrees C. That mage it immediately obvious (to him) that the engine was receiving fuel only on one side, meaning one fuel pump was not working. And there really was no fuel being pumped to the left bank when he detached the fuel lines from the engine.
So I drove over to Germany on 6 cylinders. I was glad because it presented a solvable problem, with the option of giving me the joy back I expected from driving this car!
Wolf then connected the fuel line via a Y-link, so that the remaining fuel pump could provide for both banks - and it worked wonders.
I did take it to the autobahn...and it flies! 160 km/h on the acceleration lane to the autobahn, and constant push up to 250 km/h - what a car!!!!!!
The acceleration is great but of course any normal Porsche nowadays is faster 0-100 km/h. What is impressive is the immense supply of torque, the acceleration in 4th gear from 30 to 200 km/h. And wheel spin in second and third gear!
I must have looked rather stupid flying down the motorway with a very silly grin on my face!
Ah, and the windows do close automatically when going faster that 150 km/h - bit of a surprise when that happens for the first time!
All in all an amazing experience to drive this on the autobahn, and I look forward to doing quite a bit more of that ;-)
First he checked whether the lambda probes were swapped accidentally, apparently easily done and often cause for loss in performance. After that he swapped the distributor caps but also both working. The engine was getting sparks and clean air. Quite impressive to see somehow listen into an engine with a stethoscope!
Then he took a temperature gun (for the lack of a better word...) to the exhausts and finally found something...one side was a cool 50 degrees C, whilst the other side was more like 160 degrees C. That mage it immediately obvious (to him) that the engine was receiving fuel only on one side, meaning one fuel pump was not working. And there really was no fuel being pumped to the left bank when he detached the fuel lines from the engine.
So I drove over to Germany on 6 cylinders. I was glad because it presented a solvable problem, with the option of giving me the joy back I expected from driving this car!
Wolf then connected the fuel line via a Y-link, so that the remaining fuel pump could provide for both banks - and it worked wonders.
I did take it to the autobahn...and it flies! 160 km/h on the acceleration lane to the autobahn, and constant push up to 250 km/h - what a car!!!!!!
The acceleration is great but of course any normal Porsche nowadays is faster 0-100 km/h. What is impressive is the immense supply of torque, the acceleration in 4th gear from 30 to 200 km/h. And wheel spin in second and third gear!
I must have looked rather stupid flying down the motorway with a very silly grin on my face!
Ah, and the windows do close automatically when going faster that 150 km/h - bit of a surprise when that happens for the first time!
All in all an amazing experience to drive this on the autobahn, and I look forward to doing quite a bit more of that ;-)
After my trip I will leave the car in Germany for all not-so-essential repairs to be done...and those are numerous.
- control banjo bolts
- replace valve cover gasket
- de-laquer valve cover and powdercoat
- de-laquer and restore intake manifold
- replace fuel return pipe
- repair rattle in exhaust
- replace oil sump gasket
- seal up differential and replace oil
- replace both steering links/rods
- de-rost underneath
- spray-paint door handles - after a very shoddy bodyshop job on those.
- chromeplate mirrors in both low-beam lights
- upgrade lights to Xenon
Lots to do - but the end result will be one stunning 40k miles (by then) car!!!
- control banjo bolts
- replace valve cover gasket
- de-laquer valve cover and powdercoat
- de-laquer and restore intake manifold
- replace fuel return pipe
- repair rattle in exhaust
- replace oil sump gasket
- seal up differential and replace oil
- replace both steering links/rods
- de-rost underneath
- spray-paint door handles - after a very shoddy bodyshop job on those.
- chromeplate mirrors in both low-beam lights
- upgrade lights to Xenon
Lots to do - but the end result will be one stunning 40k miles (by then) car!!!
RC1 said:
Nik esounds like its in good hands how did you find out about the German guy and is labour much cheaper than in England? Did your recent not flag any of those items that are now on your lists? Overall how is the paint job and are you happy with it?
Looking forward to the updates!
I found Wolf when I researched for alloy wheel refurbs. I wasn't really getting anywhere, and the company suggested by the body shop did an absolute disappointment of a job, reusing the old bolts, scratching the polished alloy beds etc. Looking forward to the updates!
Edited by RC1 on Friday 1st August 20:44
Not sure what I expected at £150 per wheel but now I have to do all wheels again, as in £600 wasted... However, I digress.
Wolf (www.wokke.de) started off doing wheel refurbs as a hobby, specialising on split rims. He refurbished a few E31, also in his spare time and fell in love with it I guess. Gave up his office job, and now works full time only on those - what a job! Absolute perfectionist. When I dropped off mine he had on his ramps cars from Italy, Norway and a few Germans.
Labour is generally cheaper in Germany, and so a parts. For example I paid £200 for a used fuel pump in England, which is now being replaced for a brand new one for €250.
When I found the car my prerogative was to get it running and road legal. Cosmetics was going to come later.
Gerry did exactly what I asked him to do and got the car running and MOTed. The car works (once it' gets its new pump...) and would probably continue to do so far quite some time.
However, one problem which I had not expected was and is myself. Standing rather than laying under the car gives you a new perspective - and suddenly you want the car not only working - but also beautiful! No rust, powder coated parts, new steering wheel, fully refurbished brakes, in general future proofing the car.
My goal posts have slightly moved since I started. In the beginning I wanted to drive this car after spending as much as necessary, plus a full respray for the eye.
Fat chance.
Now I want a perfect car, a car that not only looks perfect but also is perfect, inside, outside and underneath.
In regards to the paint work I am happy with the job the body shop did. Cost was okay, it did take much longer than I anticipated but I accept the reason why, as discussed earlier in this thread. The door handles are done poorly and will need to be done again.
Overall I would recommend the body shop, however though only for smaller jobs - not for a full respray.
Overall I would recommend the body shop, however though only for smaller jobs - not for a full respray.
Maybe one more angle, to preempt the inevitable and important question of cost. I obviously do not yet know the final figure, and may never as this remains a moving target...I guess I will always find something that could be done on this car.
Anyway. When I started I wanted to do this not cheaply but economically. I was hoping that a car of that mileage is in decent condition and would need minor cosmetic work in order to regain former glory. The 12 years outside in the rain have done more damage than I expected, although nothing serious. Some people may even leave the car in its current condition but as described earlier your expectations grow once you realise the true potential of the car.
One good example is the new roof lining, for over £300. The material is far too thick which makes the sun roof get stuck. Will be stripped and redone with a thinner lining, another expense I had not budgeted for.
An example for cosmetics would be the break calliper as shown in one of the pictures above from earlier. Fine as it is but will now be powder coated in black protecting it from dirt and brake dust for a long time.
So as part of this journey l have learned a new angle in regards to cost. Believe me, it hurts (the above mentioned repairs and amendments in Germany will cost the best part of £4k...) but the end result will be more than worth it. So I went from doing it economically to doing it right and long lasting - obviously whilst trying to avoid going into negative equity.
Interesting and reassuring is that so far I have been offered in excess of £36k for the car which means I am still in the plus! I have no intention to sell but it is good to know that I am not risking my unborn children's' future here...
At the end of the day there are only 42 of those left...and they ain't making any more!
But I am going to stop my ramblings now and rather post more pictures of the progress. Once I get some.
Anyway. When I started I wanted to do this not cheaply but economically. I was hoping that a car of that mileage is in decent condition and would need minor cosmetic work in order to regain former glory. The 12 years outside in the rain have done more damage than I expected, although nothing serious. Some people may even leave the car in its current condition but as described earlier your expectations grow once you realise the true potential of the car.
One good example is the new roof lining, for over £300. The material is far too thick which makes the sun roof get stuck. Will be stripped and redone with a thinner lining, another expense I had not budgeted for.
An example for cosmetics would be the break calliper as shown in one of the pictures above from earlier. Fine as it is but will now be powder coated in black protecting it from dirt and brake dust for a long time.
So as part of this journey l have learned a new angle in regards to cost. Believe me, it hurts (the above mentioned repairs and amendments in Germany will cost the best part of £4k...) but the end result will be more than worth it. So I went from doing it economically to doing it right and long lasting - obviously whilst trying to avoid going into negative equity.
Interesting and reassuring is that so far I have been offered in excess of £36k for the car which means I am still in the plus! I have no intention to sell but it is good to know that I am not risking my unborn children's' future here...
At the end of the day there are only 42 of those left...and they ain't making any more!
But I am going to stop my ramblings now and rather post more pictures of the progress. Once I get some.
[quote=Talkwrench]Its a real same that you've had to resort to leaving your car in Germany. There is nothing on your list that I haven't done many times on e31's.
Sorry Talkwrench, what I said may have come across wrong. By no means do I consider English knowledge or ability substandard compared to German. I was just particularly impressed by the high level of sophistication and creativity by this guy, coupled with reasonable and fair costing.
Just makes it easier to to trust and to digest the mounting worry and cost when engaging in a project like this.
I really appreciate your offer and I will most certainly pick your brains and happily try to benefit from your expertise once the car is back in the country. Thank you!
And those are indeed two very good looking E31 specimen...
Sorry Talkwrench, what I said may have come across wrong. By no means do I consider English knowledge or ability substandard compared to German. I was just particularly impressed by the high level of sophistication and creativity by this guy, coupled with reasonable and fair costing.
Just makes it easier to to trust and to digest the mounting worry and cost when engaging in a project like this.
I really appreciate your offer and I will most certainly pick your brains and happily try to benefit from your expertise once the car is back in the country. Thank you!
And those are indeed two very good looking E31 specimen...
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