850 CSi - first steps

[Barchettaman]

Amazing thread.
Huge respect to the OP for taking it on, and what a contribution from 8Tech - he would appear to be worth his weight in gold.
Best of luck getting it all finished, looking forward to seeing photos of it cruising around the leafy lanes. Outstanding.

[Johnb850]

Great work!!

This thread should be in the M Power Forum btw!

[Fatandre]

Gerry.
What about replacing the seals on the ATE ones on the CSI?

[8Tech]

Fatandre said:

Gerry.
What about replacing the seals on the ATE ones on the CSI?

Those are far easier as the pistons hardly ever seize as both the caliper body and pistons are steel and the seals hold in a proper recess.

The seal kits for those are still available from BMW the last time I did a set too.

[niki0712]

once again, not much of an update, we are progressing very, very slowly...

according to the body shop this counts as a major refurb and I am lucky it has only taken 8 weeks so far. Not so sure I agree with that but once it is done (superbly) then previous impatience shall be forgotten.

Bonnet, chassis, boot lid and sunroof have been resprayed, yet to be done are doors and bumpers. And then it'll need puzzleing together...

Here some pictures from today:








Here a quick reminder what the floor of the boot looked like:




Well, that looks much better now!

[niki0712]

ANd thank you again for all your kind and encouraging comments, keeps me going!!!

[julian64]

8Tech said:

julian64 said:

Just as a quik aside, anyone now how the plastic comes off the sills on the right and left without busting everything?

Sure, remove the jacking pads then all those white mushroom poppers along the underside of the car. next, gently pull the sill away from the side of the car, off the poppers that will break anyway. There are some small clips underneath the seal along the bottom of the door but these do not hold the sill on, just the seal.

Order new clips before you start because 20 tear old plastic will break during removal.

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.ph...

Thanks thats very helpful

[eliot]

niki0712 said:

I am lucky it has only taken 8 weeks so far.

Out of interest how is such a job priced up? when you say 8 weeks, I assume that is the lapsed time rather than the actual man-hours.

[niki0712]

eliot said:

Out of interest how is such a job priced up? when you say 8 weeks, I assume that is the lapsed time rather than the actual man-hours.

I shall bloody hope not! No, negotiated a fixed price up front, just not an end date...

[Blueprint]

How do they guarantee a colour match if bits are sprayed at separate times?
Do they make up a master batch of paint, enough to cover everything, then use it as and when they have time to do the various bits and pieces?

[RC1]

Niki why is it taking so long? Is it because they didn't really have the time but are doing you a favour and fitting it in around their other jobs?

[8Tech]

Blueprint said:

How do they guarantee a colour match if bits are sprayed at separate times?
Do they make up a master batch of paint, enough to cover everything, then use it as and when they have time to do the various bits and pieces?

If they did that, you would have to have a full respray every time you had a small repair done.

The paint code is mixed for each session.

[niki0712]

RC1 said:

Niki why is it taking so long? Is it because they didn't really have the time but are doing you a favour and fitting it in around their other jobs?

Pretty much, minus the favour. They liked the size of the job I guess! Or were doing Gerry the favour.

I think they have been taking on too much work, either we are currently in a popular accident season or they are simply good! I'd prefer the latter.

[8Tech]

RC1 said:

Niki why is it taking so long? Is it because they didn't really have the time but are doing you a favour and fitting it in around their other jobs?

With such a large job, the man hours involved need to be worked around other works going through the bodyshop.

I am not defending the time, just trying to explain it. A job like this is not anywhere near as financially viable as doing a number of small repairs and they are running a business at the end of the day. They are only really doing it because I asked them and I give them a substantial amount of work.

In the man-hours they have spent on the car, they could have done numerous other small repairs and probably earned 5 fold the cost of this work.

In the end, its the final result that counts and a bodyshop that will strip a car to this extent to do a repaint is few and far between.

I am certain it will be worth the wait.

[niki0712]

8Tech said:

If they did that, you would have to have a full respray every time you had a small repair done.

The paint code is mixed for each session.

The parts they have completed so far look absolute immaculate, even before the polish! Can't wait to see it when finished and put back together.

[niki0712]

And in the meantime I could use the time and look into polishing the wheels...but apparently it is not so easy to move the car without wheels. More patience required.

[8Tech]

I have spare wheels you could fit to the car to keep it mobile whilst your wheels are being done.

[8Tech]

niki0712 said:

RC1 said:

Niki why is it taking so long? Is it because they didn't really have the time but are doing you a favour and fitting it in around their other jobs?

Pretty much, minus the favour. They liked the size of the job I guess! Or were doing Gerry the favour.

I think they have been taking on too much work, either we are currently in a popular accident season or they are simply good! I'd prefer the latter.

A bit of both,

They are like builders, the work is very sporaddic so you have to take on everything you can whilst it's there, and thats a problem when you get more than you can handle, but long term projects can fill in the slower times.

And yes, they are very, very good so all their work is top-end cars. We have now entered the spring where all the exotics get an airing after the winter lay-up. They don't touch insurance work, it is too rushed and prices are slashed so you have to work down to a price and they will not compromise on quality.

[rhysmoreton]

8Tech said:

niki0712 said:

RC1 said:

Niki why is it taking so long? Is it because they didn't really have the time but are doing you a favour and fitting it in around their other jobs?

Pretty much, minus the favour. They liked the size of the job I guess! Or were doing Gerry the favour.

I think they have been taking on too much work, either we are currently in a popular accident season or they are simply good! I'd prefer the latter.

A bit of both,

They are like builders, the work is very sporaddic so you have to take on everything you can whilst it's there, and thats a problem when you get more than you can handle, but long term projects can fill in the slower times.

And yes, they are very, very good so all their work is top-end cars. We have now entered the spring where all the exotics get an airing after the winter lay-up. They don't touch insurance work, it is too rushed and prices are slashed so you have to work down to a price and they will not compromise on quality.

I really don't think you need to give reason for a top end body shop taking "their time" anybody who's had any sort of hands on or knows anything about the trade knows it's touchy touchy feely, and that work comes in droves or nothing so it's all hand to the pump (literally) and take what they can. There's not financial clout for hard graft and perfect end product. Just a large time sink and skilled hands. I eagerly and patiently wait the finished product!

[Cheib]

Tidy one up for sale at auction

https://www.silverstoneauctions.com/bmw-850-csi