1980 BMW E26 M1
Discussion
Wow! Not sure how I've missed this thread but what a superb car. I don't think I've ever seen one on the road!
Like the poster above, I've always loved the M1 since I was a kid when I got given this Corgi BMW M1 (some 30+ years ago!). It's a bit battered now as I've passed it on to my son but it remains one of the iconic models from my childhood.
Like the poster above, I've always loved the M1 since I was a kid when I got given this Corgi BMW M1 (some 30+ years ago!). It's a bit battered now as I've passed it on to my son but it remains one of the iconic models from my childhood.
Will you be at Brands in August Richard?
http://www.deutschefest.co.uk/deutsche-fest-get-in...
Can get you a pass / inside parking if you haven't already got it.
http://www.deutschefest.co.uk/deutsche-fest-get-in...
Can get you a pass / inside parking if you haven't already got it.
e21Mark said:
Will you be at Brands in August Richard?
http://www.deutschefest.co.uk/deutsche-fest-get-in...
Can get you a pass / inside parking if you haven't already got it.
I think it's unlikely Mark.http://www.deutschefest.co.uk/deutsche-fest-get-in...
Can get you a pass / inside parking if you haven't already got it.
I've got a couple of things planned over the summer already, Silverstone Classic and the main BMW CC event at Gaydon, then hopefully an M1 Club meet near Rotterdam - if all goes to plan Jochen Neerpasch is supposed to be attending. Those, holidays, family and in-laws that are literally dropping to bits (father in law will be probably having his leg removed some time this week, old age can truly suck) any more events would not be very family friendly.
I was at Gaydon yesterday for the BMW Car Club festival, and took part in the concourse on Saturday. Staying up until 9:30pm until it got dark, and then getting up again at 4:30am just as it was getting light to finish prepping the car payed off.
On another note, I'd noticed that my car was missing two parts in the engine bay. Looking at other cars, there are shaped plastic uprights that fasten on to two bosses on the main chassis. They fit into the buttresses on the engine bay cover, presumably to change the airflow in some way.
There appear to be at least two versions, you can see them on either side in these two pictures, above the expansion tank and dip stick.
Early version from chassis number 4301013
Later version from chassis number 4301108
Most cars seem to have these parts. They attach by 2 bolts to the boss on the chassis. However, not only was I missing the parts, but there are no holes in the boss to fit the bolts to!
Appologies for the back focused picture
The parts are NLA from BMW and they are not just a flat plate, they have a hoop on which goes round the tubular chassis member. So, I borrowed a pair from another M1 owner
had them digitised and 3D printed
Using the highest quality printer and mode, these took over 20 hours each to print. The finish is not identical as the originals are moulded, but they are not bad.
I also noticed that some cars had the top edge wrapped in a trim strip and others did not. The variations may all just be due to the way the Italian assembly operators felt on the day, the availability of parts, of that bits have fallen off or been removed at some point over the last 37 years, who knows.
As the parts only arrived last Friday, I temporarily attached them with double sided foam tape.
On another note, I'd noticed that my car was missing two parts in the engine bay. Looking at other cars, there are shaped plastic uprights that fasten on to two bosses on the main chassis. They fit into the buttresses on the engine bay cover, presumably to change the airflow in some way.
There appear to be at least two versions, you can see them on either side in these two pictures, above the expansion tank and dip stick.
Early version from chassis number 4301013
Later version from chassis number 4301108
Most cars seem to have these parts. They attach by 2 bolts to the boss on the chassis. However, not only was I missing the parts, but there are no holes in the boss to fit the bolts to!
Appologies for the back focused picture
The parts are NLA from BMW and they are not just a flat plate, they have a hoop on which goes round the tubular chassis member. So, I borrowed a pair from another M1 owner
had them digitised and 3D printed
Using the highest quality printer and mode, these took over 20 hours each to print. The finish is not identical as the originals are moulded, but they are not bad.
I also noticed that some cars had the top edge wrapped in a trim strip and others did not. The variations may all just be due to the way the Italian assembly operators felt on the day, the availability of parts, of that bits have fallen off or been removed at some point over the last 37 years, who knows.
As the parts only arrived last Friday, I temporarily attached them with double sided foam tape.
RichardM5 said:
RichardM5 said:
Using the highest quality printer and mode, these took over 20 hours each to print. The finish is not identical as the originals are moulded, but they are not bad.
Can I be rude and ask roughly how much something like that costs with 3D printing, and a rough split between digitizing/setup and manufacturing?silentbrown said:
Can I be rude and ask roughly how much something like that costs with 3D printing, and a rough split between digitizing/setup and manufacturing?
Digitising was £60, relatively easy as the parts are a mirror image, so only one had to be done.Printing some low quality prototypes was £175 for the pair. Once the shape was checked, the higher quality parts were £475 for the pair.
RichardM5 said:
Digitising was £60, relatively easy as the parts are a mirror image, so only one had to be done.
Printing some low quality prototypes was £175 for the pair. Once the shape was checked, the higher quality parts were £475 for the pair.
Interesting - Thanks. I was thinking "that's not too bad" for the digitizing cost, but the printing cost..! -Printing some low quality prototypes was £175 for the pair. Once the shape was checked, the higher quality parts were £475 for the pair.
counterofbeans said:
Why did you feel it was vital for the car to have these parts?
Vital, no, of course not.However, my goal has always to have the car looking as original as possible and these parts were originally fitted, at least to most cars.
Also, why were they fitted in the first place? Although the originals are not high quality parts, to create moulds for both left and right sides must have been relatively expensive. I'm sure such costs would not have been incurred if the part had no function.
RichardM5 said:
Yeah, not cheap, but a hell of a lot cheaper than getting a new mould made.
Absolutely. It's super to see this kind of thing being done, and the quality looks great.I'ts curious that your car has the flat bits welded to the tubing to accommodate these, but no boltholes? Maybe the originals were just stuck on and later ones got bolts?
JakeT said:
Congrats on the award!
Thanks! JakeT said:
Was nice to meet you there. Even if (rightfully) you looked a little nervous there with people poking around it.
You do have to keep an eye on what people are doing. 99.9% are totally respectful and careful, but you get the odd one that oversteps the mark. With the engine cover open many people lean carefully over without touching to look at the engine, no problem. But you have to watch out for those that might lean over and put weight on the thin fibre glass partitions to the boot and side areas to support themselves, lean on these and they will brake.
If the doors are shut and someone asks me if they can look inside I'll open up and let them look, usually I'll let kids sit inside for a photo etc. as long as there's not a group of them. But sometimes people think it's OK just to open the door and get in just because it's not locked, it's not!
RichardM5 said:
sometimes people think it's OK just to open the door and get in just because it's not locked, it's not!
I had this with my E30. Usually I'm quite happy for people to sit inside or whatever, but it's not too much to expect that they ask first surely? When I worked for Mazda we had to remove anything that wasn't bolted down or else people would simply help themselves. What they were planning to do with an RX7 cigarette lighter or MX5 tow eye, I have no idea? The Clifford in my Alpina used to self-arm after about 15 secs of the doors all closing, but wouldn't actually lock. The amount of times people would open the door at shows to take an unrequested look inside, then quickly followed by horror on their faces as the siren wailed and everyone would turn around to see what was going on! 
Congrats on the award btw
Congrats on the award btw
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