1980 BMW E26 M1

[RichardM5]

Batch 7.5R said:

Just a thought on this as I work through the thread of a beautiful car - might be worth getting someone who does 3D printing to scan one of these in, not to reproduce in a 3D printer but it’s quite likely you could get them machine/laser cut out of the rubber foam somewhere using that scan file.

The problem with scanning is that the part is rather 'floppy'. It does not lie flat at all and only retains it's shape if you put it into the metal frame of the rear light. You could scan one side with it in the frame to get some sort of reference, but then would probably have to construct the rest of the shape manually, or possibly by scanning the back of the frame and making a negative of it.

The part also have significant shape in the Z axis, it's not just a flat piece of foam, so you'd have to cut the shape from a block rather than a sheet. It's just a very complex shape for something that could be very simple.

[Batch 7.5R]

RichardM5 said:

The problem with scanning is that the part is rather 'floppy'. It does not lie flat at all and only retains it's shape if you put it into the metal frame of the rear light. You could scan one side with it in the frame to get some sort of reference, but then would probably have to construct the rest of the shape manually, or possibly by scanning the back of the frame and making a negative of it.

The part also have significant shape in the Z axis, it's not just a flat piece of foam, so you'd have to cut the shape from a block rather than a sheet. It's just a very complex shape for something that could be very simple.

Ahh crap!

[RichardM5]

This is another picture, you can see how the seal twists when not in the frame and the 3D nature of it.



The only way to make this will be to either injection mould it (very expensive to fabricate the moulds) or 3D print it.

[illmonkey]

Couldn’t you make a mould of the light with and sans rubber. Then pour something to make a firm version. Seems like a lot of work but if you need the parts…

[RichardM5]

The best way to may a mould would probably be to put the seal on the light frame and create the bodywork side, then remove the frame, leaving the seal in the created mould, and create the frame side.

You could then use the mould to create a sold version, tweak as required, then scan that to create a CAD file to be used to 3D print a rubber seal.

At some point if the seals are still NLA and I have a few spare days I might give it a go.

[Chunkychucky]

Brilliant to see you're still keeping her in as fine a fettle as always, Richard!

Still hopeful of seeing this 'in the wild' out in Harrogate one day - if you happen to see some loon waving their arms/leaping in to the road infront of you, I can only apologies...

Do I recall you also had an E12 M535i keeping this beauty company..?

Still need to tick an E12 M535i off my list

[RichardM5]

Chunkychucky said:

Brilliant to see you're still keeping her in as fine a fettle as always, Richard!

Still hopeful of seeing this 'in the wild' out in Harrogate one day - if you happen to see some loon waving their arms/leaping in to the road infront of you, I can only apologies...

It gets out a bit from time to time just to keep everything working, usually someone at some point waves, flashes etc.

Chunkychucky said:

Do I recall you also had an E12 M535i keeping this beauty company..?

Still need to tick an E12 M535i off my list

Unfortunately not. It the right car came up at the right time, then I'd like one, but probably an E28 M5 would be higher on the list.

Currently have an E34 M5 Touring and E39 M5.

[McGee_22]

Another M1 spotted in Ireland...

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[Chunkychucky]

McGee_22 said:

Another M1 spotted in Ireland...

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Nice, I think the shape of these looks so good in white - love the E28 M5 pictured on that thread too

A friend of my dad's bought a white M1 from him, however discovered it was originally orange so had the car repainted - it looks great in the flesh, but still think i'd prefer white...!

[RichardM5]

Chunkychucky said:

Nice, I think the shape of these looks so good in white - love the E28 M5 pictured on that thread too

A friend of my dad's bought a white M1 from him, however discovered it was originally orange so had the car repainted - it looks great in the flesh, but still think i'd prefer white...!

That might explain something I was confused about with another M1 I know is in the UK that I have pictures of, some White and some Orange! Does the reg start with PP by chance?

[FK2R]

I was watching a car spotting video on youtube filmed in Harrogate from a few years ago and this was spotted

[9xxNick]

There aren't that many cars I look at these days and think "I'd really like to spend a few days on a major trip in that" but this M1 triggers that desire and then some. A thoughtful and thorough restoration.

[K50 DEL]

Just discovered that this is the very M1 that I spotted in a services South of Sheffield on my trip to the Crucible snooker earlier in the year.
I was even sat in my car when the owner returned and drove off - if I'd known it was a PHer's car I'd have said Hi!

[illmonkey]

Jack has review this M1 (I'm sure you know OP ), more for the others.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6YEKYjuYfI

I'm local to Jack and gutted I didn't see it out!

[McGee_22]

Goodwood, last weekend, NOT the OP's car...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HjneDN3hQs

Another angle...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeQCGW-jGeo&pp...

Edited by McGee_22 on Monday 17th July 21:24

[RichardM5]

illmonkey said:

Jack has review this M1 (I'm sure you know OP ), more for the others.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6YEKYjuYfI

I'm local to Jack and gutted I didn't see it out!

Jack came to me to do this one, so you did not miss out. Seems to have enjoyed himself though.

[RichardM5]

McGee_22 said:

Goodwood, last weekend, NOT the OP's car...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HjneDN3hQs

Another angle...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeQCGW-jGeo&pp...

Edited by McGee_22 on Monday 17th July 21:24

What do you expect when you put Alpina decals on a proper M car, couldn’t get off the track quickly enough!

[McGee_22]

[bumskins]

Lovely car OP!

McGee_22 said:

Goodwood, last weekend, NOT the OP's car...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HjneDN3hQs

Another angle...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeQCGW-jGeo&pp...

Edited by McGee_22 on Monday 17th July 21:24

Sorry to see this - a ProCar is one of my dream cars, that screaming M88 is one of my favourite sounding engines of all time... Suppose at least the car in the videos above was being used properly and not sat in a heated warehouse somewhere!