Sammo 2544 Report post Posted March 29, 2020 (edited) Killing time in lockdown... Resprayed my roof rails (clear coat was peeling), fixed a couple of interior rattles and adjusted my driver window rattle then gave car a full groom, ready for winter: Wash and claybar Polish with Menzerna 2400 (got rid of a few buffer trails panel beaters left) Menzerna Powerlock Sealant Solution finish on black exterior trim. Thought I should get some (very local of course!) glamour shots, as its now guaranteed to rain soon ? *Edit - photos bigger and sharper if you click them* Edited March 29, 2020 by Sammo 7 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
M3AN 4016 Report post Posted March 29, 2020 Man, that looks great! Well done. How long did that take (sans the photo shoot). If you don't mind me asking, and hand or orbital? 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sammo 2544 Report post Posted March 29, 2020 12 minutes ago, M3AN said: Man, that looks great! Well done. How long did that take (sans the photo shoot). If you don't mind me asking, and hand or orbital? Just hand polished, to be honest I only did the bonnet / front quarters and upper door / rears (i.e. the ones that catch the light most). Maybe 3 hours all up? Menzerna is a great sealant that goes on and off really easily and will bead like crazy for months. Then I just wash every week or two with Fireball Hydrophobic shampoo (amazing product) which keeps the paint glossy and beading water for very low effort. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
qube 3570 Report post Posted March 29, 2020 Led taillights upgrade? 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KwS 2425 Report post Posted March 29, 2020 Between you and @adro there must be a few ruined pants on this forum... ? Gorgeous car and you now how to show it off! 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sammo 2544 Report post Posted March 29, 2020 (edited) 14 minutes ago, qube said: Led taillights upgrade? Nope, I did replace the inners / boot lights with some fresh ones though. Might just be catching the light right in the pic. Edited March 29, 2020 by Sammo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
qube 3570 Report post Posted March 29, 2020 I meant any plans to upgrade to leds? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sammo 2544 Report post Posted March 29, 2020 1 hour ago, qube said: I meant any plans to upgrade to leds? Ahhh right... I was thinking about it but might leave as is - going for a more classic look with it (prefacelift / chrome grille / 'Grandad' colour combo). Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
m325i 709 Report post Posted March 30, 2020 Looks good, (and it looked good when I saw it prior to polish). I tried Powerlock a couple of months ago. I'm not sold on the longevity. Even with little rain since. It's not super hydrophobic either - but it looks great! I guess that's the idea of combining it with Collinite 845. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sammo 2544 Report post Posted March 30, 2020 1 hour ago, m325i said: Looks good, (and it looked good when I saw it prior to polish). I tried Powerlock a couple of months ago. I'm not sold on the longevity. Even with little rain since. It's not super hydrophobic either - but it looks great! I guess that's the idea of combining it with Collinite 845. I've had good results with it but to be honest, using the Fireball hydrophobic shampoo regularly (and sometimes Gyeon Wet coat) it's constantly being topped up anyway. I'm nearly out of the Powerlock, what do you recommend? Some of these wash on, wash off Si02 products seem great, especially if used regularly. Wanting to try Chemical Brothers Black Light as well but I'm a sucker for marketing ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
m325i 709 Report post Posted March 30, 2020 Yeah agree I like the Fireball stuff, was really good value before it was redistributed. They do good beading, but not sure about actual 'protection'. I'm a big fan of Collinite 845 - one bottle will last you forever. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sammo 2544 Report post Posted April 11, 2020 Was giving the car a little Easter love yesterday, things however didn't go to plan ? Swapped out my front and rear sway bar bushings and had planned to do my fuel filter and steering coupler as well. Turns out, like a muppet, I had bought the LHD steering coupler, and to add insult to injury the RHD version looks to be over double the price (and a more cramped install). Then I couldn't get the fuel filter hoses off, date stamp on filter was 2001(!!) so will have to wait till stores are open again, buy some more fuel hose and cut the old ones off. Finally, getting car into the carport (very tight 5 point turn for access so I seldom use it) managed to put a little dent in the rear panel above the bumper and below taillight from a little tree branch 'hiding' in a bush. Then while trying to access the panel from behind to see if I could push it out, I managed to do something to my tail light and i've got a 'phantom' bulb out dash light now.... Good times! Car did feel a little flatter in turns after the bushings at least - looking forward to doing the shocks, struts and CABs after lockdown. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Eagle 1662 Report post Posted April 11, 2020 Im surprised when i don't see a car still on the original fuel filter. Poly coupler is the way i go i think unless you have a bad joint. 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sammo 2544 Report post Posted April 11, 2020 10 minutes ago, Eagle said: Im surprised when i don't see a car still on the original fuel filter. Poly coupler is the way i go i think unless you have a bad joint. Yeah, I've seen the poly (or even solid aluminium) bits you can replace the rubber bushing part with, looks like a bit more work, wasn't sure if it wouldn't be too harsh though? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zero 1162 Report post Posted April 11, 2020 1 hour ago, Sammo said: Yeah, I've seen the poly (or even solid aluminium) bits you can replace the rubber bushing part with, looks like a bit more work, wasn't sure if it wouldn't be too harsh though? I used the poly ones from ireland engineering and was a good improvement and no difference in harshness. If you want a hand with the suspension after the lockdoen let me know - I have all the tools. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sammo 2544 Report post Posted April 11, 2020 3 hours ago, zero said: I used the poly ones from ireland engineering and was a good improvement and no difference in harshness. If you want a hand with the suspension after the lockdoen let me know - I have all the tools. Ill check those out too. Appreciate the offer, but hoping to get it done with a mate who has a nice big garage and more nous than me ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sammo 2544 Report post Posted April 23, 2020 Got a week off work now (Managers and specialists encouraged to take 4 days AL in April...) so have a few projects to keep me busy. Vanos seals and oil line (Got the X8R kit with all gaskets / bolts etc) Oil filter housing gasket Fuel filter (current one 19 years old) MTF and diff oil change Looking forward to the challenge (to date Valve cover gasket is the 'hardest' thing I've done) and hoping to not break anything else while I'm doing it ? Wish me luck! 4 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sammo 2544 Report post Posted April 26, 2020 (edited) So far, so good, got the Vanos seals, oil line and oil filter housing gasket all done. Not too hard at all really, even I didn't cock it up! Hardest thing was actually getting the old seals out from the vanos pistons without scratching the edges up, but would have been easier with a scalpel. I smoothed out a couple of scratches with 2000grit. Difference in 'tightness' in the cylinders with old vs new seals wasn't as massively different as I expected? Car feels strong, guess I'll take a while to break in the seals with the lockdown in place - definately easier to take off smoothly with less throttle input. Want to say it pulls a little cleaner from down low (placebo?) but car never felt weak with the 3.38 diff. Next step will be fuel filter and a fresh tank of 98 ? (had been using 95 up until now as I have a Z fuel card but have since given it to the wife). Pulleys and tensioners seem to be on the way out as well so another FCP order coming up ? VID_20200425_115911.mp4 Edited December 3, 2021 by Sammo 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zero 1162 Report post Posted April 26, 2020 Great work. It will be interesting to see if there is a difference after you replace the fuel filter as I bet that old one is pretty blocked up. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sammo 2544 Report post Posted April 26, 2020 19 minutes ago, zero said: Great work. It will be interesting to see if there is a difference after you replace the fuel filter as I bet that old one is pretty blocked up. Cheers mate! Yeah, hoping fuel filter plus 98 will make it that little bit stronger again. Then will do some research on MS43 tuning... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zero 1162 Report post Posted April 26, 2020 I'll let others chime in but I'm pretty sure 98 wont make any difference over 95. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sammo 2544 Report post Posted May 3, 2020 (edited) Got a few bits done this weekend: New fuel filter - old one was original to car so had to cut the hoses off and get new ones. Don't recommend doing this on ramps, lucky I'm skinny ? Cleaned all oil and crap from underneath - having just done the oil filter housing gasket and valve cover gasket, it was a mess down there (car had been leaking a fair amount). Also had black sludge (looks like oil) down as far as gear box, no idea how oil could get that far back though? Clean now so will be able to see if it's something else. Replaced quarter window dry rotted lower rubber - much easier than I thought it would be thanks to an 'eraser wheel' on the drill to get rid of all the glue. Edited December 4, 2021 by Sammo 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KwS 2425 Report post Posted May 3, 2020 The oil leak on the back of trans is probably the selector shaft seal. Common, and a PITA to change. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sammo 2544 Report post Posted May 3, 2020 (edited) On 5/3/2020 at 4:58 PM, KwS said: The oil leak on the back of trans is probably the selector shaft seal. Common, and a PITA to change. Hmmm - I'll keep an eye on it, will be back under there next weekend to do tranny and diff fluid. Edited May 23, 2021 by Sammo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BreakMyWindow 1874 Report post Posted May 5, 2020 On 4/26/2020 at 7:35 PM, zero said: Great work. It will be interesting to see if there is a difference after you replace the fuel filter as I bet that old one is pretty blocked up. Fuel filters getting blocked i think is another internet myth. There’s a filter on the end of the pump to catch any larger particles, then there’s a fine media filter inside the fuel filter. Old fuel filters you’ll see black dirty fuel pouring out from the inlet side and clean fuel on the outlet side towards the injectors. You’d have much more pronounced symptoms if either of the filters were blocked. Still a good idea to change them though. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
