M3AN 4016 Report post Posted October 17, 2020 Having seen this in person it's a perfect example of 'you can't judge a book by its cover' - it's probably fair to say she's stronger on the inside than out, the current attention is going to the right places. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aja540i 1906 Report post Posted October 18, 2020 (edited) right rear door card glued back together and re- installed, window works mint, rear speakers replaced, started filling and sanding smallish dents in front bumper, new plate holder ordered, put some diesel in it, rear seats back in and belts all working, heavy rubber floor mats water-blasted, rear window cleaned, stickers installed on rear window, fog lights removed from old bumper and opened up to let all the water out. A few quick squirts up and down the driveway suggests the trans needs a full service, it takes a few revs to get it moving, and the turbo is a bit louder than I am happy with but they can wait until its road legal. Edited October 19, 2020 by aja540i 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aja540i 1906 Report post Posted October 21, 2020 Bought a staggered set of style 66 wheels, they look a little bit rough which will match the rest of the car perfectly!! 6 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aja540i 1906 Report post Posted October 22, 2020 Flicked a coat of 2 pack primer on the front bumper, a few more small patches of putty and a sand then top coat this weekend, it won't be perfect but I'm not aiming for perfection on this one, its a workhorse not a show pony! The transmission service might be a bit more urgent than I thought, it wouldn't back the car off the ramps today until I rocked it back and forth a couple of times!! 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Eagle 1662 Report post Posted October 22, 2020 Yeah sorry about that jinx Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aja540i 1906 Report post Posted October 22, 2020 ? I suspect this has what's left of its original " lifetime" fluid! There are no strange noises or vibrations, it just revs its nuts off (3k rpm) and doesn't move, its only when up on the ramps so fluid tide is probably out. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aja540i 1906 Report post Posted October 23, 2020 Modified the lighting in the boost gauge using some leftover ashtray led lights, a bit ocd but it does look nicer when all the lights are the same orange... 4 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
polley 916 Report post Posted October 23, 2020 That guage is probably gonna be pegged? I'm not sure what they run standard. But pretty sure I datalogged mine at 26 to 28 psi of boost. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aja540i 1906 Report post Posted October 23, 2020 About 23 I think, I had it lying around so in it goes. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aja540i 1906 Report post Posted October 23, 2020 Sprayed a guide coat on the front bumper, knocked up a wooden stand to hold it, started wet sanding, remembered why I'm not a panel beater! Also picked up a new genuine roof basket for $150, trying to decide whether to mount it here permanently, or leave it removable so I can use it on the M5?? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aja540i 1906 Report post Posted October 24, 2020 Trailer plug has suffered from a sudden and unexpected lowering of the rear of the car that accompanies a leak in the SLS airbag, my 540i touring did the exact same thing! Old plug removed, hole cut in the bumper, new plug installed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aja540i 1906 Report post Posted October 24, 2020 painted the front bumper, very badly, it is now all the same color but that is about the best thing I can say about it! Also painted some headlight eyebrow things I had left over from my previous e39. The obligatory run in the clear coat that reminds me how impatient I am!! 2 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Olaf 3318 Report post Posted October 24, 2020 Damned fine work at a sustained pace! never mind the run, you can wet-sand that back with 1000grit when it's hardned up (or knock off the high-spots while it's soft, with a razor-blade). It'll be a great workhorse, well done, keep it up! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aja540i 1906 Report post Posted October 24, 2020 21 hours ago, Olaf said: Damned fine work at a sustained pace! never mind the run, you can wet-sand that back with 1000grit when it's hardned up (or knock off the high-spots while it's soft, with a razor-blade). It'll be a great workhorse, well done, keep it up! I'll probably just wait until someone backs into it and get it re sprayed under insurance!! 1 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aja540i 1906 Report post Posted October 24, 2020 Transmission fluid draining out, a bit of conflicting info about what fluid it should have in it, but I am going with Penrite Dexron VI, I will drain and refill for now, then do a full pan off service and fluid change once I put a few more miles on it. Started on a new stereo surround panel, had some aluminum lying around, looks like 1 or 1.2 mm, cut and folded some bits, Marked out for welding, Tacked up, Also hooked up the battery charger to "top up" the battery!! 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aja540i 1906 Report post Posted October 25, 2020 (edited) Managed to get 4.5 litres of transmission fluid out, looks like someone paid the extra for the "metallic" option! Only managed to get about 4 L back in, ran through the gears, car is level etc, might have to take it for a once around the block to see if its working. Electric oil pump is worth every dollar for doing this job, Stereo surround welded and fettled, test fitted, not sure how I am going to attach it yet, might have to try and hide a couple of small bolts somewhere, or blu-tac? Edited October 25, 2020 by aja540i Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
B.M.W Ltd 950 Report post Posted October 25, 2020 Needs to be filled running in park @ 45'C 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aja540i 1906 Report post Posted October 25, 2020 Awesome, thanks, I will give that a go. 40 minutes ago, B.M.W Ltd said: Needs to be filled running in park @ 45'C Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aja540i 1906 Report post Posted October 25, 2020 Success, managed to get the trans to swallow another 0.5 litre! Also finished welding and tidying the stereo surround, and made a hole in it for the boost gauge, it will get powder coated with black wrinkle powder, if I get bored I may try and fit a cup holder in the bottom section, but not today... 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Eagle 1662 Report post Posted October 25, 2020 Ive got a ACS front lip off my old car you can have if you like, it's painted in Orient as well but got a crack in the fibreglass repair the PO did. I can probably drop it off when i go upto Auckland. 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aja540i 1906 Report post Posted October 25, 2020 20 minutes ago, Eagle said: Ive got a ACS front lip off my old car you can have if you like, it's painted in Orient as well but got a crack in the fibreglass repair the PO did. I can probably drop it off when i go upto Auckland. That would be awesome, thanks! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aja540i 1906 Report post Posted October 25, 2020 (edited) Engine oil and filter changed, 6.5 litres of Penrite. Stereo holder frame welded up and painted Matt black, ready to go back in. Finally used my 3D printed BMW engine oil funnel, it doesn't fit the M5, turns out it doesn't properly fit this either, needs some slight trimming... Edited October 28, 2020 by aja540i 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aja540i 1906 Report post Posted October 28, 2020 Bumper and under trays back on, number plate on temporarily, test drive around the block, airbag light on, bugger ! Will have to check code and clear so I can sort that, hopefully just from having so many airbag parts disconnected over the last few weeks. Certainly goes better now than when I collected it, trans is much happier, a LOT less smoke! New front suspension arms ordered, that should sort the shudder under brakes. Will take it for a WOF on Friday / Saturday and get a new to do list! Photo in the dark shows the bumper at its best... 5 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aja540i 1906 Report post Posted October 29, 2020 Dusted off the ancient laptop with carsoft 6.5 on it and scanned the car, also re-coded it to show mileage in Km, and reset the service lights, every module except the EWS has a fault code!! 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Olaf 3318 Report post Posted October 29, 2020 Will that net you difficulties at WoF time, with a 110k increase in odo? And what about your RUC? Is our local transport beauracracy equipped to deal with this kind of seismic change? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
