E28E30 336 Report post Posted May 20, 2022 ;))) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Eagle 1776 Report post Posted May 21, 2022 At your k's and age If the engine hasnt been opened then i wouldnt be shocked. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sammo 2614 Report post Posted May 24, 2022 (edited) So… I’ve become obsessed with making my seats as good as possible, structurally and mechanically before I go to the expense of making them pretty. Symptom I’m having (both sides) is a minor amount of play somewhere in the hinge / base / connection to rails which means they can be rocked forward like the (somewhat exaggerated) video. They feel good and solid when sitting in them as body weight takes up this play. Things I’ve found wrong with the drivers seat: Seat back tab where it bolts to base was sheared (a common and the only real documented issue online) - fixed via welding. Seat base rail on driver right side sheared- will need to be welded before upholstering. Missing / 35 year old wave washers on rear connecting rod which connects the two hinges - I suspect this is the general area of play due to the rod cradle design - I just can't see how to improve it. Completely shot seat shocks (not related to play, but nice to have and ordered and on the way) Everything that can be has been tightened. Frustratingly, none of these things appear to have helped the issue (passenger seat is same, despite not having any of the driver seat structural issues). I do have a pair of solid comfort sedan seats here that I’ve been butchering for parts (planning to do rear headrests) so next step is to try swapping the hinges themselves and then rails over to see if that helps… Seat base rod that connects the two hinges - this seems to be the area of movement Drivers seat frame is not supposed to look like this but does not seem related Video of play - might be relatively common, but I want to make it better IMG_4581.MOV Edited May 24, 2022 by Sammo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sammo 2614 Report post Posted May 28, 2022 (edited) Got my WOF. Continuing to work on the interior parts so it is mostly mint when I get seats and door cards reupholstered. Today I refinished my parcel tray in charcoal, added rear headrests (butchered some other seats for parts) and changed my huge ugly 6x9s that needed 20mm spacers for some sleek 5x7s that look much more OEM and cover the awkwardly sized premium speaker holes. Huge difference - looks so much more premium - but very tricky to photograph due to rear window reflections - here is how much sun fade has occurred over 35 years. Will do my carpets in the same dark grey soon. Edited May 28, 2022 by Sammo 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sammo 2614 Report post Posted May 31, 2022 She’s sleeping rough for the next 4-5 weeks, just in time for the rainy season 😬 4 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sammo 2614 Report post Posted June 7, 2022 Interior planning update: My Mtech 2 370mm wheel is in NZ now so hope to get my hands on it shortly. Found my Fabric (Anthracite Uberkaro by Relicate) https://relicate.com/collections/uberkaro-plaid-fabric-for-bmw-e30-and-m3/products/uberkaro-fabric-for-bmw-m3-and-e30-anthracite?variant=32486462881872 I didn’t realise but I already have this same fabric in my car as Stitchboots used it for my shifter and handbrake boot - it’s nice and dark - I’m not a fan of the silver Uberkaro. Biggest decision now is wether to go Uberkaro on the door panels as well - due to the one piece E30 door car design it won’t be able to replicate the factory look with the fake stitch (will look like below photo but in Uberkaro) but I think it will tie in nicely compared to having light grey plain fabric (my existing door card). Possibly could have horizontal stitched ‘pleats’ on the door card to break up the wall of fabric and replicate the sport seats vertical pleats / emulate the leather door card horizontal pleats too. Just waiting on my 2nd estimate and hope to get done in July. 5 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sammo 2614 Report post Posted June 9, 2022 (edited) Finally arrived - 370mm Mtech 2, definitely feels like it belongs to the car. Great original condition which I was after as I’m not a fan of the smooth / perforated / modern leather refurbed that are often done on these. Just gave it a good deep brush clean and added a new roundel. Update: couldn’t resist going a little further and giving it a light refurb with Colourlock Leatherfresh to restore the rich matte black finish without obscuring the grain. Came up really well. Old Mtech 1 wheel sold in 10 mins without even listing it 😂 Edited June 13, 2022 by Sammo 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sammo 2614 Report post Posted June 13, 2022 Interior refurb is about to kick off with Fabric being ordered today. Flip flopped to using the original OEM Lemans BMW Anthracite Uberkaro as ended up being cheaper (and faster) than an Internationally sourced reproduction fabric, plus they have the matching bolster fabric too. Will be doing door cards and front and rear headrests in Uberkaro as well so will be a lot of plaid! Should kick off next week. I have some of these Mtechnic seat badges en route as well but wondering if it will be a bit overkill with the pattern? 8 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
E28E30 336 Report post Posted June 13, 2022 Going to look sooooo good @Sammo 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cammsport 391 Report post Posted June 16, 2022 Give me some of your motivation Sam 😅 I reckon put the badges on. Doesn't look too much at all! 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sammo 2614 Report post Posted June 20, 2022 Retrim is in progress, all OEM fabric arrived and looks amazing (interestingly same pattern but a different hue to the Relicate fabric which looks a little blue by comparison) Very glad I went with the OEM plus matching bolster fabric (with fresh vinyl for outer bolsters etc - OEM style). As it’s going to take a few weeks, I still wanted to be able to use the car a little so here she is in all her stripped out glory, along with a very tired vinyl comfort seat - no corners for me for a while. Its going to be a great contrast switching out to welded, resprung, refoamed and upholstered sport seats with brand new seat shocks! Will shampoo the carpet, repaint some interior plastics and add a little extra sound deadening while the interior is out too. 5 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Harper 603 Report post Posted June 20, 2022 Agreed, OE is the way to go where possible. Will be like a new car when done! Who's doing the upholstery work? 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sammo 2614 Report post Posted June 20, 2022 4 minutes ago, Harper said: Agreed, OE is the way to go where possible. Will be like a new car when done! Who's doing the upholstery work? INH Upholstery - a guy I met through an E30 group - tried a more established place who didn’t seem too interested to be honest. Got a good vibe from Nicholas who is younger but experienced and he knows E30s and seems really keen to put in the time to ensure this is a great job. 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
E30 325i Rag-Top 3034 Report post Posted June 20, 2022 Wow, I am very envious of the pace of progress on this car, not only are you doing things to a very high standard, you are doing it fast as well!! 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sammo 2614 Report post Posted June 20, 2022 10 minutes ago, E30 325i Rag-Top said: Wow, I am very envious of the pace of progress on this car, not only are you doing things to a very high standard, you are doing it fast as well!! Haha, I'm going to run out of BMW money soon and off to Europe for 5 weeks in September, so things will have to slow down a little! 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sammo 2614 Report post Posted July 15, 2022 Interior retrim almost done - I went to do an inspection this AM (first time I’ve seen the progress in person) and it looked great. Still a few days away but together enough to get a good idea on how it will look. Very happy I went with OEM fabric and bolster fabric as it has a beautiful almost wooly nap to it that looks so good. In the flesh the seats are quite dark and the pattern more subtle so am leaning towards putting the Mtechnic badges on the fronts now - I don’t think it will be too busy / gaudy. 4 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adro 1127 Report post Posted July 15, 2022 +1 for Mtech badge on the seats. Will look perfect! 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sammo 2614 Report post Posted July 28, 2022 After 5.5 weeks wallowing around in a clapped out comfort seat and 3 weeks without a front sway bar, can’t wait for the weekend to get my rebuilt and reupholstered sport seats in and my 22mm sway bar with new poly bushings and billet mounts… Looking forward to driving around corners again. 8 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sammo 2614 Report post Posted July 29, 2022 BIG milestone - Interior is now done: Full retrim in OEM BMW Anthrazit Uberkaro and matching OEM bolster fabric Fresh vinyl on outer bolsters, seat backs + door cards. Rear headrests, Mtech badges, refinished interior plastics, shampooed carpets and new mats. Fully rebuilt front seats - repaired and welded frames / new seat shocks / clips / fresh foam - feel like new seats. The textures and tones in the flesh look absolutely fantastic and like it was always this way - very happy. Might get my shift / gear boot done in genuine Uberkaro to match (they are reproduction Uberkaro at the moment and are a cooler grey) will likely get rear seat Mtech badges and need a new drivers door handle surround as well to finish off. 16 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vass 1059 Report post Posted July 29, 2022 Absolute porn this. That car has a better life than most people. Top effort mate! 2 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adro 1127 Report post Posted July 30, 2022 Exquisite! 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
E28E30 336 Report post Posted July 30, 2022 Looks really top-notch, tasteful and gorgeous @Sammo 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sammo 2614 Report post Posted July 30, 2022 4 hours ago, E28E30 said: Looks really top-notch, tasteful and gorgeous @Sammo Thanks! Long time planning, so great to see it come to fruition! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kees 664 Report post Posted July 30, 2022 Man that looks incredible!! @Sammo 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Eagle 1776 Report post Posted July 31, 2022 Damn was wondering why you didn't make the meet. Do you know what failed? Yesterday i was thinking about your new seat and was going to ask you for a sit in it. For some reason thought about a member who's E30 throttle cable snapped in the Huntly around that same spot going back to Auckland. So may of jinxed you there sorry. 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
