The Bimmer Basement

[Mpower5266]

1 qrt per 10K miles on my vw engines is pretty normal for me. I don't think your oil burn is out of range. Cars are looking great as usual

Yea, I don't think I need to be concerned. These engines don't have a dipstick. I can check oil level but there is no way to check the oil condition between changes, so its just a little piece of mind running good oil and the additive.

 

[Ronin22]

I like how the Tahoe's emblems came out!

 

[Mpower5266]

I like how the Tahoe's emblems came out!

Me too. My wife wanted them white but I think she likes the black on them too. I'm curious to see how the wrap holds up.

 

[isonic]

These engines don't have a dipstick.

Right, I forgot about that.

 

[tennesseewj]

Did you wrap the bowties in place or remove & re-install? I'm planning a similar attack soon so I'd love to hear any tips/tricks/must-have tools or other words of wisdom you discover in your wrapping process.

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[Mpower5266]

Did you wrap the bowties in place or remove & re-install? I'm planning a similar attack soon so I'd love to hear any tips/tricks/must-have tools or other words of wisdom you discover in your wrapping process.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

I did them in place. Just cleaned them really well, laid the vinyl out and used a heat gun to get all the bubbles out. Then used heat and my finger nail to kinda press it into the edge and cut the excess. They arent perfect but good enough for now.

 

[dislexiclawyer]

Round 2 on the ash tray cover turned out great! I am really digging how clean that wagon is.

 

[Mpower5266]

Round 2 on the ash tray cover turned out great! I am really digging how clean that wagon is.

Thanks, I actually finished the center console last night. I need to buy a new one because I cracked some of the mounting points pulling it out but for now I am just going with it to see how the vinyl holds up. I really like the how the interior looks now.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

I need to redo a couple of the panels but again, I want to give it a few months to see how it holds up.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

My dad also went to visit the e9 yesterday, its up on the rack and they are getting started on it.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

 

[dubber]

Such a sweet ride. Excited to see what this old school body man can create.

 

[Mpower5266]

Such a sweet ride. Excited to see what this old school body man can create.

I am excited but a little nervous. We are down to the wire, and its not looking good for the show in May. It may be going on a trailer if it goes at all.

 

[benwalsh91]

Love how this is coming along, i literally joined this forum just so i can keep up with this thread as i have been lurking on it for years now.

 

[Mpower5266]

Love how this is coming along, i literally joined this forum just so i can keep up with this thread as i have been lurking on it for years now.

Awesome. Good to see you on here.

 

[Purist]

Thanks, I actually finished the center console last night. I need to buy a new one because I cracked some of the mounting points pulling it out but for now I am just going with it to see how the vinyl holds up. I really like the how the interior looks now.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

I need to redo a couple of the panels but again, I want to give it a few months to see how it holds up.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

Nice work, Nick. I'm digging how that looks. I finished the rear armrests in my M3 a few months back, which also happened to be my first exposure at vinyl wrapping. They didn't come out perfect, but were pretty good for my first try. Like you, I want to see how they hold up.

My dad also went to visit the e9 yesterday, its up on the rack and they are getting started on it.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

Awesome! Cannot wait to see the progress on this baby. My buddies and I were half seriously talking about trying to make it down. But I'm thinking O'Fest might be more realistic. We'll see.

 

[kwyjibo]

Hey Nick, I'm just catching up on your progress.
The e91 interior looks great. Our old wagon had terracotta-colored leather that set off the aluminum trim well. I think wrapping the trim to contrast the lighter leather in your car was the right choice.
Deleting the side markers on the e9?

 

[Mpower5266]

Nice work, Nick. I'm digging how that looks. I finished the rear armrests in my M3 a few months back, which also happened to be my first exposure at vinyl wrapping. They didn't come out perfect, but were pretty good for my first try. Like you, I want to see how they hold up.




Awesome! Cannot wait to see the progress on this baby. My buddies and I were half seriously talking about trying to make it down. But I'm thinking O'Fest might be more realistic. We'll see.

You may want to try for The Vintage. Ofest moves around every year and its in Cali this year.

Hey Nick, I'm just catching up on your progress.
The e91 interior looks great. Our old wagon had terracotta-colored leather that set off the aluminum trim well. I think wrapping the trim to contrast the lighter leather in your car was the right choice.
Deleting the side markers on the e9?

Thank you. We are not deleting the markers at this time. We are just fixing the damaged paint, not a full resto. We are just trying to get to driver quality, so we can enjoy it for a while. It will probably get a full on resto in a few years.

 

[M-technik-3]

E36's allowed yet to The Vintage? It's funny they allow E34's but last I saw no E36 yet.

 

[Purist]

You may want to try for The Vintage. Ofest moves around every year and its in Cali this year.

Yeah but my wife and I have plans the weekend of the Vintage. Tickets purchased and everything, so that’s why O’Fest might make more sense. Plus, i love California. So win win. Too early to say for sure, though.


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[Mpower5266]

E36's allowed yet to The Vintage? It's funny they allow E34's but last I saw no E36 yet.

No. From what I have heard, the concern is that too many would show up and they have limited space. I'm honestly ok with them not being allowed, keeps out the riff raff.

Yeah but my wife and I have plans the weekend of the Vintage. Tickets purchased and everything, so that’s why O’Fest might make more sense. Plus, i love California. So win win. Too early to say for sure, though.


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I would like to go, and talked with a friend out there with the cca about shipping a car. Sadly I don't think its going to happen this year.

 

[Mpower5266]

The rain finally stopped for a few days, so early Saturday my wife and I took the 02 out to a local breakfast joint.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

After that, I washed the week of rain and dirt off the wagon.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

And then swapped the 02 for the M3 since it needed a wash. I really need to get on the wash bay so I can keep the 02 and M3 at the house. This is becoming my favorite way to apply wheel cleaner. I use less product and my old foam cannon doesn't go to waste.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

And ended the weekend with a couple of drinks and decent cigar. This is becoming my Sunday night tradition.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

Last night some parts came in for my wagon, so I tossed those on. I needed a new air filter so I got a dry K&N clone, apparently the wet ones can mess with the MAF and a tube to eliminate the intake silencer. So out came the parts.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

Installed the filter.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

And buttoned it all back up with the boot. I have ordered the nut for the power steering nut, I dropped it some where in the engine bay.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

I wasn't expecting a gain in power, but I was hoping for a little more intake noise. I guess I am spoiled by the Dinan intake in the M3 but I really love a good intake sound. It really didn't do much at all, I guess I am going to have to break down and buy a real cold air intake system.

I also received my period correct, "no space" BMW CCA grille badges for the 02 and e9. Apparently sometime in the late 70s/early 80s, Bmw made the car club add a space in their logo so the new ones say "BMW CCA" and not "BMWCCA." Its a silly thing but it makes me happy. I believe these are reproductions, I would prefer to have the real ones but they bring big money. Now I need to make some backing plates and get some hardware.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

 

[benwalsh91]

love that BMWCCA badge, i have one sitting at home waiting to go on my e30 when i start working on it.

i get more and more jealous of your workspace every time i see it.

 

[M-technik-3]

Stopped by shop I do business with time to time and they are still working on this E9

Just wished they were not so booked solid.

 

[Mpower5266]

Woah...

 

[candyshop]

Mpower you garage is amazing, on insta i follow you work.
e91 i so clean

 

[Smooremin]

Man I love me some Col. Taylor


Albeit, not quite as nice, my lady got me a case of Makers Mark today, so at least I have that going for me.

And this sweet little bar (not nearly as cool as your old TV bars, but what can i do?!)

Untitled by smooremin, on Flickr

 

[Mpower5266]

Mpower you garage is amazing, on insta i follow you work.
e91 i so clean

Thank you.

Man I love me some Col. Taylor


Albeit, not quite as nice, my lady got me a case of Makers Mark today, so at least I have that going for me.

And this sweet little bar (not nearly as cool as your old TV bars, but what can i do?!)

Untitled by smooremin, on Flickr

That looks awesome. I used to drink a lot of Makers but my wife prefers Beam so I have been keeping a handle of that around the house. I need to get some Makers again. I have always wanted an old bourbon barrel bar, but the mid mod tv fits our decor, or so I am told.

I couldn't wait to get one of the badges mounted on the 02, but it didn't come with any mounting hardware. I grabbed some Nylon sheet from work and some metric hardware on the way home.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

Put it all together and headed out to the hanger to install it.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

And it didn't fit. It probably would have been smart to have the grille when I was cutting the nylon. I cut the nylon strip too narrow, so it was loose. I pulled the grill and headed back to the house and drawing board. I quickly slapped another piece together, this one was a little wider.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

I may pull it back apart and clean up the nylon a little. I need to go to my dads shop with a band saw and sanders to clean up the edges but it works. It makes for a solid mount.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

After that, I headed back out to the hanger to put the grill back in the car. I am happy with where I placed the badge.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

I need to do some work on the second one before the E9 is back from paint. The threads were kinda messed up, so I cut a nut and tried to fix them. Sadly it cross threaded and broke the stud off when tried to get it off. Thankfully the studs are just all thread epoxied in so I am going to get some good stainless thread and Hysol new studs on to the badge.

 

[benwalsh91]

is there a proper side to fit these badges to the grill? i see some people run them on the left and some people run them on the right?

is it just personal preference or is there a proper location for them?

 

[Mpower5266]

is there a proper side to fit these badges to the grill? i see some people run them on the left and some people run them on the right?

is it just personal preference or is there a proper location for them?

I think its just preference. I don't know why but I feel like it will look better on the passenger side of the e9?

 

[Mpower5266]

The fan in the wagon developed a little squeak under acceleration, I blame the massive boost in power from my silicone intake tube...... Haha. Anyway, I figured it was going to be a tough job to pull it so I have dealt with it for a while. The other night I looked up a DIY and realized that it was pretty simple so I pulled it and lubed it last night.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

Couple squirts of Kroil and its good to go for a while.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

I will probably order a new one soon but this will hold me over for a little while.

I also got the M3 out for a run to the gym last night, and I drove it to work today. I am really considering putting it up for sale. I love the car but the E92 m bug as bit me and I found one that is the PERFECT spec. White, 6 speed, comp wheels, no nav, carbon roof, and speed cloth. But then I look at my e36, the car I dreamed about in highschool and think, "how could I sell it..."

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

 

[M-technik-3]

One of the last few truly analog BMW's, E46 is pretty much last one or say the Z4M coupe. Low mileage examples are in the mid to high teens. I'd say keep it cover it and put it in the back of the hanger to take out every couple of years. Put stated value policy on it and save for later. They are harder and harder to come by in great condition. ButI am biased as I have one as well.

 

[Mpower5266]

One of the last few truly analog BMW's, E46 is pretty much last one or say the Z4M coupe. Low mileage examples are in the mid to high teens. I'd say keep it cover it and put it in the back of the hanger to take out every couple of years. Put stated value policy on it and save for later. They are harder and harder to come by in great condition. ButI am biased as I have one as well.

It has 150k miles on it, its a driver and honestly the e36 lacks the beauty that the other M3's had. Its not much to look at but its a blast to drive, so it gets driven.

 

[Smooremin]

I also got the M3 out for a run to the gym last night, and I drove it to work today. I am really considering putting it up for sale. I love the car but the E92 m bug as bit me and I found one that is the PERFECT spec. White, 6 speed, comp wheels, no nav, carbon roof, and speed cloth. But then I look at my e36, the car I dreamed about in highschool and think, "how could I sell it..."

Dont do it man. Figure out a way to buy the E92 and keep the 36. You will immediately regret it and values on them, especially clean, well documented ones are going to continue to rise.


It will make you dislike the E92 eventually....

 

[TX4runner]

Except for tight autocross events I'd take the E92 over the E36 every day. I'd even take it over the E30 even though the E30 is worth more now. E92 is so enjoyable to drive.

 

[Mpower5266]

Dont do it man. Figure out a way to buy the E92 and keep the 36. You will immediately regret it and values on them, especially clean, well documented ones are going to continue to rise.


It will make you dislike the E92 eventually....

Mine is clean but its certainly driver quality. Im not sure how much more its going to go up.

Except for tight autocross events I'd take the E92 over the E36 every day. I'd even take it over the E30 even though the E30 is worth more now. E92 is so enjoyable to drive.

I need to drive one, but I am worried I would fall in love. Is yours a stick or dct?

 

[davidstutler]

Ummm ... as the owner of an E36 M3 Convertible and an E37 M Coupe, I'm always looking for a nice coupe to round out the fleet (and an M3/4/5) - so .... I'm listening I'd love to know more Nick.

 

[TX4runner]

Mine is DCT and double hump so you don't want mine It's my daily, and my commute has a lot of bumper to bumper Houston traffic, so I'm happy with the DCT. It's also since at the track, but I do want another fun car with a manual before those aren't options.

 

[capww8]

I recently sold my E92 M3 DCT comp at 100k miles, and I really miss it.

In a 550 now, which really is just about as fast, but the interior finish isn’t as nice, and it’s not nearly as much fun. I expect to jump back into an m car next year.

 

[Mpower5266]

So I drove the M3 to a small cars and coffee Saturday morning and it drew a crowd. There were some older guys checking it out that were there in newer M cars, and even a group of younger guys doing a tik tok video or something. One of the younger guys called it a "classic M car. " I guess the E36 is getting its moment. Anyway, while we were at the show I noticed some bad scratching on my buddies Golf R hood. So we went back to my house to see if I could correct it. Something other than a Bmw in the garage...

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

The scratching didn't show on camera but it looked like a cat got on the hood or something. I hit it with some Jescar correction and sonax perfect finish, and then topped it with Jescar Powerlock.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

It came out awesome, I enjoyed working on something other than white.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

He and I discussed me doing a full correction and detail but he baulked at the price and I was giving him a hook up. I was going charge $300 for a full paint correction, wheel coating, engine detail, and interior detail which seemed like a deal to me since I would likely have 12 hours into it. Oh well, I was excited for some new detailing content.

 

[Bob Heine]

He and I discussed me doing a full correction and detail but he baulked at the price and I was giving him a hook up. I was going charge $300 for a full paint correction, wheel coating, engine detail, and interior detail which seemed like a deal to me since I would likely have 12 hours into it. Oh well, I was excited for some new detailing content.

Nick, people who have never detailed their car have no idea how much time is involved. If you had told him it was $300 to re-paint the hood he would have been thrilled.

EDIT: Did you suggest he take the car to Grove Park in Atlanta? Probably detail his car for half that much and switch out some parts.

 

[Mpower5266]

Nick, people who have never detailed their car have no idea how much time is involved. If you had told him it was $300 to re-paint the hood he would have been thrilled.

EDIT: Did you suggest he take the car to Grove Park in Atlanta? Probably detail his car for half that much and switch out some parts.

Exactly. He watched me spend an hour on the hood. I used 3 different compounds, 2 different polishers, 6 pads, a polish, sealer, rinse less wash, panel prep(IPA) and 6 or so different towels. Time+materials+skills.. I even talked to a friend that is a professional detailer and he said to add 20% on to what you think you should charge because youll never get that time back, I probably would have told most people 400-500.

 

[pat9198]

I would have tossed you the keys and hitchhiked home for $300.