APPRAISAL DAY! is here

Well Appraisal day is here. Gary Schroeter from Automobile Appraisal Services (AAS) came over at 10:15 today.

I'm at a loss of words to explain the amount of knowledge/experience that Gary has concerning the world of Autobody /paint/bodywork and cars in general...its simply amazing! I was very impressed.



Obviously my paint is VERY VERY FAR from being perfect and Gary was very gentle in telling me...lol... but he pointed me in the right direction to fix the paint I have on the car and I learned a LOT from him in the 2 1/2 hours he spent with me

For a DIY like me and many others, by far with no experience, i'm still proud of the work I have done so far and the car will always be a work in progress to better it but what I got here is a E30 with an accident free body / minimal rust and tons and tons of cleanup with a 100% completely overhauled suspension/engine/ interior... basically a very very good base to start building on for the future.



So the blog continues on... to the next level.... finishing the paint(taking Gary's advice and work on it this winter while in storage) and little things here and there... This is just the beginning :)

Now I need to get a safety done/insurance and plated so I can enjoy it this summer

later..

MAY 22 - After the end of the world (May 21) comes the resurection of a E30 lol...

This morning I finished the wheel bearing, axle install....

It is a special day for me for the first time I got the car in a drive able state... and my 22 month old son got a ride in my driveway... (Who knows he or my other son nico may end up inheriting this car in life)

The famous mean E30 pose...



Quick pics (car is dirty, dusty and still needs a wetsand at 1000-2000 grit and lots of bits and ends to finish but I got 1 week to finish and I wont stop until its perfect..



still need to find some amber flasher plate... (anybody??)



Exhaust needs to be cut thats why the green tape...


few shots.... and a video of me driving it in my driveway with my son...







Lots of work still under the hood.. but Im confident I will finish

5 days in Hell.... back from the death!! still on schedule..

Well its been a few days before I updated my blog... Why? well I spent the last few days in Hell trying to remove the bad passenger rear wheel bearing, I have done it all and always succeeded this time I was stuck....really stuck... I did everything imaginable to remove it.. (I know I should of spend the money on the proper tools...300-500$) lesson learned.... I didnt know what else to do



...with 1 week and 3 days of time left to finish the car up... my only hope was the internet so I sent an e-mail to one of the most reputable E30 experts in California Robert from http://www.e30motorwerks.com to my surprise (because I know hes busy he answered very very quickly) and gave me the help I needed ..simple words in a e-mail that really helped me get the bearing out.....I was so happy! THANK YOU ROBERT!! for your help.

Just sent you some virtual beer ;)


DAMN BEARING...whats left of it.


Now Im off to the store to buy tools to press the new bearing in and wheel hub.... then I can install the axle, e-brake, brakes....

If I get the car drivable tonight/tomorrow Im on schedule....barely but at least still in the race.

later..

Drivers back rear wheel done! now bring the pain drivers side

Yesterday just before supper I finished the Drivers back rear wheel done!

brand new all E-brake hardware, Axles installed, sway bar, brakes (easy as can be wow!) I also rebuilt the whole caliper with fresh seals.







Got my OEM axles rebuilt by CV TECH (great quick service and affordable) highly recommended to rebuild the OEM if possible and not buy remanufactured ones by a generic china made axles.




Car as it sits now... coming along....



NOW!! bring in the pain the passenger side... (wheel bearing needs to be changed) so far nobody seems to be able to help me or want to not sure... anyways I guess I will try like I always do find a way!!!

Subframe installed, rear brake pipes and the ebrake cables..:)

Well this morning I woke early and with a vengeance on the hand brake cables... I came out the winner with a combination of a long steel rod and 5 drill bits... its on 4 wheels now :)



Little video walk a round of the car very dusty and dirty with the lowered suspension...(fyi: drivers door is open ..lol not broken..and no exhaust...)





very clean back end...lol..



The tool Danny had created and helped me install the motor was once again used with great success to hold the whole subframe assembly in one shot for install :) genious that little guy I tell you... ;)




I finally finished the rear brake pipes, ebrake cables and installed the rear subframe, trailing arms, new shocks, springs...etc...



sorry for blurry pic only one I took.. new crucifix and new lines that I had to bend myself as bmw doesnt pre bend new lines... the bender tool was cheap anyways 10$ at canadien tire.





For the first time in a long time the newborn was rolled out of the garage for fresh air
You can see the family picture... me being the X5 , the GF the 330i and well the baby...lol


Tired victory shot....I must of drank 4 liters of water right after I need a summer mechanic one piece.....:)
I'm very very happy with the stance... my 245's fit very well with the roll job I did on the rear fenders...



now on the next steps... axles, driveshaft, brakes, exhaust... somehow close to my timeline.. 3 weeks to go... still need to wetsand the paint, address the lights, sound system..etc...

But first CLEANUP TIME!!

more subframe work.... OEM parts arrived... Stuck Ebrake cable

Finished installing the RTABS on the trailing arms



and the brakes pipes..brand new stainless steel braided..



The right tools this job would of been really easy but oh well its done...



Arek from 8legsracing.com stopped by today to drop me off more parts ....



Now am stuck...When I was pulling the ebrake cables out they look stuck and now they wont come out... (if anybody knows a trick please let me know)...

Trailing arms bushings /E brakes

Today I removed the trailing arms brake pipes, bushings, E brake hardware cleaned and primed/painted



Tomorrow I will paint the dust shields and install the powerflex bushings on the trailing arms..




Old Ebrake hardware


new Ebrake hardware to be installed



Arek (from 8legsracing.com) will ship my crucial oem parts this tuesday so I can install new brake pipes and T pipe and new hand brake cables and misc other bolts and hardware before I install the subframe..