I've become an A hole apparently

Zebrano · 05-06-2021 9:18pm #1

So ive wanted a project (other than the haynes roadster for a while now) something that wasnt going to break the bank that i can drive.

Untitled by stephen harborne, on Flickr

Zebrano · 05-06-2021 9:34pm

It seems quiet straight no panels replaced
No major rust
The eventual plan is to respray it but for now ill probably pdr and polish what i can and paint the 2 bumpers and bootlid and drive it until winter.
Full service needed
Has nct until march 22 and tax end of august .
Get rid of the chrome door mouldings and handles.
Washed up ok

Untitled by stephen harborne, on Flickr

passatman86 · 05-06-2021 9:37pm

Very nice
You keeping the silver strip running down the side "it is silver and not the pic?"
I think your personal name is on the photos "if that bothers you"

Edit.. I see you posted same time as i did about the chrome lol

Zebrano · 05-06-2021 9:45pm

passatman86 wrote: »

Very nice
You keeping the silver strip running down the side "it is silver and not the pic?"
I think your personal name is on the photos "if that bothers you"

Edit.. I see you posted same time as i did about the chrome lol

Thanks
plenty of posts on the site with my name
Hate the chrome.Will probably try paint it.See how it goes

Dale Parish · 08-06-2021 2:24pm

Congratulations .. E46 coupés are really beautiful cars..
Not to be a downer but I'd keep some money aside for the eventual top end rebuild.. N42 is famous for being junk

Zebrano · 08-06-2021 10:56pm

Dale Parish wrote: »

Congratulations .. E46 coupés are really beautiful cars..
Not to be a downer but I'd keep some money aside for the eventual top end rebuild.. N42 is famous for being junk

Thanks.
Yea ive not read great things about those engines but sure thats what a project car is all about. If all else fails ill stick a v8 in it.

Zebrano · 11-06-2021 9:37pm

I decided to paint the bumpers and boot lid for now so i removed the 2 bumpers and stripped them down

Untitled by stephen harborne, on Flickr

Untitled by stephen harborne, on Flickr
Primed front bumper

Untitled by stephen harborne, on Flickr

The back bumper is cracked and it had dropped on the exhaust and melted
so i used this to hold it together and melted the bumper back together.

Untitled by stephen harborne, on Flickr

Zebrano · 11-06-2021 9:44pm

I also wanted to give it a good service

Untitled by stephen harborne, on Flickr

Untitled by stephen harborne, on Flickr

Quiet a bit of oil leaking around the place

I dont fully trust the engine so ive decided to do the head gasket,timing chain and
valve stem oil seals and water pump plus service.

passatman86 · 19-06-2021 8:10pm

You didnt wait around

Zebrano · 24-06-2021 8:56pm

Well i got carried away with the service

Untitled by stephen harborne, on Flickr

Didnt fully trust the engine so decided to do the head gasket,timing chain,water pump,pcv valve,valve stem oil seals and most of the gaskets on the engine.
The engine was like a sieve leaking oil.

Untitled by stephen harborne, on Flickr

Untitled by stephen harborne, on Flickr

I used no nonsense degreaser from screwfix to clean the old oil away worked well and is 10 euro for 5 litres

Peter T · 25-06-2021 8:01am

Very nice. Id a 318ci a while back and loved it (it loved oil as much). For me the e46 is one of the last cars from bmw that someone can work on themselves and parts are cheap/ readily available. Also you should be able to pick up side trim pretty handy besides painting the chrome if you're changing it

Zebrano · 25-06-2021 8:51am

Peter T wrote: »

Very nice. Id a 318ci a while back and loved it (it loved oil as much). For me the e46 is one of the last cars from bmw that someone can work on themselves and parts are cheap/ readily available. Also you should be able to pick up side trim pretty handy besides painting the chrome if you're changing it

I got trims from find a part but the door ones went missing in the post so there is an investigation underway.