The "Today I did something to my car" thread

Voodoomelon

Top class eringobragh!
Seeing the results anyone can get with a machine polisher and a wheel refurb, I can see how you can genuinely add value to a car. Imagine showing up to a car sale with what looks like a genuinely new car, despite its age. You'd jump on it, even if it was €1000 more.

JerCotter7

Collected this today.


Comparison to the old pair that I was taking out. Old ones were racelands.


Installing the front drivers side coilover.


View of the bottom of the mount.


View of the top which is camber castor adjustable.


View of the rear shock and spring.


Front left finished. I had to cable tie the wires to the drop link connection. My drop links are onto the wishbone. Anyone know what happens in NCT? I failed the last one because the brake line wasn't secure. These don't have anywhere to secure it to?


Here is the x-brace that I installed as well today.


I am really happy with both as it really made the car a lot more responsive when turning. I need to get it tracked now because the back of car feels off now.

Nissan doctor

The HSD coilovers are excellent. I had DW's HSD made control system coilovers on my old car and loved them.

JerCotter7

Nissan doctor wrote: »

The HSD coilovers are excellent. I had DW's HSD made control system coilovers on my old car and loved them.

Yeah I am pleased so far with them. I'm thinking about removing the helper spring altogether from them since they are compressed fully anyway and I would be able to adjust the damping easier at the bottom.

Nissan doctor

JerCotter7 wrote: »

Yeah I am pleased so far with them. I'm thinking about removing the helper spring altogether from them since they are compressed fully anyway and I would be able to adjust the damping easier at the bottom.

You adjust the bound/rebound from the coil seat. The dampening is done by an adjuster screw at the very top of the unit and the ride height by the shock base.

These together with the full DW adjustable arm kits allow fantastic suspension control.

Gary ITR

Those HSDs are a very good unit, couple of the ITCC drivers are running them the last couple of years. Very versatile, whats the car?

JerCotter7

Nissan doctor wrote: »

You adjust the bound/rebound from the coil seat. The dampening is done by an adjuster screw at the very top of the unit and the ride height by the shock base.

These together with the full DW adjustable arm kits allow fantastic suspension control.

For some reason on the E36 the dampening is done with an allen key under the shock. The way I have it set now it's very hard to reach up to it.



It's at the top in the rear shocks though. They also don't offer the adjustable arm kits for E36. Well I can't find it anyway.

Ardennes1944

pretty fancy looking coilovers! jer thats gonna be some well kitted out and expensive e36 when youre done!

JerCotter7

Ardennes1944 wrote: »

pretty fancy looking coilovers! jer thats gonna be some well kitted out and expensive e36 when youre done!

It's already expensive. Maybe I am just going overboard for a road car Oh well, I enjoy working on the car.

Ardennes1944

s'all that matters meinen freund

eringobragh

I am convinced the previous owner washed this car with rocks :P ...I'm not trying to achieve 100% correction but if I get it to 90% I will be happy.
Can't wait to get the blacklight on her

Today I did the top half of the passenger door, time cosuming stuff, but have to say the DA is the best thing I've gotten for the car when you see the
change in paint it makes the effort seem worthwhile.

Car was clayed and polished with Menzerna Medium cut polish and pad.

General condition of the paint:









SIDE BY SIDE after Polishing:



BEFORE AND AFTERS:

Before:



After:

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Before:



After:

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Before:



After:

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Before:



After:

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eringobragh

CONTD:


Before:



After:

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Before:



After:

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FINISHED PRODUCT:

alexlyons

That looks incredible...

omb0wyn5ehpij9

eringobragh that is great work. When can I drop my car over to you?!

eringobragh

BDJW wrote: »

eringobragh that is great work. When can I drop my car over to you?!

Cheers man :P The rate things are going it could be another few weeks before I'm finished and will be glad at that!

It's definately a worthwhile investment the DA if you are doing this type of work I would still can myself a novice at this stage. :pac:

colm_mcm

Today I said goodbye to my car.


The avensis that is. It was a trusty steed for 2 years, it's gone to a new home now. Best of luck to the new owner.

String

eringobragh wrote: »

I am convinced the previous owner washed this car with rocks :P ...I'm not trying to achieve 100% correction but if I get it to 90% I will be happy.
Can't wait to get the blacklight on her

Today I did the top half of the passenger door, time cosuming stuff, but have to say the DA is the best thing I've gotten for the car when you see the
change in paint it makes the effort seem worthwhile.

Car was clayed and polished with Menzerna Medium cut polish and pad.

Looks great! How did you hide the deep scratches? Do you just fill in the scratch with touch up paint and polish over it?

eringobragh

DrMorphine wrote: »

Looks great! How did you hide the deep scratches? Do you just fill in the scratch with touch up paint and polish over it?

Ran the polisher with the medium cut pad and polisher and they disappeared 90% you have to look closely now to see them.

Big Nasty

What's the idea of taping a section off when you're doing paint correction?

eringobragh

MCMLXXV wrote: »

What's the idea of taping a section off when you're doing paint correction?

To stop foreign bits getting on the pad and scratching the paint work

I also stick a strip to devide the panel when I'm doind it in sections

vectra

eringobragh wrote: »

Cheers man :P The rate things are going it could be another few weeks before I'm finished and will be glad at that!

It's definately a worthwhile investment the DA if you are doing this type of work I would still can myself a novice at this stage. :pac:

I spent approx 50 hours doing the Toledo :P

Fiona

MCMLXXV wrote: »

What's the idea of taping a section off when you're doing paint correction?

Its also to protect the plastic mouldings from being damaged if you go over them with a pad.

rebel.ranter

Fiited a pair of Bilstein B4 to the front of the e36, new foam dampers too. Also swapped out the expansion tank & did a coolant flush & renew.




Invested in a set of Spring Compressors.



Was a bit disappointed with little flashes of surface rust on the anti-roll bar & inner wing. Jobs for the future...



It drives much better now, one of the shocks that came out was really weak. Don't know how it passed NCT last year in that condition.
Anyway, another job done, coolant change tomorrow, onwards & upwards!

Still love my e36 cabriolet!



Almost ready for the summer!

JerCotter7

rebel.ranter wrote: »

Stuff

Think I seen you near Bishopstown in cork yesterday. Lovely looking car.

Hal1

Car looks stunning, have you been at it with a D/A polisiher too?

rebel.ranter

JerCotter7 wrote: »

Think I seen you near Bishopstown in cork yesterday. Lovely looking car.

That wasn't me, it was probably AKUMA over on BMW-Driver.net. This one is currently off the road (taxing it tomorrow). Driving the 6 Series petty much full time, so unless you spotted me in that?

Hal1 wrote: »

Car looks stunning, have you been at it with a D/A polisiher too?

Yep, had the Kestal DA polisher at this two weeks ago, still not happy with it so another go is required!

JerCotter7

rebel.ranter wrote: »

That wasn't me, it was probably AKUMA over on BMW-Driver.net. This one is currently off the road (taxing it tomorrow). Driving the 6 Series petty much full time, so unless you spotted me in that?



Yep, had the Kestal DA polisher at this two weeks ago, still not happy with it so another go is required!

Nah it was a 96 hellrot E36. Probably AKUMA so.

rebel.ranter

JerCotter7 wrote: »

Nah it was a 96 hellrot E36. Probably AKUMA so.

Mine is a Hellrot e36 1996! So is AKUMA's except he has Contours on his, I think he is running with his hardtop still. Are you going to head to the BMW-Driver.net meeting on 15th April in Youghal?

JerCotter7

rebel.ranter wrote: »

Mine is a Hellrot e36 1996! So is AKUMA's except he has Contours on his, I think he is running with his hardtop still. Are you going to head to the BMW-Driver.net meeting on 15th April in Youghal?

Whoever I seen had the hardtop anyway. Yeah I was planning to go everything permitting.

MetzgerMeister

rebel.ranter wrote: »

Hellrot

Rots like a b@stard yeah? :pac:









I know it's German for bright red