MBNUT1

Totally jealous

bmwpowere36m3

Thanks guys...

The car came from Mass, so some corrosion to deal with. Not finished, as I'll need to drop the rear subframe... but that's for next winter. For now took car of the wheel wheels, spare tire well and rear underbody behind the bumper.

Before:

bmwpowere36m3

In Progress:

pierrejoliat

Wow, you are my hero! I need to do this too, I've seen my "13's subframe and it's not pretty.

hyperion667

Looks like a professional operation! Damn!

bmwpowere36m3

Some of the rust certainly looks worse than it was. What started this was loose rear muffler heatshields, which rotted out around the metal nuts securing them to the body. You know... aluminum shield, zinc-coated steel body nut + salt water. Realistically I'd suspect another 10+ years before any actual penetration of the sheetmetal in certain areas. The rear subframe is bit rough at the front mounting points. I don't understand why they left a perfect and large opening for water and debris to enter the cavity of the subframe. All it would have taken is extending the wheelwell liner a tad down to cover the opening, IMO.

Now the rear brake lines... ugh, one of them is really thinned down. *IF*, I get to taking the rear subframe down it'll make replacing them much easier. The rear underside really took the brunt of the corrosion, the middle and front are in really good shape... just a little surface rust here and there on the front subframe and suspension components.

pierrejoliat

Yes, I cleaned the inside of the subframe out with a hose and a coat hanger, literally pounds of fine gravel came out last fall, my brake lines are so bad I will be addressing that very soon. I agree the rear subframe mounts are pretty bad too. topside of the car looks new, I was surprised at the corrosion underneath. I heard they closed those subframe openings in the facelifts, but I don't know if that's actually true.

S-Prihadi

I love post like this ..... Thanks BMW

hyperion667

Never have had a BMW, but I've always admired the older 800's

pierrejoliat

Yes, my wife had a 2002, back in the late 70's, don't remember, wasn't interested in the car, LOL.

Edit; An old school chum from New Haven is "restoring" it, been in his garage in Laguna Beach for almost 40 years now.
I'll ask for photos, LOL

Left Coast Geek

the 2002 was a FUN little car to drive, kind of created the whole 'sports sedan' category, was heavily copied by things like the Datsun 510.

pierrejoliat

Why yes it was, I had a TR6 at the time, I was also stupid enough to buy a TR7 and TR8! I always said they were a monument to my ability and stupidity, they were my two oldest children's first cars, my youngest got my '91 190E 2.6

Left Coast Geek

we had a TR-6 too, a 71, great fun. even had the removable hard top for it. ours was actually quite reliable, the previous owner was a engineer, and he'd 'fixed' all the Lucas induced electrical gremlins with a healthy application of BOSCH relays and new wiring. Balancing those twin zeniths was fun.

pierrejoliat

Why do the British drink warm beer? Because Lucas electric made the refrigerators! Remember these? Wow the elusive hardtop, never could find one. Apology for the thread hijack.

KEY08

Not to derail, but I also bought a new TR7 convertible in 1980, and drove it daily for 4 years before the chicago winters started to decompose the body. It was amazingly comfortable for my 6’-3” frame. I replaced the head gasket no less than 4 times. I could never get it to seat properly even after milling, etc.
Dumb me started looking to buy one again to fart around with since I know them pretty well. My wife said are you a masochist? Yeah, I kind of am. Lol

pierrejoliat

No doubt! The white one in the picture is a 1980 "California Special" came from a dealer in Manhattan Beach I think.It started life with a tan top and interior. Here's an interesting spin, it had Bosch fuel injection stock. Maybe that's what made it a California special, IDK. The brown one had the Buick aluminum block V8. If you do get one, I'll send you the carb adjuster kit and a custom water pump puller I had to make.
I remember you mentioning you had one couple years back. Also,I asked my buddy in Laguna Beach to send me a current picture of my wife's 2002, he sent me this:right color, but doesn't look right to me! he's 79 now, I'll try again.

EDIT; Wife came home, took one look and said "My car!" I stand corrected.

pierrejoliat

How do the bushings for the rear subframe look, I can see my rotten brake lines, but I can't see the subframe mounts, my next oil change is due in 1400 miles, where I'll be on a lift next, that might take a few months with how things are right now. I agree, they could have covered the subframe end with the wheel liner.

bmwpowere36m3

There's a number of bushings... I think for the most part the suspension links and diff mounts are fine. Maybe some corrosion around their outer shells. The front subframe bushings (subframe to chassis) are a bit rotted since the subframe itself is pretty rotted in the front. Those bushings have a metal shell, but its covered by a thin rubber coating. That coating is compromised and its rotting the steel from within...

Again, visually it looks bad... would take a while to cause issues.

ChrisB

“ I'd recommend a ECU tune - that really helped the car”

Can someone reference the name of such a tune in Canada ... just in case I need a bit more power from my 2011 E550 4matic.

bmwpowere36m3

Another item to address is the wheels/tires... they had some gnarly rash, corrosion, bends and tire damage. Since the tires still have 60% life, I decided to source a set of [used] replacements for the 2 damaged ones. I dropped off the wheels at a local wheel refinishing/repair company (AWRS). The seller replaced the brakes [rotors/pads], but the rotors developed some rust on the hats... even though they were coated. Interestingly the rust was only on "half" the hat (around around the circumference).





Cleaned up the rust and painted the hats with VHT caliper paint, while at it also painted the caliper brackets which were looking a little shabby. Finally put in new Arnott rear air springs.

Paxfobiscum

O
M
G.

My dream garage.
I hate you.

bmwpowere36m3

haha, yea a $50 Craigslist oven to speed up cure on spray bombed stuff...

MBNUT1

Yes this thread should be x rated for the garage ****.

bmwpowere36m3

Got the wheels back, big improvement from what they were... but also a bit disappointed in the quality of the work. For $140/wheel... my expectations were too high even though they came recommended and have glowing reviews. When I called around, either the rate was around $140-175/wheel or a few shops in the $300-400/wheel range.



Finished up the paintwork and protection (body wax) on the rear of the car and have started buttoning it back up. Needed all new heat shields as the originals had rotted out around the mounting nuts.

pierrejoliat

[QUOTE=bmwpowere36m3;8317497]Got the wheels back, big improvement from what they were... but also a bit disappointed in the quality of the work. For $140/wheel... my expectations were too high even though they came recommended and have glowing reviews. When I called around, either the rate was around $140-175/wheel or a few shops in the $300-400/wheel range.

Finished up the paintwork and protection (body wax) on the rear of the car and have started buttoning it back up. Needed all new heat shields as the originals had rotted out around the mounting nuts.


Looks great! Wheels aren't bad, straightened is most important, pretty is second!