1988 BMW M3 Restoration Thread | FerrariChat

1988 BMW M3 Restoration Thread

Discussion in 'Other German' started by 19633500GT, Apr 1, 2022.

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  1. 19633500GT

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    #1 19633500GT, Apr 1, 2022
    Thought it would be fun to chronicle this here.

    I have a 1988 BMW M3. DS over black. 150K+ miles, but not rusty....Soooooooo, I felt it needed proper justice, and so this week, we began disassembly and prep for a glass removed repaint in it's original DS.

    Fenders were fixed (previously rolled, jerks)

    See the "rings" on the decklid? She's had some layers, and stories to tell for sure.

    I'm slowly chipping away as it's done, turning it all back to OEM, and will update here as well go!

    I've removed the rear EVO III wing w Gurney Flap, and we're going with a mint stock one I bought a few months ago.

    These 15" BBS wheels will be replaced with a brand new OEM 16" set from BMW I have in my garage.


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  2. 19633500GT

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    #2 19633500GT, Apr 1, 2022
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  3. 19633500GT

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    #3 19633500GT, Apr 1, 2022
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  4. 19633500GT

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    #4 19633500GT, Apr 1, 2022
    Further progress from today.

    Glass is coming out later today.

    Front fenders were rolled in the past and in so so condition, now fixed and almost better than OEM...

    She has all her VIN tags except for an OEM replacement drivers door, sometime in the past...


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  5. 19633500GT

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    #5 19633500GT, Apr 3, 2022
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  6. merstheman

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    #6 merstheman, Apr 4, 2022
    My old 635csi was Diamantschwarz, it's a great color!
     
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  7. 19633500GT

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    #7 19633500GT, Apr 6, 2022
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    #8 19633500GT, Apr 6, 2022
    Welder coming in to finish up that RR quarter damage (old school poked holes!)

    Then in primer before Sunday.

    Paint booth is stuck at port, so it may take a few weeks to get up and running to actually throw paint on!
     
  9. 19633500GT

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    #9 19633500GT, Apr 6, 2022
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  10. carnutdallas

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    #10 carnutdallas, Apr 6, 2022
    As someone who owns a large collision shop, you don’t need a booth for that car. Some of the best paint jobs, happen in home built paint rooms - wood frame, plastic, wet floor and box fan.

    Paint all the parts off the car. Then the body shell. The best paint work I have ever seen has been done by guys taking their time in their garage. Proper air flow is a must for production painting and really hard to do these days. Booths are through the roof on cost. I am sure he needs one for a legit business, but this car is not worth the wait….Gett’r done :)


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  11. 19633500GT

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    #11 19633500GT, Apr 7, 2022
    Wholly agree.

    This shop is part of a new venture in my life, and it is zoned to the maximum allowable build out/unrestricted within the town to do as we want, so, it IS turning (slowly) into a proper business.

    The gentleman who does the body work and paints left his cushy job at the best shop in town, to start this on his own, and take some risk, he is extremely talented, and could totally do it without a booth...but that ship sailed :) and the pro booth is coming in hot!

    On the other side of the floor, we're likely going to be installed our dry ice system, and I'm very excited about that too. Our "dream" plans for the entire property include car condos, and in a few years I wouldn't be surprised to have broken ground and begun that build, it's a nice, big, flat lot, overlooking a river.
     
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  12. 19633500GT

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    #12 19633500GT, Apr 8, 2022

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  13. sainthoo

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    #13 sainthoo, Apr 15, 2022
    Awesome to see this come back to perfection.
     
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    #14 19633500GT, Apr 20, 2022
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  15. BJK

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    #15 BJK, May 15, 2022
    How's the engine/drivetrain?
    .
     
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  16. 19633500GT

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    #16 19633500GT, May 15, 2022
    Its ok. I’ll be rebuilding the top and bottom end anyway though. New dif or components, gearbox refresh.
     
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  17. 19633500GT

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    #17 19633500GT, May 15, 2022
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    #18 19633500GT, Dec 20, 2022
    Been awhile without an update.

    FINALLY, going in for paint in a week or so.

    New leather seat covers ordered for the front and rear seats, and I am dropping the interior off at upholstery to disassemble the front seats, I will send the brackets, sliders and bits out for refinishing, then new foam/springs with reassembly of the new seat covers. I went with black/black stitching.

    New BBS 16" wheels are still in the box, and will be receiving new tires once this is out of paint. I have added a stock wing, and mirror, and then plan to steam vac the interior carpet while the seats are out.

    THEN onto engine fun :)
     
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  19. 19633500GT

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    #19 19633500GT, Jan 15, 2023
    Coming in hot...This purchase made me want to puke.

    But, to go to stock, had to happen.

    New strut housings coming in tomorrow.

    And off we go to paint this week.

    I had to order a brand new OEM windshield too... (freak wind storm accident lol, sigh...)

    And on top, have to ALSO order a new OEM wing when they come available this month. Tried over and over to prep the one I have, and it keeps cracking.


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    #20 19633500GT, Jan 20, 2023
  21. BJK

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    #21 BJK, Jan 20, 2023
    you're going to pull the engine, right? 150k miles on it? might as well. :eek: for 'proper justice' and all. I mean, if not now ........ :p
     
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  22. 19633500GT

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    #22 19633500GT, Jan 20, 2023
    I’m not gonna lie…my first intent was to do that, but I am getting deep into the body and paint, I don’t want to spend $15K more on the engine. Compression is fine, so I’ll do all of the things to reseal and completely go through it…and I SHOULD be dropping it…but I don’t think I can (two months from now when the outside is mint, then I’ll change my mind…LOL :oops:)
     
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    #23 19633500GT, Jan 24, 2023
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    #24 19633500GT, Jan 25, 2023
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    #25 19633500GT, Jan 25, 2023
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