Well, new to me that is - certainly not showroom fresh! And we've still got the LCR, this is for me to tool about in for work - I couldn't get my detailing gear in the back of our Fiesta!
I have always wanted an E30, and miss my E36 terribly. So, after hours of trawling the classifieds and looking at utter shite on wheels, I found this little beauty in London.
1990 325i Touring, Zinnobar Red, 61k miles from new (with all the docs to prove that!), and some tasty period extras such as Sports seats, ABS and Limited Slip Diff. I knew the paintwork wasn't the best, and in bright sunlight its obvious its had a little paint up front because the bonnet is just a shade out. But, for the money its a very good original car and most importantly 99% rust free - the biggest issue with these. Drives better than our 2 year old Leon, no knocks or rattles anywhere!
Here we are at the start:
Just a little road film really. The guy I bought it from had tried his best to keep it smart, and while I appreciated the thought I winced a little when he told me the polish was in the boot - T-cut Colour Magic, urghhhhhh!
Washed with two bucket method, washmit and Megs Gold Class. Clayed it, Last Touch as lube, started using Sonus Green which did less than nothing. Stepped up to DP grey clay which was pretty effective, and used Sonus Grey in a couple of nasty areas. All along the sills was plastered in tar spots, so I spent a good hour wiping them down first with AG Intensive Tar Remover. Once done washed again, dried with Cobra Super Guzzler, and into the garage.
This time, it looked terrible! Not sure why, but the paint (worst by far on the bonnet which has been painted in its life) had a patchy stained look, as well as a lot of swirls and scratches.
Paint Thickness Guage showed plenty of paint (single stage), and confirmed it had been resprayed. Readings between 215-278 mics across the bonnet. Around the rest of the car, mostly between 90-125mics, the A pillars showing the scariest at 55-70mics! I'll hand polish those bits then.....
Taped the car using 3M 3434, started at the bonnet. Having read about modern BMW paint being rock hard I wasn't sure what to expect from old SS paint, so went through the full motions. Using the rotary with a LC polishing pad, tried Pinnacle Advanced Finishing Polish - no effect. Stepped up to Advaned Swirl Remover, had a little effect but not enough. Colour was coming back but no great reduction in swirls. Swapped to Menzerna IP PO85RD3.02 on the polishing pad but wasn't much better (PTG was telling me next to no paint was being removed here), went up to a LC Light Cutting pad, and eventually a Megs Cutting Pad. It was bloody hard work!
Worth it though, here is a couple of 50/50 shots of the bonnet:
That done, I moved to the wings and it was apparent to me the paint was softer here. I swapped back to an LC polishing pad, still with the Menz IP, and worked my way around the car.
Here are some before and afters of a few panels.
Front wing:
I have always wanted an E30, and miss my E36 terribly. So, after hours of trawling the classifieds and looking at utter shite on wheels, I found this little beauty in London.
1990 325i Touring, Zinnobar Red, 61k miles from new (with all the docs to prove that!), and some tasty period extras such as Sports seats, ABS and Limited Slip Diff. I knew the paintwork wasn't the best, and in bright sunlight its obvious its had a little paint up front because the bonnet is just a shade out. But, for the money its a very good original car and most importantly 99% rust free - the biggest issue with these. Drives better than our 2 year old Leon, no knocks or rattles anywhere!
Here we are at the start:
Just a little road film really. The guy I bought it from had tried his best to keep it smart, and while I appreciated the thought I winced a little when he told me the polish was in the boot - T-cut Colour Magic, urghhhhhh!
Washed with two bucket method, washmit and Megs Gold Class. Clayed it, Last Touch as lube, started using Sonus Green which did less than nothing. Stepped up to DP grey clay which was pretty effective, and used Sonus Grey in a couple of nasty areas. All along the sills was plastered in tar spots, so I spent a good hour wiping them down first with AG Intensive Tar Remover. Once done washed again, dried with Cobra Super Guzzler, and into the garage.
This time, it looked terrible! Not sure why, but the paint (worst by far on the bonnet which has been painted in its life) had a patchy stained look, as well as a lot of swirls and scratches.
Paint Thickness Guage showed plenty of paint (single stage), and confirmed it had been resprayed. Readings between 215-278 mics across the bonnet. Around the rest of the car, mostly between 90-125mics, the A pillars showing the scariest at 55-70mics! I'll hand polish those bits then.....
Taped the car using 3M 3434, started at the bonnet. Having read about modern BMW paint being rock hard I wasn't sure what to expect from old SS paint, so went through the full motions. Using the rotary with a LC polishing pad, tried Pinnacle Advanced Finishing Polish - no effect. Stepped up to Advaned Swirl Remover, had a little effect but not enough. Colour was coming back but no great reduction in swirls. Swapped to Menzerna IP PO85RD3.02 on the polishing pad but wasn't much better (PTG was telling me next to no paint was being removed here), went up to a LC Light Cutting pad, and eventually a Megs Cutting Pad. It was bloody hard work!
Worth it though, here is a couple of 50/50 shots of the bonnet:
That done, I moved to the wings and it was apparent to me the paint was softer here. I swapped back to an LC polishing pad, still with the Menz IP, and worked my way around the car.
Here are some before and afters of a few panels.
Front wing:
