96 E36 328i resoration project

Originally Posted by DEATH2000

I know how you feel. This was my rotor after sitting over the winter:


Looks pretty bad, but it was all surface rust. This is what it looked like after full cleanup:


I plan on picking up the door trim set from Princess Auto too. I have to take my door panel off soon. Did you get the $15 Power Point set with the red ones?

I'll pull one of mine off next week and show you guys just how bad it is. the rotor is pitted past anything I've seen. I got a little more history on the car, I guess it was traded in at a dealership in calgary in July of 2010, then sat of the lot for 9 months with a price tag of 6900.00 before a friend of mine bought it for $900 because he does alot of work for the dealership they pretty much just gave it to him. the first time I saw it was about june 2011, then it sat till April when I bought it. makes sense that the rotors are done for as it sat outside in alberta for almost 2 years. ah well, I think I've narrowed down some colors I want, its going to be some kinda white, black or dark dark blue, or metallic grey, but I'm really not sure about the grey. heres some pics that make me think so I love the white but not alpine white, the z4 in the pic has a nice metallic or pearl finish which makes me feel naughty. I'm thinking that but then theres the black. so classic but its black, everyone has it and its just not anything special even though it looks good. I'm a big fan of custom paint and I want this car to pop but not be to cheesy. an example would be like burnt orange I love that color but thats a color for a 350z not a 328. I dont know, what do you guys think? i like the Mauritius blue alot, i had it on my 92 325.

Got a little bit more done today. Got the armrest and the joined consol off. Pics to follow

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I love driving through the rockys

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that is actually pretty cool.

That's some awesome superelevation. How'd you keep it on the road?

I think Alpine White is pretty sweet. Not a big fan of the gray/silvers though. I rather have black, or white.


For mine, i really wanna keep it OEM so when i get it resprayed i will keep it the original colour, and if i want to change it after that i will get a wrap done. Throwing it out their, because you could always repaint it say white, but then after a while throw on a wrap to change it up for a bit. Protects the paint too.

I made alot if progress this week. Got the dash out of the car along with all remaining interior trim. Now im staring at a heater core yay. Never done one before but i got the manual and google so im sure it will go alone fine. I got the rad out yesterday and started cleaning out the wires around the front end. when i was leaving the shop i noticed a freind of mine pulling into the shop across from us with a 98 328ic convertable on a trailer. So ran over and talked to him for a bit the car has been parted out and bought pretty mich the unibody and misc parts but the engine, transmission, wheels, convertable top, and all removable body panels are gone. Paid $300 for it and all he wants is a few interior peices so i told him id buy the rest of it. So looks like i already have another project when this one is done

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Wait, you just bought a 328ic shell? Because racecar?

Originally Posted by DEATH2000

Wait, you just bought a 328ic shell? Because racecar?

More like a sunday cruiser if it ever gets a engine haha just somthing to pick away at i think. Or to part out. Not sure yet.

hey going to throw a question out there. I got this 98 328i convertible shell. and I was thinking of just swaping everything over from the 328 I have. I know I will need doors and different hood and fenders and all that but as far as the brakes, suspension, engine, transmission, axles, differential, and engine wiring, will that all swap over no problem??? or will it take modification?

pics of progress. the last ones are of a 2011 Yukon I polished for a friend. looked gray when I picked it up looks brand new now. had to deep cut, then use a color restore then swirl remover.

your plan is to gut the whole car of all wires and everything?

Like the leather interior.You work like a pro.

Goog job with the polish.Looks great!

Originally Posted by Eight Thirty

your plan is to gut the whole car of all wires and everything?

yes everything has to be out of the car before I can properly put it on a rotation mount for rust proof and paint. and i like to take things apart haha.

Originally Posted by DannyRPM

Like the leather interior.You work like a pro.

Goog job with the polish.Looks great!

thanks man!

so I got to pulling the wires out of the trunk tonight. it was a pain trying to get some random sensor sitting over top of the filler neck in the fuel door. other then that it went pretty smooth.
here's some pics

Originally Posted by jkmeisl

yes everything has to be out of the car before I can properly put it on a rotation mount for rust proof and paint. and i like to take things apart haha.

Are you building a rotating mount for the chassis or do you have one already? The only ones I've ever seen for the E36 have been custom made.

Originally Posted by DEATH2000

Are you building a rotating mount for the chassis or do you have one already? The only ones I've ever seen for the E36 have been custom made.

i do have a friend with one so we will see it will work or if it needs modification. I'll post a pic of it tonight.

I don't know if you have seen this yet but this is the most detailed full frame restoration of an E36 I've ever seen. He made his own chassis rotator.

http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/alp...storation.html

Originally Posted by DEATH2000

I don't know if you have seen this yet but this is the most detailed full frame restoration of an E36 I've ever seen. He made his own chassis rotator.

http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/alp...storation.html

yes I have seen that, its so inspiring isnt it! reading that thread with all the work he did has motivated me to go through with a full restoration, not really that I need to or anything but I've always wanted to have a perfect e36 so ya. I ordered 2 new front fenders and the both rocker panels yesterday, i still need 3 more pieces. The rear Fender repair panels and also the tail light panel, the same one the guy used for the alpina. getting though's panels in and coated with rust bullet is my winter project, I'll slowly put it all back together over the spring and summer, hope to have it on the road around this time next year. after all the suspension, steering and brakes are done, then I 'll see to the engine, that way it will be a brand new car in 2 years. still havent picked a color yet... haha

It was very inspiring. However I dont have the tools, skills, money or a patient enough wife to let me do that! I do probably love Alpina's as much as he does though and I wish there were more in the country. I would consider importing one down the road but that may hamper my track car build should they ever build that new track.

Where are you getting the rear fender panel from? I have some rust on the drivers side behind the wheel well and I'm worried I may have to cut it out and weld in a new piece. Not worried about the cutting/welding part so as much as where to get a new panel that will match.

Originally Posted by DEATH2000

It was very inspiring. However I dont have the tools, skills, money or a patient enough wife to let me do that! I do probably love Alpina's as much as he does though and I wish there were more in the country. I would consider importing one down the road but that may hamper my track car build should they ever build that new track.

Where are you getting the rear fender panel from? I have some rust on the drivers side behind the wheel well and I'm worried I may have to cut it out and weld in a new piece. Not worried about the cutting/welding part so as much as where to get a new panel that will match.

There is an Alpina that (was) for sale at Sheni's Auto Trend there in Calgary. It was going for under $10K.

When was that? a guy on Project Technik had a blue 94 Alpina B3 in incredible shape and he wanted $15,000 originally. For less then $10k I don't expect the car to be in pretty good shape.

http://www.shenisautotrend.com/car-for-sale/43

Right now.

I remember that now. I've seen that listing before. Its been for sale for a long time now. I think when I first saw it, they were asking $11-12,000. Do you think that with the dealer plate on it they have been driving it around? I would compare Milage from the picture to the odometer if I was gonna buy it.

Originally Posted by DEATH2000

Where are you getting the rear fender panel from? I have some rust on the drivers side behind the wheel well and I'm worried I may have to cut it out and weld in a new piece. Not worried about the cutting/welding part so as much as where to get a new panel that will match.

I found them locally at cross canada parts part number RRP717 and RRP718 http://ecat.crosscanadaparts.com/bas...ge=welcome.php
I ordered them through a buddy that owns a body shop so I got them for cost but still I think retail was like 160 a piece which really isnt that bad for a panel. if you want I can get them for you just send me a pm