[hnaz]

I am currently going through a "rustoration" project with a 1994 325is M-Tech that has obviously not seen love in years. This thread is just a way for me to track the restoration project as it returns to its former glory.

I will be updating it as often as I get a chance to visit the shop. Again, the shop I took it to takes its time with projects like this until all lines and contours are perfect. The previous owner really didn't care for this car when we found 1.5 inches of bondo in the hole. I mean if they wanted to cheat, they could have used fiberglass which is more waterproof than bondo is. Freakin morons. I am just as at fault here for not bringing my trusty magnet with me before I bought this car. Lesson learned.







Next phase will be to remove the rocker panel skirts and check the lower parts of the front fenders to see if there is any rust, as well as rust on the rocker panels and jack points as well.

 

[SCJon]

:bow: History and BMW purists everywhere are excited to see this progression.

 

[crisscross]

Nice work Harry (is that right?)

Go over to bfc and look for Robs M-tech thread in the rides and styles section, its pretty bad-ass and would probably be pretty inspiring

 

[hnaz]

Hey all, an update. More rust was found, but superficial (thank God)! Starting to feel good.

 

[southpark11235]

:flipoff: rust.
I wish you luck in the never ending battle against the cancerous rust.

 

[hnaz]

:flipoff: rust.
I wish you luck in the never ending battle against the cancerous rust.

Well so far, we're good. More paint was stripped off and the areas are going to be sandblasted. If the superficial areas get holes, I am stopping by the junkyard and start cutting pieces off of E36s.

The good part is the rear floor and shock towers are in perfect shape, plus the frame is straight. So there is a platinum (since silver tarnishes) lining in this gray cloud.

 

[hnaz]

Nice work Harry (is that right?)

Go over to bfc and look for Robs M-tech thread in the rides and styles section, its pretty bad-ass and would probably be pretty inspiring

Do you have a link? I am looking for the thread on Bimmerforums and can't find it in the search. I did a search for M-Tech, M-Technic, Mtech, Mtechnica

 

[Time2Fly]

Where did that car come from Utah? I like shops that take pride in there work, you dont see that much anymore. looking forward to see the final pictures.

 

[B1MM3R]

Nice Harry!

 

[hnaz]

Where did that car come from Utah? I like shops that take pride in there work, you dont see that much anymore. looking forward to see the final pictures.

The car came from Frederick, MD by the previous -original- owner. The guy bought the car back in 94 in Tallahassee, Florida. He drove the car from Florida to MD a good few times, then from Frederick MD to Washington DC (20 mile commute - all highway) every day. The car has 335,000 miles on the engine, and the engine, surprisingly, is still running strong as hell. The chassis itself (minus the rust you see in the pictures) is in superb shape still. It's why I am restoring the car. The M-Tech Hurricane interior is in surprisingly excellent shape as well.

Here are pictures of the interior (minus headliner since it is embarrassing to show it sagging so much):









Again, just in case of any surprises come or whatever, the interior alone will cover most of the cost of the car. But that is if I sell it. The seats are still functional and in great condition with full cushion feel. The door cards are peeling at the pockets, but in superb condition. The driver's side door card looks like it had the leather cut, some cheap vinyl placed behind it, then the tabs glued on the cheap vinyl. I will be removing the vinyl from the Lux Package door cards coming out of the M3 and glued onto the M-Tech door card then have the center piece glued on next. Again, I really want to punch the previous owner in the face. Hard. With my 3" diameter metal pipe.

The front windshield seal needs to be replaced. Though I don't know if I have to remove the windshield to do it or if I can do it with the windshield still installed.

I dunno. I will be going back to the shop on Friday. He has some galvanized steel lying around the shop that he will be molding in that spot so rust is not a worry again.

 

[petriej]

Museum.

 

[SCJon]

Shouldn't it be up to museum standards first? Surely he can't exhibit it in its current rust and cancer riddled state? :rofl:

 

[hnaz]

Shouldn't it be up to museum standards first? Surely he can't exhibit it in its current rust and cancer riddled state? :rofl:

Yeah, Jared. Gawd... :tsk:

Plus my garage is pretty much up to museum standards... and driveway... and car covers... :thumbup:

 

[hnaz]

Alright, a quick update (pics to follow), but tear down of the car has begun. Again, I like to get things done right, once. So if it takes a month or two to be done, I can be patient. But hopefully it won't take that long with the M-Tech. Today the front bumper, rear bumper, nose panel, doors, hood, and trunk were removed. More sanding was done inside the wheel well where the major cancer spot is located and thank GOD the rust was only localized to that one spot. So I was singing Kumbayah all day today.

I also ran into a Bimmerforums member (whom I bought my front seats from so I can pull out the motors and fix the ghetto lean on my 328i driver's seat) who has a 328is that is willing to cut out a chunk of the car so I may perform the restoration of the M-Tech properly. All it will cost me is $80, for a part that BMW sells for nearly $250 (my cost). The day just got better and better. As soon as I get the pictures loaded on Photobucket, I will link them here. The only problem is I only have pictures of the early stage of removing the parts. I got caught up in dismantling the car that I forgot to snap some more photos.

Anyways, keeping this M-Tech alive feels justified. Then hopefully Jared will bless it at Bimmerfest East (if it is done by then).

I also looked at M3Rob's M-Tech restoration, and it was more of a mod than keeping it original. He did a great job, but the car is not what it was meant to be. He would have been better off just grabbing a regular 325IS or 328IS or 318IS and worked with that. But my goal is to keep this car original with more sensical upgrades like Bilstein shocks, M3 brakes and spindles, M3 suspension, and M3 diff. But we'll see. Waiting to hear back from a guy that is selling his M3 shell. If he doesn't sell, no worries, I will just keep the car original.

 

[ZeGerman]

This is great news, Harry!

 

[crisscross]

Do you have a link? I am looking for the thread on Bimmerforums and can't find it in the search. I did a search for M-Tech, M-Technic, Mtech, Mtechnica

Yeah sorry I should have quoted it before.....

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1713449&highlight=rob

Seems as if his progress has stalled out though....

 

[SCJon]

Fantastic Harry! Best news possible.


Sent from BimmerApp mobile app

 

[hnaz]

Alright all, some more pictures and an update:




New nose panel needed. The other one was AN AFTERMARKET PART!!! Since the bodyman is OCD about classic cars, and has worked on a number of them, he recognized the thin and cheap material. He even said he will not put "THAT" nose panel back on unless it is an OEM part from BMW. So I got another one from Tischer BMW, OEM this time. He wasn't kidding. The OEM one feels and looks more sturdy than this pile. Just look at the difference between the two.

I swear, if I didn't have a security clearance, I'd be in the news for setting the PO's house on fire. Poor car... Baby is in the right hands now.


More rust was found, but on the driver's side fender. Turned out to be superficial. Thank God...


Dents, dings, and rusted stone chips found on the hood. All repaired now.

Again, I wish I had more pictures but I got caught up with disassembly with the car. I think next time I am just going to stand back, take pictures as the car gets completed piece by piece.

More updates coming soon...

 

[SCJon]

Looking good Harry, when do they get done with all of the sanding? Don't worry about your security clearance, NSA is reading your posts anyway. :rofl: I have one too.


Sent from BimmerApp mobile app

 

[southpark11235]

New nose panel needed. The other one was AN AFTERMARKET PART!!! Since the bodyman is OCD about classic cars, and has worked on a number of them, he recognized the thin and cheap material. He even said he will not put "THAT" nose panel back on unless it is an OEM part from BMW. So I got another one from Tischer BMW, OEM this time. He wasn't kidding. The OEM one feels and looks more sturdy than this pile. Just look at the difference between the two.

But that aftermarket one was obviously for weight shedding, yo. You got to save those ounces because racecar.
:rofl:

Seriously though, keep up the good work.:thumbup: