E21 M50B25 & 323i Baur

Radek · Post by **Radek** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 10:04 am

Yesterday we (me and my girl) started to taking of the cover from the car.

After 2 minutes I was sure that it was essential. I saw rust stain under the rubber cover.

Two layers of anti-rust cover. One smells like fruits.

My girl took me the heater... she done this in one hour, with few breakes, sometimes it was smoking, but we watched not to overheat the sheet.

Radek · Post by **Radek** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 9:14 am

after 7 hours

Just a small rust pics

e21-Mark · Post by **e21-Mark** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 9:56 am

Good work mate. I would love to be able to strip my Baur back to a bare shell. I was thinking of getting my car repainted in an Alfa Romeo colour which is very close to my original but has a sort of 'mother of pearl' effect..Hard to explain but its a much more mirrored finish.

I like your idea about the light blue but not to keen on white or cream interiors or roof...I think dark blue leather Recaro would be much classier.

What wheels are you planning to use? Alpina would be my choice but with a cut and polished lip.

How much would a bare metal respray be in Poland? I have read about quite a few Brits shipping their cars over as your labour rates are so much cheaper and the quality of work really high??

Radek · Post by **Radek** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 9:58 am

Hi Retrobeemer,

You are thinking about thlist light blue duo-colour from Alfa Romeo? Once is silver, once is light blue metalic?

I hate dark blue interior

All interior colours is better than dark blue

I was thinking about BBS RS, I have one set, but 5x120, meybe i will try to change baur from 4x100 to 5x120, but i don't know yet. I also have 13" BBS Mahle, I think i will restore them: new silver colour, polished rims, and chrome cups. I think it could be nice with loweering springs and small tires... Another idea is ALPINA 15"... Thousands of ideas.

I think for repainting i will pay maximum 1300EUR (service and stuff) The price is valid if I afford knocked-down body. The price is painting all the body, without the underside of the floor.

In Poland we have many specialists. We have many cheap low quality services, but he have also many high quality spiecialists. For good work you must pay high price. Few days ago i heard that one guy pay about 4100EUR for paiting Corvette.. Only PAINTING

P.S. Shipping UK-Poland-UK is about 1300-1400EUR.

Sunday:

Retrobeemer, look at this diagrams. It's the currency rates GBP to PLN. Polish zloty is now strong currency.

GBP to PLN 01.01.2006 - 21.07.2008

06.2006 - 1GBP - 6PLN
07.2008 - 1GBP - 4.05PLN

So the prices for you are growing daily

Radek · Post by **Radek** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 11:40 am

Big piece of steel sheet. Why?

Because of two little holes... Later i will weld them.

To clean the surface I use BOSCH 230mm angle grinder, because it has only 6500rpm, the small ones (115, 125mm) has about 10000 rpm.
It's to fast, for the steel brush (150mm)

Angle Grinder:

Steel brush:

Caution, it'a a little bit dangerous, I had few steel needles (wires) hammered in my arms and legs.

The surface don't looks smooth but actually it is smooth (without brush damages)

but you can see many brush shadows.

Of course in the front part of the floor the steel has other scares.

I use Wurth's anti rust reactiv primer. I paint it twice.

Meybe today i will clean next part of the floor, but the angle is very heavy - (when you are cutting smth. you can lay the angle on the object which you are cutting) When you are cleannig smth with brush you must hold the angle and rag it....

Bill in MN · Post by **Bill in MN** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 2:22 pm

That looks nice.

I did pretty much the same thing with my Baur. Not liking the weak front frame rails, I had built new frame rails and welded them over the original units.

It didn't take long to do and makes for a frame rail that will no longer twist and bend.

Radek · Post by **Radek** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 2:48 pm

Bill, graet job! Great photos! I will be glad to see more!

In Minnesota you have snowy winters, aren't you afraid about the water beetween original and new rails?
I'am afraid that i will hear rust crunching... In Poland, in winter we use salt on the streets.

Bill in MN · Post by **Bill in MN** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 6:45 pm

I do not drive the car when there is snow on the ground or if it's raining. It's been seam- sealed and then sprayed with the original style undercoating so it's sealed up quite well. I was quite liberal when the undercoating went down and I don't really forsee any problems. If it does corrode I'll likely be in the grave by then and it won't matter

arshad76 · Post by **arshad76** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 8:56 pm

Hi Bill,

Can I ask what underseal you use? Be nice to get the factory look back on mine following a bit of welding.

Radek · Post by **Radek** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 10:39 am

thetomc · Post by **thetomc** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 1:23 pm

What an incredible amount of effort and care!! I'm very impressed.
Keep the pics coming.
Cheers,
Tom

Mihajlo · Post by **Mihajlo** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 1:53 pm

Radek · Post by **Radek** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 2:01 pm

How do you think?

"Gangsta's style wheels" - this is the name of the producer

rob0r · Post by **rob0r** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 3:02 pm

Super jealous of your effort, looks superb!