Biggest Project in My Life!!

Haven't posted anything for 3 years (more than 3 years...) because......

Mini Family.

Our friend "A-Mon" showed up with her mini.  I couldn't resist to take a family photo!

New Project!

The main reason to give up the BMW was the transmission.  The other reason was the baby.  Baby would arrive around early March.  We were in need of a four door car.  After selling the BMW, we placed the order of mini cooper countryman s.  We put in the combination we like and waited for 2 months.  

We got a call from our sales late 12/23/2011.  He told us the car just unloaded from the truck.  Due to Christmas, we couldn't get our car until 26th.

This car may become my new project.  :)

Sold!

 

I haven't had a chance to update this blog.  The car was sold in late October.  There was a net $5000 lost for this project.

Fooling around with old car is a good hobby for "rich" people.  I think I need to wait until I become rich to get into this hobby.

This blog will continue to exist.  I will start showing other projects I am working on.  :)

Phase 1: Finished Product

This was the last view before selling the car.

At that moment, I spent roughly $9000 (including the price of the car).  A lot of money was unnecessary if I bought the regular version.  Lesson learned.

E36 318ti is  a very good car.  It's simple and easy to operate.  No fancy electronic stuff.  Easy to fix.  It actually holds value (don't get the California edition). 

It was a sad day seeing the car go, but it was also a relief to me.  The transmission problem scared me a bit.  I still believe having the 2nd transmission fluid change would solve the problem.  The roof was hopeless.  The paint job was really not up to my standard.

Car was sold for $3500.

Finally, I have the driver side door done!

 

After driving this car with no door panel for 3 months, it's really exciting to see the finished product.  It's not perfect (not to my standard), but at this moment, I was glad to see it done.  I would hear less noise from outside.  I could finally lean my arm on the door.......

Replaced both handle bars.  Also got the new speakers from ebay (one withtout broken ring).

Money spent:  $48.01

Total expense: $8078.33

Soldering

How hard is soldering wires?  It's actually quite easy.  Therefore, don't be afraid to do it youself.

I had seen my dear friend done a few times.  I decided to do it this time.  First, checked Youtube.  You could find a lot of "how-to" film clips there.

I got the old wire set from ebay for $28.80.  The previous owner replaced the driver side door with a 1995 model which doesn't have 2 speaker wires.  

Money spent: $28.80

Total expense: $8030.32

Inner clamp

 

Glued those inner clamps with trusted JB weld in the living room.....stink up the whole place....

Driver side door panel

3 weeks.....really?  3 weeks.....  actually, it's more like 4 weeks.

They first spent 1 week, then I got a poor made door back before taking my vacation.  After getting back from the trip, I dropped the door at the shop and told them to fix it.  I guess they were really reluctant to do the job.  I waited another 3 weeks.

Now, I just needed to put the door back.  I had been driving a car without door panel for almost 5 months.

Money spent: $120

Total expense: $8001.52

Installing window channel

Since previous owner replaced the driver side door with junkyard part, he didn't bother to assemble all necessary parts.  In order to install inner door panel, I need to get six clamps and inner window channel cover.

A simple clamp shows how much attention BMW put into its part development.

Still waiting for the door panel from a upholstery near my house.  Throughout this project, I have encountered few bad shops.  This upholstery is one of them.

Money spent: $34.65

Total expense: $7881.52

One last shipment

 

Before deciding to stop this project, I placed an order for few more parts.  Since all these parts were special order parts, I could not return them.

有時真不知道是自己的完美主意做祟......如果一切可以稍為有缺陷, 我可能還會玩下去.

I will install few more parts to the door.

Phase 1 review

This would be my phase 1 review.  Since I got the car and started this blog, I had dumped more money than I should. 

I went to the convertible shop this morning to get a quote for fixing the top.  The quote was 2/3 of the original car purchasing price.  The car was dropped there for a close inspection and detail quote.  There would be 2 options: one is to make it work, and one is to seal the top. 

While seeing the car pulling into the shop, I saw the reflection of the body panel.   I was so disappointed with the work from that cheap body shop.  I guess if I want good work, I need to spend money. 

Conclusion:
- Cheap shop = cheap work.  don't go cheap
- Don't trust Yelp.  If a shop has 5 star review, treat it as 3.5 star.
- If a shop doesn't have any reviewer on Yelp, don't go.


Experience costs time and money.  Maybe it's time for me to cut this project off.

Canvas roof part 1

Previous owner "sold" the "drive" which was used to move the canvas top.

Waited 3 weeks for this part to arrive.  Cost a lot of money.  Got two screws (from Lowe's) instead of getting them from BMW (cost $9).

This was the first time I saw the canvas top open.  So proud of myself, but wait......  I couldn't open it next morning.  I couldn't wait to drive it to upholstery shop, then I found out the top was stuck again.  Only one side was moving.

Money spent: $1.18+$398.95

Total expense: $7846.87

Trying out Bissell

 

I knew the carpet was dirty....look at the black water.  Got this Bissell carpet cleaning unit.  It's fun to see all the dirty water sucking up.   After 2 batch of dirty water, I think the interior smell better now.

Replacing gear selection cover

After year of changing gears, the old gear selection cover was all worn out.  It's hard to see which gear you selected.

After reading the forum, it seem like an easy job to do.  The catch was to play extra attention while pulling out the shift knob.  There would be a chance shift knob hitting your face.  Yes, the shift knob "hit my" face while pulling it out.  I shifted to D, turned off the ignition, pulled the shift knob.  Used a flat head screw to pop the plate.  Removed 2 connectors.

It's an easy job, just need to be careful.  Now, I can clearly see whic gear I am in.

Money spent: $ 43.95

Total expense: $ 7446.74

Wheel alignment

After alignment, the steering wheel can finally stay on the center.  What a difference...  The car tended to want to go to right.

Got to the tire shop around 7:30am....got out around 8:45am. 

Money spent: $49.99

Total expense: $7402.79

Black Grill!!

Make the beater look so mean.....  Got the part from ebay.  There were some extra tabs around the edge.  We just couldn't install the grill with those tabs on.  Finally, we decided to break those off.  The grill slided right in.

Money spent:  $39.97

Total expense: $7352.80

New BMW badges

No more sorry looking BMW badges.  I replaced both front and rear badges.  Needed to pull out the old rubber pieces.  Finally, a true 15 minutes job.  A flat head screw driver can do the job.

Money spent:  $57.70

Totoal expense: $7312.83

Finally....beater is back!

After a long 7.5 weeks, beater was finally back.  New m3 bumper, black top, matte black B pillar.  The door was also fixed. 

Overall, the job is ok.  I think they didn't use any clear coat.  Maybe the car needs more polish.  Considering amount of work they put into it, $2500 is a good price.

Money spent: $2500

Total expense: $7255.13

Super strong adhesive

Probably the best adhesive I have used.  Some clamp structures behind the door panel fell off.  I tried JB weld on two of them.  The result is great.