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.