[danb1979]

Originally Posted by boba-fett

Oooshh, that’s looking nice. Good work.

It looks good from 6ft

[danb1979]

After plenty of reading and talking to a few folk as well; I've decided that the Spring 2025 suspension overhaul will be:

New OEM spec arms (where required) and drop links / track rod ends. Probably Powerflex rear subframe inserts as well. I'll be going for ST XTA coilovers with their adjustable top mounts as the icing on the cake.

Decided also that I'm going to get a set of F3x front 340mm Brembo calipers and fit them with OEM 2 piece discs and F8x M3/M4 pads with HEL braided lines.

That should be a decent upgrade to the braking as well as the suspension; to make it a capable fast road car. I may even treat it to a drive down to Anglesey Circuit mid next year

As for wheels; I'll stick with a set of OEM E8x wheels and fit them with Conti Contact Sport 7 tyres probably; but may consider Michelins or Goodyears again too

I'll update when parts have been ordered (want to see if there are any Christmas sales and/or discounts via eBay etc)

[Watsey]

I recommend White Line rear subframe bushes. Inserts ‘may’ be OK, but old bushes are old bushes and they will almost certainly be well beyond their best.

Mine had done the best part of 100K miles and the new bushes made a very noticeable difference. Its more hassle getting them out, but as your mate with the workshop will be working on the car anyway…

[danb1979]

Bimecc 12mm hubcentric spacers and 75mm stud conversion fitted today - all via Mteconline on eBay (used him for years, great reseller)

All threads chased, cleaned throughly and all surfaces wire brushed and cleaned thoroughly with brake cleaner etc

Studs torqued down to 25Nm with a touch of Loctite

You can see how they're sitting from the pics (excuse how filthy the car is); they're just in the arches, no rubbing (gone around our small estate as the roads are horrendous and badly cambered with zero issues; on/off our drive is a steep incline to begin with as well and they'd have bottomed out there if they were going to)

[Watsey]

Perfect. 'To' the arches, but not beyond, with just enough tuck on the rears to avoid the tyres rubbing the arches.

I've never fancied studs. Two ends of a bolt that can potentially come undone, rather than just one with a bolt, but wheel fitting is obviously easier.

[danb1979]

Originally Posted by Watsey

Perfect. 'To' the arches, but not beyond, with just enough tuck on the rears to avoid the tyres rubbing the arches.

I've never fancied studs. Two ends of a bolt that can potentially come undone, rather than just one with a bolt, but wheel fitting is obviously easier.

Studs are a safer option with spacers

They're wound in and torqued down, just like a bolt; but then you've got the nut on the other end, wound down and torqued as well.

So you've 2 forces pulling the wheel onto the hub etc

Never ever had any issues and I've run them for years now; much preferred over longer bolts, which I've seen come undone a few times now on cars that have been run hard/fast (road and track)

[danb1979]

Full wash and then coated with Car Gods Black Diamond

[Alscoob]

Originally Posted by danb1979

Looks very good matey

[danb1979]

Originally Posted by Alscoob

Looks very good matey

Cheers; it's a great little car

Will be even better when I've done the full suspension overhaul in Spring

[danb1979]

Brembo 340mm brake calipers ordered today; will pair them with OEM BMW brake discs and F8x M3/M4 pads with HEL braided lines

Will refurb them when they land with new spring clips, pins, bleed nipples etc and sand them back and spray them silver

They'll be part of the Spring 2025 work I'll be having done

[Alscoob]

Originally Posted by danb1979

Brembo 340mm brake calipers ordered today; will pair them with OEM BMW brake discs and F8x M3/M4 pads with HEL braided lines

Will refurb them when they land with new spring clips, pins, bleed nipples etc and sand them back and spray them silver

They'll be part of the Spring 2025 work I'll be having done

Gunmetal also looks good. I've bought paints from these guys before and it really does last.
https://www.bcs-automotive.co.uk/sho...gunmetal-grey/

They will also refurb Brembos.

[danb1979]

Originally Posted by Alscoob

Gunmetal also looks good. I've bought paints from these guys before and it really does last.
https://www.bcs-automotive.co.uk/sho...gunmetal-grey/

They will also refurb Brembos.

Cheers; was looking at them this morning

Going to go for the Jelonite stuff as that's what my bodyshop pal uses and said it's really good stuff; their primer and high temp lacquer too

Obviously prep is key so I'll break them down and deep clean them and mask them up

Think silver will keep them clean looking; rather than blue (and deffo not red)

[Alscoob]

Originally Posted by danb1979

Cheers; was looking at them this morning

Going to go for the Jelonite stuff as that's what my bodyshop pal uses and said it's really good stuff; their primer and high temp lacquer too

Obviously prep is key so I'll break them down and deep clean them and mask them up

Think silver will keep them clean looking; rather than blue (and deffo not red)

I did the wifes on her Z4 in 2016 in silver and the fronts are spot on still (as they're alloy) the rears are okay but have some rust showing through in parts, so I'll re-do them next spring together with the rear discs & pads. I'm pleased they've lasted this long though, for a rub down and hand paint!

The paint BCS supply is a paint with hardener, no primer used and brushed on in two coats no laquer either, they supply it for a sprayed application as well, maybe worth a look? While the brush finish is suitable for most I guess with the smooth fnish on the Brembos you'll get a better finish by spray.

Did the daughters Alfa in the gunmetal which worked well with the silver wheels as a slight contrast.

[danb1979]

Originally Posted by Alscoob

I did the wifes on her Z4 in 2016 in silver and the fronts are spot on still (as they're alloy) the rears are okay but have some rust showing through in parts, so I'll re-do them next spring together with the rear discs & pads. I'm pleased they've lasted this long though, for a rub down and hand paint!

The paint BCS supply is a paint with hardener, no primer used and brushed on in two coats no laquer either, they supply it for a sprayed application as well, maybe worth a look? While the brush finish is suitable for most I guess with the smooth fnish on the Brembos you'll get a better finish by spray.

Did the daughters Alfa in the gunmetal which worked well with the silver wheels as a slight contrast.

Attachment 3618907

Attachment 3618908

Yeah that's what put me off BCS to be honest as I don't have a sprayer or the equipment and as you said, with them being Brembo's, I want the finish to be smooth, that's why I'll go with Jelonite and take my time with light dust coats etc

The calipers on all my E39s, E65 and F01 were hand painted after a deep wire brushing and I used HT enamel paint (either silver or black) and used the sponge applicators rather than a brush. It goes on superbly and evenly and lasts really well

But they're cast iron etc and they take that kind of paint; the Brembo's wouldn't look right IMO

[danb1979]

130i dropped off with my pals this morning for the full 'top end engine overhaul' and new gearbox mounts too (E46 M3 ones via 034 Motorsport)

As you can see the rocker is very much due an overhaul; its weeping oil more or less all round; so a new rocker going on, all new gaskets, new oil filter housing and oil cooler gaskets being fitted too as well as new NGK spark plugs etc. Tensioner, pulley & belt going on as well















Will pick it up sometime tomorrow

[Ennoch]

Originally Posted by danb1979

Think silver will keep them clean looking; rather than blue (and deffo not red)

Did you go used calipers or some of the replica ones that are available now?

I've never had silver stay looking silver unless powder coated, it always discolours with heat in my experience and goes a bit yellow. Powdercoating is good but a lot more faff, and the last time I enquired of a local place they wanted £100 a caliper! When I redid a set of front calipers for the 335 I used a can of EBII spray and then topped with APS 2k clear which is probably the best 2k aerosol clear I've used (I'm looking forward to having a proper compressor setup when I move). If they've not had paint before and are the bare aluminium ones then I'd etch prime first before using a proper primer and then the above, as aluminium is a shit to get paint to stick to properly if you don't use etch. If they're the plain aluminium ones from memory they're also quite rough finish in which case something like ProXL's 2k filler primer would be a good option to get it smooth. A lot of sanding required though! And apologies if you know this stuff all already...

[danb1979]

Originally Posted by Ennoch

Did you go used calipers or some of the replica ones that are available now?

I've never had silver stay looking silver unless powder coated, it always discolours with heat in my experience and goes a bit yellow. Powdercoating is good but a lot more faff, and the last time I enquired of a local place they wanted £100 a caliper! When I redid a set of front calipers for the 335 I used a can of EBII spray and then topped with APS 2k clear which is probably the best 2k aerosol clear I've used (I'm looking forward to having a proper compressor setup when I move). If they've not had paint before and are the bare aluminium ones then I'd etch prime first before using a proper primer and then the above, as aluminium is a shit to get paint to stick to properly if you don't use etch. If they're the plain aluminium ones from memory they're also quite rough finish in which case something like ProXL's 2k filler primer would be a good option to get it smooth. A lot of sanding required though! And apologies if you know this stuff all already...

They're OEM BMW Brembo's (340mm ones) - they've been deep cleaned and scotch padded for now; will sand them back in a few places and then clean etc and start to spray them (etch primer first, paint and then high temp lacquer).

Will see how they turn out and if not happy, I'll send them to Bigg Red for a full refurb and powdercoat

My pal that has a body shop has told me to go for the Jelonite stuff as he's never had any issues with their products and does this on customers brakes, when required etc

The silver I've used on previous brakes has been HT silver enamel and it's great stuff, never discoloured

The last ones I did silver were on my previous F01 and they lasted perfectly:



I did them in black on the 130i as that's what I had in

Using the sponge applicators rather than a brush gives you a much better finish and it's easier to apply also

[danb1979]

Job on...!

[danb1979]

Started the Brembo 340mm brake caliper refurb too

Got them deep cleaned, flatted back, panel wiped and then primer'ed to begin with

Made a DIY paint booth in my powercube and utilised 2 unused/but old mackerel feathers I had hanging off my work bench for some reason :hehe: 100lb monofilament, the caliper isn't going anywhere

[martin10chk]

Originally Posted by danb1979

Started the Brembo 340mm brake caliper refurb too

Got them deep cleaned, flatted back, panel wiped and then primer'ed to begin with

Made a DIY paint booth in my powercube and utilised 2 unused/but old mackerel feathers I had hanging off my work bench for some reason :hehe: 100lb monofilament, the caliper isn't going anywhere

Very nice!!

[danb1979]

Calipers primer'd and first dust coat of silver gone on this morning:

[danb1979]

Final coats of silver applied; will let them cure and then lacquer them tomorrow and they're done. Will get new bleed nippled ordered (the pins and spring clips have cleaned up superbly so will reuse them)