3 guesses what I've been doing over winter
- Thread starter Zummerset
- Start date
Attleborough, Norfolk
To be honest I bought one of the bush removal kits on Ebay (about £40) and that made it all fairly painless.
The cleaning of all the suspension components was what really dragged.
This was the state of the parts after thorough wire brushing:
Attachments
The subframe and roll bar were blasted and powder coated.
For the arms, driveshafts etc I first BiltHamber Hydrate 80 to kill the rust. I then used used a 2 part epoxy, brushing it on. I bought it from a company called Rustbuster. Also got cavity wax from them for inside the arms etc.
The top links were done with etch primer and then tough silver aerosol for wheels.
For the arms, driveshafts etc I first BiltHamber Hydrate 80 to kill the rust. I then used used a 2 part epoxy, brushing it on. I bought it from a company called Rustbuster. Also got cavity wax from them for inside the arms etc.
The top links were done with etch primer and then tough silver aerosol for wheels.
North West Surrey
Yep, this car lived some years in Scotland so know what you mean.
The next complicated bit will be getting a full alignment done. Not sure what settings to use. Searching on here seems to throw up all sorts of figures, standard, CSL etc. I don't track the car so don't want anything too twitchy but would like to make sure it has the best settings for road use. Front camber pins will be removed for extra camber if required.
I did wonder about starting a new thread on alignment but I think that might just add to the multitude of threads :wink:
The next complicated bit will be getting a full alignment done. Not sure what settings to use. Searching on here seems to throw up all sorts of figures, standard, CSL etc. I don't track the car so don't want anything too twitchy but would like to make sure it has the best settings for road use. Front camber pins will be removed for extra camber if required.
I did wonder about starting a new thread on alignment but I think that might just add to the multitude of threads :wink:
A 4-wheel alignment absolutely transformed my car after I had swapped from 19s back to 18s, removed spacers all round and raised the ride height (it's on coli-overs). 
But as it's an M I had it done to M3 CSL settings because it has the same suspension and steering as an M3 CSL!
The problem is everyone has their own thoughts on settings, and then it can be difficult finding somewhere that knows what they are doing. :roll:
But as it's an M I had it done to M3 CSL settings because it has the same suspension and steering as an M3 CSL!
The problem is everyone has their own thoughts on settings, and then it can be difficult finding somewhere that knows what they are doing. :roll:
TIMMOS29
Member
What system do we need to ask for then for alignment?Mr Tidy said:A 4-wheel alignment absolutely transformed my car after I had swapped from 19s back to 18s, removed spacers all round and raised the ride height (it's on coli-overs).
But as it's an M I had it done to M3 CSL settings because it has the same suspension and steering as an M3 CSL!
The problem is everyone has their own thoughts on settings, and then it can be difficult finding somewhere that knows what they are doing. :roll:
I've never had an alignment done before so did plenty of reading about it and found most M owners rated the M3 CSL set-up very highly so that's what I went for and it has been brilliant.
But I honestly don't know about the other z models, although I would imagine standard settings ought to work pretty well.
But I honestly don't know about the other z models, although I would imagine standard settings ought to work pretty well.