Tim's E85 3.0i in Sterling Grey

[T_J_G]

After an unsuccessful trip from the paintless dent removal guy, I’m left searching for a new wing or a trip to the body shop. I need the front bumper touching up anyway. He has improved the dent but still bugs me. Although I do wonder if someone could get it sorted by removing the wing and then doing a repair.

Really frustrating, as I’d hoped he would get it looking good. Bought some new wiper blades as the squeaking on my 120 mile round trip to work the other drove me nuts.

 

[inkey$]

Couple of options via eBay if the usual parts guru's on here aren't currently holding stock...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/224645995475?fits=Car+Make%3ABMW%7CPlat_Gen%3AE85%7CModel%3AZ4&hash=item344df1dbd3:g:UsQAAOSwKdxhZulm&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAA4AgcjwGnkm8eeq2ztYp4fAfvChsPQ7g%2BQ8zCS%2FakDiIBRZZRVvB15D6zH9nsT3AmrCLXnT3zFClKOH0idvdXADQoCREPY%2FMmuLziafS44FZuJOulJZ%2Bl0T5kaP0T4zUIGfuxpxSh%2FhEaWUnXhh2AtUP9AObVn1wBgvSKmP47yVk2EHwC3qm4j7mWZ4rB8aYySXhlk65ZZgp6iSbjSGbebbBY30b%2FuOmGhCNqk3MYn42n1huZf3suVis05jxP%2FJaDPp17mk7kGAp9a9QHDOa0nmDcHczd2%2BVKycxI9oT0cJ25%7Ctkp%3ABFBMvJXCpuFh

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/144948414721?hash=item21bf994901:g:ZkcAAOSw46pj7nvE&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAAwKJR6FSHiaMXf%2BpeJ10z1V%2BXh57QXSs01CanH30XpZBrEAEcZ26h4Ejv%2FS1it%2FsW%2FcSpHRI%2F6O%2Fjrl5yCrDhnczDueia30zZ4nif5JP9ADyI4gKl7ZT0G617RCKX05%2Fa%2Bo7HAyuDrWGfQSAJ%2BnWX33Ha1DAjTYOD4VKWBffrnus2SCYblGzGdcL1U2boqiQyw66tWXz9pyNixS9oYwtOolt1TRMFCaWzS7fmmhRXHnurvMsYvvP8w5xt1RJFazMrnw%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR7yVwqbhYQ

 

[T_J_G]

Couple of options via eBay if the usual parts guru's on here aren't currently holding stock...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/224645995475?fits=Car+Make%3ABMW%7CPlat_Gen%3AE85%7CModel%3AZ4&hash=item344df1dbd3:g:UsQAAOSwKdxhZulm&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAA4AgcjwGnkm8eeq2ztYp4fAfvChsPQ7g%2BQ8zCS%2FakDiIBRZZRVvB15D6zH9nsT3AmrCLXnT3zFClKOH0idvdXADQoCREPY%2FMmuLziafS44FZuJOulJZ%2Bl0T5kaP0T4zUIGfuxpxSh%2FhEaWUnXhh2AtUP9AObVn1wBgvSKmP47yVk2EHwC3qm4j7mWZ4rB8aYySXhlk65ZZgp6iSbjSGbebbBY30b%2FuOmGhCNqk3MYn42n1huZf3suVis05jxP%2FJaDPp17mk7kGAp9a9QHDOa0nmDcHczd2%2BVKycxI9oT0cJ25%7Ctkp%3ABFBMvJXCpuFh

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/144948414721?hash=item21bf994901:g:ZkcAAOSw46pj7nvE&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAAwKJR6FSHiaMXf%2BpeJ10z1V%2BXh57QXSs01CanH30XpZBrEAEcZ26h4Ejv%2FS1it%2FsW%2FcSpHRI%2F6O%2Fjrl5yCrDhnczDueia30zZ4nif5JP9ADyI4gKl7ZT0G617RCKX05%2Fa%2Bo7HAyuDrWGfQSAJ%2BnWX33Ha1DAjTYOD4VKWBffrnus2SCYblGzGdcL1U2boqiQyw66tWXz9pyNixS9oYwtOolt1TRMFCaWzS7fmmhRXHnurvMsYvvP8w5xt1RJFazMrnw%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR7yVwqbhYQ

Thank you. Already messaged those, one of those sellers have a wing listed but condition doesn’t look great. No rush at the moment, but if the opportunity comes around I’ll jump on it!

 

[T_J_G]

After the damage to the car, I’d kind of lost interest. Drove it less than 20 miles in two weeks. Needs a good clean but the driveway is out of action due to building work.

But today I put in a Bluetooth audio adapter for the factory setup, pretty easy job. Audio quality isn’t amazing compared to CD but it’ll do for listening to music and podcasts as I’m driving. May even take it for a drive tomorrow.

Still on the search for a passenger wing, missed out on a decent one by a matter of hours and everything else appearing is junk.

 

[T_J_G]

And now the drivers side door membrane is leaking, I think it had only just dried off from the passenger side

 

[T_J_G]

Found a replacement wing, was a bit grubby on collection and then when I cleaned it down I noticed it had a paint chip on the wheel arch that’s gone rusty so now I have two wings with defects

I’m not sure whether I’ll just put it on as it is, and get it looked at when I get the front bumper painted, or get it respirated straight away before fitting.

 

[enuff_zed]

Found a replacement wing, was a bit grubby on collection and then when I cleaned it down I noticed it had a paint chip on the wheel arch that’s gone rusty so now I have two wings with defects

I’m not sure whether I’ll just put it on as it is, and get it looked at when I get the front bumper painted, or get it respirated straight away before fitting.

Still can't help you with a decent wing, sorry, but maybe the time has come to consider any colour and factor in a respray?

 

[T_J_G]

Found a replacement wing, was a bit grubby on collection and then when I cleaned it down I noticed it had a paint chip on the wheel arch that’s gone rusty so now I have two wings with defects

I’m not sure whether I’ll just put it on as it is, and get it looked at when I get the front bumper painted, or get it respirated straight away before fitting.

Still can't help you with a decent wing, sorry, but maybe the time has come to consider any colour and factor in a respray?

Yup I think that’s now a plan, fit new wing and take it in for front bumper and wing to be painted. It’s not terrible and can be saved. Will be much better than having the dented wing full of filler even though (without taking it off) I’m sure it’ll be in better condition

 

[poortomsacold]

Found a replacement wing, was a bit grubby on collection and then when I cleaned it down I noticed it had a paint chip on the wheel arch that’s gone rusty so now I have two wings with defects

I’m not sure whether I’ll just put it on as it is, and get it looked at when I get the front bumper painted, or get it respirated straight away before fitting.

Still can't help you with a decent wing, sorry, but maybe the time has come to consider any colour and factor in a respray?

Yup I think that’s now a plan, fit new wing and take it in for front bumper and wing to be painted. It’s not terrible and can be saved. Will be much better than having the dented wing full of filler even though (without taking it off) I’m sure it’ll be in better condition

Oh that’s a real shame about that wing. Sorry - I was hoping it’d be a simple bolt on and you’re done job. Is it just the rusty chip that’s the problem? Hard to tell from your last photo.

 

[T_J_G]

Still can't help you with a decent wing, sorry, but maybe the time has come to consider any colour and factor in a respray?

Yup I think that’s now a plan, fit new wing and take it in for front bumper and wing to be painted. It’s not terrible and can be saved. Will be much better than having the dented wing full of filler even though (without taking it off) I’m sure it’ll be in better condition

Oh that’s a real shame about that wing. Sorry - I was hoping it’d be a simple bolt on and you’re done job. Is it just the rusty chip that’s the problem? Hard to tell from your last photo.

I should’ve checked it over more thoroughly to be fair. Yeah just the chip the other marks are water from it’s clean down, the inside lip isn’t too bad

 

[poortomsacold]

Yup I think that’s now a plan, fit new wing and take it in for front bumper and wing to be painted. It’s not terrible and can be saved. Will be much better than having the dented wing full of filler even though (without taking it off) I’m sure it’ll be in better condition

Oh that’s a real shame about that wing. Sorry - I was hoping it’d be a simple bolt on and you’re done job. Is it just the rusty chip that’s the problem? Hard to tell from your last photo.

I should’ve checked it over more thoroughly to be fair. Yeah just the chip the other marks are water from it’s clean down, the inside lip isn’t too bad

Oh that’s not too bad then. Hopefully a relatively minor paint fix then. Let me know how you get on!

 

[T_J_G]

Oh that’s a real shame about that wing. Sorry - I was hoping it’d be a simple bolt on and you’re done job. Is it just the rusty chip that’s the problem? Hard to tell from your last photo.

I should’ve checked it over more thoroughly to be fair. Yeah just the chip the other marks are water from it’s clean down, the inside lip isn’t too bad

Oh that’s not too bad then. Hopefully a relatively minor paint fix then. Let me know how you get on!

Cleaned it up with some iron fallout remover and now no rust in the chip, going to do a DIY chip repair and stop worrying about having a mint panel on a close to 20 year old car.

 

[poortomsacold]

I should’ve checked it over more thoroughly to be fair. Yeah just the chip the other marks are water from it’s clean down, the inside lip isn’t too bad

Oh that’s not too bad then. Hopefully a relatively minor paint fix then. Let me know how you get on!

Cleaned it up with some iron fallout remover and now no rust in the chip, going to do a DIY chip repair and stop worrying about having a mint panel on a close to 20 year old car.

If it's dent free I couldn't agree more - I think it may be near enough impossible to find a 20 year old wing that's as good as the day it rolled out of the factory. Chipex (or equivalent) is your friend!

 

[T_J_G]

She’s still here! Lots of building work which means I haven’t even washed it in months until day before yesterday.

I’ve just fitted a Stormwerkes gear knob, and it’s transformed the gear change. I absolutely love it! Hopefully with the building work coming to an end I can get on with replacing the wing with the one I bought and getting on with some other bits and pieces

 

[T_J_G]

Update,

I relocated the roof motor as I had roof problems, to find out it was the wiring in the roof itself that had split. So that's all working again now.

I've got it booked in for 4 new non runflat tyres and full alignment on Thursday as a post-MOT treat :roll: I had planned on changing the wheels before doing the tyres or at least having the 108s refurbed but I think I'll wait until spring now for that.

 

[T_J_G]

The non run-flat tyres have made a massive difference, wish I’d done it sooner!

Washed the car and noticed the seal around the third brake light has failed so got a new light on order. Will fit a new boot badge whilst I’m at it.

 

[T_J_G]

So after 4 new run flat tyres I ran out of time that day to get it aligned. But the car felt really nice to drive again and I was pretty happy. I then took it to the same place to get the tracking done, to which they could only do the front and some of the wheels needed rebalancing from a few days ago... :? and after that it drives horribly, the steering feels light, and I've got no confidence it driving it properly.

So I popped it into my local (decent garage) for a full alignment to which point he pulled me to show me under the car the the rear front wishbone bushes were done for. How they got through an MOT and the other place is beyond me. So it's booked it to have those remedied and a full alignment and hopefully it'll be driving nicely again.

I've also since replaced the third brake light (as it had a hole in the gasket and was coming away from the boot) and replaced the boot badge with a fresh one.

 

[inkey$]

Sounds as though she’s all coming together nicely, Tim

 

[T_J_G]

Sounds as though she’s all coming together nicely, Tim

Well I’m crossing off a few jobs and adding far more to the list

 

[T_J_G]

New poly bushed front arms and a full alignment and finally the car feels decent to drive.

Had to resort on sterilising the roof to kill moss as it keeps returning (car has only done about 50 miles since mid December)

Ordered a carpet cleaner to sort the interior carpet which is in a bit of a state, once I get a nice day I’ll whip the seats out and do it all properly.

Fix on roof holding up which is good news, not sure what to approach next. Maybe fit the wing I bought 6 months ago :roll: