Project: BMW E21.

[Eddie.]

I love your new avatar <3

Get yourself down over the weekend, I'll be working on it pretty much every day.

 

[LIL B]

Yep, great build.

 

[Eddie.]

I had great intentions that this would be an awesome weekend of progress on the BMW, unfortunately I only got anything done on it today

Bought the headlining material from Segals in Salford, awesome place tbh, more choice than you could ever need! I'll get some pictures of that tomorrow.

Actual progress;

Started recovering the loom, the old tape is all dry and crusty and really needs replacing, so I'll redo the whole loom.

From:

To:

Decided to get the front end on too.

Looking goofy:

More Plastikote Satin:

And finally, my debumpered E21

As I expected, I love it! It harks back to the 2002 in so many ways, and really accentuates that sharknose!

So excited to get it finished now!

 

[Rob]

Are you going to buy some proper loom tape? Apologies if that is, but it looks like plain old electrical tape to me??

 

[Eddie.]

It is just insulation tape.

Any reason why that's not suitable?

 

[welshname]

It is just insulation tape.

Any reason why that's not suitable?

Close to the engine it will just become a sticky mess. It's not resistant to changes in temp etc iirc. I don't think there is anything wrong using it for indicators etc although they do go near the radiator.

 

[Eddie.]

It'll be fine, the loom is about 10 wires, it doesn't go anywhere near the engine.

Bureet.

 

[VeinAST]

Looking good!

 

[Jaff.]

Get on vehicle wiring products and buy some proper stuff for pennies!

Will look much more oem and do a better job

 

[aucky]

Detailed yet?

 

[Eddie.]

Detailed yet?

I've been tempted many times to put all the Glasur on it.

​Priorities though

 

[Eddie.]

Get on vehicle wiring products and buy some proper stuff for pennies! Will look much more oem and do a better job

Just been on there, I'll probably get it from somewhere else, but yeah, I'll get some self amalgamating tape for the loom.

 

[Rob]

Get on vehicle wiring products and buy some proper stuff for pennies!

Will look much more oem and do a better job

TBH I'd listen to him, from my limited experience the dedicated products are considerably better.

Some of this:

http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.eu/VWP-onlinestore/sleeving/tape.php

And some of this is invaluable:

http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.eu/VWP-onlinestore/sleeving/heatshrink.php#adhesive

 

[Eddie.]

Aye, credit where it's due, this is my first "build", I've never done this before, deep end and all that!

As said, I'll get some non adhesive tape and redo the whole harness, it's a 36 year old car, so tbh, there isn't much wiring to wrap!

 

[Rob]

You're doing superbly so far IMO mate, proper cracking job. The heat shrink always make such a difference to the ends also, so don't miss out on getting some of that too!

 

[Jaff.]

Get any of these...

http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.eu/VWP-onlinestore/sleeving/sleeving.php

make the ends off with heat shrink and it will look pucker, it will cost you less than £20 and will look far better than tape, even self amalgamating tape. Trust me I used the tape on my loom. I'm currently looking to redo it

 

[Eddie.]

How am I going to get sleeving to go over it all?

I'm not taking all the connectors off.

 

[Jaff.]

The braided sleeping stretches over them, add some nice heat shrink on the end and you have a good looking and secure coating.

the twist wrap is easier to apply but its harder to make it look nice, still looks better than the electrical tape though.

Its 70p a meter worth buying a meter of each size and seeing which suits each part of the loom better

 

[Eddie.]

The braided sleeping stretches over them, add some nice heat shrink on the end and you have a good looking and secure coating.

the twist wrap is easier to apply but its harder to make it look nice, still looks better than the electrical tape though.

Its 70p a meter worth buying a meter of each size and seeing which suits each part of the loom better

The braided stuff will stretch over a big chunky connector???

 

[Jaff.]

Yeah it's awkward but you squeeze it together, feed in the cables/connectors then leave it go and it pulls itself tight (remember those finger traps when you were younger? Bit like that)

Like I said get some different sizes and work out which looks best. If the connectors are too big maybe the twist wrap is a better option

 

[Eddie.]

As promised, some photos of the headlining.

It's quite difficult to capture the colour and texture, but you get the idea. It's a foam backed nylon material in a charcoal shade.

Will start making it soon, using my old headlining as a template.

 

[welshname]

Just realised I've still not seen this

 

[Eddie.]

I know, shocking behaviour!

​I'll be on it most of this weekend, so get yourself round!

 

[mharvey]

Keeps getting better. I'm really impressed that this is your first project of this sort and yet you don't seem to be cutting any corners.

 

[Eddie.]

Keeps getting better. I'm really impressed that this is your first project of this sort and yet you don't seem to be cutting any corners.

Cheers, my aim is to have a really nice example, probably won't ever win any concours, nor will it be "the UK's finest example".

​Fortunately, doing things properly and paying attention to the finer details is what I really enjoy.

#fullynerdy!

 

[Eddie.]

Got a few bits done this weekend, including some seam sealer on the repairs:

I noticed that the sealer had cracked on the upright repair, anyone know why this would happen?

Arches undersealed:

Yesterday I noticed that the sill on the drivers side has been damaged:

No idea how that has happened, but obviously I was pretty gutted.

Fortunately Lee gave me the rest of the tin of paint used to respray the car, so I got a modelers brush out, and touched it in.

Not perfect, but a hell of a lot better than it was.

Random shot:

Also, picked up my upgraded front end.

All of this has been kindly donated to me by the lads on the E21 forum, I have to say I've been massively humbled by their generosity, cannot thank them enough.

Spec:

- 323i ARB (6mm thicker than my 316, and slightly improved design)
- Series 2 control arms (to allow the fitment of the 323i ARB)
- Stongflex polybushes (90A hardness, bushes for ARB, control arms and diff)

Gave the ARB a hit with the wire wheel and some white spirit and gave it a fresh coat of paint.

A good weekend in all, coilovers should be soon, and I need to chase up the status on my wheels.

 

[Eddie.]

Dried underseal looks so much better

Picked up my carpet and underlay today:

Mouldable charcoal carpet, bloody lovely to touch too. Very soft

 

[Dr HMS Derv Destroyer]

how mcuh did the carpet cost? need some for a k-series midget at work

i bloody love this thing, its got me looking at old bmws now

 

[Eddie.]

Carpet was £10+ VAT.

Segals Motor Trimmings in Salford.

Don't know if you're local, but if you are, go down as apposed to online. They have some mega bargains, especially if you get the end of the roll. My headlining, underlay and carpet has cost me £67 inc VAT.

​Bargains, I'm doing it right

 

[Rob]

Cracking work, loving the dedication still. I realise it's only you working away but god damn do I want to see more.

As for the sealer cracking, have you jacked it up or similar? Looks like stress from flexing etc?

 

[Eddie.]

As for the sealer cracking, have you jacked it up or similar? Looks like stress from flexing etc?

It's because I applied it too thick

 

[Gaz.]

Could be from it drying out and shrinking, especially as it looks super thick.

Lol, timing!

 

[matt_132]

I like this thread. Makes me want to take something apart and clean it.

 

[DaveDreads]

how mcuh did the carpet cost? need some for a k-series midget at work

i bloody love this thing, its got me looking at old bmws now

It is nice, but stick with the program Raz.

 

[Dr HMS Derv Destroyer]

Carpet was £10+ VAT.

Segals Motor Trimmings in Salford.

Don't know if you're local, but if you are, go down as apposed to online. They have some mega bargains, especially if you get the end of the roll. My headlining, underlay and carpet has cost me £67 inc VAT.

​Bargains, I'm doing it right

i'll order some off the net. unless i have the time to make a day out into manchester

bargin and a half. door card fabric for the midget was 100 quid

 

[Dr HMS Derv Destroyer]

It is nice, but stick with the program Raz.

i am i am price difference is a big gap. bmw 0, ford 1

 

[Eddie.]

i am i am price difference is a big gap. bmw 0, ford 1

Come on, what's this?...

 

[Dr HMS Derv Destroyer]

Come on, what's this?...

ffs, im stuck which one to choose. i dont think i can live with choosing a sapphire over a E21 :quiet:

* saves more and buys both *

 

[DaveDreads]

Cosworth.......that is all.

 

[Dr HMS Derv Destroyer]

bmw's finest engines.....