Right, first conference call of the day gave me a chace to prepare a reference photo for project completion. Hopefully I will have time to do some of the work in the coming weeks, work and weather permitting.
I am planning to get the paint done professionally and the wheels powder coated nicely in the new year which means I can try different things now to see how they look safe in the knowledge that they will get painted over properly later.
I am still undecided about whether to fill the sill holes or panel over them so will leave that for the moment. I will try a few of the quick cosmetic bits in the gaps in work I have today. The plan is:
1 - Side exhausts given and extra paint coat in black and reattached
2 - Headlight bowls in black
3 - Possibly a grille emblem
4 - Possibly some silver paint on the wheel rims
Fly screen...
... there are certain constraints. Plus having been the victim of the sperate bird strikes I am nervous without a full screen
Screen surround, black? - tried black in a photo mock up and it made the windscreen surround look very thick as the glass has a black border, then the black rubber strip and a black metal surround on top was too much
The original plan was chrome wrap which is currently out of budget but after the powder coating for the wheels and the proper paint job...
Work stop play for most of the day but managed to get a few bits done. Lots of time spent being blown about by the gale which meant I kept shuffling one end or the other into the garage as I worked on it.
I painted the headlight bowls black. The problem wasn't dust particles in the paint it was leaves and twigs!
Chrome highlights around the main grill and on the top of the bonnet vet
I fixed some mesh over the hole in the boot panel. I would have painted it black but I had put the brush I was using in the thinners by then.
I also fitted the fog light behind it and temporarily wired it in. Permanent wiring will be done when it is not dark, raining and blowing a gale.
Quite please with progress. Suprised what a difference the chrome grille surround made although the photos don't really show it.
I have decided I will try to make a panel to cover my sills. I originally thought to just get a piece of metal sheet with the edge folded over. I decided this wouldn't work because of the number of bends and curves required.
The green in the picture below is the panel required. It runs flat along the side of the car and curves under the bottom the of the car. The black lines are my attempt to show the extra curves required. At the front it bulges out to let the side pipes out and at the back it curves out to match the wheel arch flare above it.
I haven't played much with making glass fibre panels but what I have learnt so far is that the molds need to be strong enough to support the glass while it goes off.
I am struggling to work out how I can mold this as a single piece. I am guessing I can make it in several pieces and then stick them together. I am now going to scour the garage / house for suitable things to make the molds out of.
My level of expertise is minimal. Last time I used cling film to line the mold which actually worked quite well but I also discovered that the mold deformed when I rested it on the floor.
Any hints, tips of advice welcome.
The originals disappeared on ebay for £60.
I have been playing though and now have a different plan.
Extend the front wing panel down to the bottom of the sill.
Extend the rear wing panel down to the sill. Probably actually make a separate panel, bolt it to the sill and the blend it into the existing wing with filler as the rear wing is a big piece to start playing with.
Fill the holes along the sill.
I have mocked this up in cardboard and painted to see what it might look like. Unfortunately it got dark so the painting was completed by torch light. I shall inspect again in the morning.
Looks like I don't need a mold, just grease proof paper and an angle grinder -
http://youtu.be/g_FDYbWs5eY
Mitchel - I have edited the last picture on my previous post to show tyhe panel lines. The from and back would be removable panels with just the bit below the door being filled. If Mr MOT gets stroppy I will remove the front wing to show the holes beneath.
L R C - Side pipes are still up for debate which is why they have been removed for the week or so. I will play a bit this weekend and hopefully post up some more pictures while I decide. You are right about the taller tyres though. I am getting my other set of wire wheels powder coated when the money fairy arrives and might get some taller tyres fitted to those. Given the rate I am sliding the back end about at the moment though I might need to replace the rear tyres before then. :-) Glad you like the sliver on the rims. I was surprised with how well that turned out.
Taller tyres might help save the exhaust. I went under the back of the car earlier (which is why it is reversed onto the ramps) and saw a little marking on the cherry bombs. Maybe I could knock up a skid plate while I am doing the glass work on the sills.
Looks good Chris.
I don't suppose you want to make a sill cover panel and extend the front wing a bit as per my plans?
It would save me cocking mine up and whoever is getting number 2 might also be interested. I will be taking some more photos to more clearly show what in am planning.
If you are likely to help out please post or pm me over the weekend so I don't waste too much time getting covered in glass fibre.
Cheers
I wonder if this will persuade Chris to add sills to the standard kit?
Link to exterior door handle removal (just so I can find it later) about 1/2 way down this page:
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35961&page=3
And this looks pretty handy too :
http://adkusters.hobby-site.com/BMW%20Z3%20tis%20documenten.html
I also have had a few beers and still accept the critism/comments.
I am trying out different ideas before I decide what works. The biggest thing I have learnt is that what seems like a good idea in your head or photoshop doesn't always work. I don't want to get the car finished and decided I got it wrong.
Originally I thought the holey side sills would look good. They don't. I am really glad I didn't spend big money on a paint job only to discover that.
Side exhausts? Still not sure about that. I think perhaps slightly bigger and higher but that wouldn't work with the real exhausts. So real exhaust only or keep the fakes? Not sure yet nand will wait until I fit sills before deciding
CD badge. If anyone thinks that is the final badge then they are having a giraffe. I want a shiney badge there to see if it adds focus to the grille or not. Sounds like a little thing but it is surprising the difference painting the headlight bowls black made.
Silver on the rims of the wheels. I think it looks good at the moment. Close up it is just silver hammerite but it lets me make a judgment.
I am not running on the big budgets or with the absolute final plan. I am making it up as I go along on next to no money. Putting cardboard and sticky tape along the sills lets me see if they look better that way for 50p of paint instead of £50 for a showroom finish.
I show every photo up on this forum so you can see and jugs my thoughts and ideas. I listen, think and then decide to act. Please continue to comment, praise and criticise. You will create me a better car.
Waiting until the New Year (or the new sills from Tribute) before doing any more changes. Just enjoying the car and the attention.
I am an attention whore after all ;-)
I have removed the cardbord and tape fromt he sills so it is back to the holey look. mainly because the cardboard was about to fall off anyway.
Te side repeaters are to be replaced with Ford Transit Connect side repeaters which are small and round. Please decide and tell me where to place them, the options are at the top or bottom of the rear of the front wing. Bottom is current plan.
Exhaust will stay in place as I love the sparks over bumpy forest roads. I reckon the side sills need to be fitted before any decisions are made.
So far I have been told it is a TVR (most common guess), Triumph/MG, Alfa and Lancia.
I have also been asked if I am pretending to be a Ferrari. When I said "No, it is a BMW Z300 Barchetta" the bloke apologised and said he didnt recognise it without tthe normal white and blue colours. Puzzled me but made me smile.
[i]Was he talking about the BMW badge?[i] - I guessed the reference to the colours, it was the fact that he claimed to recognise the Z300 Barchetta once I had told him that puzzled me. ;-)
Still thinking about the comparison picture. Not sure if the hole below the light add anything.
Thoughts please?
Also thinking of sharpening up the rear arch. I was wondering if I could get hold of a section of rear wing from a Cobra or similar and simply bond it over the top of what is there to give more definition and the vent at the front would hide the different profiles. I will try to draw it but my skills with MS Paint are limited...
Edited picture to scale up the hole
It is positioned about the same place. Look at other pictures. The original has more pouting lips or more sticky out nose, whichever way you think of it.
Inside edge of the hole is in line with the inside of the headlamp in both cars (in my eyes at least).
Try rotating it in your mind the look front on.
The front grille on the original is wider which might be what is missing.
Zagmad - you are exactly right. At this point I am trying different ideas before committing to anything. The cardboard covers I made for the sills convinced me to get some proper sill covers. The chrome strips around the rear lights looked wrong. The cut up cd for a badge convinced me to add a badge to the final design.
All of these bits have now been removed while I enjoy the car and try to save my pennies to pay to get them done properly.
I may try faking the holes in the front. My biggest concern is that they are the hardest to undo if I decide they do look wrong.
I am only using the picture you linked me with as a guide. I also refer to all the pictures on page 2 (I think) of this thread that found when trawling the net before.
At the moment my car looks very nice but quite delicate. I am looking for ways to butch it up a bit. I reckon the biggest difference will be getting it painted properly as that will really bring out the curves.