[gaza01]

So finally I'm doing a thread to show the progress of my car.

History
Coming from an e46 318i which to me was bullet proof. Owned for 8yrs and never missed a beat. Then I bought e93 number 1 and within 2 weeks of ownership it was stolen. They broke in and took the keys.

After sulking and drowning in my sorrows I looked at the on the bright side and thought I'd try to improve on the spec of the first e93 which was black with black leather and a 2.0 litre petrol. Found this baby all the way in Hull.



Spec
325i (3.0L), msport, red leather and comfort access. When I got her she was 3yrs old and had 21k on the clock.

Must admit I wasn't too into modding so for nearly 2 years she stayed quite standard. First mod was Mtech AEs which were better than standard but not all that good. Then I did the number plated leds. The first major mod though was the bmw performance exhaust. (p.s. all pics are crappy iphone quality)

Here in my front room polishing up the tips


And then a quick video

Then I did a full 2 stage paint correction with menzerna polishes, 2500 on hexlogic orange pad and 4000 on helogic black pads. Its so rewarding but such hard work.







Then the next major mod was the wheels. When I bought them they were gloss black but I didn't like the gloss so rubbed them down immediately and painted them satin black.

Rubbed down


Then painted




The silver grilles needed to go so they were rubbed down and painted satin black








Did a bit of work on the leather bolsters
Before


After

Note the dye was still drying hence the colour variation. Once dried it was an exact match

So this was pretty much it for the car within the first 2 years and to be honest I was satisfied...and then I went to a Ace cafe meet and met Josh, Sumil, Sam, Steve and Mesh. This is where he modding bug bit hard. These boys stop at nothing with their cars and made me want to have my car modded as well.

So first off was a the 64w led lights from Ish - a vendor on here. Really good customer service too!




Then a quick refurb of the wheels for Uxbridge. 1 slight curbing but more so to freshen up the paint after the harsh winter.




Then thanks to a member on here (big respects to Jag) I bagged these for £300 in perfect condition and got them coded by Mesh





I also fitted this rear diffuser bought of Sumil. This was colour coded to sparkling graphite so a quick rub down and paint to satin black to match the wheels



Ordered these tips from cyba in black chrome and got them fitted


Then I fancied a drop as the front end is just to high so bought H&R sport springs.

Some after shots




close up of the rear


close up of the front


Then I got a full set of interior trim of ebay for £60 and painted them black with a red flake. Sorry I only have 3 pics of the trim at the moment.




Here's a good pic of the flake but the finish is poor. To be honest clear coating was a nightmre for me! Just couldn't get it right. I did the trim 4 times each time having to rub it down and start again because the clear coat came out rough or orange peely...but finally crakced it.


Then I started work on the calipers and hubs. The first theme was black brush painted hubs and blue calipers




state of the hubs and calipers




cleaned down using a dremel




Black hubs


Calipers primed




and then painted blue




Now as much as I love this blue and love the way the calipers look it just did not work with the car and colour combo so off the paint came. Cleaning off the paint was a nightmare and took ages but it had to be done. (p.s. I have 10 cans of this blue spray paint left if anyone is interested in purchasing some)

All cleaned down




and the final colour scheme for the hubs and calipers - anthracite




So with this blue theme squashed I was stuck for a colour for the engine bay. I wanted red but thought it could easily end up being too much red so was stuck. Eventually decided to try a combination of colours - red, anthracite and the black with red flake that I used on the interior.

Scoops primed and painted




Also wanted to freshen up the wheel bolts so painted them satin black but 1 bolt on each wheel I painted red.







Engine bay before


Before clear coat




After clear coat







Then managed a quick single stage correction on saturday before gaydon playing hide and seek with the rain


And this is how she was at Gaydon and will be for a while but there are more mods planned so I will update in time.






Now I got to say massive thanks to Sumil, Sam, Josh, Steve and Mesh. As much as the progress may appear seamless it wasn't. All the mods post the wheel refurb and led lights were done in the time between uxbridge and gaydon and I was battling against all sorts to try to get the car ready for Gaydon. I was working on stuff up to 1am some morning...and apart from painting my wheels I have never done any sort of mods / painting like this before. These guys offered loads of support and encouragement throughout the process. Shout out to dips as well for rolling my arches on short notice. I did have a 13mm spacer on the rear but it was catching so took it off.

Anyway hope you enjoyed. More to come.

[NickSingh]

Fantastic build mate! Looks spot on!

[achu]

mad build! a good read and that finish on the engine is so sikkk! i love it when the pictures do most the talking

[achu]

oh and unlucky about the stolen car but glad you got an upgrade haha...

[jag sahota]

Been looking out for this thread! REAR LIGHTS look mint!

[1sh@Crystalwhite]

Very very very good work!! Your car looks solid and great touches here and there!

I love how most your work is DIY! I really wish I could paint myself, Props! he engine bay is great and Im a big fan of your wheels! Blue callipers is not your everyday colour but you did an incredible job on that!

Love to see it in flesh!

[Squintstream]

Looks great! Some of the mods are not for me, but each to their own!

Would be interested to hear what product you used on the leather and where you got it from?

Keep up the good work

[AnthonyR]

Looking nice mate

[Alex.J]

Great work there mate.

Love the effort gone into this.. looks brilliant!

[P 5UML]

FINALLY THE BUILD THREAD IS HERE! lol

awesome mods so far bro and the best thing is you do most of the work yourself! so massive credit to you and your vision so far!

i still think you should colour code that rear diffuser hahahahaha

but in all seriousness it is a mint car and look forward to your future plans...which now you have met dips i know its gonna end up looking PHAT!

bring it on! hahaha top work and glad you are a part of the Custom Cars crew now

[ROW]

How does the h&r springs with non rft's compare (in terms of comfort and handling) to the oem msport springs with rft's? .... I'm in to minds if to get h&r springs.

[Josh1a1h]

Yes Yes Shaun! FINALLY!

You truly went all out getting your car ready in time for Gaydon! But it was worth it mate!

And i want to say a thank you for keeping me at it late into the evening on Saturday night too. I wouldnt have made it to Gaydon otherwise!

I look forward to seeing your future plans mate!

Your car has come along way! You must be happy as it is looking great!

[BoondogUK]

I recognize this from Sunday... Was impressed by the work that had gone into the car... even more impressed that you did it all yourself! excellent work...

What was the trick to getting the clear coat to work on the interior trim? I fell in love with the piano black trims everyone was rocking and am tempted to have a go... I know getting the clear coat right is going to be the key for this to work!

[$pringy]

Very Nice

[Shere]

Top job, very impressed with the self-work gone into it, makes it all the more special IMO

[Ste133]

Good work chap. Car looked great at Gaydon! Keep at it, lots more in the pipeline I hear...

[safety_james]

Mate, car looks great!!

Good work refurbing the wheels to, id love to have the knowledge to be able to do that myself!!

[P 5UML]

Originally Posted by Ste133

lots more in the pipeline I hear...

thats what happens when you join custom cars lol!!!!!

we are trying to convince you to do the same too Steve!!!!

[Josh1a1h]

lol Sumil is a recruiting machine!

[skelts]

Shaun car is looking great. H&R's gave you a great drop. Respect to you mate for doing all the mods and paintwork yourself. That engine bay :bulge. Excellent work.

Look forward to seeing the next mods

[G82Dude]

How much did your insurance company tap you up?

[AWBimmer]

YES SHAUN!!! Looks the dogs biscuits!!! Mad props for DIYing son, that bay is the way!! Phat!

Nice to see it in the flesh and the red bolts give it a great eye candy!!