Maytag: The Alpine '87 529i

[wkohler]

Well, here's what I learned on an exhaustive search trying to find someone to spray my 535is, and also in subsequent talks about the 528i and the 530i...

You're going to want to have him get the stuff that works in the system he's used to using. So, if he uses PPG, DuPont, BASF stuff or Bear Piss, you're going to want to stick within that. Of course, catalysts and hardeners will likely differ too even within the same brand.

If the guy you have doesn't want to or isn't comfortable using it, then if he screws something up, then, well you can imagine where it goes from there. I would imagine that might be the case since he used base/clear on your 528e when even Stevie Wonder would know his hands would turn white if he rubbed it hard enough. I spent the better part of two years trying to find someone that would spray single stage paint and then I decided to part the car out (there might have been an extra reason or two besides that one I listed). The guys are out there. They're just few and far between as so many like how forgiving the base/clear is. Even Mike (the guy painting the M535i) doesn't want to do single stage.

I have found that most of the people in this industry love to put the blame on anything and everything but their screw ups (and they do screw up).

The other thing (there's always another thing) is that zinnoberrot is one of those colors that looks absolutely wrong under a clear coat. Yeah, it's red, but not red red. Not THE red.

[tig]

Well, here's what I learned on an exhaustive search trying to find someone to spray my 535is, and also in subsequent talks about the 528i and the 530i...

You're going to want to have him get the stuff that works in the system he's used to using. So, if he uses PPG, DuPont, BASF stuff or Bear Piss, you're going to want to stick within that. Of course, catalysts and hardeners will likely differ too even within the same brand.

If the guy you have doesn't want to or isn't comfortable using it, then if he screws something up, then, well you can imagine where it goes from there. I would imagine that might be the case since he used base/clear on your 528e when even Stevie Wonder would know his hands would turn white if he rubbed it hard enough. I spent the better part of two years trying to find someone that would spray single stage paint and then I decided to part the car out (there might have been an extra reason or two besides that one I listed). The guys are out there. They're just few and far between as so many like how forgiving the base/clear is. Even Mike (the guy painting the M535i) doesn't want to do single stage.

I have found that most of the people in this industry love to put the blame on anything and everything but their screw ups (and they do screw up).

The other thing (there's always another thing) is that zinnoberrot is one of those colors that looks absolutely wrong under a clear coat. Yeah, it's red, but not red red. Not THE red.

FWIW, he showed me where clear had already been applied on the right front of the car...there is clear over the pinstripe.

I hear you on the zinno. But what am I going to do? Note the driver's door is already clear-coated and it looks great. Super hard to tell it's been painted.

[wkohler]

Hey, it's entirely up to you. If you have someone you're happy with, understands your needs and is willing to work with you to get a result you want, that's like roughly near 98.568794826% or thereabouts of the battle. I really only addressed the idea that single stage paint was unavailable, when in reality it's like totes available. You could bring it up with him and then decide if you like his answer or not. Or if you care? I just think it's important to operate knowing all of your options. All I can say is that if/when the time comes to paint my red or yellow cars, it will be clear coat frei.

[e28Sean]

Thanks.

You are kidding about the blue, right? Is this the first time you've seen this thread? There's only about 15,000 photos of the interior in it. (Hint: it's black and beige).

I have been following the thread, but didn't look back at the other pics. It honestly looked a bit blue on one of my monitors.

[leadphut]

i've always liked the results with sikkens paint. it's a bit more expensive though.

[Mike W.]

Chris is right, guys don't like to use it much, but single stage is definitely still available.

[tig]

Maytag's been driven pretty much daily since beginning of May since Vlad's been under the knife. A few Porsche days here and there, but mostly just doing the 'ol ~30 min commute with Maytag. Fu**ing great car.

Tonight I gave her a bath and noticed the light was looking nice when done so tried to find a place to take some pics. Kohler, I'm not, but these are better than most photos I've taken of this car.

[bkbimmer]

Where did you get the off road springs?

[tig]

Old Man Emu.

[bkbimmer]

Old Man Emu.

Interesting, I wonder if he still makes them? I have some homework this evening...

[davintosh]

Looks great, but could use some Saab moonroof love.

I hope to one day drive a nice example like that. Someday.

[Stevo12]

4x4 status or not, I'd still take it. It's looking great!

[leadphut]

is this the car with the wonky trunk seal?

[Ryki]

Beautiful write up. Funny thing is I'll have a similar situation with my E30s, the white 325is needs some DD loving and the zinnober M3 needs a restoration and rebuild. Cheers to all the updates!

[tig]

Vlad's bumpers were in much better shape than Maytag's. So now that Vlad has Euro bumpers, I've begun the transplant. I did the rear tonight.

Before:






During:




After:






Now I just gotta figure out how to cure the humps:

[wkohler]

Did you swap the VIN tags?

[leadphut]

white cars with euro bumpers look the best and would look really good next to vlad.

[tig]

white cars with euro bumpers look the best and would look really good next to vlad.

You *know* I've considered doing it. I actually had a line on chrome kit.

However, now that I've gone through the process of "doing it right" (mostly), I'm not nearly as motivated. It's a PITA to do right. And expensive.

[cddallara]

white cars with euro bumpers look the best and would look really good next to vlad.

You *know* I've considered doing it. I actually had a line on chrome kit.

However, now that I've gone through the process of "doing it right" (mostly), I'm not nearly as motivated. It's a PITA to do right. And expensive.

Especially when there's a blue euro car on the side yard just patiently waiting for some love.
Don't rush the red car of course, but at the same time, hurry up already!

[leadphut]

white cars with euro bumpers look the best and would look really good next to vlad.

You *know* I've considered doing it. I actually had a line on chrome kit.

However, now that I've gone through the process of "doing it right" (mostly), I'm not nearly as motivated. It's a PITA to do right. And expensive.

Especially when there's a blue euro car on the side yard just patiently waiting for some love.
Don't rush the red car of course, but at the same time, hurry up already!

dood - red, white, and blue euro cars?!? it's only American to complete the German trifecta. ya gotta do it!

[bkbimmer]

I would get rid of all three and get one cool car. Like an m540i.

[tig]

Today I cleaned up the front of Maytag.

It started looking like this:






Not horrible, by any means, but faded gray and the bumper had no shine.

I pulled the bumper off and was going to replace the bumper side panels with Vlad's, but the ones on Maytag are actually fine...it was just the rears that were really bad. Cleaned everything all nice. I repainted the vertical struts in front of the aux fan; the black paint that was there was badly worn and the white was showing through the grill.



The grills looked like this before. Quite gray.





A friend recently turned me on to "Wipe New". It worked great on his E30, so I figured I'd give it a try. It supposedly really holds up well. It certainly goes on good and looks great initially. We'll see how long it lasts; I'll report back.






Remember the rule: Never put a rusty part back on an E28. Fog light brackets.


Done, including Vlad's much shinier bumper:

[kzolee]

With an is spoiler, this car will look awesome. Needs some tasty lovering only.

[tig]

With an is spoiler, this car will look awesome. Needs some tasty lovering only.

Nope. I think the is spoiler makes these cars look heavy. I have an is spoiler that I could easily paint white and put on, but am not going to.

I have suspension plans for this car. They are convoluted and are based on the fact it needs new rear subframe bushings, the UCAs are showing signs, the springs require spacers to sit flat, I have a new rear subframe sitting around with adjustable camber plates for Vlad, vlad is too low, the blue car has a new suspension I'm not sure I want on it, I bought some used BC racing coil-overs, etc.... It will be lower, but only a little. I want to retain the "base model" look. I also really want this car to continue to have a ride that my wife doesn't complain about.

[tig]

Someday I'm going to upgrade the headlights in Maytag with Vlad's old Cibies. I pulled them apart and cleaned the insides of the lenses. The glass is pitted but they still work great.



I'm forming a collection of stuff to be powder coated, mostly for the blue car. Once I have enough pieces to make a trip to the powder coat place worth it, I'll get the buckets done. The ones on Maytag are pretty rusty.