1994 bmw E38 its a love hate thing,

[MARK]

so after selling my 89 orion I was on the hunt for an 80s or early 90s jaguar as my needs justified a big engine car as a weekend toy and the big cat just seemed to float my boat, and so it was ebay gumtree ect and after a few viewings it seemed honest john was on holiday for a while, I mean one guy advertising a very clean well looked after XJ6 with low owners and low mileage and a few tasty pics got my attention and a trip down to see the car at his garage, the seller wasn't there but his hoppo was so I was left to glance round the big cat, it soon became apparent why some of the pics were taken at strange angles and some not taken at all, the drivers side as per pics was mint until you got close and found the wing was not even attached to the car.... 12 months mot the sill was rotten and the door mirror was... glassles. the passenger side wasn't much better dints dings rust............. I had seen enough I got back in my van and drove off without so much as a goodbye, ok so back to ebay were something earlier had caught my eye, big green powerful luxury motor in the guise of bmw 7 series not my thing but again low owners low miles stacks of history and the usual waffle about best on the market faultless wont find better ect and so I though it may be worth a nosey after all the seller had good feedback off ebay with his car sales, ( TRADER ) sprang to mind but not advertised, anyhoo a trip was on to see the car and 1.5 hours later I was sat outside the sellers home with this big 3.0L v8 highly polished bmw sat on the drive, and so after another hour of inspecting and a test drive I came to the conclusion this guy is as honest as a trader gets, I mean the car was exactly as he said it was it was the dogs danglies and a handshake to seal the deal was done, now I always intended to use the car as a stop gap until something else came along and I was still on the hunt for that big cat then a 4x4 then an xr3i then a soap box, you get the picture I'm one of them guys that changes my mind more than my boxers, the 7 was listed for sale for swaps for what ever because as much as I loved the drive the comfort the v8 I just didn't like the looks the colour the boring box type bmw car it was,  strangely though every time I listed the car up for sale trade I soon changed my mind again and removed the adds this as gone on for nearly 10 months now and then one morning about 3 weeks ago I woke up and thought wheels... of course that's what the car needs wheels I mean it as wheels of course it does but they look like carp, so wheels and tyres were ordered and fitted, 18s staggered 9.5 rear 8.5 front, lush absolute transformation the car is looking better imo but still not quite there as of yet its lacking something like that wow factor it gets looks and comments but I want that omg look that same kind of response as the famous Rusty Slammington gets whenever someone firsts lays eyes on it, so toying with the idea of ratting the car at the moment ive just not decided on weather its going to be the full on rust thing or a couple of layers of multi coloured paint and a few hours with a DA sander to get that distressed patina look, either will do really as I like both, but for now a badge change is planned as the blue white thing is boring lol

[gettingold]

How about a little lowering and de-chrome the window trim I think that would look good.

[raymondmarble]

Welcome to the 38 gang Mark

[MARK]

Feb 20, 2016 18:31:06 GMT gettingold said:

How about a little lowering and de-chrome the window trim I think that would look good.

black trims would look better and a 30-35mm drop would have the car sitting nice

[MARK]

Feb 20, 2016 19:30:03 GMT raymondmarble said:

Welcome to the 38 gang Mark

thanks but it seems to me its one of them life long clubs once your in you just cant get out, well I guess once I rust and or rat the car then its not going to be leaving me

[MARK]

not quite the rusty look but sun was out today so it was out with the sander and some chalkboard black paint, and onto the bonnet and boot with the sander followed by a cold beer and then onto applying the paint with a roller, this stuff is great it rolls on nice and easy and settles flat as it dries , I intend doing the complete car in this stuff turning it into one big mobile chalk board for anyone and every one to doodle on. best thing is though a quick wash down and we are back to a blank canvas , also have some yellow tinting for the headlights to give it a little more euro look, more pics to follow as work goes on,

[07lilredwagon]

neat idea...a rolling invite to express some creativity....very cool

JP

[MARK]

Feb 29, 2016 4:06:18 GMT 07lilredwagon said:

neat idea...a rolling invite to express some creativity....very cool

JP

the possibilities are endless with a blank canvas and chalk,

[MARK]

slowly taking shape

[code109]

That's a big, cool but brave thing to do!!! Will be watching this closely looking good so far

Although if going full rat, then I'd see just how low it could go

[MARK]

so I moved along on this.... yep still mine still love it, need to clean and re black the bumper as its looking untidy at the moment, have acquired a set of 4 spots and a recycled bar type thingy to hang them on, bonet got some treatment this weekend to start the rusting and once its were I like it then it will be treated to a fresh coat of engine oil to darken out like the rest of the car,

[MARK]

May 22, 2016 21:33:32 GMT code109 said:

That's a big, cool but brave thing to do!!! Will be watching this closely looking good so far

Although if going full rat, then I'd see just how low it could go

lowering is on the cards, i want to be able to keep the car as a daily driver so without compromising the ride comfort I think 40mm might just do the trick and can be attained with springs and at a fairly low price, coil overs are a bit pricey but only really something  I would consider if I wanted to go lower than the 40mm. i may even take a look at the rear camber as it looks to be a straight forward job on the 38 with an adjustable camber bolt on both sides,

[ProjectBobcat]

Once you get a car to this level of 'rat' how do you maintain it? Can you matt lacquer over the rust? It looks cool, but youre right, the rust seeping onto the bumper makes it look untidy but i bet its really hard to avoid.

[JoshO]

Needs some big wide steelies and it would look AWESOME!!

[ProjectBobcat]

Aug 25, 2016 9:59:08 GMT JoshO said:

Needs some big wide steelies and it would look AWESOME!!

I was thinking the same, it is a bit different but its really getting there. Some steels would set if off nicely. The fighter style wing graphics are ace.

[MARK]

Aug 25, 2016 12:10:24 GMT ProjectBobcat said:

Aug 25, 2016 9:59:08 GMT JoshO said:

Needs some big wide steelies and it would look AWESOME!!

I was thinking the same, it is a bit different but its really getting there. Some steels would set if off nicely. The fighter style wing graphics are ace.

cheers guys, banded steels would be my choice and if any steels do pop up then that would be my next mission, the rust on the bumper isn't an issue, I will clean it and repaint it with chalk board paint as I originally did, the problem with the rust isn't really a problem, once the steel was bare viniger was applied with a spray bottle and starts the rusting immediately which then runs down the bonnet onto the bumper bringing fresh rust with it making a mess as you see, this is the same process I did on the rest of the car but once the rust as set firm I apply engine oil on a rag that not only protects the car from rusting away it also darkens the rust as you can see at the rear of the car and gives it a lovely sheen  also on the agenda is a bank of 4 spots mounted on a bar that's been recycled from work and need fixing to the bumper, along with some recycled mesh that is either destined to cover the front lights or the rear windows and the final touch is going to be an exterior sun visor made from chequered steel wich will also be allowed to rust,

[joem83]

Don't know if these are any use but ve t5 steels come in 18s and 5x120

m.ebay.co.uk/itm/4x-18-VW-T5-2003-2015-Silver-Steel-Wheels-Transporter-Banded-/361502126723?fits=Car+Make%3AVW&hash=item542b34b283%3Ag%3AlMoAAOSwv9hW1txr&_trkparms=pageci%253A20111033-6b00-11e6-9acd-74dbd1806693%257Cparentrq%253Ac3544a0f1560a357cdad6a39fffae834%257Ciid%253A5

[code109]

Tbf my b2 Audi is only an inch or so off the ground (only because the drive shaft wouldn't allow me to go any lower haha) and with the exception of speed bumps, the ride quality isn't too bad, and I daily it quite happily

[MARK]

Aug 25, 2016 20:15:17 GMT joem83 said:

Don't know if these are any use but ve t5 steels come in 18s and 5x120

m.ebay.co.uk/itm/4x-18-VW-T5-2003-2015-Silver-Steel-Wheels-Transporter-Banded-/361502126723?fits=Car+Make%3AVW&hash=item542b34b283%3Ag%3AlMoAAOSwv9hW1txr&_trkparms=pageci%253A20111033-6b00-11e6-9acd-74dbd1806693%257Cparentrq%253Ac3544a0f1560a357cdad6a39fffae834%257Ciid%253A5

cheers took a look at them but they are 7.5 j ready for banding, I'm running 9.5 rear and 8.5 front at the moment, to buy and band them they would cost more than my alloys did when bought new

[MARK]