Mark
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,818
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All change. Due to circumstances beyond my control things are going to start again from scratch. *Cue the head smashing into brick wall emoticon*
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Last Edit: Feb 3, 2012 15:22:33 GMT by Mark
BMW 320d (fridge on wheels)
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jonw
Part of things
Can open a Mouse with a File
Posts: 768
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What? !!!!! ?!!!!!! Have loved this project.
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Suzuki SV650R The good Triumph T20 The Bad BMW G650GS The Ugly Matchless G12CSR The Smokey Toyota Hybrid One pint or Two?
Ingredients of this post Spam Drunken Rambling of author Bad spelling Drunken ramblings of inner voices Occasional pointless comments Vile beef trimming they won't even use in stock cubes
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Onne
Part of things
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Oh no, hope all is well. Still a great project though!
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1990 Mercedes W126 300SE 1997 Mercedes W140 S320L
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dbdb
Part of things
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It sounds bad. Has there been an accident? David
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Mark
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,818
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No, lets just say the quality of undersealing and repainting of the shell left a helluva lot to be desired. A hint. Usually, if my camera is on autofocus, and 12 inches from nice paint, it won't find anything to actually focus on. In this case however... Anyway, it's now going to www.pristinebodyworks.co.uk and I'll be making weekly visits once work starts. It's been a waste of 18 months but it'll get there eventually and I know Mick will make it into the special car it really is.
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BMW 320d (fridge on wheels)
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Mark
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,818
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Despite everything going up, the waste of 18 long months, a big wad of cash and the falling snow, I finally have the car and all the spares back in my workshop. Operation Alpina e21 restoration take 2! Once Monday gets here I plan to lay out everything and draw up a plan. I also intend to document everything here in an effort to keep motivated.
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BMW 320d (fridge on wheels)
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dbdb
Part of things
Posts: 821
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It is so disappointing what has happened. Just at the moment everything should have come together and you should have been able to reap the benefits and the pleasure from all the planning, effort and painstaking research and attention detail - not to mention money, the damn thing gets a bad paint job. Does it need to be completely re-done?
Still, it be genuinely special when it is done and you have my respect for focusing on that, rather than the setback.
David
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Mark
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,818
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Hopefully, the mechanical stuff will be OK but the whole shell needs stripping and starting from scratch. The paint is varied thickness with several massive runs and loads of flatting marks beneath it. The sealing of the underside is curse word poor and offers no protection at all. I can't tell you how disappointed I am.
Anyway, rather than be too down about it, I am just grateful that I have some good friends who have helped me turn things around. (Thanks Frank!) Mick at Pristine does great work and he is helping me get the car to the high standard it deserves. I have every confidence that it will be done and done right this time. Sadly, there are too many so called ''specialists'' out there, who are prepared to bull***t there way through jobs. In this case I was told how ''lovely the engine sounds'' yet there aren't even any fuel lines and the exhaust manifold has no blueing from heat. It's obvious the engine has never actually run at all. There was one lie after another and nothing but a week or so's rushed work to show for several thousand pounds!
Sad times.
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BMW 320d (fridge on wheels)
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Mark
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,818
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Went over to Pristine today and spent a couple of hours going through all the stuff taken back from the original mechanic. Not a pleasant first sight. The ex M535 engine Jason sold me has been left to rust after the sump and timing chain cover were removed. God knows why? It scrap now either way. We went through all the boxes but sadly there is stuff missing. The seats are just filthy and a lot of the smaller trim bits will have to be junked and replaced instead. The bumpers are pretty good but I have a new replacement front Alpina spoiler. The Recaros are in awesome condition. They are absolutely mint and all the bolsters remain firm. They're about the best unrestored seats I've seen. Because I want to keep the original seats mint I will probably fit these instead though.
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BMW 320d (fridge on wheels)
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Mark
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,818
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What pi55e5 me off the most about all this is that I considered the guy a friend. I also fronted a big chunk of cash and went out of my way to get him work and publicity. In return I was taken for a mug and lied to time and time again. It's just good fortune that I was sensible enough to keep every text and e-mail sent over the past 18 months and I have irrefutable proof of his lies and poor workmanship. All of which will be presented in court. Anyway, onwards and upwards. I went over to Pristine today and took photos for the solicitor. In the end we just had to laugh. Before you look at the next few photos, bear in mind that on December 10th I was told the engine was running and sounded lovely! The answer is missing head bolts, no oil spray bar, a lack of adjusters etc etc. We even checked the bores and sure enough, this engine hasn't run in bloody years let alone a few weeks ago! Not the usual way of removing dents from a chassis rail but at least it confirms just what a solid & rust-free shell it is. The engine and box is coming back out over the weekend and we can start removing the paint - again! It will go on a spit first though (for real this time!) and the underneath can finally be properly protected. The rear subframe and trailing arms need powder coating too. I had a good look at the brake calipers too and they are the old AP units that came on the good old Austin Princess! They were a common upgrade on old Fords. It looks as though they were supplied to TWR un-drilled, enabling them to drill them to fit themselves. Obviously they're not as light as Wilwoods but they should still work pretty well. The original Bilsteins are going back on too. They were rebuilt before I bought the car, or so I believe, and the progressive rate springs seem fine too. New headlining went in but still some fettling to be done. Anyway, all being well there should be some real progress soon enough.
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BMW 320d (fridge on wheels)
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What a rollercoaster ride of luck your having with this. The joys of finding and buying it but the sad luck of all this. Still, you seem the right person to own the car and from here on in I wish you all the best with the build Certainly has an interesting past!
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1971 Ford Escort 1997 Peugeot 106 GTI 1998 Peugeot 106 GTI 2014 Ford Fiesta Zetec S
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Mark
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,818
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Thanks. Today, when we were stood around the car chatting about what the cars been through and the fight it's been putting up! We all agreed that there is just something about it. Even with no bonnet or grills it just has such presence and is an utter beast of a car. It's like a Euro take on a muscle car! I cannot wait to hear those 45's.
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Last Edit: Feb 8, 2012 23:18:53 GMT by Mark
BMW 320d (fridge on wheels)
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Bigdoors
Part of things
cherwelldoors.com
Posts: 176
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What an absolute TO$$3R. Had a very similar experience with my E12. Keep your chin up it'll be MEGA when it's done.
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bortaf
Posted a lot
Posts: 4,549
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If you find you have little bits nissing i might be able to help, i'm breaking this in a few weeks N London so not to far, might not be anything that can help but the odd bits like clips and stuff that i wouldn't sell on you are welcom to ?
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R.I.P photobucket
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Bloody hell mate, that is one big downer. Really pleased how you've managed to keep a positive outlook on things after being excreted on from such a great height. This is an epic car which deserves the very best rebuild. After seeing your '02 rebuild you are obviously the man to see this through. Keep looking ahead mate - this will be a superb car once completed. Be proud and good luck.
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Mark
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,818
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Thanks mate.
I'm going to have to sell stuff to raise the money to get the car done properly. All the work I did to get my e30 race car done will be enjoyed by someone else. Unless I win the lottery?! I'm taking the guy through the small claims court but even then, I doubt it'll be a quick process.
It seems I'm not the only person to be ripped by supposed mechanics too. There are far too many rip-off merchants looking to take advantage. Once I'm done with the courts I plan to let people know exactly who this guy is and what lengths he went to.
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BMW 320d (fridge on wheels)
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Feb 12, 2012 11:54:18 GMT
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What a pisser!!!! Looked like the car was well on its way to being finished.Having to start again must really put a damper on the project.After all the time and monie youve put into the car ,really feel for you. Hope things go quickly and smoothly in the small claims and you out the guys who did this shoddy and curse word work to your car.
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The louder you Scream the faster we go
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Kedge
Part of things
Posts: 80
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The bloke needs stringing up, hope all goes smoothly through the courts! Amazes me how often things like this happen!
Good to see you're keeping a positive spin on things, this car will be well worth all the effort in the longs run!
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1983 Mk1 Golf GTi Mars Red
1986 E30 316 Polaris Silver (M20B25 Project)
2013 Triumph Street Triple R
2005 Seat Leon TDi FR Grey
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Mark
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,818
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Feb 14, 2012 10:37:43 GMT
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Thanks mate.
I got a letter from the courts today so that ball is well and truly rolling.
Sadly, this whole episode now means I have to sell my track e30. Don't get me wrong, I know I'm lucky to even have it but all the hard work and expense has been for nothing. It will mean that whoever buys it gets a properly sorted track BMW but this has been an expensive lesson.
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BMW 320d (fridge on wheels)
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