This BMW was a true 'barn find' which was awoken from a 14-year hiatus in a dusty shed in central Victoria, Australia, in 2016.
After a major
clean, it was slowly recommissioned (an 8-year process - there were many
other things happening!), with dried and cracked fuel injection hoses
being replaced, the Bosch K-Jetronic CIS injection being repaired, some
minor rust rectification done on the lower door panels, brake hydraulics
replaced and all coolant, fuel, and lubricants being drained, flushed
and replaced. Eventually, a full chassis reconditioning was done, new
windscreen, new body rubbers throughout, including all door seals,
bailey channels, window rubbers, new brakes, new moulded carpet, new
radial tyres, and a full respray.
Electrics were all
coaxed back into life after two decades of inactivity. 22 years after
its 'retirement', the car is now again a delight!
↑The car sees daylight for the first time in many years as the shed
doors are opened and rubbish removed from around it..
↑Slowly being winched onto a
trailer to take it to its new home.
↑After many hours of cleaning,
the car came up quite well. Beside it is a 1981 Mercedes W123 300D which
was also in the shed.
↑The original interior responded
well to a lot of cleaning and scrubbing.
↑Much work was done to the fuel
injection system, and some work to the body. The only rust was in the
bottom of the doors, mainly the driver's door, which was cut out and new
steel mig-welded in place. The rear spoiler was removed (I prefer the
original lines as penned by Paul Bracq, and I'd removed the front
spoiler much earlier), some minor dents in the bodywork repaired, and
the aftermarket pin-striping carefully removed.
↑The front apron was straightened and prepared for repainting.
↑The underneath
looked very good up on the hoist. The exhaust needed replacing (now
done), but all else is reassuringly good.
↑The entire fuel
system was renewed (other than tanks which were removed, thoroughly
flushed, then replaced). A generic in-tank pump was modified to suit the
BMW pickup, new main pump, new hoses throughout, the Warm Up Regulator
and Fuel Distributor were rebuilt, new injectors, and the only visible
bit of the system - these braided injector lines - were custom made in
the workshop. Brakes were fully rebuilt, wheels cleaned and repainted,
new correct sized tyres fitted, and new centre and rear exhaust sections
(with mufflers) sourced and fitted.
↑Doors and boot lid were
removed to enable the painting to fully get into all areas. Note the
delightful 1972
Honda Life also being resprayed at the same time.
↑After extensive repainting,
and wet sanding with 600, 1200, 1500, 2000, 5000 and 7000 grit
paper, and initial compounding, the various exterior parts get
reattached. Final hand compounding will follow closely, with a final
polish in another month or so. Countless hours/days/weeks go into
this process!
↑Finally driven out of the
workshop, for some final sanding and compounding out in bright
sunlight where I can really see the details.
↑The original interior all
refitted. Looking good!
↑The dashboard. Note the
last photo, where, in the vacant space left by the missing original
ashtray (not needed!) I made a panel that has a digital voltmeter (I
like to know when the electrics are failing) and a dual USB outlet.
↑I love these period perspex
headlight protectors I found on eBay, all those years ago when I
first purchased the car.
↑The engine bay looks
nice...
The
car is now getting really close to being perfect.
click here to see the other shed inhabitants