Bmw E46 & E92 Transformations [pic Heavy]

[Vyker]

As most of you know, I sold my Lexus about 3months ago, and bought a BMW E46 330Ci M Sport Coupé.

I've been wanting to get my windows tinted and callipers painted, so I did :D

Just thought I'd post here in case anyone was interested in it.

Gloss Black callipers, and medium smoke tints was the target.....

After getting in contact with Robbie at ValetMagic, and with the help of Harry from The AutoWerks... the work can be done!

To start off, some pictures I have of my car in my library, not the best.. but it just about shows the car in its "before" state.

From BMW AUC site..

After my only wash of it, back in September..

The alloy before, with the unpainted calliper, not very clear I know..

So off to The AutoWerks, workshop, and parked up inside...

A before shot of the doors open without any tints..

A before side view..

Some WIP shots with Greg, Harry's man!

Passenger door complete..

While Greg was cracking on with the tints...

Robbie started on the callipers,

Jacking the car up

[Vyker]

Greg at it..

Rear before

And After...

Front After [not clear]

Back onto the tints... 50/50

The passenger side all done... tints and callipers

The only decent "after" shots I have :(

Rear window

[Vyker]

Robbie working on it..

Some more shots

Tints after..

A reminder of the before shot..

And now..

Hope you like.....

As it doesn't end there... oh no!!!

There's more..

As I was doing this work, My mate wanted in on the act..

He owns a BMW E92 325i SE Coupé which looks/ed like this

What he wanted done is to also paint the callipers, but also refurb and repaint his 19" alloys, from BMW silver to Matt Black! :o

A bold move I'm sure you're all thinking, but he likes to be different with E92's now littered all over the place, bold action was needed.

Him and I together, changed his front grilles and badges from this..

To this..

Good transformation I thought, for the little cost involved..

So the work started...

jack up

And wheels off

Dunk the alloys in acid, and wait a bit..

Pressure wash off... Harry at work ;)

[Vyker]

And let them dry..

Robbie working on the callipers now..

Done!

And now all done!

^^^ Look at the state of the paint work! :o ^^^^

I'm still trying to teach him about looking after it!

He had a cracked alloy that couldn't be repaired...

The state of the cracks..

5 cracks in one wheel... madness

Anyhow, he bought a new one from BMW..

Here's a before and after of the paint stripped

And here's the finished product

[Vyker]

No centre caps..

Why.. cos its ugly

Need to buy some new black ones...

As you can probably see, the car needs a wash...

So Robbie was back to work..

All washed!

A sealant next, of the Megs kind!

[Vyker]

All done, and dark!

A big thanks to Harry and Robbie for doing the work, they were both very accommodating!

Hope you all like it...

All comments welcome :)

[Gord]

Some nice work mate :D the tint film that has been fitted to my cars in the past, has been fitted on the inside of the glass :duh:

Sorry dont like the black on black wheels mate, just not for me :shutit:

[Parthiban]

Your car looks really good, where are these guys based and how much did they charge for that?

I'm gonna sound like a proper novice here, but I always thought tint film was applied to the inside of the windscreen!

Not too keen on the other one though, I really like the E92 coupe, especially with those wheels, but don't like them at all in black, nor the dechromed grille - just my opinion though.

[aido]

I was just thinking that - my tints are on the inside too - so what were they doing there?

I love those 5 series - like Gord I preferred the original alloy colour though as it's something to offset the silver around the windows. Some dark rims with polished lips would look the absolute bollocks!

[aaronabbott]

Your car looks really good, where are these guys based and how much did they charge for that?

I'm gonna sound like a proper novice here, but I always thought tint film was applied to the inside of the windscreen!

Not too keen on the other one though, I really like the E92 coupe, especially with those wheels, but don't like them at all in black, nor the dechromed grille - just my opinion though.

they put it on the outside to get the shape of the window then put it on the inside :winky:

[Vyker]

Thanks for the comments guys,

As Aaron says, they put it on the outside to get early measurements, for later refinement. :)

The black rims are hit or miss, but I think, it just about pulls it off, in the flesh at night, its very stealthy, impressive :)

[aaronabbott]

what was the damage to the wallet

[Vyker]

Your car looks really good, where are these guys based and how much did they charge for that?

I'm gonna sound like a proper novice here, but I always thought tint film was applied to the inside of the windscreen!

Not too keen on the other one though, I really like the E92 coupe, especially with those wheels, but don't like them at all in black, nor the dechromed grille - just my opinion though.

Thanks, I like that its subtly done, nothing OTT in my world!

They are based in Slough, although ValetMagic are mobile, he works out of his van.

[Vyker]

what was the damage to the wallet

You don't want to know lol!!

All the work on both cars, came in at £690!

[sparkystav]

Both cars look great mate,

Stav

[Vyker]

Both cars look great mate,

Stav

Thanks Stav

[DJ Wozza]

Just worried you will get a tug, and the copper has a razor blade to make a mess of your front tints

Other than that looking good mate, though am still unsure on the black wheels :duh:

You can even bring your car to a meet (so long as you park it round the corner) :winky:

[sparkystav]

I really like the black wheel, esp with the centre caps out.

[WylieCoyote]

Very nice. I don't like the black wheels or the de-chroming on the newer one very much and I think the grey one looks much nicer. Out of the two I'd have the grey one without hesitation.

[Rich OB]

Love both cars mate the E46 is taty, i was looking into buying one before the Lex, you got the best colour too, red leather for me though!

Love the new shape too and i guess you either love the wheels or hate the wheels.

Fine motors indeed.

As for the tints don't they also heat them on the outside too to get the curve of the glass, shrink it to shape?

[Rsarin]

very nice indeed.i do actually like black wheels alot.ive gone and powder coated my 18" track wheels also but on a silver car.

i also use the csl rims on my e46 when the weather is nice,but most of the time they stay in the garage,safe from harm.

[Rich OB]

Love the E46 M3. Thinking about one next year myself! Grey, red leather, hard top and liking the CSL rims!

[Vyker]

Just worried you will get a tug, and the copper has a razor blade to make a mess of your front tints

Other than that looking good mate, though am still unsure on the black wheels :duh:

You can even bring your car to a meet (so long as you park it round the corner) :winky:

Thanks Wozza, I did pick the lightest tint for the fronts, and in daylight, I do question whether its even there! So I hope that it wont get me into trouble. fingers crossed.

I'll hopefully see you all on the 20th! I still owe you that fiver too ;)

I really like the black wheel, esp with the centre caps out.

Interesting, I was thinking of getting him some black centre caps, but looking at the pictures again, I might even just hammerite the rust bits in the middle, might look good!

Very nice. I don't like the black wheels or the de-chroming on the newer one very much and I think the grey one looks much nicer. Out of the two I'd have the grey one without hesitation.

Thanks, I'll mention that to him ;) "mines better then yours!"

Love both cars mate the E46 is tasty, i was looking into buying one before the Lex, you got the best colour too, red leather for me though!

Love the new shape too and i guess you either love the wheels or hate the wheels.

Fine motors indeed.

As for the tints don't they also heat them on the outside too to get the curve of the glass, shrink it to shape?

Thanks mate!

Yeah, he heated them on the outside aswell as the inside, seemed like alot of work for what I thought was "just stick it on the inside, easy!"