Post a pic of your car here!

[Pat]

@Pat: I think those gold wheels look brilliant, just the right dimensions and just the right gold shade to complement the car. The lip is worth the effort of refurbishing in my opinion.

Thanks. I know a lot of people that consider black and white to be the only colors that work with gold wheels, but I've always been a fan of green & gold together, especially with darker shades like my car's Oxford Green. I've thought about polishing the lips, but I have no idea how hard it would be or how much it would cost to have it done professionally, especially on one piece wheels like these. I imagine it's significantly easier on two piece wheels where the lip can be separated from the center.

[epoxi]

I think polishing is a bit too tedious, I can't see how it could be done without having to re-paint the gold centres. I think masking the mesh, grinding off the corrosion and applying a nice silver powder coat to the lip would work well.

 

They look good as-is so it'd still be a formidable improvement.

Edited March 8, 2016 by epoxi

[Pat]

I think masking the mesh, grinding off the corrosion and applying a nice silver powder coat to the lip would work well.

I hadn't considered that, but then I also didn't know you could mask while powder coating. I understand how the process works but I've never seen anyone do it with masked examples, it's always been whole pieces. There is a shop nearby that specializes in powder coating, I should take them by some time for an estimate. The centers are in great condition, so if I did get the lips sorted they would basically be fully restored.

 

I'm also trying to decide what to do for the center caps. They have caps very similar to these but they're all in poor condition, and one is broken beyond repair. I've looked for them online and people are selling them for $60 a piece, and I didn't even like them that much to begin with. I'm thinking I might just go with flat roundel caps.

Edited March 8, 2016 by Pat

[epoxi]

Those are some ugly centre caps indeed. I'd definitely go for flat ones, I'd be partial to getting ones with the BMW logo.

[Rewdalf]

In celebration for finally ordering all of the gaskets and replacement parts for my Porsche, with the leftover cash I splurged on some small things on my Golf.

Namely a silly little "MKIV" badge, black VW badge for the rear, and a better-fitting grille that doesn't look as tacky because the current one is, lets face it, awful...

And new splash guards because two of the old ones are MIA after the snowstorm...

 

My question though is, I want to replace my steel wheels but don't have the budget to include that as well.

I've looked through two junkyards for VW parts, but haven't been lucky since there either aren't enough wrecked MKIVs, or they get bought up too quickly...

I don't even need new wheels, just something nice to work with. I do expect to paint them though, before replacing.

[Pat]

Those are some ugly centre caps indeed. I'd definitely go for flat ones, I'd be partial to getting ones with the BMW logo.

That's what I meant by roundels. Though, there is one possibility sticking in the back of my head: these caps. They were offered for the old bottle cap style wheels in the 80's and they're pretty rare nowadays, but there are a few decent examples on eBay for acceptable prices (bavauto wants $30/piece - I'm not paying that much for f*cking center caps). I think they would be perfect for my wheels... but I don't know if they would fit snug. The MSW caps are 70mm on the clip diameter, and they fit really tight in the weaves and are just barely too big for the bottle caps (my L7's spare is a bottle cap). Last time I asked someone to measure the clip diameter on one of those BMW caps, I think they said 68mm eBay listing showed 69.50 - so, for all intents and purposes, 70.

 

I should really just gamble on them fitting, I can get one for $10 + like $5 shipping last I checked. If it doesn't fit, that's no big loss, and if it does I can order the other three.

 

Edit: f*ck it, I ordered one. The wheels in that picture are functionally identical to mine (16x7, 5x120, ET11), so if it fits snug on those then it should fit snug on mine. And if it doesn't, again, no big loss. Come next Wednesday, I'll have my answer.

 

Edit 2: damn, last time I looked at these someone was selling a pack of 3 for around $20, and it seems to have sold since then. Figures, if I had seen the image above when they were available I would have went ahead and bought all four. Let me know if you guys find more of these anywhere.

Edited March 9, 2016 by Pat

[turbocharger]

That's a nice limo, good luck finding those caps. I'd also consider tinting windows just a tad bit to emphasize that classy look it's got going on.

[-Silence*]

I don't mind the gold at all, with a polished lip they'd look great on that e34.

 

Some super dense ice fog rolled in last night as I was out snowboarding, made for a nice night to cruise around after.

 

[friendly luggage]

I don't mind the gold at all, with a polished lip they'd look great on that e34.

 

Some super dense ice fog rolled in last night as I was out snowboarding, made for a nice night to cruise around after.

 

 

I thought you were on a runway at first glance.

 

Colour coded my bumper strips After I took the photo I though I'd delete the side strips to see what the car would look like:

Not looking forward to the elbow grease involved but it'll be worth it

Edited March 10, 2016 by friendly luggage

[epoxi]

I hope the strips on the side of the car are just glued on and not hooked in, otherwise it's going to be a lot more effort to delete. At least you haven't got metallic paint, so a spray can job might suffice to paint over any filler you have to do.

[HeavyDuke]

 

I don't mind the gold at all, with a polished lip they'd look great on that e34.

 

Some super dense ice fog rolled in last night as I was out snowboarding, made for a nice night to cruise around after.

 

 

I thought you were on a runway at first glance.

 

Colour coded my bumper strips After I took the photo I though I'd delete the side strips to see what the car would look like:

Not looking forward to the elbow grease involved but it'll be worth it

 

Doesn't look half bad.

Edited March 11, 2016 by HeavyDuke

[Murciélago]

 

I don't mind the gold at all, with a polished lip they'd look great on that e34.

 

Some super dense ice fog rolled in last night as I was out snowboarding, made for a nice night to cruise around after.

 

 

I thought you were on a runway at first glance.

 

Colour coded my bumper strips After I took the photo I though I'd delete the side strips to see what the car would look like:

Didn't know you were such a gangster

Edited March 11, 2016 by KifflomBroBro

[friendly luggage]

I hope the strips on the side of the car are just glued on and not hooked in, otherwise it's going to be a lot more effort to delete. At least you haven't got metallic paint, so a spray can job might suffice to paint over any filler you have to do.

 

 

 

 

I don't mind the gold at all, with a polished lip they'd look great on that e34.

 

Some super dense ice fog rolled in last night as I was out snowboarding, made for a nice night to cruise around after.

 

 

I thought you were on a runway at first glance.

 

Colour coded my bumper strips After I took the photo I though I'd delete the side strips to see what the car would look like:

 

Not looking forward to the elbow grease involved but it'll be worth it

 

Doesn't look half bad.

[pic]

 

 

 

 

I don't mind the gold at all, with a polished lip they'd look great on that e34.

 

Some super dense ice fog rolled in last night as I was out snowboarding, made for a nice night to cruise around after.

 

 

I thought you were on a runway at first glance.

 

Colour coded my bumper strips After I took the photo I though I'd delete the side strips to see what the car would look like:

[pic]

Didn't know you were such a gangster

 

Oh my god you guys :0 My poor Micra haha.

Well I removed the strips today and there were no holes (I looked this up before). One side is a little darker than the surrounding paint but it looks way better. Once the weather improves I'll finish it up, but all the horrible adhesive is gone. So all in all pretty much looks like pic related ^

[JRC99]

Got the Camaro out of the garage (pushed it) , got the Chevelle running and cleaned up the exhaust tips (they were rusty. Carb cleaner and sandpaper fixed that.)

 

Chevelle pics

 

Tips before:

 

[JRC99]

 

The exhaust pipes themselves had red overspray all over them. No more!

Edited March 12, 2016 by JRC99

[friendly luggage]

Gorgeous cars JRC.

Last pic of the Micra

[JRC99]

Gorgeous cars JRC.

 

Thanks! They're my grandfather's, but they're my pride(s) and joy(s).

[ULPaperContact]

Can't be bothered to get an actual picture, but I drive this.

 

 

'Cept mine's green.

[HeavyDuke]

F*ck Michigan, f*ck Winter, and most importantly, F*CK SALT!

Rust always sucks, Gonna fix it up with plate work, resin+fiberglass or just gonna let it rust a little further? Should at least put some fat grease on it to prevent the rust going further

[JRC99]

 

F*ck Michigan, f*ck Winter, and most importantly, F*CK SALT!

Rust always sucks, Gonna fix it up with plate work, resin+fiberglass or just gonna let it rust a little further? Should at least put some fat grease on it to prevent the rust going further

 

Gonna replace the bed.

[Rewdalf]

Got that neat little MKIV badge the other day.

 

 

Just to let everyone know that it's a base model Golf.

Hooray!

 

Also new grille.

Basically the same thing as I had before, but actually proper.

I mean, I'll just let you tell the difference.

Old

New

 

New one actually fits into the lower bumper slots, and upper screw holes.

Not to mention it's the correct shape and doesn't leave a massive gap between the hood above it.

Never buy cheap, kids.

 

Also, here's... Well, a bunch of cars.

 

Engine comes out of the Porsche tomorrow!

Edited March 14, 2016 by Rewdalf

[Murciélago]

I hit a pothole earlier and the car lowered itself by an inch so no lowering springs required anymore.

[sivispacem]

Well, 3 required

[Rewdalf]

 

After a long rest, the Porsche finally moves.

Too bad it still can't go under its own steam.

 

Ironically, I would start it around twice a week to keep the engine turning, and let it warm up.

The day I moved it, it wouldn't start...

Good thing the engine is getting a complete rebuild.

 

 

Didn't manage to get it out on the first day, but everything is disconnected and ready to move.

[Pavle]

 

 

That is one beautiful car.

 

edit: my pride and joy next to a flipped over Favorit

Edited March 18, 2016 by Pavle

[JRC99]

 

-Chevelle picture-

 

 

That is one beautiful car.

 

Thank you! I hope to get it on the road this year. The tires are older than me I think (I'm 16) and it shows. It also needs a tuneup. I don't thing the spark plugs have been replaced since the Clinton administration.

[Svip]

When I bought my DS in 2013, its tyres were from 1992. I am glad I insisted on getting a spare wheel, because sure enough, one of the tyres punctured. Generally speaking, tyres ought not to last more than 10 years. 6 years on daily drivers, 10 years on more seldom used cars. Rubber slowly stiffens and makes it easier to puncture under stress.

[JRC99]

Yeah, car hasn't even been driven save for two very short occasions since 2007 or so. As such, they are severely dry rotted, and are actually cracking where the tread meets the sidewall.

Edited March 18, 2016 by JRC99

[sivispacem]

After a long rest, the Porsche finally moves.

Too bad it still can't go under its own steam.

 

Ironically, I would start it around twice a week to keep the engine turning, and let it warm up.

The day I moved it, it wouldn't start...

Good thing the engine is getting a complete rebuild.

When I see something like this being kept going and restored in an age of disposable cars, it always makes smile.

 

That said, I also look at it and think how awesome it would be with 924 Carrera GT bodywork and power.

[Svip]

When I see something like this being kept going and restored in an age of disposable cars, it always makes smile.

My DS will soon be ready for the roads again after a long winter of repairs.