To join the fun!

[Lespaulman16]

Hey guys and gals!

First and foremost, I want to thanks Marcus and Conner (MiniD) for orchestrating my new membership.

My name is Ben Karnes and I'm from Rockford, Tn (right outside of Knoxville). I have lurked the Mafia for quite some time now, and am glad to finally join the family. Coming from the world of (another popular BMW site) and (another popular VW site), the sense of community here is something that most car guys can only dream of.

I am a factory trained BMW tech (STEP ADP) and have worked for a couple of dealerships in the South East, a BMWCCA club race team and do BMW and VW TDI work on the side. I also do contract work with a couple Grand-Am teams on an as needed basis.

If anyone is in the East Tennessee area or feels up to a road trip, JohnIBarr01 and myself spend most of our free time working on our ZHPs. We have a heated garage and a decent collection of tools. If anyone ever wants to stop by to do some work, has any technical questions, needs an extra set of hands or wants to enjoy a cold beer and hang out, feel free to send me a PM or facebook message!

I drive an 04 ZHP 6spd with Alcantara and black cubes that I have had since September. As of now, it is mostly stock. I have replaced the LCABs, rebuilt the DISA, rebuild the cooling system, replaced the ambient temp sensor, added an AFE stage 1 intake, ZKW Interior and license plate LEDs, BMW Weather Tech floor and trunk mats, front plate delete strip, BMW Performance license plate surround and installed a Coby rewrapped wheel and shift knob. I have ordered parts and am going to rebuild and derattle the VANOS and replace the oil seperator. Most recently, I have been detailing it within an inch of it's life!

I look forward to getting to know everyone and offering any technical expertise that I have had the privalage of learning.

I know, I know, enough with them words. How about some peectures?

The day I brought her home
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t136/lespaulman16/59838d2a0a8711e29cc822000a1e9b89_7_zpsdde86e57.jpg

JohnIBarr01 and myself's ZHPs before installing my Coby wheel and shift knob
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t136/lespaulman16/e424a950100411e28a6422000a1fc2de_7_zps3d733df2.jpg

Swaping over electronics to new wheel
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t136/lespaulman16/f55f20f4102411e28a5622000a1fbe35_7_zpsf4a88d1f.jpg

Wheel after installation
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t136/lespaulman16/c72247c4102511e2830722000a1f9d75_7_zps97637f24.jpg

Detail of wheel stitching (Coby does incredible work)
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t136/lespaulman16/13fa1d481af711e2b93522000a1c864f_7_zpsc5e3c4f1.jpg

Shift knob after installation
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t136/lespaulman16/f56a5b221af611e2b479123138045d54_7_zps04c46f33.jpg

Little sunset action out of the driver's seat :)
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t136/lespaulman16/4a0106483c0a11e2954322000a9f134e_7_zps89aaadbd.jpg

Sitting next to the WRX
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t136/lespaulman16/429cd6a234b711e2952822000a1f9695_7_zps089fa00a.jpg

After a little bath action
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t136/lespaulman16/3e28ebe01a3811e2ad82123138190b51_7_zps229eb23f.jpg

Rebuilding DISA and Cooling System
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t136/lespaulman16/0e656bde39ac11e2963d22000a1f9cad_7_zpsd39671db.jpg

BMW Performance Plate Surround
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t136/lespaulman16/81869aee3d7011e28ce622000a9f13a7_7_zpsc25be8ae.jpg

Detailing the interior
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t136/lespaulman16/071470203dbf11e2bad822000a9f3047_7_zpsea3ad05f.jpg

After claybar, waiting for polish and sealant (note the redneck car covers)
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t136/lespaulman16/aaebef843f2c11e2b6c722000a9d0edd_7_zpsdcf1fb56.jpg

After polish, pre sealant.
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t136/lespaulman16/e9d0cdae410811e2b8e822000a1fbcc7_7_zps3d7c103f.jpg

That's all the pictures, I have at the moment. My apologies for the poor quality, that's the best my phone can do. I'll have to shoot some more

To clear up the questions before the are asked:
I believe the car has at sometime in it's life, suffered a front impact. The radiator shroud and support have BMW Parts labels on them, the headlights are OEM BMW, but they are from a Premium, non sport pack car. The repair job seems to be incredible, as there is no overspray on any seals, no tape lines, and no non-BMW parts installed on the car.

A couple of questions for you all:
1. Is this (http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=740796&highlight=chris+brown) the best way to paint the inside of the headlights? If so, what paint do you all suggest using?
2. My lower front grill is quite faded. What would you use to repaint it with?
3. Has anyone refinished their wheels? What DIY did you use?

Thanks for reading!
-Ben

[Hornung418]

Welcome!

From a GS3, this was sent.

[static667]

Welcome to the Mafia! Having your tech knowledge around will be pretty cool. Enjoy the new toy!

[GMATT]

Welcome! Very nice car. I am sure many will have questions for you, thanks for the offer of your help to any that need it. Sign up for the Mafia meet in May!

Gary

[JupiterBMW]

Great intro thread, and the car looks very nice. At first I could tell something was different about the front end, but I didn't know what. But yes, the silver headlight bezels. Just so you know, they're completely interchangeable with the black ones, so if you can source a set, I say go for that. The lights get quite warm and I'm not sure how long paint would hold up in there. There are plenty of guys with old headlights on here I'm sure as the ZKW lights burn out, so you might ask around...

As for the lower grille, any spray paint will do. Make sure to do a lot of coats and clear coat it too to give it some durability.

[danewilson77]

Welcome. Car looks dope. Properly constructed for sure.

I appreciate the legit intro thread with pics. Very nicely played.

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

[kayger12]

Welcome to the Family. Great to have you.

[MiniD]

Ben is a long time good friend. Great member for the Mafia.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Welcome, Ben.

[Mtnman]

Welcome. Im not far from you here in western NC. Car looks great. I always used a flat black spray paint for the lower grill. It can be popped out of the bumper without removing bumper, but its a bitch to do if its cold outside. I had to do this every year or so to keep it looking good.

I would avoid painting inside the headlights as it does get quite hot in there (as mentioned by Jon)

[ryankokesh]

Welcome! Car looks amazing, love all the pictures!

As for the lower grill, I went with PlastiDip for a few reasons: 1) I love the stuff and already had it on hand. 2) Super easy to use. 3) If it ever chips just give it a little respray! (I'm starting to feel like plastidip should be paying me for all this free advertisement they're getting out of me!)

[Lespaulman16]

I appreciate the heads up about the heat inside the headlight housing. That makes sense.
Does anyone have old headlights that they would like to sell the trim out of?!

Secondly, I appreciate the plastidip and paint with clear suggestions. How resilient is plastidip?

[johnrando]

Welcome. I used Krylon Gloss Black to paint my lower grill, on the car.

To give you an idea, here's a pic (paint's still wet, and I'd already started to pull some of the tape/backing off, but you get the idea). Also, with your skills and resources, please move to SoCal. :)

As for the wheels, someone posted up a pretty good wheel redo, I think it might be in our DIY section.

http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc481/johnrando/IMG-20111210-00071.jpg

[Lespaulman16]

Sweet. I'm going to pull the grill out and paint it. Will post pictures later

[Ryans323i]

Welcome. Great intro thread! Car looks good and sounds like she's in good hands.

Seems like you've gotten most of the answers you're looking for, I'll add one thing. I've done a lot of spray bombing, I advise a quick sanding with 300-800grit on the front of the grill. Then wipe it down with alcohol. If you have an air compressor, blow it off after the sanding and before the alcohol wipe. If you don't, no biggie. You're just trying to remove as much debris as possible. The sanding will help the paint hold to the grill. If you're inclined, sanding every nook and cranny would be best, but just doing the face will be good enough.

[UdubBadger]

welcome ben

shoot me a PM if you're interested in the TSE3 and we can chat. :)

[Torxuvin]

Welcome! The car looks great. I can't believe the price you got it for. (although it definitely needed some tlc) I drive through Tennessee all the time for work. I'll have to stop by sometime.

I just have some generic black spraypaint that I am planning on using. Hmmm. I know how to refinish polished aluminum wheels. Somehow I don't think it would work on the 135s.

I am with you 150% on the community. Coming from another bmw forum and a corvette forum that are both decent, I love it here. We will be glad to add your expertise to the mix. :)

[alexandre]

I've got a DIY bookmarked where a guy refinishes 135's.

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=961026

As for the headlights, I'm sure your local scrapyard will have plenty of black bezels as only the premium 330's non-sport non-ZHP came with the Ti headlights. You'll have to swap out your corners too. BMW P/N 63137165859 for left, 63137165860 for right. Can probably find 'em used on forums, as a lot of people are swapping their amber ones for clears. Couldn't find P/N's for trim though... Dunno if BMW even sells it separately. I'd be interested to know though, as half the clips on mine are broken.

[Lespaulman16]

Thank you ^

[3ZHP]

Welcome Ben, nice intro and the car looks great. Let me know if and when your heading down to Barber or Road Atlanta, after working with Harv and the rest of the crew from Northern Ohio BMWCCA at Mid-Ohio and Nelson Ledges I need to get acquainted with the tracks in this part of the country.

[cakM3]

Welcome Ben....just wanted to say very nice intro and hope you get as much as many of us have being here! :thumbsup

[imola red zhp]

Welcome Ben...

sent from Dennis' Personal Electronic Device

[Avetiso]

Welcome! It's nice to have another tech in here for advice. I see you have Titanium headlights on your ZHP. Looks AWESOME. I thought it would look totally weird, but pictures carry so much more weight than imagination! Get some more pictures up of Coby Wheel if you can, I want to make the move soon.

[Avetiso]

In case you don't know, my ZHP also suffered front end impact.

Follow my thread here: http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?8519-Bringing-it-Back-to-Life

Glad to know your entire front end it OEM, a lot of mine is after market. Although it is a shame your doors weren't blended, the change in paint tone is visible.

[Oli77]

Howdy Ben Silbergrau, and glad to see you got rid of the front license plate!

I'm 2 hours north.

[Hermes]

Welcome Ben, your car looks great!

[328ioc]

Welcome Ben! You have a great looking car and from your screen name it looks lime you have a superb preference in guitars as well.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

[Lespaulman16]

Welcome Ben! You have a great looking car and from your screen name it looks lime you have a superb preference in guitars as well.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

Only the finest :)

That said though, I don't even own an electric guitar at the moment. I sold my last electric (Ernie Ball Music Man Axis quilt maple) to fund my most recent acoustic. I'm developing a serious(ly expensive) love afair with Taylor's... damn these beer pockets :(

[328ioc]

Only the finest :)

That said though, I don't even own an electric guitar at the moment. I sold my last electric (Ernie Ball Music Man Axis quilt maple) to fund my most recent acoustic. I'm developing a serious(ly expensive) love afair with Taylor's... damn these beer pockets :(

Tailor's are very nice indeed. Must say I am more of a Martin fan though and I actually just bought a sunburst Squier Strat with maple kneck as a project guitar as well as something to keep my 04' SG standard company

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

[Lespaulman16]

I really love the sound of a good Strat. Martin makes a great guitar too, I have one of their DX-1s (super cheap, composite back and sides, spruce top) and I love it. It's been the most resiliant guitar I have ever owned. Spent many a night on the beach or out around the campfire, slept a number of nights outside and it's held up brilliantly. The tone is out of this world too. I have a soft spot for the tone of an HD-28 as well. I grew up playing bluegrass, and there's nothing that will take me back quite as well as a well seasoned HD-28 :)

[Lespaulman16]

http://euro-wise.com/store/images/00531.jpg
Ordered some new toys tonight :)

[danewilson77]

http://euro-wise.com/store/images/00531.jpg
Ordered some new toys tonight :)

:waldo

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

[Torxuvin]

:wub
Which kit is that?

[danewilson77]

:wub
Which kit is that?

Looks like ST's.

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

[Lespaulman16]

Looks like ST's.

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

Yessir. Got a deal that I couldn't pass up on them :)


Sent from an over-glorified pager

[derbo]

you should start a project thread :D

[Lespaulman16]

Yeah I need to do that


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