I just wanted to share my excitement with some folks who actually care. My wife is getting rather bored with my obsessing over the colour, and hearing about the exciting new parts rolling in for the car.

It's funny you know, I do this work for other people all the time, but when it's your own car, it's very exciting.

My car is being stripped to bare metal everywhere, minor rust work done, dents knocked out, and them sprayed a gorgeous new coat of Dupont Chroma base/clear, in BMW 138 Zinnoberrot! I know it's not a correct colour for my E21, but to hell with it. It's MY car, and I will do as I please with it. Besides, it has to be a bit of a show piece for my shop, so red is a good choice. Going to get some looks driving a bright red, right hand drive BMW around Vancouver!

Body guy is going to block it out, guide coat it, and block it out again, until it is arrow straight. Once the body is perfect, he's going to sand it between each coat of paint. I want this car to look like I could swim in the finish. My body guy is a true perfectionist, so I'm sure it will be that good.

What is all this going to cost me, you ask? Well, normally, a job like this runs about $6-8k Canadian. My cost? I am building a complete interior, from scratch for his 52 Chevy that has been chopped and channelled! Fun stuff!

Al

My car had the exact same process done. I hope theres a tissue box near by when you see the finished masterpiece.

:clap Cant wait to see it finished!

Could just be my twisted mind, but I'm hoping the tissue box is to wipe the tears of joy from my eye, and not for something else, right? :eek: :stickoutt

I can't wait to see it finished either. Originally, I was going to paint it, get the running gear in it, and drive it. But now, I'm thinking of taking my time, and doing the entire job before it turns a wheel on pavement. Paint, chrome, driveline, running gear, seals, new lights and lenses, and of course, I have something nice cooking up for the interior!

Al

quit the teasing, get to painting, and then promptly post pictures for me to see.

lol j/k :)

Tissue box is for the tears. I had a very wierd felling in my gut when I got her back on that day. I've been told its the feeling when a mother gives birth to her first child, except I had to wait 10-1/2 months

10 1/2 months? Wow, that's quite the wait. My guy usually gets cars turned around, and back in my shop within a month. My 323i should be no exception. Either way, it's going to be a nerve wracking day I'm sure!

Al

i love looking at freashly painted cars they look so clean please post them cant wait

Thats right, it is your car, dammit! Paint it the color you want. I had that same process done too, but in E30 diamond black metallic. CJ described the feeling well. *sniff*. I was so paranoid to work on it too, and I had a shell waiting for assembly, which meant I had LOTS of work to do. Hanging doors and hoods is the most nerve racking. I had to wait a year and a half for mine, but it was a side project for my body man so he didn't charge by the hour. I got a $5,000 paint job for $2300. Worth the wait. Enjoy the paint, look forward to seeing it.

Fortunately for me, I get to work on freshly painted, gleaming shells all the time, so there are no nerve problem re-assembling my own. I've been doing this for other people for the past 2 years(when I first opened my own shop), that it's time to have my own. I can hardly wait, and I WILL have pics on my site as things progress.

Al

lucky... sounds like a fun job. What's the link to your site?

Job? What's this funny word you are using? Ever since I started the shop, it has not felt like work at all. Stressful, yes, but not a bad stress.

Link is www.SeamsPerfect.ca - Due for a HUGE update. We've done a ton of cool stuff since my last one. The 323i isn't even on there, and either is the 2800cs we're working on. The 73 2002 is now in bare metal, awaiting some rust repair panels.

Al

Wow nice interiors at your shop :). Any plans of having E21 kits like what you have for the 2002? (my interior is trashed....)

Thank you. Tell me what you want for your interior, and I'll make it in kit form. No problem.

Al

Cool, all I need to do now is win the lottery and I can afford to fix the body and the interior...it may be years before I get to the interior lol....