I've decided to start actively pursuing some issues on my car because it's really, really becoming a problem to sit in it. For those of you who haven't seen my list of problems in the 'Calgary Owners??' thread, see below for reference:

Esthetics:

1 - New Bumper
2 - New front clip (with new kidneys)
3 - New Fog Lights
4 - Respray front half of car after prepping.

Mechanical:

1 - New suspension OR new strut mount. I have an issue with the camber on the front passenger wheel. It's leaning in at about -3 degrees, which is enough to allow my summers to lean into the strut, causing punctures and annoying wobbles.

2 - Sunroof motor. The damn thing got stuck OPEN last year at the end of Fall. I tried to salvage the motor by rolling the panel in manually, but the damn thing stripped and I had to remove the motor (forcefully) to get the lid closed again.

3 - New tires. Above suspension problem tore my Dunlops apart, need new ones.

4 - Drivers seat. Forward and reverse motion doesn't work as well as the heat.

5 - No AC...This fix may be as simple as re-filling it, I'm sure there's no pressure in there.

6 - ACS/ABS light is on. Should be a sensor or 4 to correct this issue.

I want to start with correcting the gross frond end of my car. I've been led on to a strut mount that perhaps can correct my camber, so if bimmerworld ever gets back to me, I may not have to get new suspension.

I guess, mainly, what I'm looking for is any one who would have anything to get my car looking better. I should be okay with the mechanical aspects of the grossness...let me know if you have any of the esthetic spare parts around.

Alejandro, any body parts up there in Edmonton? E36 M3 front bump, in particular? I have to go up to Edmonton soon anyways to pick up the gfs cat, so it could be a double wammy if you have some stuff up there that I could use.

do the work yourself, mang. easy business. i'm gonna be ripping the front of my car off when i get it back from my insurance work. i ordered new depo/hid/whatever headlights, and angel eyes, and corners, and side markers. i'm going to be blacking out my grilles, stripping down my bumper, priming, painting, clear coating, and the same to my nose panel. making my own under panel, and brake ducts, and mesh insert. maybe stripping the hood and repainting/clear coating.
should be quite the project. haha.

but, i work across from a sandblasting place, so thats how i'm stripping paint off the metal stuff. they charge hourly, and you could do your hood, fenders and nosepanel in probably an hour, tops. painting is easy. go to advance auto color on 28th st NE off memorial. they can match your paint bang on.

before.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v26/GardenBeast/wooo057.jpg


after.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v26/GardenBeast/painted1.jpg


but i gotta redo mine, since i didn't prime it... stupid paint doesnt wanna stick to old paint. gotta sand and prime... haha.

if ya ever need a hand, lemme know, eh? i'm not the best, but i pretend i know what i'm doing. haha

Yeah, right on man! I'm going to try and do what I can to get the parts before I start getting it ready to paint. The turd who had my car last thought it was a great idea to spray over the existing paint without priming it too. So, as it stands...I'm going to find whatever body parts I can, then fix the suspension, then respray it so it's not a total eyesore to look at.

The more work I do myself, the happier I'll be. I've already done a substantial amount to it, I just need a place to work on it now that I don't have a garage. I know out east, there's tons of garages that you can rent by the hour/day so you can work on your car. Is there any such thing here?

there is, i think. in inglewood there was, anyways. i use my works shop a lot. it's huge. big yard to work in too.

there is, i think. in inglewood there was, anyways. i use my works shop a lot. it's huge. big yard to work in too.

Where do you work? what do you do?

i work at Stonetile. concrete tile siding. we have 2 big ass warehouses, and i use my offices one all the time to do repairs. lots of tools. no lifts, tho. :(

i work at Stonetile. concrete tile siding. we have 2 big ass warehouses, and i use my offices one all the time to do repairs. lots of tools. no lifts, tho. :(

Right on. I can probably get a hold of some places like that...it sucks having to crawl under a car for 17 hours though.

No one has any body parts for me yet?

Suggestions here. Should I give up on my car with all the problems and seek another decent car...or should I update this one and wait for a couple more years and seek an M?

If I wait, there's a possibility that I may even be able to get myself an Icabob special (read: M5)...only not white. lol. However, I take a risk in investing money into the current car because more problems may stem, making the repairs not feasible...

:dunno

Anyone know what the little nub at the outer end of the front passenger wishbone is called? It's about 4 or 5 inches long, two bolts and two bushings...attaches the wishbone to, I think, the steering knuckle.

One, or both, of the bushings are worn and I'm gong to get this replaced asap so nothing fatal happens...

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/5669/partsdiagramsr8.png

Real OEM calls it a 'wheel suspension joint'...but mine doesn't look like what's pictured. Mine looks more like a small, thick wrench with two enclosed ends that hold the bushings and bolts....

lower control arm bushings?

I wouldn't think it'd be a control arm...I think I'm just going to call up the Dealership fellas and start describing it to them. They may know based on my shitty description...

I thought 'lower control arms' were for the rear?