Update from Racerbruce....

[racerbruce]

Major ice storm in the Great Pacific Northwest....more time to deep clean the Red Rocket:

[Huz-Z]

Sweet!!!!!!

[racerbruce]

[Beedub]

nice car RB, but man.... i think your really going to regret this one!

[racerbruce]

Pulling one wheel at a time;
-Deep cleaned the rim, wheel well, suspension, protective plate, disc hub, caliper.
-Applied clear coat to protective plate, disc hub.
-Painted caliper.
-New BMW wheel center caps.

[e86nut]

Didn't realize you sold it! Me and my m coupe recently moved to seattle and I saw pics of your car when researching my purchase. Beautiful 335 tho, enjoy it!!

[racerbruce]

Welcome to The Great Pacific Northwest!
I'll drop you a PM.

Racerbruce

[Huz-Z]

Nice work! Curious how you got the brake hubs looking so nice and the type of paint used for the calipers. The calipers on my 3.0si could use a similar refresh.

Cheers!!

[racerbruce]

Originally Posted by Huz-Z

Nice work! Curious how you got the brake hubs looking so nice and the type of paint used for the calipers. The calipers on my 3.0si could use a similar refresh.

Cheers!!

For the calipers:
-Simple Green sprayed onto a rag and wiped em down.
-Wire brush.
-150 grit sandpaper to prep surface for paint.
-Isopropyl alcohol wipe down.
-Brush applied two coats of Rustoleum High Heat black paint https://www.homedepot.com/p/Rust-Ole...8502/100645381

For the rotor hubs and protective backing plates:
-Wire brush.
-150 grit sandpaper.
-Isopropyl alcohol wipe down.
-Masking taped rotor face, draped clean cloth over caliper, packing paper taped above to protect shock, spring, etc.
-www.touchupdirect.com Clearcoat spray can (or any suitable quality clearcoat spray).
-I love www.touchupdirect.com as they provide your exact OEM paint color in aerosol cans and sell compatible primer and clearcoat.
-I messaged w/them to ensure the clearcoat was compatible with bare metal and it is.

[Huz-Z]

Thank you for the very detailed and most helpful answer!!

[chickdr]

Racerbruce... Your car looks great except for one detail... The exhaust tips! They need a bit of a polish. Maybe you took the photos before you got to it?

[racerbruce]

Originally Posted by chickdr

Racerbruce... Your car looks great except for one detail... The exhaust tips! They need a bit of a polish. Maybe you took the photos before you got to it?

I confess, the "black chrome" exhaust tips are soiled and has tarnished the overall driving/ownership experience....

The factory exhaust system on the 335is sounds absolutely wicked @ redline....I've always installed aftermarket performance mufflers (Rogue Engineering Diablo, etc) to create a sports car sound - no need to touch this exhaust - it's incredible.

[wdb]

Are you sure its stock? BMW sport exhausts were very popular with the E9x crowd.

[racerbruce]

Originally Posted by wdb

Are you sure its stock? BMW sport exhausts were very popular with the E9x crowd.

It's stock.

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=18_0684

The driver side has a vacuum operated exhaust pipe flap that closes upon cold startup and forces exhaust flow to the passenger side via a dedicated pipe connection.

Much online conjecture from the Bimmerpost "3" site about when it opens, does it only open upon wide open throttle, etc. I asked for definitive operation of this valve from my local BMW stealership and they were of no assistance.

I tested cold startup and using a flashlight, looked into the driver side exhaust tip and watched it close upon cold start and watched it cycle back to open about 30 + seconds later.

Many on the "3" site plugged off the vacuum line (the exhaust flap is a normally open valve). I purchased an appx 3/16th ball bearing at Ace Hardware and placed it in the vacuum line as an interference fit and pushed the vacuum line back on the valve to cause the valve to remain open at all times, to enhance exhaust flow and visceral sound.

[racerbruce]

Cleaned all retractable top gasketed surfaces and applied Griot's Garage Rubber Treatment to refreshen their condition....

[wdb]

Ha! I just did that to my E93 a few weeks ago. I used Krytox GPL 205, which also worked wonders on my 996 targa's sliding glass roof (hmmm, do I have a thing for fancy roofs...). It's pricey but very effective, and a little bit goes a long way. I bought two tubes and haven't even used up the first one.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MWLDALQ...roduct_details

[racerbruce]

Originally Posted by wdb

Ha! I just did that to my E93 a few weeks ago. I used Krytox GPL 205, which also worked wonders on my 996 targa's sliding glass roof (hmmm, do I have a thing for fancy roofs...). It's pricey but very effective, and a little bit goes a long way. I bought two tubes and haven't even used up the first one.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MWLDALQ...roduct_details

Thanks wdb -
Your product looks great; mine is more of a liquid which required applying to very thin gasket surfaces with a Q-Tip; will purchase Krytox GPL 205 and give it a go.

BTW, tell us about the ultimate convertible you have....you know, the ultra-light bespoke UK constructed machine!

[wdb]

Originally Posted by racerbruce

BTW, tell us about the ultimate convertible you have....you know, the ultra-light bespoke UK constructed machine!

Lol, well, partly UK constructed -- the folks who put time into building the engine and transmission right here in the USA, and assembling the whole works, would like their due.

The car's been a real joy. It had a grand total of ~500 miles on the clock when I got it, which I have since doubled. As you might imagine it is something best enjoyed in small bites. My longest drives have been under 2 hours. Normally I'll go out for an hour or so. There is quite a bit of wind hitting the left side of the head, an artifact of the upright windshield and the cockpit's proximity to the rear fenders. It can get downright brutal at higher speeds, which in this car means 70+ MPH. I plan to invest in sidescreens so that I can do longer runs without being pummeled incessantly. In short, it's not a car for sissies.

As to the driving experience itself, well, there is nothing that compares to it among modern cars I've driven. Perhaps an Ariel Atom or the like would give it a run for its money, although I expect even they would feel more modern. There is no power anything, no nannies of any kind, virtually no electronics except the ignition module in the distributor. The car is miniscule among the monster SUVs and pickups of today. Steering is extremely quick and direct -- move an eyelash and the car changes direction. The pedal box is very cramped. I wear size 9 or 9-1/2 shoes, regular width, and it is hard not to hit two pedals at once. it's a real dance down there. The engine is genuine Lotus Cortina, side draft Webers and all. 4-speed Cortina gearbox. It makes marvelous noise.

Here's a link to some short clips I made back when the weather was better.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL...906S24OlZcx7zH

[racerbruce]

Originally Posted by wdb

Lol, well, partly UK constructed -- the folks who put time into building the engine and transmission right here in the USA, and assembling the whole works, would like their due.

The car's been a real joy. It had a grand total of ~500 miles on the clock when I got it, which I have since doubled. As you might imagine it is something best enjoyed in small bites. My longest drives have been under 2 hours. Normally I'll go out for an hour or so. There is quite a bit of wind hitting the left side of the head, an artifact of the upright windshield and the cockpit's proximity to the rear fenders. It can get downright brutal at higher speeds, which in this car means 70+ MPH. I plan to invest in sidescreens so that I can do longer runs without being pummeled incessantly. In short, it's not a car for sissies.

As to the driving experience itself, well, there is nothing that compares to it among modern cars I've driven. Perhaps an Ariel Atom or the like would give it a run for its money, although I expect even they would feel more modern. There is no power anything, no nannies of any kind, virtually no electronics except the ignition module in the distributor. The car is miniscule among the monster SUVs and pickups of today. Steering is extremely quick and direct -- move an eyelash and the car changes direction. The pedal box is very cramped. I wear size 9 or 9-1/2 shoes, regular width, and it is hard not to hit two pedals at once. it's a real dance down there. The engine is genuine Lotus Cortina, side draft Webers and all. 4-speed Cortina gearbox. It makes marvelous noise.

Here's a link to some short clips I made back when the weather was better.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL...906S24OlZcx7zH

As Sir Colin Chapman said...."simplify, then add lightness".

The video(s) depict incredible responsiveness to steering input and it sure looks like it has great power.

Thanks for the great description in your post and for sharing.

[racerbruce]

Love these uber-quality mats https://www.cocomats.com/

Coco matting is woven from coir yarn. Coir yarn is spun using the tough fibers extracted from the outer husk of Coconuts.

Purchased my first set for the Red Roadster (rest its soul).

[maupineda]

they kind of look cool, but I bet they are a b*tch to clean. and I feel the look of well-done carpet mats to be plusher, too bad the originals are kind of cheap. I would hate vacuuming those coco mats

[racerbruce]

Originally Posted by maupineda

they kind of look cool, but I bet they are a b*tch to clean. and I feel the look of well-done carpet mats to be plusher, too bad the originals are kind of cheap. I would hate vacuuming those coco mats

Vacuuming or simply removing them and shaking them out is a very small price to pay for a true bespoke look, fit and finish; love it that you can customize the colors to compliment your ride and there are multiple pattern styles, etc.