BMW e46 330cI by Notloudenuf

[markyoung]

Awesome work. The transformation looks amazing!

[Notloudenuf]

Why not show some suspension replacement work on a car audio website right? Sure.
The shocks, struts, and springs are all worn out on this car. Maybe original, maybe worn out for the second time, I'm not sure. I got lots to replace and I'll do it a little at a time.
I had to remove my box and amps to get to the shock tower bolts inside the trunk.



This is how nasty the bump stops looked. I found a piece of that orange foam on the ground months ago and never could figure out what it was until I took this picture.


One of the springs was broken as well. So that's nice.


New stuff in



Still need to put the trunk back together before I take it out for a drive. I'm gonna do the front in the next few months cause the struts are just as ratty as these look.

This will give me a chance to redo the tune in the car since its apart.

[BigAl205]

Maybe replace the rotors while you're at it? Nice progress

[naiku]

This is how nasty the bump stops looked. I found a piece of that orange foam on the ground months ago and never could figure out what it was until I took this picture.

I remember when I replaced the rears on the Audi, the bump stops were that orange foam as well and just a mess when I replaced them.

Crazy you had a broken spring, any idea how long it was like that? That sort of unknown stuff like that can be scary when you find it, was at a shop getting tires, a wheel bearing and an engine mount replaced on the Cadillac yesterday, discovered that the axle nut was almost completely undone. I stood there looking at it for a second, thought something looked off, discovered it just barely hanging on. Given I have never removed those nuts, it's a bit scary to know the family had been riding around in there with it loose like that for who knows how long. I had replaced the rear brake pads about a year or so ago, but never bothered looking at the axle nut. Planning to jack it up in a day or two and just make sure it has not backed off again.

Looking forward to seeing the BMW sometime next year, pretty cool seeing all the progress you have made with it.

Maybe replace the rotors while you're at it? Nice progress

Haha when I got to that picture my mind thought "looks like brakes are up next"

[j-man]

Amazing build log Kendal!

[Notloudenuf]

So I've been rolling with the tweeters like this for about 2 years




I plan on making some tweeter holders out of this.

It comes with these little premix packages that are supposed to be the correct ratio

and some other stuff


We'll see how it goes tomorrow hopefully.

[chithead]

This will be even more epic!!!

[Notloudenuf]

Might as well get started.
Getting the angle right. I just used duct seal to adjust the angle mount tweeter cups until I like the way the were pointing.

Then covered with the lightest fabric I had and soaked in resin. This was still too heavy of a fabric to use


Next I wanted to reinforce it with some cloth

It left a bunch of air bubbles so I just used the grinder and ground it back off



I realized if I cut the cloth into small strips it would be easier to work with around the shape




Next came the bondo to try and smooth everything out

[Notloudenuf]

Sanded down the bondo and next used spot putty to fill in the pin holes. Sand fill repeat



I thought I was ready for some high build primer.....I was not
More fill sand repeat





Finally got to the primer phase. There were several back and forth with this step.
Here I am cutting the hole out for the tweeter.


They fit!





Even at this step I needed to do some more filling and sanding so I did.
They are currently texture coated with some Rustoleum texture paint I had lying around. It looks sorta like sand on them and that's pretty close to the plastic texture.
I'll probably knock that down with some 320 and then paint it flat black.

More to come later this week.

[Notloudenuf]

When I took the door panel off I found that the surround on the passenger side had been pushed in by the panel.
I have left the panel off while I've been working and the surround has healed.

Here is the normal driver side mid and surround that wasn't injured


Here is the injured passenger side. Like I said this has healed itself now.