My E36 "Modena Brown Restoration "
My all time favoruite color in the the e36’s has always been Modena Brown, so i was determined to make it happen soon er or later and especially my E36 being hellrot red i knew it would look good.
Hetting a retrim woud cost over 2.5 k so was not a realistic option so i started looking at the Professional leather dys as it was somwthing i never was intertested in before and to be honest after seinhg some pictures and some peoples work i was amazed at the results that can be achieved.
Being kind of new to this my plan was to source a second hand e36 interior cheap whih in ireland is not easy, but eventually i found a complete vert interior including front and rear leather doorcards etc one up the north So picked that up at a good price.
It was filthy but not really torn or bady worn which was my main concern , i knew my work wold be cut out cleaning it. The reason i did not use my own interior was in case something went wrong i still had the oroginal so with the spare one i had a chance to properly experiment and luckily enought it was sand beige so agreat base color to work on.
So here is the interior i picked up and brought it ready for cleaning
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...psddbf171d.jpg
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps4aa31c6e.jpg
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...psa2ab7244.jpg
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps8d9d333d.jpg
The plan for the front doorcards was to remove the insert and dye it and bond it back to my black doorcard, this will be the most difficult part of the job
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps8d9d333d.jpg
As you can see its really filthy and needs a serious cleaning, to make lifeeasier i used a steam claner, dr leather, apc, nail brush all sorts of leather cleaner but the biggest help was the steam as it lift all the crap out of the leather
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps769f481f.jpg
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps6b3005b6.jpg
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps241fea41.jpg
Then i softened any neccesary ares with leather condirioner http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps9fe3a10d.jpg
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps9173a6ec.jpg
After letting them dry you can see the differnece before and after, it m ay look dirty in aptches but its not actual dirt as such but more so light stain which i could not removce but knew the dye would easily cover them
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...psbaeaeed0.jpg
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...psa8e0e460.jpg
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...psb7b77f30.jpg
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...psc7abcab2.jpg
So after waiting few weeks for my color to mixed up i was getting frustrated ,
I was anxious to get stuck in, the main thing in this kind of job is “Preparation” ios the key to a good result.
So the two main things i wanted to do was to us the cleaner that came eith the kit and the alcohol prep so to make sure i have good clean surface to work on.
Firstly i started on the small centre piece from the rear bench
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps1fcb2269.jpg http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps90cd318d.jpg
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps889af7c3.jpg
Look at the color didfference http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...psf20fc32f.jpg
Next weas the side panel http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps9a4a1866.jpg
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...psc8cb0db2.jpg
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...psff92ddfd.jpg
The other side needed some filler http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps6cd59bc5.jpg http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...psd64b7500.jpg
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps420a6284.jpg
Fianlly got the small pieces all done, to be honest its one of thise colors that hard to photograph but my lighting conditions did not help
[hr]
Here is a sample pic of what the car should look like eventually
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps39ffb44e.png
Starteed on the rear lower seat which was straight forward
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps0192539a.jpg http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps9a3f4897.jpg http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps6caeea0f.jpg http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps0d568a73.jpg
The top rear needed some filler
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...psa6c45397.jpg
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps5d0a3bfd.jpg
Biggest nightmare was the front door cards, i had to remove the insert very slowly with out damaging it and that proved impossibile, i eventually got them, off and luckily only a small bit of that pressed wood or whatever crap ots amde from broke off and was ledt stuck the the frame.
These seem tro be bon ed on my some very strong contact adhesive so i will have to do the same.
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps8d8e8727.jpg
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps343cc341.jpg
I was a little annoyed that there was bit of the front insert ripped off so i was thinking oif a way to build it up or fill it in in some way.
Could not really find anything suitable and slightly flexible so i managed to get some platic wood filler and tec 7 and i slowly made the shape again with my hand and plety of washing up liquid as a lubricant, it actaully worked iut well as its super strong and will flex a bit .
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...psa79e93f9.jpg
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps605dc179.jpg
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps1f5d21de.jpg
Had to remove the armrest from the car http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps9fb31723.jpg
Nedded some slight filler http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...psdc07dd5b.jpg
First coat
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps50460b36.jpg
Second coat and sprayed http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...psc800203e.jpg
Satin sealer applied 2 times for strength
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps42d82780.jpgght
Used a very fine detail brush to go over any hard to reach parts or stitching area
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps3c97fc25.jpg
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...psf29cff01.jpg
Here is the progress so far, bear in mind all these parts i hve not yet applied the sealer so it will look evern b etter when done but it gives you an idea
Left to do now is the two vaders but not sure i will do them myself or have them done for me
[hr]
and bond the door cards after i dye them
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps76c88bf5.jpg
Keep an eye on this thread for more updates
RE: My E36 "Modena Brown Restoration "
Good stuff Claudio man! Always love checking out your threads, always an interesting read :)
Should look great when it's done!
RE: My E36 "Modena Brown Restoration "
These are going to looking great against the Red with the top down.
Time consuming but well worth it
RE: My E36 "Modena Brown Restoration "
got last few bits done like handles and speaker covers
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps6d08aaed.jpg
also finished the front door inserts
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps2e40fe6d.jpg
applied 3 coats of satin sealer to protect everything
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps58ca8571.jpg
pretty much everything done and sealed except the vaders
turned out really well and the satin finish is nice and not shiny which is what i wanted
the color is this pic is soo off , must be the camera or natural light, really needs to be seen in person to be appreciated
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...psa7b3580c.jpg
more updates soon
RE: My E36 "Modena Brown Restoration "
Wow impressive turn around there. When I saw the first pics I thought you were mad but you really done the business there.
My E36 "Modena Brown Restoration "
I left everything to cure for a good week before putting it back in the car
Just started with the rear seats and the rear Panels as armrest
Only thing I'm unhappy Is the armrest because there was some wear on it and now is more visible because of the lighter color
Also having the fronts out gave me. Chance to really give it a good Hoover . Didnt really need it anyway
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/20/a9a4uta9.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/20/5atuta2y.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/20/gara4uvu.jpg
RE: My E36 "Modena Brown Restoration "
That looks amazing already!!!!!!!!!!!!!
RE: My E36 "Modena Brown Restoration "
Looks great,Ill have to get you to do mine : )
My E36 "Modena Brown Restoration "
Quote:
Originally Posted by COUPE ///M
Looks great,Ill have to get you to do mine : )
No worries
There will be a small fee involved !! 😀
RE: My E36 "Modena Brown Restoration "
[quote=claudio]
Quote:
Originally Posted by COUPE ///M
Looks great,Ill have to get you to do mine : )
No problem wouldn't expect you to do it for nothing :)