On going M3 project *Pics inside*

[Octave]

For you that have stopped by my shop has seen my friend's e36 M3 that I have been working on. Well I have some update pics that I wanted to share. On an estimate I'm about 65% done now.

http://i36.tinypic.com/2mmtook.jpg
Center channel speaker for 5.1 surround sound

http://i35.tinypic.com/2lsvfpf.jpg
Modified stock door panel. Deleted stock speakers and map pockets.

http://i38.tinypic.com/bzz9j.jpg
Close up of trim ring.

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/OctaveAudio/Seo%20M3/DSCF3006.jpg
Full backend pic. The trunk lid will have a vinyl trim panel with a suede insert with the BMW logo in the center. A 10 on either side that will be trimmed out out with vinyl. The amp will be up against the seat when done will have a vinyl trim panel that will mold into the trim panel from the sub enclosure. The spare is retained for this install and will have a carpeted cover panel.

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/OctaveAudio/Seo%20M3/DSCF3001.jpg
Sub enclosure

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/OctaveAudio/Seo%20M3/DSCF3002.jpg
Rear deck cover panel. It will mold into the cover panel from the sub enclosure.

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/OctaveAudio/Seo%20M3/DSCF3003.jpg
Rear trunk cover panel. It will also mold into the panel from the sub enclosure.

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/OctaveAudio/Seo%20M3/DSCF3008.jpg
http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/OctaveAudio/Seo%20M3/DSCF3007.jpg
Some more of the skeleton work getting ready for some stretch fabric. Getting excited now

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/OctaveAudio/Seo%20M3/DSCF3032.jpg
http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/OctaveAudio/Seo%20M3/DSCF3033.jpg
http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/OctaveAudio/Seo%20M3/DSCF3034.jpg
Stretch fabric on. All that's left is some fiberglass resin, then on to the fiber glass and we are on way to wrapping this thing up. It's all down hill from here.

UPDATE!!!!

Yes, yes, yes. I'm making progress. Yay!

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/OctaveAudio/Seo%20M3/DSCF3037.jpg
http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/OctaveAudio/Seo%20M3/DSCF3036.jpg
http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/OctaveAudio/Seo%20M3/DSCF3039.jpg
Stretch fabric with some resin. Next the messy part.

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/OctaveAudio/Seo%20M3/DSCF3044.jpg
http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/OctaveAudio/Seo%20M3/DSCF3043.jpg
http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/OctaveAudio/Seo%20M3/DSCF3047.jpg
Fiberglass on. O man! I have a lot of grinding to do. Anyone want to help? I promise you won't itch toooo much!!!

Russ out,

[Oceanside A4]

:clap:

[M5Beast]

Cool, keep us posted! Great work!

[JRiggs]

looks like a super clean install can't wait to see it all said and done!

[WhoFlungPoo]

Very nice work mang!

[Octave]

UPDATE!!!!!:woot2:

[Octave]

I just wanted to share a short update. I've been incredibly business recently and haven't had much time to work on this but I'm finding time here and there. So let's start.

Bondoed up and ready to go. Most shops will stop here and wrap the piece but that won't do here.
http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/OctaveAudio/Seo%20M3/DSCF3097.jpg
http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/OctaveAudio/Seo%20M3/DSCF3100.jpg

1 coat of high build primer, sand and repeat. The only true way to get a smooth ripple free surface. Attention to detail is the key.
http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/OctaveAudio/Seo%20M3/DSCF3101.jpg
http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/OctaveAudio/Seo%20M3/DSCF3102.jpg

AAAAHHHHH!!!! Vinyl. Finally something in the trunk has vinyl on it. All the extra steps are clearly worth it in the end product. The next thing I have left is to router out the black plexi and aluminum trim and this piece is done. Plus a little something special that you're going to have to wait for. Stay tuned.
http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/OctaveAudio/Seo%20M3/DSCF3104.jpg
http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/OctaveAudio/Seo%20M3/DSCF3105.jpg

[JonnyChimpO]

:clap:

[hhspunter]

Looking good, can't wait to see the final product.

Just hypothetically, if one wanted their door panels done like the ones in this car, how much would that cost?

[DantheMan]

is it finished?

[Octave]

is it finished?

Not yet. Been busy at the shop with other projects and haven't had the chance to touch it. I have lull in activity coming up so I should be able to make some head way. I hope to have a good portion of it done this month so check back.

[DantheMan]

defenitly keep up the great work!!!

[Drex]

looks great!!

can you cover the vinyl steps you used?

ie, heat skrink vinyl, or straight vinyl?

what kind of adhesive, etc?

i'm always curious what other people use.

what kind of head unit? how about a car pc???

[Octave]

looks great!!

can you cover the vinyl steps you used?

ie, heat skrink vinyl, or straight vinyl?

what kind of adhesive, etc?

i'm always curious what other people use.

what kind of head unit? how about a car pc???

The head unit will be the JVC KD-AVX77. It has a full screen in DIN size and has the 5.1 surround sound out that we want.

I used regular vinyl that I got from the local automotive upholstery supplier (Bry-Tech).

I also use the contact adhesive that they sell by the gallon or 5 gallon. I can't think of the name but it is designed for automotive purposes. I spray it out of el-cheapo siphon feed spray gun.

While wrapping the piece above I didn't use any heat until it came to wrapping the vinyl around the back and the center insert. I like to heat and stretch the vinyl around the back so that there is at least 1/4" - 3/8" of unwrinkled vinyl on the backside of my panels. This way I know the vinyl has plenty of bonding surface on the backside. Unlike most people that do vinyl wrapping I never staple the backside of my panels. My view is if you have to staple it you didn't wrap it right. For heat I use a standard heat gun but have been wanting to switch to steam. With the steam you don't have to worry about melting the vinyl, which I have done before:mad: Also you have to watch out for over heating and over stretching. If you do either of these 2 you will get what I call grandma wrinkles. Some people let it go because most people think that is the way vinyl is but I will completely tear a panel down and clean the glue off of it and start over if I get 1 grandma wrinkle. I tell people when they go to a custom shop look at their vinyl work. If you can see more than one grandma wrinkle I would not suggest having them do any work. When I get to the side panels I'll do a complete write up on them since they have a lot of compound curves and will require several techniques to wrap.


Russ,

[Octave]

Finally I can say there is something completed in the trunk. System diagram printed up, aluminum and plexiglas buffed and you get the finished product. WOW! Something done :eek:

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/OctaveAudio/Seo%20M3/DSCF3173.jpg

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/OctaveAudio/Seo%20M3/DSCF3174.jpg

Now on to something that isn't done but there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Got the chance to throw some bondo on the side panels and do some work that you can't see, but trust it was a lot of detail work. All that is left is to do some detail bondo work, high build primer and the panels will be ready to wrap with vinyl.

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/OctaveAudio/Seo%20M3/DSCF3175.jpg

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/OctaveAudio/Seo%20M3/DSCF3171.jpg

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/OctaveAudio/Seo%20M3/DSCF3172.jpg

[Octave]

A little update for this week. I'm probably not going to have anything until the end of next.

Amplifier cover panel routered open, so now you can see how the amplifier is going to sit. The trim around the amplifier will be covered in the charcoal suede from the door cards. There will be a removable cover panel to protect the amplifier when the trunk is in use.
http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/OctaveAudio/Seo%20M3/DSCF3178.jpg

Here's a shot of the side trim panel molding into the amplifier rack.
http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/OctaveAudio/Seo%20M3/DSCF3179.jpg

This is where they separate the men from the boys. This is the one of the things to look for when you have custom work done. If a shop's panels don't line up, don't let them touch you're car, but that's just me. You won't find one non-fitting panel coming out of Octave. Not even a simple trim out panel.
http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/OctaveAudio/Seo%20M3/DSCF3180.jpg

Here's the trim panel for the front of the trunk.
http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/OctaveAudio/Seo%20M3/DSCF3182.jpg

More seam work. Yup. It lines up.
http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/OctaveAudio/Seo%20M3/DSCF3183.jpg

[Octave]

Not an update but wanted to share a link to another build for anyone interested.

http://www.orlandoforums.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=234

I should have an update though by the of the week or weekend.

[Octave]

Fabrication work for the floor is done. Next is the top of the trunk.

This shot shows the floor and the removable cover panel for the amplifier. A "///M3" logo will be imbossed into the cover panel, but I haven't really decided yay or nay on this one.
http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/OctaveAudio/Seo%20M3/DSCF3209.jpg

The amplifier trim panel and over panel have 1/4" round over on the edges. This will give an OEM appearance once both pieces are covered in vinyl.
http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/OctaveAudio/Seo%20M3/DSCF3211.jpg

The back part of the floor will have a removable panel covered in carpet. The carpet is a thick weave at 1/4". The side trim panels when covered with vinyl will line up with the top of the carpet. Details, details, details....
http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/OctaveAudio/Seo%20M3/DSCF3212.jpg

This picture shows you the 1/4" lip for the carpet.
http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/OctaveAudio/Seo%20M3/DSCF3213.jpg

[ThaiRacer]

So how much would something like this cost for the door panels?

[TMAC]

Nice work

[Gil540]

lol its been a year, this should be done