Project BMW 318is: Tools And Finishing The Trunk

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Update by Tim Suddard to the BMW 318is project car
Jul 25, 2019

We are on the home stretch in our long project to restore our ’91 BMW 318is: We’ve replaced the dash, found the correct seats, reupholstered them in the proper material and scrubbed the ever-loving daylights out of the carpet, but we’ve neglected one area thus far.

Any guesses? If you said the trunk, then you’re absolutely right. The trunk needed to be scrubbed out, but it was just so filthy and full of mold. We again used Auto Shocker (available on Amazon) to get the smell out.

Here’s what we started with. How do people let their cars get this dirty?!

We first vacuumed and used to Resolve to clean the trunk panels, which weren’t too bad. Bad is a pretty relative term with this car, though.

Weirdly missing from our car was the spare and the tools required to mount the spare if need be.

Also missing? The complete tool kit that BMWs come with from the factory, because of course it is. Trips to our local junkyards proved fruitless, as it seems the tools are instantly pilfered from any BMW left in any kind of towing or junkyard.

First things first: We needed to find the tools to change a tire. They reside along the left rear quarter panel of an E30 BMW.

And finally, the original tool kit that sits under the decklid had been stripped clean. Both Al Taylor and Rennie Bryant had tools they contributed to our project.

Thankfully, both Al Taylor and Rennie Bryant collect such things and were willing to part with old BMW tools. Thanks to their help, we had all we needed to finish the trunk.

 

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Comments
stuart in mn
stuart in mn MegaDork
7/25/19 10:33 a.m.

That was nasty.  Looks like you still need to de-rust that little clip that holds the jack in place, though.  wink

Something to search for:  there was a nifty factory accessory plastic bin that fastens on the driver's side of the trunk, over the top of the jack.  It's maybe 8" x 15" x 4" deep and is handy for holding small items so they don't roll around the trunk.  My 325ix has one, it's the only one I've seen - I should take a picture and post it.

sfisher71
sfisher71 New Reader
9/8/19 8:39 p.m.

There were a few rusty spots on the (otherwise complete!) factory toolkit in my E24. 

I can't remember where I read it, but I got them sparkling -- and a few other metal bits around our beach home -- by soaking them overnight in a solution of white vinegar and water, about 50/50.

And yeah, on the Oregon coast, if it doesn't rust, it dry-rots. Or grows moss. 

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