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      08-26-2020, 12:31 PM   #1
DJKapeesh
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Unhappy Zombe1 135i Restoration/Build Thread

Long story and I'll try to keep it short and sweet, I am bringing a beautiful AW / Red spec 135i back to life after a horrible history with repossession and what appears to be a cover up from a track accident...

At the beginning of Covid (BC) I was looking for a replacement vehicle for my wifes Ford Focus Titanium 12' she bought 6 years ago. I managed to short sale it a bit for 4500. Giving a budget of only 4500 and what I was willing to put in for an upgrade at the time. Keeping in mind she wanted an X1 first gen or 1 series first gen I set about looking at vehicles.

I'm no stranger to flipping and buying cash cars. That being said I have never bought a car without first taking a look at it in person. This is the first and possibly last time I will do this

Based on the requirements that she refused to drive a manual, my only real option IMO was a DCT car which was made for the 11'-13' years. Didn't want to consider a smaller motor or 4 cylinder turbo without a manual. Already got stuck with the 4 cylinder tragic ford for 6 years so this time I would have to make the gamble.

Found this car well below any 135i or X1 35i listed anywhere for N55.
Sitting on a lot in Texas with a clean title and 4 owners. First sign of how bad I expected it to be was the headlights being miss matched, the terrible plati-dip all over the car probably hiding terrible paint or unpainted parts. The good news is that it had the exact interior exterior color combo, transmission the wife wanted. It also had a DINAN Exhaust indicating someone did modify the car at some point.






OK so $7000 plus shipping later the car arrived



HOW BAD WAS IT?

The list is long and I probably wont remember everything but I'll try
Repairs and Maintenance needed:
Cooling System Overhaul | Valve Cover Gasket | Oil Pan Gasket | Oil filter housing gasket | Oil filters | Oil | Wheel lugs | Tires | Front radiator | Front Radiator Fan | Front Core Support | Oil Cooler Brackets | Bumper Support | Hoses | Plugs and Wire harnesses needing repair or replacing | Underbody panel cover | Front right fender liner | Headlight Bracket | Headlights broken tabs front and left | Right headlight Ballast | Right headlight adaptive sensor | OBD cover | Spark Plugs | Ignition Coils | Confort access module | TPMS Bumper sensor | Confort Access bumper sensor | O2 sensor

For the body:
Front bumper stained with plasti dip
Right front fender stained
Side skirts damaged
Front left fender is wrong color
Hood appears unpainted or black and stained
Roof cannot get the plastidip all the way off












2 Gallons of dip dissolver and 3000 psi pressure washer
10 hours of spraying and removing plastidip
New front fenders, new 1M style front bumper, new OEM style sideskirts
Used 18" e92 313 (with tires I will be replacing)
Alpine white Paint, paint clarifier, sanding paper
Bought a whole front end from a salvaged car
Tried buying a used right front headlight and using it for parts and repair, unfortunately I will be buying a set of front headlights as this is an issue







Currently the bodywork is being painted by a friend (fingers crossed it comes out well). The repairs listed above have all been made except the front bumper sensors and the headlight brackets on back order. She is mechanically 100% but looks completely like a Frankenstein (we nicknamed her Zombe1 on the license plate)

See current pictures below






I will be posting updates and pictures as the body parts come in and the car gets possibly repainted or paint matched.

Currently the roof is an issue,
finding headlights is expensive,
wife wants a cf hood,
Comfort access still isn't fixed and has thrown me for a loop
she still needs new tires and an alignment.

Body parts came back from the painter friend.


Battery was having phantom draining issues. Completely dead and had to be towed to my mechanic. After inspection the coolant leak was an o ring, headlight brackets should arrive tomorrow. Waiting to see how she looks with everything put on except the hood.

Stay tuned
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Last edited by DJKapeesh; 08-21-2021 at 10:28 AM..
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      08-26-2020, 02:51 PM   #2
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Good luck with this build...

On the comfort access - the module which is below the rear passenger side cubby in the trunk gets wet (bad taillight seal or whatever). Hopefully it's just that.
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      08-26-2020, 04:19 PM   #3
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This video looks painful.

https://www.1addicts.com/forums/show....php?t=1739953

Good luck with the car!

PS - I like the 313s.
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      08-26-2020, 07:50 PM   #4
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      08-27-2020, 06:53 AM   #5
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Note to self: Never buy a plasti dipped car!

Nice project you've got there. Good luck and have fun with it!
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      07-15-2021, 11:12 PM   #6
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Updates

Car has now had the valve cover replaced by me because of the boost leak squeal coming from top of the cover.

Reprogrammed the car because the TPMS was not recognizing the sensors inside the 313 wheels to turn them off. Headlight adapter sensors turned off.

Looks like backup sensors do work after replacing the module. Comfort access features do not work and the automatic headlights and automatic windshield wiper sensors don't work either.

Battery issue was a fuse problem on the battery bracket.

New tires, to go along with the 11k in maintenance and repairs I've completed so far. Basically all gaskets, hoses, cooling, oil parts, front bumper brackets and clamps etc have been replaced.

Unfortunately the alpine white that was used to paint the front parts were a different alpine white and don't match.

Picked up the car and dropped it at a paint shop last weekend to have it sanded down for the remainder of the Plasti dip and replayed one color.

After taking the car to the mountains for a shake down last weekend I also discovered the front control arms are shot and the tires rub badly under hard turns. Going to replace the front control arms after it gets back from the paint shop and give her another shake down
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      07-16-2021, 11:07 AM   #7
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The automatic headlights and wipers thing, I wonder if it's related to the sensors in the rear view mirror?

Also, if those are e92 313s instead of offsets for the 135is, then there may be some fitment issues beyond just the control arms being shot. I don't remember the exact difference though.
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      07-19-2021, 10:50 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by asbrr View Post
Good luck with this build...

On the comfort access - the module which is below the rear passenger side cubby in the trunk gets wet (bad taillight seal or whatever). Hopefully it's just that.
Replaced this, no dice
The search continues
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      07-22-2021, 12:50 PM   #9
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Nice! Looks like a fun project minus the headaches of course
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      08-21-2021, 10:30 AM   #10
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Added a video to the main post
Body shop has had it for over a month struggling with the Plasti dip

Chose to go with
BMW individual Brilliant White Metallic

Will update some pictures when complete
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      04-19-2022, 08:41 PM   #11
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Update
After 6 months at the mechanic for an FRM replacement out of recall and the working with BMW to get the car to recognize the key I got the car back.

Took advantage of the down time and put a few upgrades and get some maintenance done. Suspension was blown and the 313 wheels were scraping in corners and bumps so the list goes:

Bilstein PSS 14 coilovers
VRSF 7.5 front mount intercooler
Seibon M3 style CF hood
Dinan Camber plates
MHD tune

Unfortunately still not painted and was just now able to get to the paint after having it stuck in the trunk for half a year. Having some serious trouble finding a place locally who can do the job where the other body shop left it incomplete.

Drives like a dream now, just wish it looked the part

Currently this is a 24k+ project car believe it or not and still unpainted
Attached Images
     
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      04-19-2022, 10:22 PM   #12
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This is the reality of getting a project car instead of a well maintained car to begin with. In the end you don't save anything and in your case it looks like you've spent more. Hopefully you've enjoyed working on it. That has some value.
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      04-20-2022, 05:54 PM   #13
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And if you want, you can always recoat it with blue plastidip!
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      04-20-2022, 10:54 PM   #14
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Great job man…
Keep going till you get it to where you want!
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      04-21-2022, 02:35 PM   #15
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I'm digging the progress on the build, that plastidip was so, so bad. Can't wait to see the nearly finished result of your progress. Keep it up man!
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      05-09-2022, 08:37 PM   #16
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Makes a 22K low miles car look like a steal! Good luck. At least you will know what you have I guess.
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      05-11-2022, 09:37 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fast1eddy View Post
This is the reality of getting a project car instead of a well maintained car to begin with. In the end you don't save anything and in your case it looks like you've spent more. Hopefully you've enjoyed working on it. That has some value.
Truth! I did the same thing with my 2011 128i - bought a project car and in returning/upgrading it to glory, I've spent almost as much as a really nice, low-mileage one would have cost (and my costs will only go up). But, that was what I wanted - I wanted to take on such a project.


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      05-16-2022, 12:42 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DJKapeesh View Post
Update
After 6 months at the mechanic for an FRM replacement out of recall and the working with BMW to get the car to recognize the key I got the car back.

Took advantage of the down time and put a few upgrades and get some maintenance done. Suspension was blown and the 313 wheels were scraping in corners and bumps so the list goes:

Bilstein PSS 14 coilovers
VRSF 7.5 front mount intercooler
Seibon M3 style CF hood
Dinan Camber plates
MHD tune

Unfortunately still not painted and was just now able to get to the paint after having it stuck in the trunk for half a year. Having some serious trouble finding a place locally who can do the job where the other body shop left it incomplete.

Drives like a dream now, just wish it looked the part

Currently this is a 24k+ project car believe it or not and still unpainted
Did I see you driving down Roswell Road yesterday (Sunday 5/15)?
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      05-17-2022, 11:12 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jwr0721 View Post
Did I see you driving down Roswell Road yesterday (Sunday 5/15)?
Yes Sir!

I was on the way back from an SCCA Autocross event with the car

Unfortunately my Valvetronic Actuator and motor most likely died so I was doing a bit of a limp home

I literally just did some maintenance before the event
- ABS Wheel speed sensor
-Radiator coolant hose and attached lower hose

This is truly the car that keeps on giving
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      09-07-2022, 04:19 PM   #20
DJKapeesh
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Update:

Some shots the body shop sent me of the car from last week
Looks like it's almost ready for pickup. Will have the details and full photos for you later
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      09-07-2022, 05:15 PM   #21
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Nice!

Last edited by Lester; 09-07-2022 at 05:16 PM.. Reason: Typo
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      09-07-2022, 06:20 PM   #22
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Back from the dead, good to see. I like blue, but that blue on it originally was awful.
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