S33's progress
 

Thought I'd stick a thread up to list any works / mods done then it can be kept in one place :thumbs:

After buying from Millenium Heroes, it went into Barts for a full health check and passed with flying colours. After poncing about for a couple of hours awaiting the verdict, I thought I might be in need of a full health check.

Currently the only mod I had planned was then done. AP brakes front and rear, went for black calipers as had red on my GP and fancied something a bit more understated. The stopping power is now edging towards being silly.

Bought the carbon dash inserts off Vic and they're now in, also a spare steering wheel that will go away sometime for renovating.

Received an interior plaque today ( thanks Matt :thumbs: ) and that's now sorted.

Had it booked into Barts for new bottom end bearings and head gasket, all of which was planned as preventative maintenance having discussed with Damien the pros and cons of getting a BMW warranty. However work looked as though it was going to intervene and I would be away for 2-3 months so cancelled the booking. After having a chat with Emma (gf) came to a decision that after being away for most of the last 15yrs and having had enough of it, decided to stay on my current job which is basically part time. So it's booked back into Barts for the middle of September to be done.

Took it into a place called Chartwells today, a high end paint place in Derby that specialise in stuff such as Ferrari, Rolls, Bentley etc, for a quote for a front end tart up and a relaquer on the roof (stonechipped on the leading edge). They're going to mail me the quote next week which should be good for a laugh :hahaha:. The guy said that to do the roof properly they'd need to remove the front and rear screen and the roof bars as masking to the edge wouldn't to their standard, at least if it went there the work would be exceptional.

No other works / mods currently planned. Fancy a SS back box but for now the engine works and possible paint will be enough spending for the time being!

Hope to hear you will be fitting Cups followed next year with a











TRACK DAY

To be honest mate whilstever the car remains as an investment the answer to that is going to stay as no.

It'll only see a track from the car park side of the fence.

Should circumstances change and it doesn't need to be an investment then highly likely it'll go on track :thumbs:

Pops

You've done a great deal with your csl in a relatively short period of time.

Be interesting to see you paint work quote!!

Simpsons will do front end for approx. £1350.

18 months ago they wanted £1400 to spray the front end of the GP :whistle:

I got it done elsewhere for £600 and ended up wishing I'd let them do it.

I know, but trying to get you on track is going to be a running joke. When are you bringing it down in September?

Dropping off early pm Tues 15th.

Collecting mid morning Sat 19th.

Cheers. I'll check what I'm doing on the 19th

Be good to meet up for a coffee :thumbs:

You may not recognise me though, on way back from work so will have a suit on!! :whistle:

Well done Brian :beer: keep up the good work and you're welcome re: the Cecil placket :smokin: I'm glad it went to a good home.

:gayfight:

Quote arrived today from Chartwell for the paint.

Expensive but, one thing is guaranteed, it will be a 1st class result :thumbs:

As said prior, work includes removing the f & r screens and roof rails as masking up wouldn't be to their standard according to the guy who gave it a once over.

Price includes front bumper, roof, full bonnet and 50% of the way down the front wings. New seals for the screens and new roof rails.

Asking for £3,400.

Not cheap but not as much as I expected from them however, it leaves me a bit in limbo.

If it did get done it wouldn't be until Spring (dependant on work) but, in theory, I need to keep tabs on the spending.

Car was £34K, £4K ish has gone on brakes and with what is being spent on preventative work on the engine I'm going to end up being in for more than what the car is likely to be worth.

Secondly, if I had the paint done the car would be in immaculate nick, meaning would I dare use it??

Pops

Valid points all round. You're at a juncture now where to spend beyond your current outlay on the car will almost result in an in balance should you decide to sell.

As for the paintwork, from my experience having the front end refresh is part and parcel of using the car on the road. If you go down the Chartwell route it would pay to have the car painshielded. Fab company up Peterborough way. Once done your front end remains A1 indefinitely.

Rick H 's car has the above on his nose and it provides second to none protection from everything the car hoovers up.

Thanks for the input Ben,

In an ideal world I'd have no intention of selling and should circumstance change again that is going to be the case.

However, it's intended to keep for an absolute minimum for 5 yrs. If I came home now and never set foot again in sunny London, I could quite happily keep it for that long and not need the cash.

None of us have a crystal ball, just the hope that they'll appreciate in price :thumbs:

Good idea on the paint protection stuff, that'll get a dose of looking into.

I think the initial hit is going to be in the early days of ownership and will consist of getting the car how I want it. i know the brakes aren't necessay but they improve both the appearance and stopping power. Engine works aren't necessarily needed but, being done as an insurance.

Could end up like the GP, outstanding, nothing needing doing and everything that was done wasn't done to a budget but to how it performed...and then I flogged it :whistle:

CSL ownership
 

Brian

I am confident the csl market will steadily improve, way behind the GT3/RS curve but that's the norm and in a way its beneficial to all cesil owners.

The csl following the GT3/RS price hike would only end in disaster with of course the inevitable winners and losers.

As for outlay , its relative to time owned.

I'm into mine for "rather a lot" but hey aren't we all..... eventually :smokin:

I suppose the advantage of a Cesil is that losing on them is unlikely.

With the GP I lost a packet but it was done exactly as wanted as it was never going to be sold, was going to be my last car! Then along came the Golden Goose from Aviva and along came Cesil :thumbs:

If it appears I'm starting to flap about the spending on it, I'm not, just trying to be sensible for possibly the first time in my life :whistle:. That bit might not last long though.

Agree totally about the expense. As you experienced with the GP, if you're going to do it, do it right and on cesil that means lots of cash.

While I agree it's important to look after our Cecils properly (I've done my fair share :smokin: ) spending £3400 on front end paint is complete madness :119: IMHO, even if you're going to wrap it in cotton wool and never use it again ;)
The fact is, no matter how much you spend on front end refresh it's going to get chipped almost imediately, there is no getting away with it with the amount of crap on our roads and all these stick on paint protection solutions always look "stuck on".
All meant as MHO ;)

+1 :thumbs:

Simpson do a great job at half the price and match the A08 paint perfectly :smokin:

All accepted as in good faith Matt.

The reason for putting this thread together was to get others ideas and experiences on bits. We all seem to have the same things done or needing doing and if it gets suggestions going then it's working :thumbs:

Ta :thumbs:

While I've not used Simpsons my self I have seen their Cecil paint refreshes work and it was spot On :thumbs:
Even my local OPC can do a very decent front end refresh for under £2K.

:thumbs: I say it as I see it and always mean it in good faith mate. :beer:
BTW the only time I would consider this Venture-shield film paint protection would be on the entire CF roof as they are quite exposed and get a beating from the elements.

£3400 is madness.

I use mine exclusively on track.....:)

now at simpsons getting subframe done + intrax 1k2 fitted + wheel referred to a metallic dark red colour+ roof relacquer. don't think I'll be bothering to re-do the seals and all that. Thing is my front bumper has been re-painted twice in the past year...... all by Simpsons.

I don't see how you can prevent the front end from getting chipped up. well, for me, the annual front end refresh (+maybe headlight covers) will be mandatory.. Luckily simpsons matches the paint well.

I'll remind them i want to coax more front camber... :)

Will give Simpsons a call when the time comes.

All advice appreciated. Not to many paint places in Derby that come with good recommendations.

The only thing that surprised me about Chartwells price is that it wasn't more expensive!

Which kit did you go with for the subframe?

As someone who has just refreshed a CSL I would advise that you don't go for a Rolls Royce paint job if you plan to use the car. I considered that option but knew if I went forward with it I'd never drive the car and sweat every stone chip. Better to set it 'good enough' and use the car.

On another subject. I've said it once and I'll say it again. Changing a headgasket by way of preventive maintenance is madness. By all means have compression / leak down tests performed to check its integrity but performing open heart surgery on your engine for no good reason other than to give a warm fuzzy feeling is asking for trouble IMO. Engines don't like to be opened up, so much can go wrong. If it ain't broke don't fix it.

:thumbs::thumbs::thumbs::thumbs:

What,s built in BMW factory got to be better than on workshop bench
leave well alone Brian

One thing is guaranteed, it isn't having £3k plus being spent on painting.

Engine wise, there's a lot of thought gone into this and eventually we all end up jumping different directions.

Would an oil analysis also be useful in judging whether there are any looming problems with the bottom end bearings or gasket?

So you've done the checks and ascertained that you're head gasket has failed?

No....?

Madness to break an engine apart if it hasn't. Unless of course you're being paid by the hour to do it........

Gregor, I accept your points.

Your turn to accept mine.

Acceptance and agreement are two different things.

To keep it short, all options were looked at re warranties and preventative works with someone much more knowledgable than me on cars. He also happens to be highly respected and recommended on here.

I decided to jump the way I've jumped. It wasn't a flippant decision, just the right one in MY eyes. I don't expect everyone to agree, it's just my personal choice.

This is why I spend oodles of time on this forum and not "The other one"

Stacks on informed opinions minus the personal insults and/or verbal abuse when you respectfully disagree with others.

Plus the odd bit of piss taking which is good for a laugh. :thumbs:

+1 :thumbs:

Where's shimmy when you need him? ;)

In the Blue Oyster Bar :gayfight:

Matt

Can't help but notice the change in your signature........

If DUVAY does fly the nest, please vet the buyer. We can't have DUVAY going to any old owner. It's the heritage. I'm hoping you're just having a wobble.

Car does look Epically Mintos!!!!

Rear shot on the ramp....Kickin' !!!!!

Yep... finally facing up to realities. :banghead: but don't you worry mate ;) this won't be your usual desperate sale, I prommise you that :beer:
It'll be more like an interview process for an adoption, vetting for a worthy new custodial of my beloved DU**VAY :thumbs: Any BS and they're out :smokin: