Painted mirrors

[Guest Anonymous]

OK . . . the e12 and the e30 are done. It's the '02's turn. She is finally going under the knife for a full on face lift . . . going in sarah tan (uck!) and coming out bright red (oh yeah!). I want to go with exterior rear view mirrors that are painted to match the color of the car . . . I've seen a lot of pictures . . . any suggestions as to type/brand of mirrors to use. This is not a "back to original" restoration. As I am ditching as much of the "bright" metal trim (water traps!!!) as possible, I think the mirrors will look better painted. Info. would be appreciated.

[Guest Anonymous]

I don't know that the beltline trim is responsible for that much water trapping and rust. Yes, it will hold some and cause drips down the sides after a wash, but it seems the crimped edges of the hood and trunk lid cause the rust more than the trim.

That said, I'm far from an expert, and the job, if done right, certainly shouldn't cause more rust. Do what looks good to you.

I think beltline trim removal and the monochrome look was rather popular in the '80s (I was too young then to know). A pinstripe along the beltline can help a lot -- note that the hood and trunk lid cast shadows on the flanks of the car, and the stock trim along the sides helps to continue that shadow line (see the pic above). Hmm... "Shadow Line." Sounds like an idea for a trim package. Naah... :-)

-Dave

Colorado '71, all the brightwork

[Guest Anonymous]

yeah, you're right about the beltline trim no holding that much water . . . but once all those little holes are welded up, ground smooth, prep'd, primed and painted then I don't have to worry moisture hiding behind anything. No water, no worries. Bottom line, I just like that "shadow line" look without all the trim. PS - your car looks great.

[Guest Anonymous]

better than the chrome. I could probably find one,

or maybe a set if you're interested.

Rob

[Guest Anonymous]

plastic fabrication and mount modification, it's possible to combine E30 electric mirror motors and first generation VW Rabbit housings - the E30 control unit's contours fit into the back wall of the dash to the left of the instrument binnacle pretty well, too.

The Rabbit housings are ABS plasic with aluminum bases and take paint very well. If you have a Pick and Pull nearby, pull a few mirror units apart - if I remember correctly, the E30 mirror motor mounts directly to the cable control base on the driver side Rabbit mirror; the passenger side is a bit more work, because the mount is different - I had to cut the mount out of an E30 housing and glue it into the rabbit shell. There's enough room to fit the wires through where the cable controls on the Rabbit unit go.

[Guest Anonymous]

Is this a squaretail or a roundie?

Ultra contemporary? Slammed with 15" wheels and rubber band tires? Window tint?

Retro 80s monochrome with color keyed Panasports?

Some of the chrome pretty much has to stay. Vent and rear quarter window surrounds, gutter moulding.

Look for Hella model 4004 sport mirors. They were popular on Datsun 240Zs. The bodies are plastic and can be painted.

The Vitaloni Baby Tornado models (mentioned) were standard on the BMW M1. I saw an electric one on ebay a week or so ago.

Delia

[Guest Anonymous]

and lower trim lines is to accentuate a horizontality to our somewhat boxy cars. At places where you can view examples side-by-side (like at 02 Fest West, etc.) you'll notice that the cars with trim intact look longer and lower. Another feature that helps is to black out the "B" pillar (between front and rear windows) and if the windows are tinted this gives the car an almost 6-Series coupe-like appearance to the greenhouse.

[Guest Anonymous]

despite your desire for the monochromatic look. My '72 has chrome only surrounding the "greenhouse" and I recently installed the later 2002 (flat) chrome mirrors. These have a tight rubber gasket and really look great. Just another '02 opinion!

[Guest Anonymous]

...I saw the late '71s with the body side moldings and the wrap-around bumpers.

I lusted after the '73s because they looked even longer with the federally-mandated bumper brackets.

They were, in fact, longer by a couple of inches.

Changing things for the sake of "change" can make some upgrades look "dated." Choose carefully. Your choices will make a statement. In five years, how would you like a car that looks "so '03-ish?"

Vintage Versace from the 1970's is very cool! Last season's Versace is not.

Delia Wolfe

'73tii

Inka (aka "Orange Julius")

#2767256

[Guest Anonymous]

Thanks for the input . . . I am just going for a "clean" looking car. When I look at the other BMW's we have around the house (my restored "to original" '80 e12, my son's '87 535is and my other son's '88 325is. . .) I like the clean, simple "shawdow line" statement that is made without the waistband trim, especially on the e12. I think leaving off the waistband trim and the lower molding on my '76 square tail light '02 will give me that look. No honking flares, no 17" wheels, no hot rod flames, no bouncing air shocks, no teeny colored lights, no fuzzy dice (well OK, maybe I will spring for some fuzzy dice) . . . just a pretty much stock '02 without the waistband and lower body trim.

Bottom line, if I don't like the look it will be simple enough to change as I can always put the trim on later and swap out the mirrors.