Cleaning film off of the engine

[brucelee]

My m42 engine has a "film" on it that apparently was put their for shipping way back when it was new. This film was supposed to have been removed by the dealer when the car was new.

Question--Anyone have an experience with removing the film and if so, what products and procedures did you use to do this.

Thanks

[joebiv318]

When I first got my car it had this same film on it, it looked to me like someone took clear coat in a spray can and did my whole motor. Then my friend a year later bought a ti and same thing, so I guess they come from the factory like that? Anyways I took a can of paint stripper and carfully sprayed my motor down. let it sit for about 3-5 minutes. then get a scrub brush and a bucket w/ soapy water and scrub it all off. Then just hose it all off and it should come out looking realy good. You may have to repeat in harder areas, have fun.

[brucelee]

When I first got my car it had this same film on it, it looked to me like someone took clear coat in a spray can and did my whole motor. Then my friend a year later bought a ti and same thing, so I guess they come from the factory like that? Anyways I took a can of paint stripper and carfully sprayed my motor down. let it sit for about 3-5 minutes. then get a scrub brush and a bucket w/ soapy water and scrub it all off. Then just hose it all off and it should come out looking realy good. You may have to repeat in harder areas, have fun.

Thanks.

By any chance, do you remember what stripper you used????

Thanks

[joebiv318]

No. but I bought it at Wal-Mart. It had a picture of a chair, like a kitchen chair, on the can. It was a spray can. I think any paint stripper would work

[Storminmike]

Is this film you refer to the yellowish tint on the cam cover etc? By yellow I mean it looks like it may have been clear but it's gone off?

[brucelee]

Is this film you refer to the yellowish tint on the cam cover etc? By yellow I mean it looks like it may have been clear but it's gone off?

Yes that is it!

[Turbo-ti]

Yes thats a clear coat to protect from oil and chemicals but over time it turns that nasty yellow look. Got to your local auto parts store and get a can of aircraft paint stripper and go to town just remove the little cover in the center of the valve cover because it will melt it right away..

[brucelee]

Thanks. Will do.

BTW-anyone refinish that plastic strip? My dealer tells me he cannot get any new ones from BMW!

[Turbo-ti]

Yea i can get you a new one from my dealership!!!

[Storminmike]

Thanks. Will do.

BTW-anyone refinish that plastic strip? My dealer tells me he cannot get any new ones from BMW!

I'm going to do mine soon as the silver has faded. Masking with tape works but it is fiddly. I thought Plastacine (clay like) round the letters would provide a good mask too. Respray in silevr (or the three M colours :) )

[brucelee]

Yea i can get you a new one from my dealership!!!

I would be interested in this. How much and how??

Thanks

[Turbo-ti]

Well ill find out for you on tuesday, im off today but ill see what my cost is and let you know!!!

[brucelee]

Well ill find out for you on tuesday, im off today but ill see what my cost is and let you know!!!

Thanks, I appreciate it!

[Turbo-ti]

No problem it cant be more than 20.00 dollars my cost...

[J!m]

That stuff is cosmoline, as used on military firearms etc. for long-term shipping and storage (and as you have already figured out, it's pretty nasty!).

Be VERY careful with any paint strippers under the hood. The damage may not be redially apparent, but the insulation on wires can be made brittle by some chemicals (or be melted completely!) which could cause a short and/or fire. The airborne mist can 'speckle' the underhood paint too.

I suggest using Mineral spirits (not the low-odor type) and working with rags and old tooth-brushes (until your fingers bleed...).

For the silver paint on black plastic, I used some Krylon crap- 'satin' silver I found at Homo-Depot, and it matched so well, you cannot tell where I touched-up (I had some shipping scratches on my engine cover) really close match. Good old masking tape and time worked for me, even around all the letters...

Take it slow, what ever you do. And, by the way, the aluminum head will turn white with oxide almost immediately after removing the cosmoline. Get some high-heat clear coat on hand- acetone the aluminum after cleaning off the goop, then mask and spray the clear. Two thin coats per the mfg's instructions. Too heavy and it will crack and peel off.

Have fun!

[joebiv318]

If you really have the time and will, I took a Dremal and metal polish to my head. Also all other small metal componets like your mass air flow, the top to the oil filter housing. It really looks good when done. You will have to at least hand rub it out like once a month to keep it looking bright though.

[stormos]

i think i need some tooth brushes :p