 » Site Navigation | | | | » Recent Threads | | | | | | | |  |  |  | |  05-08-2007, 02:39 PM | #1 | | Junior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: UK Posts: 10 |  Engine Bay
Just wondering if there is anything/prducts avliabel to tidy up my engine bay?
The head itselft is ok but has little white dots on it, its just the materials aging but i want to knwo if there is anything i can do to make it look better and not be embarressed to open the bonnet!
Maybe a dress kit or something? if anyone knows where i can get something/make something/paint something to make it look presentable it would be great!
Thanks
BT |  |  | | 05-08-2007, 03:21 PM | #2 | | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Downtown Historic Fredericksburg, VA Posts: 339 |
you can get a metallic file, engine paint, plastic and masking tape for all under 20$ - after that, it's just being careful and deliberate with how you want it to look. past that, chroming  __________________
now when i hit that switch, I'M BOUNCIN. | | | | | 05-08-2007, 04:12 PM | #3 | | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Lincoln Park Capitol Hill, Washington DC Posts: 741 |  Painting valve cover
Quote: Originally Posted by BleMW  you can get a metallic file, engine paint, plastic and masking tape for all under 20$ - after that, it's just being careful and deliberate with how you want it to look. past that, chroming | I needed to replace the valve cover gasket and spark plug gasket due to oil seepage etc. So, I also painted the valve cover: __________________
It's always a great day to be underwater and play with the fish.....preserve our oceans and reefs"
Fariz
1997 318ti, Hellrot (Bright Red), Dinan Stage 2 Chip
16x7 OEM sport Wheels/X-Brace/Custom Strut Brace/Cold Air Intake/M-Tec Steering Wheel/Koni Adjustable FrontShocks/ Bilstein Sport Rear Shocks /H&R Sport Springs/Custom fabricated strut tower brace/Rear Strut brace, Stromung Exhaust
Future Mods: E46 17" wheels or Kosei K-1 17x8.5s | | | | | 05-08-2007, 07:41 PM | #4 | | Site Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Naples, Florida Posts: 238 |
Check out my engine bay! When I went to change my valve cover gasket, I took a wire brush and some cleaner and cleaned off the head. Then I pained the spark plug cover with red paint. I think it looks nice... __________________ 
Nick
1995 BMW 318iC.
Modifications by: Understeer.com, M3 Aerodynamics, Bilstein, Stromung, Turner Motorsports, Bavarian Autosport and Downing Atlanta Superchargers. | | | | | 05-08-2007, 07:59 PM | #5 | | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ft Lauderdale, Fl moving to Eastern PA in May of 2007 Posts: 326 |
Quote: Originally Posted by Shaggy Check out my engine bay! When I went to change my valve cover gasket, I took a wire brush and some cleaner and cleaned off the head. Then I pained the spark plug cover with red paint. I think it looks nice... | Very nice! I hope you don't mind but I am going to follow your lead and paint mine identical to yours. Imitation: The Sincerest Form of Flattery __________________  318ti, sport, hellrot, 05/95 Munich, Germany | | | | | 05-08-2007, 08:38 PM | #6 | | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Posts: 197 |
You could also do this   | | | | | 05-08-2007, 09:16 PM | #7 | | Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 15 | Steel Braided lines/hoses?
Anyone ever done some dress up in steel braid lines/hoses? I too am looking to freshen up the engine bay and will likely powdercoat the throttle body, valve cover, oil lid and maybe the connection flange where the coolant hoses attach to the block.
BF is doing a GB on some nice race hoses but am wondering if the steel braided would be cost prohibitive and or require a lot of custom work. | | | | | 05-09-2007, 01:25 AM | #8 | | Site Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Naples, Florida Posts: 238 |
Quote: Originally Posted by jkilla71 Very nice! I hope you don't mind but I am going to follow your lead and paint mine identical to yours. Imitation: The Sincerest Form of Flattery | Cool, don't forget to use the high heat resistant paint. __________________
Nick
1995 BMW 318iC.
Modifications by: Understeer.com, M3 Aerodynamics, Bilstein, Stromung, Turner Motorsports, Bavarian Autosport and Downing Atlanta Superchargers. | | | | | 05-09-2007, 10:42 AM | #9 | | Junior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: UK Posts: 10 |
yeah thats what i want nothing to ott just something clean and subtle,
Your bay looks lovely shaggy! almost better than new!
Did you use the high temp paint for the valve cover? you know what type of paint it was?
If i wire brush it will that get rid of the pitting marks? | | | | | 05-09-2007, 02:39 PM | #10 | | Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: dorchester Posts: 700 |
http://www.318ti.org/forum/showthread.php?t=15515 Theres several different threads on this but this is just one i did recenty.  I havent finished yet as u can see from the other thread but for a few hours work u can really make a nice change to the bay... | | | | | 05-10-2007, 03:27 AM | #11 | | Site Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Naples, Florida Posts: 238 |
Quote: Originally Posted by bigtoker yeah thats what i want nothing to ott just something clean and subtle,
Your bay looks lovely shaggy! almost better than new!
Did you use the high temp paint for the valve cover? you know what type of paint it was?
If i wire brush it will that get rid of the pitting marks? | Yeah, it was the high temp paint. I forgot the brand, but it withstands up to 1200 degrees. Some crazy stuff there. Yeah if you wire brush it and use some good strong cleaner it should take it right off. I used TB cleaner and it worked just fine. __________________
Nick
1995 BMW 318iC.
Modifications by: Understeer.com, M3 Aerodynamics, Bilstein, Stromung, Turner Motorsports, Bavarian Autosport and Downing Atlanta Superchargers. | | | | | 05-10-2007, 01:51 PM | #12 | | Junior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: UK Posts: 10 |
how hot does the block get?
can get some paint up to 500 degrees c, but that seems a little low for an engine, any ideas?
what sort of cleaner? a degreaser or a stripper? or something else! | | | | | 05-10-2007, 03:46 PM | #13 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: lancashire, england Posts: 300 |
just paint  __________________ 
E36 3.0 M3 Cosmos Schwarz
E36 1.8 318ti Cosmos Schwarz | | | | | 05-11-2007, 12:57 AM | #14 | | Site Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Naples, Florida Posts: 238 |
Quote: Originally Posted by bigtoker how hot does the block get?
can get some paint up to 500 degrees c, but that seems a little low for an engine, any ideas?
what sort of cleaner? a degreaser or a stripper? or something else! | I don't know how hot it gets, but I definatly know it doesn't get up to 1200 degress. I used throttle body cleaners, seeing as thats what I had laying around, but i'm pretty sure any other heavy degreaser will work just fine. __________________
Nick
1995 BMW 318iC.
Modifications by: Understeer.com, M3 Aerodynamics, Bilstein, Stromung, Turner Motorsports, Bavarian Autosport and Downing Atlanta Superchargers. | | | | | 05-11-2007, 02:03 AM | #15 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Los Alamos, NM Posts: 344 |
You can use aluminum wheel cleaner on the valve cover. you don't need a degreaser. | | | | | |
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