Drivers door de-lock pics...

[Keith]

Had a bit of a saga with both the little mods I’ve just done, but I’m very happy with both (see my Fire Extinguisher mod HERE)

The first was getting rid of the driver door lock, so the lines of the handle are smooth, as per the passenger side. As you know, this requires ordering a US (or LHD) passenger side door blank from the dealers for about £6.50.

I got Halfords to make up a rattle can of Estoril using my paint code (about £10) to go with the numerous cans of primer and clear lacquer I have at home. I essentially just masked up the metal/internal areas of the lock blank, taped it to a stick and gave it 3 coats of primer, 4 of paint and 2 thick coats of lacquer. Waited a day for it to dry, tried to fit it... and it was the wrong part; Cotswold BMW had sent me a pre-2000 door handle blank (which is a different fitment) even though I had specified my car was was 2003 Mistakes happen, and they sent me a new, correct one, free of charge. For anyone wishing to do this, the correct part number you need is 51217002278

Wrong part (painted) and the correct part.

I performed the same procedure again, but achieved a better finish second time round. The first one I did, it was a hot day. Whilst spraying, by the time the primer/paint had hit the component, it had dried somewhat and gave a mild orange-peel effect. Second time, I sprayed a bit closer and on a cooler (wet) day, and this effect was greatly reduced.

Tools for the job

Prepped and ready-to- go

Primed

Painted

Lacquered

Installed (please excuse the dusty car, it does the paintwork no justice)

Before & After (you can see how the dust affects the colour of the paint!)

As you can see, the colour is slightly darker, but only noticeable when you are looking for it IMO. This is emphasised by the fact the car needs a wash; it’s covered in a mild dust (I live next to a crop field) and this makes the paint appear lighter. Add to that effect that a freshly sprayed component with a perfect coat of lacquer is always going to have a richer colour. I intend to T-Cut it the whole handle once the paint has had a week or so to set rock-hard, and I think this will create a more even colour across the two parts.

Keith.

[DaveDunlop]

moved and removed your request in the post

looks great mate, much cleaner and smoother! mine is also a bit darker than the rest of the car but as you said its hardly noticeable unless your really looking for it

good work mate :D

[nellers]

Good mod mate, looks much better and did a good job with the spraying to! Did you do a write up on how to change the part, or is it really easy?

The only thing I would worry about if I did it was the remote key losing charge or something and then having no lock to get in with?!

[DaveDunlop]

Good mod mate, looks much better and did a good job with the spraying to! Did you do a write up on how to change the part, or is it really easy?

The only thing I would worry about if I did it was the remote key losing charge or something and then having no lock to get in with?!

to remove the lock on the end of your door is a rubber flap, lift that up and there is a hole with IIRC a T20 torx nut, undo that, out she slides.

and regarding no lock to get in with u can still get in via the boot lock to the battery and if u have fold down seats into the cabin

[nellers]

Thats where I'm going wrong then, don't have fold down seats (didn't realise that not all BM's had this when I bought mine )!!

Sounds easy enough to do though!

[Keith]

to remove the lock on the end of your door is a rubber flap, lift that up and there is a hole with IIRC a T20 torx nut, undo that, out she slides.

and regarding no lock to get in with u can still get in via the boot lock to the battery and if u have fold down seats into the cabin

Exactly

Do not all models have the seat unlock levers in the boot then?

[///Marty]

Looking good Keith.

Shame about the mess up with the wrong part but at least it gave you chance t practice your spraying skills!

I think all coupes have fold down seats (may be wrong!) and loons dont. My E39 certainly didn't although you could almost fit a whole E46 in the boot of that.

[chris]

Looks good, and a good mod. Love mine, although i do worry if the key wont work some day And good painting it yourself, wish i could but as most of you will know steel grey is a bi*ch to properly colour match

[Dicky]

Looking good mate

As Marty said it gave you a nice chance to pratice your spraying to

[L17MRL aka Michael]

Good write up, looks good and helps to finish the out side lines off , i also need to do this little mod.

[Keith]

Thanks Fella's.

@Chris, I can imagine steel grey being hard to colour match properly, but I thought Estoril (in fact most colours for that matter) would be hard too. Halfords did a pretty good job to be fair, and for £10 its worth a shot. They use the same mixing techniques as the mobile guy that I use for bits and peices [a palette of different base colours, mixed to a formula that details the correct quantities of each, in order to match your paint code]; so they can do a pretty good match.

For small things like this, its worth a go rather than paying a bodyshop to do it. Because you do so many coats of each - 3primer/4colur/2lacquer; by the final coats you have your techniques down! You just have to patient.

I'm going to try and match the outer elements of some black grills next week... We'll see how that goes. If it works out, I've saved a good few quid rather going to the bodyshop. And don't we love a few quid saved - it can go toward something else...

[paul46rider]

looks really good mate, i need to do mine sooo badly, i wanna do the fire thing aswell