Paint Before Swap

[maxmadill76530i]

happy new year! Wondering if you guys have any knowledge, or opinions on this. I'm planning to do an m30b35 swap into my e12 530i, however I also want to do a M front spoiler and do a complete re spray. Doing the engine only this year would be a good project, but while the engine is out in the middle of the swap I wanted to paint the engine bay. Does this sound like a good idea? Or should I just do the swap first, leave the bay white and not worry about it.

Thanks

[Mike W.]

Do any painting of the engine compartment you think you might want to do when the engine is out, it will be a thousand times easier.

[T.Hanson]

I've had an engine out, and it's a wonderland of accessibility for pressure washing, wire brushing, sanding, cleaning all kinds of surfaces and parts.

Short of going full resto disassembly, powder coating, it's pretty amazing what some taping, careful application of a couple coats of primer and rattle can paint can do for visual appeal,...and protection.

When the engine is back in with all of the wiring and plumbing it's even difficult to see much difference from fancy schmancy, buried under all of it.

[maxmadill76530i]

Thanks for your imput here. Yeah I've decided that i'm going to paint the engine bay with the engine out. The only thing is that I will have to choose the colour haha.

[Blaise]

Thanks for your imput here. Yeah I've decided that i'm going to paint the engine bay with the engine out. The only thing is that I will have to choose the colour haha.

Good choice. That is exactly what I did. You might consider re-installing the motor from the bottom, rather than angling it in from the top. I found that it was much easier to avoid messing that fresh engine bay.


Yuk:


Painted:





Install:

[maxmadill76530i]

nice pictures blaise! I remember coming across a topic on your complete rebuild. What did you call it again?