Mikes BMW Marlin Cabrio
 

Big hello to you guys who regularly use madabout....

Many thanks for the hours of pleasure I have had looking at your builds and the different solutions you have each found to similar problems/opportunities.

I hope you don't mind us Cabrio builders piggy backing your Sportster site - but we do have a genuine interest as some of us have gone down the BMW route.
I have chosen to fit an E36 M50 vanos in to my Cabrio - and have finally been spurred in to joining madabout by Rob Dorey's entry , as he has a M50 engine.

Rob, do you have any photos of your build? I would love to see how you are getting on. How have you dealt with the electrics - did you use the BMW's own loom, or buy a new one?

I am some way behind you guys with my build, but have made some changes to my chassis which may interest you. If interested I have also opened up a flickr account: www.flickr.com/photos/mikes_bmw_marlin_cabrio
Hope you like them: and many thanks for enlightenment over the past 18 months.
regards
Mike

Welcome to the forum Mike.


Robin

I spent many happy hours sat on an old office chair with the old loom spread out on the garage floor. Stripping out the circuits I didn't need, so that when it came to the build I could keep to the BMW colours.
The main problem I had was trying to fit the 2 computers(ABS & ECU), fuse box and most of the relays under the passenger side and still have enough room for someone to put their feet in. And actually, looking back, it wasn't so hard and was a joy to do.
I've tried to use as many unmodified parts as possible from the donor car to make life easier if something breaks.

Hi Mike - Nice set of pics. Loving the engine hoist! :D

:welcome: hi Mike :)

Yeah, great set of photo's and some very interesting and adventurous mods.
When did you take delivery from Marlin? It must be one of the last ones they did.
cheers

Peter

This raises a good point actually. With Javelin continuing the Cabrio and utilising BMW goodies, what do you guys think about opening this forum up to Cabrio builders or would it be better to create a new forum for Cabrio builders (assuming there is demand for one of course)

Quite happy to be guided by the masses.

John

Hi John

If you remember it was me that suggested you start the forum :-). There aren't a huge number of Sportster or Cabrio builders (so it seems) and as there is a lot of commonality between the cars my vote would be to open the forum to both. What do you other guys think?

Robin

I agree a combined forum would probably work quite well :)

John,
I think we have already made Simon and Mike welcome and the cars are quite similar with their clothes off!

My vote is leave it as a combined section but maybe change the title to 'Sportster/Cabrio builds' so that any newcommers don't miss anything.

I wonder if there are any Javelin builders out there that frequent this site?

Peter

Keeping it a combined forum gets my vote too. As Robin says, there aren't alot of Sportster and Cabrio builder around.

Simon

Righto....Forum name changed to reflect the introduction of Cabrio builds. :hippie:

John

Thank you all for the welcome.
I've just come back from a weeks holiday and found you've changed the forum name - very nice gesture- many thanks.

Intriguing questions?
JG - Who are you- I've worked out who the other guys are?

Javelin - how many BMW based Cabrios have they sold?
Does the MOC have any record of Javelin sales?
Can we encourage them to join this forum/MOC?

Similarly there must be other Sportster build on going that could be encouraged?
The more ideas the better the build!
Mike

Mike, I run Madabout for my sins. :pray2:

John

Quick Update.
After months of going backwards, cutting and narrowing the transmission tunnel, modifying a pair of Audi A4 sports seats, widening the footwell, and modifying the pedals and pedal box, this part of the build is coming together. I've had my seats re-covered, and they fit (phew! - it was always a concern they would be too tight): the wider spaced pedals have trial fitted in the footwell really nicely. There is a good sized space between the accelerator and the brake pedal, and the action of all the pedals has been improved by the needle roller bearings and better support brackets.[If you are interested have a look at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikes_bmw_marlin_cabrio/
When I have a bit more time I will learn how to import the odd photo in to this site.

Nice mods to the pedal box. The thing as supplied by Marlin has always seemed a little flimsy to me.

When I "prepared" mine I modified the adapter block that Marlin supplies so that the pedal pushes on the center of the servo pushrod rather than on one side.

Robin

Nice mods, I should have done more to mine really!

Nice mods to the pedal box. The thing as supplied by Marlin has always seemed a little flimsy to me.

When I "prepared" mine I modified the adapter block that Marlin supplies so that the pedal pushes on the center of the servo pushrod rather than on one side.


Robin
I am planning to extend the servo push rod (cut and weld insert) leaving the forked end to attach to directly to the pedal: this will leave a single pivot connection rather than the double one created by the adaptor. IThis has the double benefit of lining the pushrod with the servo centre line, and reducing the play in the overall pedal-servo connection.
Mike

I thought about this but it then means you have a non-standard servo which is not so good for spares. In fact the Marlin supplied adapter I have is machined (crudely) to accept the end of the fork so that you don't have two joints than can pivot.

If you are using the marlin adapter that fits between the servo and the master cylinder you may also need a little spacer that fits between the servo push rod and the mater cylinder. If you don't the pedal moves about halfway to the floor before anything happens! You can see some pictures on my website.

Robin

Robin

Good point about the non-standard servo.
I have made my own adaptor, from 5mm plate, and then a pushrod spacer, so hopefully I will not get any excess travel, but until I get it all plummed up I am not sure how much pedal travel I will get.

Mike

Update on Progress
 

Just a quick update for anyone following my build - very presumptious that there is anyone interested , but I follow as many other Marlin builds as I can for ideas.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikes_bmw_marlin_cabrio

Fopllowing Chris Cussens problem with proving he has built his own car as an amateur build, I have decided to start to include me in some of the photos as well as the garage/house to try to "prove" I am the builder.

I am currently working on my grille as I have located some stainless profile and mesh - and really I am putting off the next step - The Electrics - as this is the one area that I do not fully understand.
Still its always good to learn.................:pray:

We're still reading :) Electrics were easy for me, Richard did them :lol: :madgrin:

Why can I not get in to edit miss spellings?

I tried to add this link last time, but it did not work. here's a second attempt



http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikes_bmw_marlin_cabrio/

Dunno, I get this image on all my own posts so I can edit it:

http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/foru...ttons/edit.gif

Patrick

I do too, but when I try to use it , it throws me back to the log in page - user access is denied - so I log in again and it throws me back to the login page again!!

What can Bigcheese tell me?
Mike

Looks good Mike. Must be nice having all that room in the garage...

Double garage? Luxury! We used t' dream of 'aving a double garage. We had to make do with t' shoebox... :laugh:

Plenty of people on the forum that have already done their electrics so I am sure you will always get an answer if you have a problem. My best tips would be:

Take it one step at a time
Use the proper tools and materials (Don't use sticky electricians tape!)
Write down what you have done for future reference.

Robin

Hey Mike, you need to get an action shot like this one..........

http://www.msportster.co.uk/data/lon...hton09_008.jpg

:lol:

Keep the updates comming, we all like reading the updates....

Grille Surround
 

Since it has taken me two full days to make a partially finished grille surround I feel entitled to post my efforts for all to see!! Two whole days....crazy or what?!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikes_bmw_marlin_cabrio/

Mike

that looks like a lot of work, nice results :)

Grille Surround
 

Some pics of my grille surround in the making
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3405/...4aa863070d.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3350/...c4b7dbfcbd.jpg

Radiator Grille Surround
 

One day I'll understand how to use this site......

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3405/...4aa863070d.jpg

[IMG]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3350/...c4b7dbfcbd.jpg[/IMG]

I had forgotten about this thread, so having re-discovered it, I feel I had better bring it up to date with key milestones (if you would like to see the whole history try this site:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikes_bmw_marlin_cabrio/
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6054/...9a0fe44e_z.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3547/...99c51395b6.jpghttp://farm3.static.flickr.com/2655/...b8b94fba18.jpghttp://farm3.static.flickr.com/2657/...0dfcac712e.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4062/...4c75ac7b4a.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1017/...8e95a82b73.jpg
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5087/...bf1f55840d.jpg

A few more key updates:
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5136/...739c882dd3.jpg
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5225/...e2d9586f8d.jpghttp://farm7.static.flickr.com/6133/...98d88a4756.jpg
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6008/...467f79677b.jpg
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6158/...5de8c175cf.jpg

Mike,
great progress and looking really smart. I like your 'original looking' traditional dashboard.

Time to get that engine fired up again?

Here are a couple of useful links.....(which you may have already?)

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/...April_2003.pdf

http://wedophones.com/Manuals/BMW/19...g%20Manual.pdf

:ranger:

cheers, Peter

Hi Mike,

I'm still cogitating on the inlet ducting. I like your solution and I hadn't thought of seperating the AFM from the inlet elbow. That may provide a few more options but I don't think I have room to take the ducting into the nose cone as you have done. At the moment I'm thinking of a canister type air filter mounted low down and aft of the throttle body with an air intake cut into the engine bay side panel. But it will probably need some sort of scoop to ensure that Mr. Bernoulli's principle doesn't give me any power sucking negative air pressure in the inlet manifold!!.

I like the wooden dash. I plan to have an oak or cherry dash with a dark mahogoney stain that should work well with my white faced instruments. My worry has been the need to create a 19mm radius on the bottom edge to meet IVA requirements. How are you planning to overcome that. Have you got a seperate IVA dashboard as a tempoary fit..............!!

How are the electrics coming along. I have found it a lot less of a problem than I thought. (But I may change my mind when I connect a battery). I have left the ECU loom untouched except for a change in a couple of cable to accomodate the new position for the alternator. I have sussed the pin out for the X20 connector ( the interface between the ECU loom and the main vehicle loom) and I have made up the vehicle loom wire by wire from basic principles - supply - switch - load - earth. I needed to sort out a few relays and provide some permanent live and swithced live power supplies, but it has been fairly straight forward. I hope to connect a battery in the next few weeks. I'll make sure that all the fuses are removed and then put them back one by one. (with one hand on a fire extinguisher.................!!)Then I'll really find out how straight forward it's been!!

But it's looking like a really nice car with some great progress. Any thoughs about an IVA booking yet??

Cheers

Nigel

The IVA manual says...(and was very similar on the old SVA)

7. The instrument panel lower edge within the “specified zone” must have a
radius of curvature not less than 19mm or 5mm and covered with a nonrigid material.

I used some soft rubber 'u' channel stuck to the bottom edge.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2368/...4a18f2700c.jpg
Passenger foot well by marlinpeter, on Flickr

But I guess this might not look to pretty on a wooden dashboard?

I used some cheap pipe insulation stuff made from foam and covered in vinyl, glued to bottom of dash. No questions asked at IVA. But as Peter says, it would look odd with a wooden dash. Guess it might accidentally fall off later though??

My air intake is in the passenger footwell - solution courtesy of Mark. Does give out a few sucking noises when you put your foot down, which can be a surprise to your passenger :)

Tim

Mike - looking good. One thing to note though - it looks as if your instruments have a non IVA friendly ring on them:

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5225/...e2d9586f8d.jpg

They need to be radiused, and it looks as if yours have a V profile.

Hi Goo

I have a gash dash template to go over the instruments.
I do not want to put a lot of work into the template, but I guess its too obviously a temporary IVA fix at the moment!
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6158/...34c3084f_z.jpg

Nigel
Once the centre console is complete I will only have the passenger edge to deal with, and plan to do something like Tim has suggested with a foam collar trimmed in black vinyl and attached to the underside of the dash. And yes I fully expect it remain only until its passes the test.