[adhrp]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

I'm with you, when it comes to a car I am OCD over, I pay someone else to do most everything. But on some of my older cars/beaters, I welcome the challenge and sense of accomplishment. I pulled a bumper off our old CRV a few months ago to put in new headlight assemblies. It helped that I could give two shits about the paint. Tried to replace a headlight bulb on my Infiniti and kept dropping the bulb into the assembly. Two bulbs and $50, gone. Off to the garage for $200 to pull the fender liner. I don't own a jack.

I am famous for taking on home projects that I end of spending money on and then fail. Mostly projects that involves ladders. I was hell bent on getting on my roof this past weekend to seal a leak in a skylight. I bought all the supplies. Got to the top of the ladder and said NFW am I getting up there. The issue was getting back on the ladder from the roof. Paid a guy yesterday to fix it.

Electricity is my sweet spot around the house. Carpentry, not so much.

Haha sounds familiar. I don't even get close to electricity...that stuff can kill you in a blink of an eye if you don't know what you are doing. I am pretty useless that way, except in the backyard maybe. I used to maintain my Kawasaki motorcycle completely by myself though.

[AP]

I can’t even bang a nail in straight so anything practical, I get my wallet out and pay someone. Saves me grief
I’m like frank spencer when it comes to DIY
(Those of a certain age in the U.K. will get that!)

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by adhrp

Haha sounds familiar. I don't even get close to electricity...that stuff can kill you in a blink of an eye if you don't know what you are doing. I am pretty useless that way, except in the backyard maybe. I used to maintain my Kawasaki motorcycle completely by myself though.

Yeah, I have a lot of electricians in my family, so I kind of grew up around it. As long as you kill the breaker, it's just colored wires going in the right place. That said, I don't always kill the power, I am just careful.

Electricity, wiring, audio, home automations, technology, etc. is kind of my hobby. Especially home automation, I have gotten obsessed with that. There isn't a light switch, fixture or outlet in my house that I haven't replaced with a smart one. There nothing I can't tell Alexa to do that she can't do. TV, Audio, HVAC, fireplace as well. Pretty cool and addictive. Of course I have my share of cameras as well.

I'll tackle basic plumbing as long as it's PVC or something I can screw on. I don't know how to weld, but I taught myself how to solder electronics to fix many things on the E39.

I feel like I could do some carpentry, but I don't have the tools and I am not willing to buy the right saws to make nice cuts, so something like finishing my basement, I hired a contractor.

Then there are the things anyone can do, like painting, that is just not worth my time. It's boring with little sense of accomplishment. My girlfriend would disagree on the accomplishment part, but some things don't get my juices flowing.

I would love a killer garage with all the toys, TV's, flooring, lifts, etc. Soon.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by AP

I can’t even bang a nail in straight so anything practical, I get my wallet out and pay someone. Saves me grief
I’m like frank spencer when it comes to DIY
(Those of a certain age in the U.K. will get that!)

It is interesting where we spend money without thinking twice. For example, I forked over $3,000 for Route 66 and $2,000 for AAA Wheel and Tire Insurance in the last year, but I balk at paying someone $1,500 to remove a dead hot tub. I've have been banging away at that hot tub with a sawzall for a year and lungs full of fiberglass. Sometimes I am penny wise and dollar foolish. Mostly the foolish involves cars.

[zvery777]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

It is interesting where we spend money without thinking twice. For example, I forked over $3,000 for Route 66 and $2,000 for AAA Wheel and Tire Insurance in the last year, but I balk at paying someone $1,500 to remove a dead hot tub. I've have been banging away at that hot tub with a sawzall for a year and lungs full of fiberglass. Sometimes I am penny wise and dollar foolish. Mostly the foolish involves cars.

I think many of us here will agree with you on this one. Unfortunately, car guys see things differently and spend money on things that give them most pleasure, such as driving well maintained and clean cars. Many see us as nuts but that's just how human nature is. Can't explain all our actions.

[tsbrown]

Originally Posted by zvery777

Has anyone used Dr Colorchip for metallic colors? I got the paint for my Tanzanite Blue and the paint does not have any sparkles in it, which turns out very ugly when applied.

I have OEM paint which has the metallic chips in it and may go that route. I'll just have to sand it and polish afterwards. Wish me luck!

Tips and recommendations are welcome and appreciated!

Sorry I'm late to the party on this thread but wanted to add a comment about Tanzanite Blue. I had it on my F30 about 5 years ago and one of the things that sets these Individual paints apart is that they are either very unique colors or add a pearl coat, or both.

For Tanzanite, the extra sparkles you see are the pearl coat. So yes the base touchup paint is metallic, but then there's also a pearl coat that goes on top. I had a dent fixed on my F30 and learned the difference with this color when my door panel was repaired. Does your touch up kit have paint, pearl coat and clear coat? If not that may be why you're not seeing the sparkles with it.

[AP]

Is the pearl coat instead of the clear coat?
So are there “things” in the pearl coat to add some “pop”?

[zvery777]

Originally Posted by tsbrown

Sorry I'm late to the party on this thread but wanted to add a comment about Tanzanite Blue. I had it on my F30 about 5 years ago and one of the things that sets these Individual paints apart is that they are either very unique colors or add a pearl coat, or both.

For Tanzanite, the extra sparkles you see are the pearl coat. So yes the base touchup paint is metallic, but then there's also a pearl coat that goes on top. I had a dent fixed on my F30 and learned the difference with this color when my door panel was repaired. Does your touch up kit have paint, pearl coat and clear coat? If not that may be why you're not seeing the sparkles with it.

Dr Colorchip had no sparkles or pearls at all, so I sent it back to them. The OEM touch up on the other hand does have the sparkles and it's a much better match,not perfect tho, so could be missing some of the ingredients.

[zvery777]

The screw was fished out today. I used ista to get to the part, take it out and put the dropped part back. A few pictures of the work are attached. It was definitely one of the most complex jobs I have done on my cars.