Rolling the rear arches on E36.

[Pierre3400]

Hey guys,

Monday or tuesday im going to pick up my new roller so i can finaly get rid of those nasty edges on the rear of my e36.

I dont have the money to paint it atm, and the rims on the rear arnt the ones i want for my final fit.

Anyone have experience on rolling without cracking the paint? Im going to be useing a heat gun ofcourse, i have spent alot of time reading and looking, and i did roll the wheel arches on my old Jetta, but didnt care about the paint on that car.. Not complete noob at this. I would like to see what others have done, and how much i may be able to do without cracking the paint. Do i use painters tape so try and spare the paint or?

Pictures and advice will be appreciated.

[Ollie]

BMW paint is pretty thin in my experience and a heat gun works perfect. You'll be fine. Just go slow and don't go crazy and over roll them because they roll pretty easy. Make your fenders to fit the wheels and not the other way around. Going slow is important because you want to fold the inner lip outwards without moving the actual outer fender(which looks like shit on these car imo, did this on my old e36 and it never stopped bothering me). Also, this is very important, make sure to get all the stuff out from between the inner and outer fender.

Good luck!

[Pierre3400]

Yeh, im going to clean the lip part ofcouse, but im not going to remove the paint. The lip on the inside is the only work i want to do this time around. Oncei get the wheels i really want, im going to roll the fender to fit those. Right now i only have 8" contours with 20mm spacers, but im searching hard to 9,5" contours to make a staggered set.

[Ollie]

Why would you remove any paint? Just heat the paint as you're rolling it and you'll be fine. The undercoating and dirt that will most likely be between the inner lip and outter fender is tough to get out. I used a grinder to get it out and resealed it with undercoating spray and then rolled it.

[Pierre3400]

Why would you remove any paint? Just heat the paint as you're rolling it and you'll be fine. The undercoating and dirt that will most likely be between the inner lip and outter fender is tough to get out. I used a grinder to get it out and resealed it with undercoating spray and then rolled it.

I have cleaned mine a few time. So i think i can do without the grinder. But it has to be clean, dont need rust to develop from the inside and out

But i would love to see pics of just the lip rolled up. If you happen to have

[wheelfetish]

Make sure someone didnt bondo the fender at some point

[Pierre3400]

Make sure someone didnt bondo the fender at some point

True, but they look and sound original. My front fender has alot of bondo, but fuck that, its gonna be changed for new one within 3weeks. But the rears like i said sound like one solid piece when i knock around, and the also look good from the inside. This was a worry, being that i found sum bondo in the right rear corner (has been fixed and painted by now) but, the ppl who seem to have gone over my car in the past didnt do a good job. I'v had the car for 2years now and only found 2 places with bondo. So i think we're all clear on this.

Once i do start rollin, i'll be snapping pics and posting up

[Ollie]

I have cleaned mine a few time. So i think i can do without the grinder. But it has to be clean, dont need rust to develop from the inside and out

But i would love to see pics of just the lip rolled up. If you happen to have

Sorry no pics but it's any easy job though. I recommend waiting until you have the actual wheels you're going to be fitting, that way you can do it all right at once instead of having to roll them twice. Unless, of course, your current wheels are rubbing. Sounds like you know what you're doing though.

[Pierre3400]

Sorry no pics but it's any easy job though. I recommend waiting until you have the actual wheels you're going to be fitting, that way you can do it all right at once instead of having to roll them twice. Unless, of course, your current wheels are rubbing. Sounds like you know what you're doing though.

Yeah, i do know"ish" what im doing. My current wheels arnt rubbing cos they are 15" but next week my 17" contours are going back on, and they rub. I dont mind doing it twice to be honest, not a big deal for me.

I have spent alot of time over these past 2 years saving pictures and looking at the way people work the fenders. Many different ways and outcomes.

Looks like you have them round on your like the front?

[Average_Jerk]

use a heat gun and go slow. taking your time is really important

[schroedin]

Make sure someone didnt bondo the fender at some point