Member Since: 06 Feb 2019
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 897
Another couple of hours were scrounged today, pleased with progress.
Forward bed base ready (though I need to cut some ventilation slots into it) and the foam cut to size.
Whilst the bed looks an odd shape, I've laid on it and shuffled around, both lying on my back, on my side and front, and it's very comfortable. At its length it is 6ft 4in so there's plenty of room for my 5ft 10in height with wriggle room for my toes. I'm going to test run before I have the foam upholstered, just in case I need to opt for a firmer or dual-layer memory foam.
READY FOR MY FIRST ROAD TEST !!! I'll be filming it for my YouTube channel, I'll post a link when it's edited (likely 18th April).
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It stows neatly into the rear area behind the seat, so that I can relax in that seat before bedtime, cook a meal or watch a film on the tablet etc. I've also got full access to the kitchen area and porta-loo thing with the bed fully made up. In case I want a midnight snack of pot noodle.
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2022 BMW i4 M50. Bought Oct 2022. 10,200 miles and counting...
2014 BMW 435d convertible. Bought July 2021. 58,000 miles and counting...
2005 Discovery 3 HSE Auto. Bought Feb 2019. 169,000 miles and counting...
2009 Freelander 2 XS Manual. Bought Sep 2013. SOLD Aug 2021 (already regretted!)
Member Since: 06 Oct 2006
Location: KENT
Posts: 4655
Excellent effort Are you some sort of DIY Ace
1st Apr 2024 6:39 pm
DIY Ace
Member Since: 06 Feb 2019
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 897
Cheers Glynne.
My profile name is a bit cringe. I meant it more to demonstrate my 'have a go at anything' attitude rather than a cocky self-assertion. But thanks, yes I love a bit of DIY and loathe paying others what I should be able to at least have a stab at even if the result isn't quite to pro standard. 2022 BMW i4 M50. Bought Oct 2022. 10,200 miles and counting...
2014 BMW 435d convertible. Bought July 2021. 58,000 miles and counting...
2005 Discovery 3 HSE Auto. Bought Feb 2019. 169,000 miles and counting...
2009 Freelander 2 XS Manual. Bought Sep 2013. SOLD Aug 2021 (already regretted!)
Member Since: 06 Oct 2006
Location: KENT
Posts: 4655
Exactly the same here
Might not always be perfect and Iām my own worse enemy/critic
1st Apr 2024 7:17 pm
DIY Ace
Member Since: 06 Feb 2019
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 897
I'm off on my first road test tonight, camping in the New Forest. I've got high hopes of a comfy night's kip š¤š»š¤š»2022 BMW i4 M50. Bought Oct 2022. 10,200 miles and counting...
2014 BMW 435d convertible. Bought July 2021. 58,000 miles and counting...
2005 Discovery 3 HSE Auto. Bought Feb 2019. 169,000 miles and counting...
2009 Freelander 2 XS Manual. Bought Sep 2013. SOLD Aug 2021 (already regretted!)
Member Since: 21 Oct 2016
Location: kent
Posts: 13670
Have a great trip and a wonderful place to stay , always remember stopping off there when I was a kid on the way to Dorset
At least it will also show u any snagging that needs changing
Safe travels and indeed is really coming along
13th Apr 2024 10:48 am
DIY Ace
Member Since: 06 Feb 2019
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 897
Hmmm.... not so sure about today's efforts.
I am putting vinyl wrap on the rearmost windows and the boot lid, to provide total blackout privacy. When I ordered it I selected the darkest grey they had in stock.
I've put it on one window and I'm not sure I like the result. The function is perfect - it is near-perfectly opaque so I have great privacy inside - but I'm just not sure about the colour/shade.
Should I have gone gloss black instead? Ideally I'd have liked to colour-match the Bonatti Grey but producing matched vinyl in such small quantity is just pointlessly expensive.
I'd love your opinion - positive or negative.
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2022 BMW i4 M50. Bought Oct 2022. 10,200 miles and counting...
2014 BMW 435d convertible. Bought July 2021. 58,000 miles and counting...
2005 Discovery 3 HSE Auto. Bought Feb 2019. 169,000 miles and counting...
2009 Freelander 2 XS Manual. Bought Sep 2013. SOLD Aug 2021 (already regretted!)
Member Since: 06 Feb 2019
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 897
I've definitely made up my mind. I don't like it.
Staring at it on the drive it just looks odd.
Removed it, and I've ordered some gloss black instead.
Click image to enlarge
2022 BMW i4 M50. Bought Oct 2022. 10,200 miles and counting...
2014 BMW 435d convertible. Bought July 2021. 58,000 miles and counting...
2005 Discovery 3 HSE Auto. Bought Feb 2019. 169,000 miles and counting...
2009 Freelander 2 XS Manual. Bought Sep 2013. SOLD Aug 2021 (already regretted!)
Member Since: 06 Feb 2019
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 897
Bed finished!
I've upholstered the bed in a lovely stitched faux suede material. I used heavy duty double sided carpet tape to fix the foam to the timber frame, then covered the whole thing and used heavy staples to pull it tight underneath. The material comes lined with a thick insulation material behind it too, so it's gone down really well and I'm really very surprised how comfy it is.
I might get around to putting on the black vinyl wrap on the windows later on this weekend.
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2022 BMW i4 M50. Bought Oct 2022. 10,200 miles and counting...
2014 BMW 435d convertible. Bought July 2021. 58,000 miles and counting...
2005 Discovery 3 HSE Auto. Bought Feb 2019. 169,000 miles and counting...
2009 Freelander 2 XS Manual. Bought Sep 2013. SOLD Aug 2021 (already regretted!)
Member Since: 06 Feb 2019
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 897
That all said...
...it might all end up for sale on Monday
I'm collecting a VW type 2 camper tomorrow, hopefully. I've seen it once, just need a little spin out on the road - assuming all sound we've already agreed a price and I should be bringing it home
It's old, drafty, slow and noisy. But, I've never before been in a car that put such an enormous smile on my face
To say the kids are excited is an understatement. When they overheard my wife and I talking about it the other evening, when I was saying that it was a bit of a frivolous purchase, my 7 year old came downstairs with her moneybox and offered me 'one of her gold coins' if I needed it.
How can I now not buy it??
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So if we all like it and it proves a hit for weekends away, the D3 has really got to go to another good home 2022 BMW i4 M50. Bought Oct 2022. 10,200 miles and counting...
2014 BMW 435d convertible. Bought July 2021. 58,000 miles and counting...
2005 Discovery 3 HSE Auto. Bought Feb 2019. 169,000 miles and counting...
2009 Freelander 2 XS Manual. Bought Sep 2013. SOLD Aug 2021 (already regretted!)
Member Since: 06 Feb 2019
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 897
I'm really pleased I switched out the great vinyl wrap for the gloss black - it looks much better now. Just please excuse the filthy paintwork.
Wrapping the windows wasn't the easiest of jobs as it's a little fiddly with only one pair of hands, but I'm pleased with the result and it's free of any obvious bubbles etc.
Inside the cabin it gives perfect privacy, even when looking through it directly at the sun you can only just about make out a feint shape. It'll be perfect for stealth camping.
Next up will be the side windows, which will have 30% tint on the inside of them, coupled (eventually) with a blackout insulated window blind. Assuming I don't sell it first.
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2022 BMW i4 M50. Bought Oct 2022. 10,200 miles and counting...
2014 BMW 435d convertible. Bought July 2021. 58,000 miles and counting...
2005 Discovery 3 HSE Auto. Bought Feb 2019. 169,000 miles and counting...
2009 Freelander 2 XS Manual. Bought Sep 2013. SOLD Aug 2021 (already regretted!)
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Are you some sort of DIY Ace 
