Hello from a new Zed owner

[Blueberry]

Hello everyone,

I’m Alan, a proud new owner of a 2001 1.9 BMW Z3. My decision to buy the Z3 was somewhat impulsive, as I’ve been craving a more connected driving experience, unlike the somewhat detached feel of modern cars. After taking it for a test drive, I bought it on the spot. However, after getting it inspected, I discovered a few issues, including oil and coolant leaks. I'll share my full list of issues another day.

My goal is to restore this fairly unmolested Z3 to its former glory and enjoy it as a long-term project, especially during the summer and on Sundays. The plan is to address all the mechanical issues, improve the ride quality, fix the rear speakers, repair the driver’s seat motor, and eventually get the car resprayed, there are a few age related marks and a bonnet ding.

To give you an update, my Z3 is currently in the shop for a new radiator and a replacement rocker cover gasket due to significant leaks. As I’m not particularly mechanically minded, I’d appreciate your advice and recommendations.

Here’s what I’m looking for:

Z3 Specialist Mechanic: I’d love to connect with a Z3 enthusiast mechanic within about 50 miles of Derby. If you know anyone who could help take care of my Z3, I’d appreciate your recommendations.

Tonneau Cover: If anyone has a black tonneau cover for sale, I’d be interested in purchasing it.

Driver’s Seat Motor Repair: The motor that controls the height adjustment on the driver’s seat is faulty (last owner removed it, I still have it), causing the seat to rock forward when braking. I’d like to either get the motor reconditioned or replaced. Any advice on this would be great.

Thanks for reading, and I’m looking forward to connecting with you all and sharing more about my journey with this fantastic car. The analogue driving experience is a refreshing change from my newer daily driver, and I’m excited to fully enjoy it once everything is sorted.

What questions do you have for me?

Thanks,
Alan

 

[John_B]

Welcome Alan, I just sent you a PM about the rear speakers.

I'm in Darley Dale so not far at all. I wouldn't call myself a specialist mechanic, although I've done a lot to my 1.9 over the last year (left) - to the point where I have ran out of things to do and have bought a 2.8 to start all over again with (right)!

 

[Nodzed]

The rocking seat will be the screw adjuster bushes not the missing motor. Easy DIY fix. There are threads on her on how to.

 

[colb]

Welcome aboard nothing is that difficult to do on the Z3, rocking seat is usually down to the plastic runners in the seat rails wearing allowing the seat to rock. New parts on ebay and how to threads on here. Get yourself a decent code reader and a 20pin to 16pin obd2 cable to plug the scanner in to the diagnostic scanner in the engine bay, you will need one sooner or later. Creator 310+ is a popular scanner for circa £50, ebay or Amazon.
You are not a million miles away from Lincoln where @t-tony is located, he has a wealth of knowledge on Z's and well worth a visit and can assist you with advice and help you sort any problems, no doubt he will be along here shortly.

 

[jasecasecarr]

Hi Alan

I'm a new member too and snap I have a Z3 in same colour way the Montreal blue looks so good with the aluminium vents I think.

For things like the torneau cover keep an eye on FB marketplace and there is a for sale and wanted thread in this group too.

If you are patient stuff does comes up I picked up a mesh wind deflector for £50 which I thought was great value.

Jason

 

[Blueberry]

The rocking seat will be the screw adjuster bushes not the missing motor. Easy DIY fix. There are threads on her on how to.

Excellent! Thank you. I'll take a look

 

[Blueberry]

Welcome aboard nothing is that difficult to do on the Z3, rocking seat is usually down to the plastic runners in the seat rails wearing allowing the seat to rock. New parts on ebay and how to threads on here. Get yourself a decent code reader and a 20pin to 16pin obd2 cable to plug the scanner in to the diagnostic scanner in the engine bay, you will need one sooner or later. Creator 310+ is a popular scanner for circa £50, ebay or Amazon.
You are not a million miles away from Lincoln where @t-tony is located, he has a wealth of knowledge on Z's and well worth a visit and can assist you with advice and help you sort any problems, no doubt he will be along here shortly.

Thanks for the advice! Will look at the seat. Any advice on the motor that has been removed? It goes forwards and backwards on a motor, just not up and down. Being a tall chap and having the seat set at its highest is a pain in the neck

Is this the item for code reading?

Awesome, Lincon is not far at all. I'll enjoy the drive

Thank you again! Super helpful

 

[Blueberry]

Welcome Alan, I just sent you a PM about the rear speakers.

I'm in Darley Dale so not far at all. I wouldn't call myself a specialist mechanic, although I've done a lot to my 1.9 over the last year (left) - to the point where I have ran out of things to do and have bought a 2.8 to start all over again with (right)!

View attachment 313685

Thanks, John! Nice motors When is the third one due?

I'm looking forward to catching up in the Darley Dales. Just a stores throw from me. I'll send a pic when Blueberry (named by my 5-year-old daughter) is back this evening.

I'm no mechanic at all, but hoping, over time, I feel comfortable getting my hands dirty.

 

[John_B]

If I get third it had better come with a divorce lawyer!!

I'm no mechanic at all, but hoping, over time, I feel comfortable getting my hands dirty.

This is my progress thread for the 1.9 if it gives you any inspiration about how easy it is to work on these cars, and what can be achieved with a bit of ambition (and a lot of YouTube ). Before I started the most I had ever done was changing brake discs, once, years earlier!

'Tandy' - First project car, first Z3!

Hi guys, This is 'Tandy' (named by the wife). He's only a 1.9 and has done 180k - so it was cheap, and is not the end of the world if I totally f*** it up! I picked him up last weekend and drove him home to tuck him away on my driveway before his current MOT expires. The previous owner sold him...

zroadster.org

 

[Blueberry]

Hi Alan

I'm a new member too and snap I have a Z3 in same colour way the Montreal blue looks so good with the aluminium vents I think.

For things like the torneau cover keep an eye on FB marketplace and there is a for sale and wanted thread in this group too.

If you are patient stuff does comes up I picked up a mesh wind deflector for £50 which I thought was great value.

Jason

Hi Jason,

Welcome, fellow new member! The blue was definitely a deciding factor with the impulse purchase. Good shout on FB marketplace. I've seen one on ebay but its £225, they seem as rare as hen's teeth. I'm also on the look out for a wind deflector...the list is growing, and my bank balance is decreasing

 

[Blueberry]

If I get third it had better come with a divorce lawyer!!


This is my progress thread for the 1.9 if it gives you any inspiration about how easy it is to work on these cars, and what can be achieved with a bit of ambition (and a lot of YouTube ). Before I started the most I had ever done was changing brake discs, once, years earlier!

'Tandy' - First project car, first Z3!

Hi guys, This is 'Tandy' (named by the wife). He's only a 1.9 and has done 180k - so it was cheap, and is not the end of the world if I totally f*** it up! I picked him up last weekend and drove him home to tuck him away on my driveway before his current MOT expires. The previous owner sold him...

zroadster.org

That’s some impressive work there! Love the journey you went on to bring her back to life

 

[AntStark]

I have a tonneau for sale. I am in Hampshire but happy to post it. Can send pics if interested

edit ..and a wind deflector as well

 

[colb]

Thanks for the advice! Will look at the seat. Any advice on the motor that has been removed? It goes forwards and backwards on a motor, just not up and down. Being a tall chap and having the seat set at its highest is a pain in the neck

Is this the item for code reading?

Awesome, Lincon is not far at all. I'll enjoy the drive

Thank you again! Super helpful

Yes Creator 310+ for BMW's
As to seat motors here is the parts diagram from Realoem site https://www.realoem.com/bmw/en/showparts?id=CM12-EUR-12-1999-Z3-BMW-Z3_19&diagId=52_0807
Two motors under the seat one for forward/backwards and the other for up/down.
Apply 12v to the motor that's out to see if it works. If it runs put it back in and test using switch, if it fails then look at switch and wiring.
As to the rocking seat, replacement seat runner bushes can be sourced here or on ebay

Seat Runner Mechanism Replacement Bush Kit for BMW Z3 Z3M

BMW Z3 Z3M Seat Rail Track Runner Subframe Mechanism Replacement Bush Repair

x8r.co.uk

Threads on here showing how to do this job if you do a search.

 

[ExMX5owner]

Gidday Alan...

 

[Shelly]

 

[Devon Z]

 

[Mint]

Hi Alan and to the forum from me too, not far away in Stafford.

 

[Z Victor 1]

Hi and welcome from Ripley, near Derby! Looks like a topaz blue to me, not montreal. I had a topaz 2.8 and 1.9 . Where are you located, I know a local BMW specialist garage that is very reliable? Ken.

 

[Blueberry]

I have a tonneau for sale. I am in Hampshire but happy to post it. Can send pics if interested

edit ..and a wind deflector as well

That would be amazing! Thank you. I'm interested both

 

[Blueberry]

Hi and welcome from Ripley, near Derby! Looks like a topaz blue to me, not montreal. I had a topaz 2.8 and 1.9 . Where are you located, I know a local BMW specialist garage that is very reliable? Ken.

Hi Ken! It's super close, just a few miles up the A38 for me. I'm in Mickleover, but my studio is closer to the Northbound A38. She is Topaz blue With a few scratches Always good to know a man that knows someone! I'm not 100% with my local garage, not after the first nightmare (rad replaced, now has an engine warning light and they managed to strip a bolt replacing the rocker gasket).

If you could send over the details, I'd be grateful.

Thanks,
Alan