2.8 1999 pre face-lift. Thoughts and advise needed please.

[OldModMike]

My Z3 (2.8 1999 pre face-lift) is in need of some TLC having failed its MOT. It needs extensive welding under the car (both rear outer sills) a new suspension arm ball joint (offside front lower) and the hand brake needs attention (efficiency below requirements) . The car has been a daily runner for pretty much all of its 20years and has 196000 honest miles on the clock.
I bought the car 4 years ago from a friend who'd had the car for about 15 years so I know its history.
I have a friend who can do all the welding for me for a very fair price but it's still going to cost a few hundred pounds to get it back on the road.
Is it worth doing or should I cut my losses and let her go?
Are there any breakers on here who could pm me with what they may be willing to offer for the car?.
If I do decide to keep her she's now 20years old and I believe legible for classic car insurance. Any recommends?

 

[Jack Ratt]

The outer sills on a Z3 are not "structural" and so should not fail the MOT due to rust. You can unbolt them and take them off and check what the chassis is like underneath. New sills are about £130 each from BMW so might be better buying new ones than paying to weld / repair 20 year old ones.

Front suspension ball joints are an easy DIY job and you might just as well fit new wishbones and droplinks and do the anti roll bar bushes too for a front end refresh. It's not a difficult or expensive job

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-Z3-E...ke:BMW&hash=item4ad2d80724:g:GwoAAOxydUJTNrv6

 

[t-tony]

My Z3 (2.8 1999 pre face-lift) is in need of some TLC having failed its MOT. It needs extensive welding under the car (both rear outer sills) a new suspension arm ball joint (offside front lower) and the hand brake needs attention (efficiency below requirements) . The car has been a daily runner for pretty much all of its 20years and has 196000 honest miles on the clock.
I bought the car 4 years ago from a friend who'd had the car for about 15 years so I know its history.
I have a friend who can do all the welding for me for a very fair price but it's still going to cost a few hundred pounds to get it back on the road.
Is it worth doing or should I cut my losses and let her go?
Are there any breakers on here who could pm me with what they may be willing to offer for the car?.
If I do decide to keep her she's now 20years old and I believe legible for classic car insurance. Any recommends?

Where are you located Mike? As a retired MOT tester it annoys me immensely to hear of these outer sills failing for corrosion as the are NOT a testable item. The parking brake likely only needs the shoes adjusting and a lower arm is an easy item to change.
I would go back and challenge them on the corrosion issue a d if they won't budge call in the DVSA.

Tony.

ps. Last year I tested an ///M coupe with the same issue on the outer sills and although it looks a mess and clearly isn't "right" it's not a reason for failure.

 

[OldModMike]

Thanks for both replies. I'd like to keep it on the road if I can. Here is the failures and advisory list. I'm in Hove but the Mot was done in Crawley near to my work.

 

[t-tony]

I also note that lower arm ball joint which is excessively worn could be either the inner or the outer one as it does not tell you and it SHOULD. The outer sills are only a bolted on component and as such are not considered a structural item, they are only "bodywork". Airbag light a common issue usually a simple remedy by resetting the system.

Tony.

 

[OldModMike]

Thanks so much for your replies. My friend who is going to do the welding was going to get the the car up in the air and take photos of the offending areas this weekend. I will post the photos on this thread when I have them. Hopefully tomorrow. Thanks again.

 

[t-tony]

Mike, please also take some pictures of them before doing anything. Sean d had to repair the inner sill/floor area on his when he started rebuilding it, but, you can't see that until the outer sill is off. There may be corrosion on the inner sills but they failed it on the outlets. Please keep us posted.

Tony.

 

[Nodzed]

Hi
Definitely get the outer sills off and check the inners, even if they only require surface rust treating it's worth doing now. Getting the outers off is a ball ache but not difficult, loads of threads on here how to go about it.

 

[Synclare]

.

 

[Mazza]

Agree with previous posts. The cost to get it back on the road will not be that much if you shop around for parts.
To remove the sill covers is a fairly straightforward job, but you may need to replace some of the plastic fixings.

 

[MRH1966]

Hi Mike, My son and I are in Lewes, not far away. We can help fit the wishbones and switch off the air bag light etc. We have 4 Zeds at the moments so have done it a few times and got most of the kit!

 

[t-tony]

Hi Mike, My son and I are in Lewes, not far away. We can help fit the wishbones and switch off the air bag light etc. We have 4 Zeds at the moments so have done it a few times and got most of the kit!

What a great offer, top men.

Tony.

 

[Mint]

Hi Mike, My son and I are in Lewes, not far away. We can help fit the wishbones and switch off the air bag light etc. We have 4 Zeds at the moments so have done it a few times and got most of the kit!

Good offer, this forum just gets better & better.

 

[handsomejackuk]

agree with other posters on this issue my project 2.8 had two badly corroded sills which i have replaced with some donor sills not new but in very good condition.. get the jobs done and keep the car on the road.. let us know how you get on with...

good shout to the local forum members willing to lend a hand with the repairs too...

its what the forum is all about...

heres a few of what mine are like now i have treated them and painted the donor sills i am by no means a paint sprayer / bodywork guy but did all mine with aerosol cans looks good enough for me..


55646566_645795035856913_41769398767190016_o by handsomejackuk, on Flickr

52001772_632359273867156_6369039778133835776_o by handsomejackuk, on Flickr


52830900_632360533867030_2699921093438734336_o by handsomejackuk, on Flickr

55949767_645794695856947_1710997889917911040_n by handsomejackuk, on Flickr


64881706_699757680460648_3328641079359569920_o by handsomejackuk, on Flickr

 

[OldModMike]

Hi all, Sorry for the delay in replying. I had a trip North to visit my mum who is ill. Thanks for the kind offer of help with the work @MRH1966. The offer is much appreciated but Im happy to say I decided to go ahead and the welding is all done. Handbrake left to sort then MOT on Friday. Hope to pick the car up on Monday and will be back on the road. I will let you all know how I get on.
Thanks again for all the encouragement,advise and offers of help. What a splendid bunch you all are.
200,000 miles here we come.

 

[MRH1966]

Happy you have got it fixed and hopefully back on the road. We are only down the road from you so if you need anything, let me know.

 

[OldModMike]

Picked up the car yesterday. Top down on the way home and drove it into work today. All is well. Has advisories on the MOT for both rear brake pipes corroded, brake discs worn,pitted or scored,but not seriously weakened (both rear) and rear diff bush poor condition.
Euro car parts has a 50% off sale on brake discs and pads so thats the next job for me.

 

[t-tony]

Simple jobs Mike and pretty common on older cars. One bit of advice re the diff. eye bush, I would suggest replacing it with a Poly type bush kit. If you need any help/advice on how to do it please ask.

Tony.

 

[MRH1966]

We have just done this on my sons 2.8 . Less than £100 for front and rears. Nice easy job!!

 

[OldModMike]

Wow less than a £100!! Euro car parts is coming in £125 for 2 x rear discs, 2 x rear pads and the inner and outer hoses each side. That price is with a 50% off voucher code!
Can I ask where you got your parts from?