Rebody 250 California build thread for dummies

[Pond]

This build is one of the most interesting in the forum. Keep up the good work
A question about the window switches, can you open both windows from drivers side switch in some way? Really like the idea

No, there is just one switch for each window. Just like in the old days!

 

[Pond]

It has just dawned on me why so many people leave the Z3 interior as it is!!!
I didn't know what I was doing before; now it's just got a lot worse...

 

[Duncodin]

When you get to this stage in any job you have to keep going at full speed while it's fresh in your mind. If you down tools for a week it'll look a 1000 times worse when you come back.

 

[Nodzed]

It has just dawned on me why so many people leave the Z3 interior as it is!!!
I didn't know what I was doing before; now it's just got a lot worse...
View attachment 327909View attachment 327911View attachment 327913

Now see this is why I couldn't do this, all those wires would scare the bejusus out of me.
I take my hat off Sir.

 

[Pingu]

Luckily, it's all simple if you treat each wire on it's own. CANBUS cars would be a nightmare to convert.

The difficult thing is reverse-engineering the switches so they look retro. BMW switches are not simple affairs. Very few of them can be replaced with a simple toggle switch.

Fortunately, the wiring diagrams give you a very good idea of what is inside each switch, and what you need to do to make a simple toggle switch do some quite complicated things.

Believe it, or not, the hardest bit is the heater controls. I really wish the heater controls wer all electronic, then my fascia would be completely different. As it is the whole fascia is based around the position and look of those three dials.

 

[Pond]

It wasn't the wiring I was eluding to TBH. Most of that stays as is, just moved to different positions. Also a lot won't be re-used.
It was more that I now have to get a full dash and interior trim to fit nice and neatly, whilst incorporating all the 'stuff'.

 

[Duncodin]

. . .
I now have to get a full dash and interior trim to fit nice and neatly, whilst incorporating all the 'stuff'.

and I'm looking forward to following your progress - keep at it

 

[DaveP]

Agreed with Pingu. I kept my wiring and switches as simple as I could. I bottled out and kept the Z3 light switch as it looks quite vintage. The fog light switch and it's telling tale was a bit of a head scratcher too.

 

[Pond]

Getting on with changing the wiring and switchgear.
I have removed the ignition barrel and electrical connector. Old ignition barrel will be re-mounted in the new dash as a 'dummy'. Just for somewhere to put the key next to the immobiliser antenna. A new ignition switch is wired and tested to be fitted in the centre of the dash.
I have replaced both foglight switches with toggles (with leds in them).
I have cut down the headlight switch mounting bracket ready to be fitted in the new dash.
New 12v power socket has replaced the old fag lighter.
New fan selector switch has been wired (3 speed only as can't find an aftermarket 4 speed)!
Next job is to cut off most of the ignition switch housing/ steering lock so my new dash goes over it. I will be keeping some of the housing to re-fit the column stalk assemblies and the mounting points for the column covers.
I have replaced both stalk ends with bakelite-looking ones with chrome ends. Getting the old stalk ends off was a challenge (especially as my car had the BC stalk end with wiring in it). But they are done now!
I have also moved the central locking PCB from the rear view mirror to under the dash. The antenna has been run from here back up the A pillar to the centre of where the rear view mirror was. I am having a dash mounted rear view mirror (which has caused a lot of aggro).
No pictures of all this, as it isn't very attractive yet!

I am going to replace all heater flap controls with new cables and pull-push knobs, as the whole heater panel needs binning (it won't fit in the new dash).

I would like to keep my A/C but can't find anywhere to hide the switch (as it's big and I don't want the aggro of changing it and the recirc switch). So I am going to ditch the A/C but leave everything in place in case I change my mind in future. My A/C works but needs a top-up of refrigerant (which I could do myself ironically).

 

[Jezza]

It has just dawned on me why so many people leave the Z3 interior as it is!!!
I didn't know what I was doing before; now it's just got a lot worse...
View attachment 327909View attachment 327911View attachment 327913

It's worth the effort though. Won't be long before it looks like this!

 

[Zephyr]

d like to keep my A/C but can't find anywhere to hide the switch (as it's big and I don't want the aggro of changing it and the recirc switch). So I am going to ditch the A/C but leave everything in place in case I change my mind in future. My A/C works but needs a top-up of refrigerant (which I could do myself ironically).

Why not hide it behind a tilting panel as the modern Rolls does for their screens?

 

[Pond]

It's worth the effort though. Won't be long before it looks like this!View attachment 329023

I'll believe it when I see it! I haven't even thought about the instrument wiring and additional sensors yet.
Yours looks lovely Jez.
The wife says she is not keen on the biscuit/sand colour interior , so I am going to look at a darker 'tan' colour.

 

[Jezza]

I'll believe it when I see it! I haven't even thought about the instrument wiring and additional sensors yet.
Yours looks lovely Jez.
The wife says she is not keen on the biscuit/sand colour interior , so I am going to look at a darker 'tan' colour.

More like this?

 

[Pond]

More like this? View attachment 329031

Is that Steve's?
Yes, maybe even a touch darker.

 

[Jezza]

Is that Steve's?
Yes, maybe even a touch darker.

Yes it's Steve's. That's the beauty of building our own cars. We can all choose our own preferences and each one is unique.

 

[Pond]

Interior trim almost finished and in place. So I thought I would do a 'pretty bit' just to keep me sane.
Centre 'ashtray' complete with hidden switches. There is room for another, if needed.

 

[Pingu]

It's worth the effort though. Won't be long before it looks like this!View attachment 329023

That looks superb. I really like the glovebox. I'll need to look back through your thread to see how you did the heater controls.

Have you been warned that the clock uses a stupidly high current, and will flatten your battery in a couple of weeks? I swapped mine out for a voltmeter.

[edit] sorry, I just realised that's not your's.

 

[Pond]

That looks superb. I really like the glovebox. I'll need to look back through your thread to see how you did the heater controls.

Have you been warned that the clock uses a stupidly high current, and will flatten your battery in a couple of weeks? I swapped mine out for a voltmeter.

[edit] sorry, I just realised that's not your's.

No the pictures above are @Jezza's car and another chap called Steve. I am not quite there yet!
Mine currently looks like this (trial fitted the instruments to make sure they all fit before drilling the dash for fixings).
Oh and BTW; the hole around the gear lever will be round when finished. There is a reason I cut it square for now!

 

[Pond]

I'll need to look back through your thread to see how you did the heater controls.

I haven't done my heater controls yet but am not looking forward to it. Ultra fiddly and no room to get to it all!
I (we) are using 'push pull' cables from CBS with black knobs. These will connect into the existing flap arms and heater arm. A new 3 speed fan switch is used to replace the BMW 4 speed one. Only because I couldn't find a four speed switch ANYWHERE.

 

[Pond]

Car all stripped down (again) and ready to be trailered to the bodyshop on Thursday.
I have temporarily re-fitted the driver's seat, BMW steering wheel and wired the ignition switch so it can drive on and off the transporter.
I have left the rear lights and headlamp surrounds on the car, as the bodyshop need to 'fettle' the GRP around these so they all fit flush.
I have also highlighted the 'problem' areas on the body with masking tape and marker pen. Hopefully then there will be no excuses for missing anything.

The interior trim is all ready to be upholstered, which I am planning to get done while the car is away. I may have to fetch the driver's seat from the bodyshop!

I will buy a new period reg number soon and order some plates, so I can drill the front bumper for these to fit to. Drilling stainless is not my favourite past-time.

I also need to get some tyres fitted to the wire wheels, so they can go on the car when it is back.

It's going to be an expensive couple of months!