Advice on welding and breakers!

A

alysonb

Regular Member
Joined
Aug 13, 2020
Points
12
Hi Everyone,

I'm a complete newbie to this so sorry if I'm cross posting or should be looking for this information elsewhere.

I own a 1999 Z3 1895 Black Z3 which I love although the body work is in need of some welding and a replacement driver's door owing to the fact that someone had reversed into it last Thursday (sob).

I was wondering if anyone could point me in the direction of a specialist and/or reliable breakers yard, and if there is any advice on welding or any recommended welders (the rust is situated as usual on the corners of the wheel arches and on the sills). I presume that replacing the door is cheaper than having the dent repaired. Would it be better to replace the sills even?

Any advice would be gratefully received!

Thanks!
 
I'd personally get replacement panels from our resident forum breakers but sills would be bought new. It really depends on your skill level and the time available to do the repairs. People that can help you with used parts are @spurs fan in a coupe @Synclare @mrscalex There are also people on this forum who use Z3's as donor cars to build replica cars and they may have all the body panels you will ever need.
 
Hello - Thanks for both your replies!

I shall reply on your profile about the door - thank-you.
 
alysonb said:
Hi Everyone,

I'm a complete newbie to this so sorry if I'm cross posting or should be looking for this information elsewhere.

I own a 1999 Z3 1895 Black Z3 which I love although the body work is in need of some welding and a replacement driver's door owing to the fact that someone had reversed into it last Thursday (sob).

I was wondering if anyone could point me in the direction of a specialist and/or reliable breakers yard, and if there is any advice on welding or any recommended welders (the rust is situated as usual on the corners of the wheel arches and on the sills). I presume that replacing the door is cheaper than having the dent repaired. Would it be better to replace the sills even?

Any advice would be gratefully received!

Thanks!
Click to expand...

where are you based? On a 1999 plate it should be a facelift model you have. I have some nice facelift sills in Woking, Surrey
 
I'm in Lincolnshire although the drive down to Woking should be okay. How much would the sills be?

How would I find out if it's a facelift model (just to confirm). It's a T-reg.

Thanks!
 
alysonb said:
Hi Everyone,

I'm a complete newbie to this so sorry if I'm cross posting or should be looking for this information elsewhere.

I own a 1999 Z3 1895 Black Z3 which I love although the body work is in need of some welding and a replacement driver's door owing to the fact that someone had reversed into it last Thursday (sob).

I was wondering if anyone could point me in the direction of a specialist and/or reliable breakers yard, and if there is any advice on welding or any recommended welders (the rust is situated as usual on the corners of the wheel arches and on the sills). I presume that replacing the door is cheaper than having the dent repaired. Would it be better to replace the sills even?

Any advice would be gratefully received!

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Further to what @Jack Ratt posted all the outer body panels are bolt-on so you can replace those yourself. Re a place to get any welding repairs done local knowledge is best. You say you’re in Lincolnshire? Where about in Lincs?

Tony.
 
Thanks Tony - I live just outside of Lincoln itself. There is a decent welder that I've found in Lincoln, but if I can get all of the parts replaced, I won't need him! News sills must be cheaper than the welding work that's needed.
 
Once you get the old outer sills removed you will be able to assess the state of the inner sill which is the main structural part of the side of the car. The outer sills are just bodywork. I used to work for Colin at Shakespeare St. Garage in Lincoln and would certainly recommend them for a quote at least. I’m 12 miles or so NW of Lincoln.

Tony.
 
alysonb said:
I'm in Lincolnshire although the drive down to Woking should be okay. How much would the sills be?

How would I find out if it's a facelift model (just to confirm). It's a T-reg.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
That sounds like a pre-facelift narrowbody to me.
 
alysonb said:
I'm in Lincolnshire although the drive down to Woking should be okay. How much would the sills be?

How would I find out if it's a facelift model (just to confirm). It's a T-reg.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Rear lights is easiest way to tell, prefacelift are rectangular (left) facelift have the upper inner ‘chunk’ missing (right)

hope that helps?

BE29726C-BE3C-4920-AE11-A8BE0857E0F0.webp
 
alysonb said:
Hi Everyone,

I'm a complete newbie to this so sorry if I'm cross posting or should be looking for this information elsewhere.

I own a 1999 Z3 1895 Black Z3 which I love although the body work is in need of some welding and a replacement driver's door owing to the fact that someone had reversed into it last Thursday (sob).

I was wondering if anyone could point me in the direction of a specialist and/or reliable breakers yard, and if there is any advice on welding or any recommended welders (the rust is situated as usual on the corners of the wheel arches and on the sills). I presume that replacing the door is cheaper than having the dent repaired. Would it be better to replace the sills even?

Any advice would be gratefully received!

Thanks!
Click to expand...
There are a few on here who maybe able to help with parts, I am sure they will make themselves known ;):thumbsup:sills are a bolt on item so can be replaced without welding.
 
Thanks everyone for your responses. It looks like the car, as mrscalex correctly pointed out, is a pre-facelift narrow body model.
 
I contacted Soper of Lincoln and they quoted £160 for sills, £284 for the panel that sits about the sills by the side of the door - and a new door was upwards of £1k!
 
Did you speak to Adrian (@Synclare ) about his door? He may have the other panel you need too.

Tony.
 
Hi Tony,

I sent him a direct message but I havent heard back from him. Would it have been better to approach him another way? I'm not sure of forum etiquette!

Thanks,

Alyson
 
alysonb said:
Hi Tony,

I sent him a direct message but I havent heard back from him. Would it have been better to approach him another way? I'm not sure of forum etiquette!

Thanks,

Alyson
Click to expand...

He'll see I tagged him in the post above Alyson.

Tony.
 
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