Back in a Z3, very unexpected!!

[BoxClever]

Hi all,

Not sure if you'll remember me (some South Wales guys will) but I had a silver early Z3 last year and since have had 2 x Z4s and a few non BMWs too. I always had an E46 330 in the background which has been replaced after 8 years ownership with an E93.... but I had a spare evening online yesterday and turned up a cheap Z3 over the bridge and thought it would be rude not to have a look at it!! And I bought it! Really wasn't looking for another car but a cheap/good Z is a good thing!

It's a 1998 16V manual car with some nice options - working electric roof, black leather heated seats, aircon, factory hoops, speaker between rear seats, 17 inch staggered style 18s, full service history and on 113k miles with long MOT and recent oil service. It's got a couple of things which need sorting like a hunting idle and a clicking noise from the front NS brake calliper (has stupid clip on calliper covers that I think is the culprit, which will be gone shortly). It's got silly stickers all over it (which will be removed) and i got money off so the guy could keep his luggage rack as I don't like them.

I'll be heading over the bridge soon so @colb can cast his beady eye on it but it didn't miss a beat on the 50 mile thrash back from the valleys. Pictures below, if anyone knows the car then please chip in. Oh and I bought the car off a guy called Crook, and it has no V5 - I'll wait til the police turn up! Haha!!

Will post better pictures when I've played with it a little, but here are a couple from when i collected it!!

Cheers,
Rich

 

[bombur]

Good to see u back in a Z3. There are no crooks in Wales btw....unless you are English

 

[BoxClever]

There are no crooks in Wales btw....unless you are English

Exactly! He even laughed when he showed me his ID and said "you're buying a used car from a Crook"!!!

 

[Bampz]

I recognise that car , bought it from BMW in Plymouth about 6/7 years ago , it had been in a garage for about 12 months before they got it , nice little car always went well , it did need some bodywork on the bonnet as started to suffer with the top coat peeling , I bought a 2.8 so sold it to a guy who did cars up in his spare time and he gave it a respray , I think he sold it to someone in Cardiff area and I think they could be responsible for the bling , when I sold it it had the original radio fitted and the only thing that didn't seem to work was the headlight washers , I'm sure you will enjoy as she's a great car to drive and so economical it's unreal , enjoy

 

[BoxClever]

I recognise that car , .....

Amazing knowledge and thanks ever so much for the input. It's done only 6000 miles or so in the last decade so not been used much, but it goes really well - apart from an air leak causing a rough idle. Paint looks OK, no immediate signs of a bad respray but I'll clean it tomorrow so will let you know then. So far I've removed stuck on sill covers, a 2.8 badge, BMW performance badges on the sides and a UK badge from the back. I need an original gear knob as it has a modern m-sport one currently! The dodgy stereo will be removed also when I troubleshoot why only one (out of 5) speakers work!!

It was so cheap that I had to buy it, lets see how long I keep it as I do have a bigger and faster convertible as my main car but it may stay a while

 

[Bampz]

No probs but 2.8????? , I live in South Pembrokeshire and found the 1.9 more fun to drive on our roads than my 2.8 much nippier round the lanes

 

[BoxClever]

No probs but 2.8????? , I live in South Pembrokeshire and found the 1.9 more fun to drive on our roads than my 2.8 much nippier round the lanes

Yep, I laughed too!! I love the early 16V too, I've got a 3 litre 3-series if i need some proper speed

 

[colb]

Looking fab on top, be interesting to see what the underside is like. Get rid of those caliper covers see if that sorts the click. Smoke test will reveal any air leaks probably perished rubbers in ythe vaccum syatem, check out for missing blanking plugs under the rear of the inlet manifold they split and fall off. Crap idle and high fuel trims are an indication of an air leak(s).
#MOT history dosn't look bad looks like trackrod ball joints could do with replacement and some rear suspension bushes. Oil leak needs sorting.

 

[BoxClever]

Thanks Colin, I think it's a find. All the jacking points are solid but my knees don't allow me to get properly under it but was too cheap for what it was. I'll drop you a text in the week and see if you are recovered enough from your travels for me to come over to yours sometime

Agreed on the MOT advisories, I'll get on those once the idle is sorted

 

[Bampz]

I had a clicking noise on my 2.8 when braking coming from front offside wheel turned out to be the clip that holds the brake pad in the caliper had come loose from back of pad changed pads all good , couple photos when I owned the car

 

[BoxClever]

Those pictures are nice to see, thanks! I think it's gonna be these stupid calliper covers or indeed a brake pad clip, as you suggest. I just took it to the shops and the surging idle makes it unpleasant to drive - I'm waiting to hear from a mate when he can come and give me a hand in sorting this out!

 

[Stacey Aylmore]

I’ve had a couple of 1.9 I found them great fun for little money

 

[BoxClever]

UPDATE 15/4/23

Rubbishy weather today in Bristol so not managed to do much with the new Z apart from get thinners on the sticker residue that was all over the wings and boot where a number of dodgy stickers have been. Looks loads better now. The rear lights and side repeaters have got tint film all over them which has been baked on by the look of them - I've bought some M clear and red rear lights which will sort the problem out at the rear - I know they are marmite - but that leaves the side repeaters. Does anyone have a decent cheap set for a pre facelift? Only ones on the bay are extortionate!!

A friend also gave me with oblong to round OBD connector so I thought I'd see if an old scan tool might work (in advance of seeing @colb ) and it connected. Gave me the code P1140 which from googling seems to point to the MAF. The hunting and revving the car does already points that way but I think there is also a bigger problem here so that's getting checked this week. I'll see if I can embed a video of the revving at idle to show you all. Turn the volume up as it is low but this is the car doing it, not me!!

Thanks

 

[t-tony]

Try unplugging the MAF, which will make it run in default mode and see what effect that has on the running.

Tony.

 

[colb]

Video not playing.
My money is still on an air leak somewhere being the cause. Mafs are problematic to diagnose with any certainty and may well set a code as a result of something else further into the engine after the Maf. Having said that my experience is that Mafs dont always set codes when they go bad, went through that with my M43. Only when I did put a new oem Maf in it solved my problem.
Can your code reader look at live data, if so take a look at the fuel trims, high readings point to air leaks being present, extra air being detected that has not been measured past the Maf being picked up in the exhaust and fooling the car to think its running lean. To correct what it sees it will add more fuel at the injectors and cause running issues. Same for the Maf if thats screwed up and misreporting volumes it will have samee effect on fueling. Try Maf cleaner spray, may work or won't do anything if its duff.

 

[BoxClever]

Try unplugging the MAF,

Thanks Tony, now heading out so can't give the car any more time tonight but will let you know the outcome.

Video not playing.
My money is still on an air leak somewhere being the cause. Mafs are problematic .....

Thanks Colin, as I said in our message yesterday there is a definite leak somewhere near the bulkhead so gonna explore that this week as well as unplugging the MAF and seeing what's what. The scan tool is old one that does nothing but give code numbers - i'm surprised it connected at all!

Are you around any mornings this week? I'm on afternoon/evening shifts and could nip over at some point.

 

[colb]

Interesting thread here on similar problem

318i (M44) Idles Fast and throws code P1140

Bimmerforums is the preferred online BMW Forum and community for BMW owners. At Bimmerforums, you will find technical how-to information maintenance specifics audio advice wheel and tire combinations and model specific details not found anywhere else. Our professionals are here to help make...

www.bimmerforums.com

 

[colb]

At the moment yes will be here but away Friday and maybe earlier if I get summoned to Crawley for babysitting, give me a shout when you want to pop over.

 

[BoxClever]

At the moment yes will be here but away Friday and maybe earlier if I get summoned to Crawley for babysitting, give me a shout when you want to pop over.

Thanks mate, maybe Wednesday works but i'll WhatsApp you