Connie's 1998 Z3

Ron Denney

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The M44 Massive
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Mar 19, 2015
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I sold my beloved 1974 Datsun 260Z and purchased a Red 1998 BMW Z3, 1.9. I love the Z3, but I have a BIG issue with it. My wife loves it also. So, the Z3 is now her car. She is driving it every day to work. There are a couple issue right now that I need to correct; the inspection gauge light is on and the engine is running a little rough; the seats will not stay stationary; I think they need the stops replaced; and it seems like we have a small leak in the radiator. I have replaced the hose, but that did not correct the problem. Well, that's all for now.
Ron Denney
Suwanee, GA, USA
 

oldcarman

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Welcome Ron and Connie from the centre of Canada. Most of your problems are common to the Z3 and you can research the articles and threads for advise. As for your seats rockin and Rollin @Aceman sells a set of bushings to correct the problem. I'm sure he'll be along shortly to welcome you. How close to Spartenburg are you, the hospital where your car was born?? JIM
 

Jack Ratt

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TRURO, CORNWALL
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Hello and welcome from Truro in South West UK. If your wife has taken your Zed the best thing you can do is to go out and buy another one. Enjoy your Zed
 

GazHyde

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Welcome Ron & Connie,

As Jim said those should all get tidied up easily enough. Direct link for the seat bushings here - https://zroadster.org/pages/BMW-Z3-Z3M-Seat-bushes-for-Roadster-Coupe/

Best you can do for the rough idling is check out all the induction hoses for splits, and then perhaps look in to buying a code reader and seeing if there is anything showing up.

Enjoy! Gary
 

Shelly

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Welcome to the forum ;)
From Bradwell near Great Yarmouth :)
Glad you are both enjoying your Z :)
 

billz

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Welcome to the club from over vast amounts of water :)
 

Ron Denney

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The M44 Massive
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Welcome Ron and Connie from the centre of Canada. Most of your problems are common to the Z3 and you can research the articles and threads for advise. As for your seats rockin and Rollin @Aceman sells a set of bushings to correct the problem. I'm sure he'll be along shortly to welcome you. How close to Spartenburg are you, the hospital where your car was born?? JIM
I am approximately 150 miles from that plant and have actually toured the plant.
 

Mint

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Hi :welcome:from me too from across the pond.
 

Nifty Fifty

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Wylye
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A warm welcome from Wiltshire, actually just down the road from Stonehenge :welcome:

Just done my seat bushes last week, follow the "how to guide" that @GazHyde has posted and its a pretty simple task. Do not rush!
Oh and do not forget, hide the car keys before you remove the seats. I used the bushes from @Aceman.
 

Brian4

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British Zeds
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Near Grantham
Model of Z
Z3 3.0i Auto
Hi and welcome from UK as well

Inspection lights are explained here.
Non-CBS. Otherwise known as Scheduled Servicing
If your car is non-CBS you may have a display on your car when you turn the ignition that looks like this







What basically happens is over time & miles (and depending on how you drive) the green lights slowly go out.

When the amber light comes on you should get your car booked in.

When the red light comes on your over due.

The display may also indicate what’s required.

The service intervals should go like this.

Oil Service, Inspection 1, Oil Service, Inspection 2, Oil Service, Inspection 1, Oil Service, Inspection 2 etc

When you switch on the ignition, you’ll see up to five green lights on your LED display. The fewer of these that come on, the sooner your next service will be due. The green light will go out once the car has started.

Following an oil service, your Service Interval Indicator is re-set, and you will now see five green lights again when you switch on the ignition.When the green lights have all disappeared, an orange light will come on, together with the word “Inspection”. As before, if you ignore this a red light will come on, indicating that the inspection is overdue.

At regular intervals, the clock symbol will appear, telling you when your brake fluid needs to be changed. Depending on the model you drive, this will either be every year or every 2 years. On completion of your brake fluid change, our Service Interval Indicator will be re-set and the clock symbol will disappear.

Here’s whats done on each service:

Oil Service
  • Engine oil and oil filter are replaced with new
Inspection 1

  • Engine oil and oil filter are replaced with new
  • Air filter is replaced with new
  • Micro filter is replaced with new
  • *At the corresponding interval coolant is changed (every four years at the latest), fluid is added as needed
  • *At the corresponding interval brake fluid is replaced (every two years at the latest)
  • All fluid levels checked and topped up
Inspection 2

  • Engine oil and oil filter are replaced with new
  • Spark plugs are replaced with new
  • Air filter is replaced with new
  • Fuel filter is replaced with new
  • Micro filter is replaced with new
  • Full Electrical Diagnostics
  • Full mechanical check
  • All fluids checked and topped up inc rear diff
  • *At the corresponding interval coolant is changed (every four years at the latest), fluid is added as needed
  • *At the corresponding interval brake fluid is replaced (every two years at the latest)
Normally

  • Brake fluid should be changed every 2 years
  • Coolant should be changed every 3 years
 

t-tony

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Hi to Ron and Connie from a part time Floridian based in Lincoln UK. You car certainly didn't migrate far from it's birth place. Enjoy the forum for all it has to offer.:)

Tony.
 

Grumps

Always happy, apart from when I'm not 🤬
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Hello from me to here in Mansfield Nottinghamshire. :welcome:
 
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