Hello all.. My Z3 2.8 Project..

[jockmonkey]

Well,

After getting rid of my MX-5 in August I've taken the plunge and bought a Z3.

And there's a story to her..

She's a 1997 2.8 Manual in black with 55K on the clock. Sadly she's been put on the Cat C register...
I saw her at a local company that sells cars from Insurance companies.

Basically it looks like something has fallen on the bonnet.. It's dented and scratched. Badly..

Now I know a bonnet wouldn't be cheap new, but I can't understand why she's been written off..

But to be fair I'm lucky as she cost me not a lot of money at all... I've got a bonnet off ebay in the same colour, so all else needed is a few bumper scuffs sorted..

So I will post a few photo's showing before and after.

First few jobs are working out why the hood wont open.. (micro switch or pump..??) and more urgently (as the tyres look sad) get her on a set of 18"' BMW wheels.. Has anyone found the MV alloys good??

 

[t-tony]

Hi and welcome to the forum from here near Lincoln. Sorry no help on the alloys but someone soon wll be I'm sure. Enjoy your car when you are mobile and this great forum too.

Tony.

 

[Shelly]

Hi
Welcome to the forum

 

[GazHyde]

Welcome @jockmonkey,

Nice to see someone else taking the effort to keep another Z3 on the road. Bonnets are quite expensive, even from breakers so I can probably guess why they wrote it off. May even be the body shop over inflating the cost of repairs.

The hood could be one of a few different issues. First is to make sure that you are lifting the front of the hood far enough for the micro switch to engage. Also check your brake lights are working as the brake pedal switch could be faulty. Worth having a look at the fuse box as well.

This article deals with the micro switch replacement on the hood - https://zroadster.org/articles/bmw-z3-hood-micro-switch-replacement.52/

I've been running 18" Breyton alloys on my Z3 for the last 5 years without any issues.

Hope that all helps!

Gary

 

[DavidM]

Welcome from Ireland!

 

[jockmonkey]

Cheers Gaz et all.. Gaz do you run them on 225/40-18 all round or the E46 set up (255/35-18 rears)?

 

[GazHyde]

Gaz do you run them on 225/40-18

Yes, mine are 8.5 all round with a 40 offset. Fit very snug on the front, but could do with wider rears or spacers to fill the arches at the back.

 

[oldcarman]

Hi from mid northern Canada!! Enjoy the car and the ride you're about to take on this forum! JIM

 

[hard top]

Welcome from me too.

 

[jonco]

- from me too. Looks like you have a good find/buy.
Recently had a new boot lid/rear light and rear bumper spray and that was over £1800 at insurance rates so on that basis a new bonnet and associated work would easily put it into write-off band.

 

[zedonist]

Welcome, nice story, 18", keep to 225 Max on front, but 255 are fine on the back, the all important thing is offset, I will post a link shortly, or someone will beat me to it, but et35 to et40 is the norm front and back.

 

[Googy]

hi jock mate enjoy the forums did u say were u were from did i miss it .................hi from leeds

 

[jockmonkey]

Cheers all, I am in Manchester..

Well.. I'm looking at several sets of wheels, as the 16" OE ones have some cracks and damage on the tyres, so I don't see the point of going and putting new 16" tyres on her..

My plans so far include the wheels, doing the seals round the door handles.. but I fancy doing wacky stuff too, like reversing camera and DAB radio, just to drag her a little bit into the modern era..

She's H15LLE.. so I wonder if the plate will stay or go.. but I am a sucker for black bmw's with black leather...

I'm gonna post some pictures of her at the weekend

 

[bonzo]

from Bonzo and Z3lda.