Chris Guest
Dedicated Member
- Joined
- Apr 29, 2017
- Points
- 25
So after years of MG's and Stag's - last for 12 years, total N&B rebuild, now living in Austria, I bought a 98 Z3 1.9 from an NHS colleague. Originally looking for something in VGC the one I now own is more of a project than I originally aimed to buy into if you know what I mean :-o
It was the same with Stags, its the lines that grab me, the rear haunch over the back axle, the proportion is 'classic'. You can tell I was blinded for the need to:
Respray bonnet and touch-up plaque on passenger door
Re-align front side quarter panels - what is the proper jointing between inner & outer at exposed lower part of wheel-arch and am I right thinking they are bolt-on panels?
Replace front bumper - poorly fitting pattern part
Replace ragtop - stitching loose, rear window finished with silicone
Get electric hood motor joined to hood again and working
Sort electric door lock to N/S door - but unlocks from inside opener
Fab cabin/seats with original radio cassette but trying to understand how boot housed multi-player cd works with in car audio
Great condition rest of body, very solid and a credit to manufacturer/previous owners.
77k miles, no advisories in last 2 years MOT's, only ever failed on minor points (as expected) once or twice in life. Only driven few hundred miles in last year.
Swore I'd given up doing this sort of thing but.....its a bit like finding a stray that's in need of a good home and some TLC. Its a human thing, something that looks at you from the dog's home and say's "it me, take me, we'll have some great days together.
Here's a funny thing; I managed to drag my 15y/o away from his computer. He came out into the sunlight, all emulsion white looking (as most neeks his age). Poor kid, he came with me, not saying much as usual during the drive, apart from the odd grunt and whine that assures me he's still alive. We got to the seller's place - please don't fret, he was only in the sunlight for about 20 mins and then he saw the Black Z3. It was like someone had given him intravenous Red Bull! He lit-up and was positively gushing. In fact I was almost welled-up, hearing my son re-join the human race and even shake the hand of the previous owner before gushing of how 'cool' and 'awesome' the car was. Couldn't get him out of the thing! So for the relatively small amount I paid for the car and matching hard-top (1800), I saw my son, for the first time in both our lives, get the point and joy in life that is me saying to him with his dreamy eye's - "By this time next year son we'll have it looking like its just come out of the factory.
One final thing - what is a Hard-Top Fitting Kit? Seller told me he bought top and realised he didn't have one, after he'd had it colour coded!
Look forward to meeting some of you when club arranges Lakes, Lancs, Yorks, Border runs and finally getting to know my son a little better by bringing him as well.
Any advice on list above, recommended suppliers or parts you might want to get rid of, please let me know - Located in Lancaster but travel to Manchester and Borders regularly each week.
It was the same with Stags, its the lines that grab me, the rear haunch over the back axle, the proportion is 'classic'. You can tell I was blinded for the need to:
Respray bonnet and touch-up plaque on passenger door
Re-align front side quarter panels - what is the proper jointing between inner & outer at exposed lower part of wheel-arch and am I right thinking they are bolt-on panels?
Replace front bumper - poorly fitting pattern part
Replace ragtop - stitching loose, rear window finished with silicone
Get electric hood motor joined to hood again and working
Sort electric door lock to N/S door - but unlocks from inside opener
Fab cabin/seats with original radio cassette but trying to understand how boot housed multi-player cd works with in car audio
Great condition rest of body, very solid and a credit to manufacturer/previous owners.
77k miles, no advisories in last 2 years MOT's, only ever failed on minor points (as expected) once or twice in life. Only driven few hundred miles in last year.
Swore I'd given up doing this sort of thing but.....its a bit like finding a stray that's in need of a good home and some TLC. Its a human thing, something that looks at you from the dog's home and say's "it me, take me, we'll have some great days together.
Here's a funny thing; I managed to drag my 15y/o away from his computer. He came out into the sunlight, all emulsion white looking (as most neeks his age). Poor kid, he came with me, not saying much as usual during the drive, apart from the odd grunt and whine that assures me he's still alive. We got to the seller's place - please don't fret, he was only in the sunlight for about 20 mins and then he saw the Black Z3. It was like someone had given him intravenous Red Bull! He lit-up and was positively gushing. In fact I was almost welled-up, hearing my son re-join the human race and even shake the hand of the previous owner before gushing of how 'cool' and 'awesome' the car was. Couldn't get him out of the thing! So for the relatively small amount I paid for the car and matching hard-top (1800), I saw my son, for the first time in both our lives, get the point and joy in life that is me saying to him with his dreamy eye's - "By this time next year son we'll have it looking like its just come out of the factory.
One final thing - what is a Hard-Top Fitting Kit? Seller told me he bought top and realised he didn't have one, after he'd had it colour coded!
Look forward to meeting some of you when club arranges Lakes, Lancs, Yorks, Border runs and finally getting to know my son a little better by bringing him as well.
Any advice on list above, recommended suppliers or parts you might want to get rid of, please let me know - Located in Lancaster but travel to Manchester and Borders regularly each week.
.