Imminent re-furb.

[Martin J]

Hi all,

I've had my z3 for about 10 years and aside from a few bits of maintenance over the years, it's not been an expensive car to run. Unfortunately, after a number of years in a garage, it's spent the last 3 out in all weather, under some big trees and has suffered for it. It's now under cover again (yay!) so I'm happy to think that I can look after it a bit better now. The problem is, there are quite a few bits of work needed now;

Bonnet (dent/respray)
Front splitter chipped (respray)
Door/mirror (minor Rust repair/spray)
Other Door paint fade (Respray)
Rear bumper (repair/spray)

Refurb wheels
Rear Brakes rattling (brake pads replace?)
Exhaust minor leak Central (see MoT notice)​

Suspension arms O/S & N/S back bush has play (see MoT notice)​

Roof drains (clear to stop internal flooding)
Dry out floor (see roof drains)
Petrol indicator shorted-out (see floor flooding)​

Heater controls (partially working)

Radio antenna (repair/replace)​

Drivers seat re-condition
Seat belt guide broken
Wind-deflector (replace)

I love the car (

2.8 ​

V-reg '98 pre-facelift) and I don't see anything much on the road that I'd prefer to have (*that I can afford) but this list starts to look expensive for a 20-yr-old car. I haven't even started to get quotes and I don't have the time/space/skills to do mechanical or bodywork myself.

Any best-guess how much (ballpark) I should prepare/expect to spend?

Thanks in advance
Martin

 

[Jack Ratt]

Hello and welcome to the forum. Other than the painting, everything else is DIYable. If you're not confident in doing it yourself there is help available on the forum. Where are you?

 

[Martin J]

Hi Jack - thanks for the welcome.

I'm in the SE, part way down from London to the coast.

Don't suppose you know how to flush the roof drains? That has caused one of my major problems - the flooding and subsequent damage...

 

[andyglym]

to the forum from West Cumbria. That's a fair chunk of work to be done and if all carried out by a garage it's going to cost a bit. Wheels up to £100 a corner but probably cheaper depending on where you are. Circa £300 for the bonnet going by what others have done. There's lots of tech advice and articles on here, 'how to guides' and plenty of peeps that have had all these problems. A good cheap independent garage is a life saver if you want them to do it all. The balance is once you've completed it all you'll have a sorted Zed v's buying another that you'd need to do much of this. Loads of guys also break and sell bits including refurbished bits. Look out in the for sale section or place a wanted add.

Good luck

https://zroadster.org/articles/

 

[Jack Ratt]

https://zroadster.org/threads/drain-holes-for-the-roof.2347/

Have a read of this link. My car is kept in a garage and up to now I haven't had any trouble with my drains so can't speak from experience

 

[Sean d]

The drain holes look like are difficult to get too with the hood on

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8cBd7UP0dk

 

[Slam]

Hi and welcome from London

 

[Mazza]

Hi and welcome to the forum from Bognor Regis.

That’s a fair old list of stuff to do, but there is a lot that you can do yourself with the help and info you will get from this forum.

 

[PHILIP BAXTER]

Hi, and welcome from me in Cardiff. Good luck with the work that needs doing. The Zed will pay you back in smiles once it's sorted.

 

[Low Rider]

Welcome

 

[Martin J]

The drain holes look like are difficult to get too with the hood on

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8cBd7UP0dk

I had been advised of the existence of these by a garage but was told it would require s/t removal to get to them and I'd not got around to further investigation... armed with a long piece of wire and a certain amount of determination I have just proved that;
a) they ARE hard to reach
b) they are not blocked and are currently "passing water"

I also now know where the drain exits under the car and that I need new sills (teach me to go looking under the car!)

 

[Martin J]

https://zroadster.org/threads/drain-holes-for-the-roof.2347/

Have a read of this link. My car is kept in a garage and up to now I haven't had any trouble with my drains so can't speak from experience

So, I'm right in thinking that the bungs at the top of the windshield should not look like this?

 

[andyglym]

I had been advised of the existence of these by a garage but was told it would require s/t removal to get to them and I'd not got around to further investigation... armed with a long piece of wire and a certain amount of determination I have just proved that;
a) they ARE hard to reach
b) they are not blocked and are currently "passing water"

I also now know where the drain exits under the car and that I need new sills (teach me to go looking under the car!)

Every cloud mate. Circa £110 a side from BMW.

 

[Shelly]

Hi and welcome from me too

 

[BMBabe]

Welcome from Aylesbury

 

[DavidM]

Welcome from Ireland!

 

[How 29]

Welcome a big list but a challenge. You'll feel good when it's all completed.

 

[Mint]

Hi @Martin J, to the forum from me too in Staffordshire. Many smiles to come when you get to the end of your list