Jim's Z3 Journey

[Jjim]

Bloody hell Jim, How did I miss this thread, you make me look lazy, love some of the stuff you are doing and plenty of it is on my list, especially the sub upgrade, top stuff and great attention to detail, both interiors are totally transformed and look brilliant

Cheers Sean

I've actually built another sub box as I was planning on having a similar setup in both my Z3s, but one was going to have a 6" and the other an 8". I purchased a JL Audio 8W3v3 sub, and after trial fitting (in as many ways as possible) it just wouldn't fit, due to the depth of the speaker - the magnet was just too big. I therefore am just going to swap the 6" sub enclosure I built between cars as I drive them. Its a 30 second job to remove the sub box and attach the wires.

Point of this is, I do have a sub box in bare wood form with an unfinished lid that I have going spare. Let me know if your interested and I'll put up some pics of it.

 

[Jjim]

Silver Z3 has been in for some minor work;
- Rear brake lines replaced
- New spark plugs
- New air filter
- New serpentine belt
- New front and rear Eibach Pro springs
- New front and rear Monroe shocks
- New Myle top mounts front and rear
- New front brake hoses (as they were twisted and crumbling)
- Front splitter repaired (previous owner used a curb stone as a grinding tool)
- Rear bumper painted (as someone dropped something on it before making it into the boot)
- Replacement bonnet due on next week - bargain at £30, previous one had been used to bounce golf balls off lol




More pics to follow

 

[t-tony]

Silver Z3 has been in for some minor work;
- Rear brake lines replaced
- New spark plugs
- New air filter
- New serpentine belt
- New front and rear Eibach Pro springs
- New front and rear Monroe shocks
- New Myle top mounts front and rear
- New front brake hoses (as they were twisted and crumbling)
- Front splitter repaired (previous owner used a curb stone as a grinding tool)
- Rear bumper painted (as someone dropped something on it before making it into the boot)
- Replacement bonnet due on next week - bargain at £30, previous one had been used to bounce golf balls off lol

View attachment 90280 View attachment 90279 View attachment 90278

More pics to follow

Painting apart, that would've been a good afternoon's work at the Shed Jim. Hope it didn't cost the earth mate.

Tony.

 

[Jjim]

Painting apart, that would've been a good afternoon's work at the Shed Jim. Hope it didn't cost the earth mate.

Tony.

Next time the Shed
Got the Blue Z3 to do next
The joy of owning 2 x Z3’s

 

[t-tony]

All we need is some notice to get the boys here mate and Shirl to get a big box of teabags in

Tony.

 

[Jjim]

All we need is some notice to get the boys here mate and Shirl to get a big box of teabags in

Tony.

Many thanks. Will definitely take you up on that with the next lot of work.

 

[Jjim]

Once the funds have recovered. The blue will be need;
- Rear bushes
- Front and Rear springs, shocks & top mounts
- Rear calipers fitting (currently being painted)
- Injector 1 or 2 re-seating as I think a clip was not fitted properly during a manifold swap. There is a rattle noise.

 

[Sean d]

Cheers Sean

I've actually built another sub box as I was planning on having a similar setup in both my Z3s, but one was going to have a 6" and the other an 8". I purchased a JL Audio 8W3v3 sub, and after trial fitting (in as many ways as possible) it just wouldn't fit, due to the depth of the speaker - the magnet was just too big. I therefore am just going to swap the 6" sub enclosure I built between cars as I drive them. Its a 30 second job to remove the sub box and attach the wires.

Point of this is, I do have a sub box in bare wood form with an unfinished lid that I have going spare. Let me know if your interested and I'll put up some pics of it.

Only just seen this pal, thanks for the offer but can't go for a top mount sub due to the after market roll bars

 

[Jjim]

Only just seen this pal, thanks for the offer but can't go for a top mount sub due to the after market roll bars

No probs, but it can flush mount if you use a shallow enough sub.

 

[Sean d]

No probs, but it can flush mount if you use a shallow enough sub.

Where have you put your amp, thought this was all over but I'm just not happy with the sound that I have, I managed to access the EQ on the HU today and got it much improved but just need more bass

 

[Jjim]

I’ve mounted my amp in the boot, against the trim that covers the roof pump.
Will take one photos tomorrow.

 

[Dino D]

Where have you put your amp, thought this was all over but I'm just not happy with the sound that I have, I managed to access the EQ on the HU today and got it much improved but just need more bass

I have the same box set up and with the 6inch and as Jim says it has a bit of room to make a flush mount. Or you could fettle the bar across to allow space?

Until I ran a separate quality mono amp for the 6inch JL sub it was just not good enough. It may only be a 6inch but this particular sub was designed for small enclosures (I’ll dig up the thread but the guy I bought it from did lots of research on subs and enclosure sizes/ports/no ports and chose this as it worked in the space with no port needed).
Only after having a proper amp on it did it really perform (had a cheap amp, false economy, got a used Alpine amp and really made it bassy)

I don’t run any bass through the speakers now, just via the sub.

The sub was used so must be 10yrs old now and the amp looks ancient but all works great compared with newer cheap stuff!

Mono amp in boot and the other speakers are powered by the Alpine inline amp in the dash.
Sorry for OT.

 

[Sean d]

I’ve mounted my amp in the boot, against the trim that covers the roof pump.
Will take one photos tomorrow.

Thankd Jim, what sub are you using

 

[Jjim]

Thankd Jim, what sub are you using

I’m using a JL Audio 6w3v3.
Using a JL Audio XD 1000/5 amp

Pic of the amp install

 

[Sean d]

I’m using a JL Audio 6w3v3.
Using a JL Audio XD 1000/5 amp

Pic of the amp install
View attachment 90364

I looked a JL kit, its a bit on the pricey side

 

[Jjim]

Sub was new as never trust a second hand speaker as no idea how they were treated before (overpowered and clipped).

The amp I got for a very good deal from Gumtree.

 

[Sean d]

Sub was new as never trust a second hand speaker as no idea how they were treated before (overpowered and clipped).

The amp I got for a very good deal from Gumtree.

How many channell Amp do I need pal, is it best to power the sub and speakers through the amp

 

[Jjim]

How many channell Amp do I need pal, is it best to power the sub and speakers through the amp

Depends on your setup.

I would always recommend a decent brand amp. I like JL Audio, pricey but very good quality, no feedback, doesn’t run hot and reliable.

If your running speakers, then a 4 channel amp

If your running speakers and a sub, then a 5 channel amp. It will need to have a sub output.
Or run 2 amps (would require more boot space). 1 for speakers and 1 for amp.

The amp I’m using is a JL Audio 1000/5, which is a 5 channel amp at 1000W, but of an overkill as 500W would probably do to run it all. It’s running all speakers and has a dedicated sub output also. Normally about £750, but I got it for £200.

 

[Jjim]

After the suspension refresh and new track rod ends, best to get the tracking sorted out

 

[2DunnsZ3]

super nice add ons.