Jim's Z3 Journey

[Jjim]

Lockdown time put to good use and stripped out the interior of Blue to sort out a couple bits. Needed to sort out:

• Shrinking extended leather over the dash pods

• Remove the awful aftermarket alarm and central locking. As the car locked itself when it felt like it - both @Nodzed and @andyglym have experience of this and having to help find a suitable ‘pole’ to help me break in. Then retrofit an OEM alarm / central locking and then code 2 alarm fobs.
  
• Wire in my E46 M3 oval rear view mirror so that the auto dim function works
• Dye all of the extended leather and seats so that they actually match. Also to address and scratches.

Only picture I took of the interior stripped out

Seats being refurbed

The interior leather parts (again forgot to take a photo of the door cards)
The leather on the divers binnacle and the passenger air bag lid had to be replaced. As all the leather has now been dyed, I’m happy to say it’s now all the same colour.

The seat belt parts cleaned up and refreshed with Gummi Phlege

Haven’t taken any photos of it all put back together yet, as just awaiting a couple replacement clips. Hopefully this week it will all be finished

I did unfortunately notice that the red brake light was on, on the dash. So a bit of investigation found the brake fluid reservoir was very very low. Looks like there is a leak on the offside rear brake caliper. So this week the caliper will be inspected, hopefully the brake line connector just needs tightening. Then a top up the fluid and bleed all brakes to ensure no air has got in the system.

 

[t-tony]

Unless the resevoir has completely emptied no air can have got into the system. Even the one dripping shouldn't need bleeding, but worth it to be sure.

Tony.

 

[Althulas]

Looking great.

 

[Mint]

You're getting really good at this leather dyeing James. Looking very smart

 

[g8jka]

Awesome work with the leather as usual! How did you clean up the seat belt parts? Mine always seem to fade again.

 

[ktnez99]

An excellent day’s work @Jjim
What’s the white stuff in the seats prior to dying/cleaning and what’s its purpose?

 

[Jjim]

Awesome work with the leather as usual! How did you clean up the seat belt parts? Mine always seem to fade again.

I used some degreaser to remove any surface dirt and grime and then used Gummi Pflege. Gave it a couple coats and it seams to have lasted well so far. So when I clean the interior in the future I’ll just use it again to give the seat belts another coat
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nextzett-G...4&keywords=gummi+pflege&qid=1590469929&sr=8-3

An excellent day’s work @Jjim
What’s the white stuff in the seats prior to dying/cleaning and what’s its purpose?

It’s leather filler. I used it to level out any scratches or low points

 

[ktnez99]

I used some degreaser to remove any surface dirt and grime and then used Gummi Pflege. Gave it a couple coats and it seams to have lasted well so far. So when I clean the interior in the future I’ll just use it again to give the seat belts another coat
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nextzett-G...4&keywords=gummi+pflege&qid=1590469929&sr=8-3



It’s leather filler. I used it to level out any scratches or low points

Thanks Jim. What do you use, please?

 

[Jjim]

So everything is finally back together. I’ve also wired the sat nav dock around the back of the dash and powered via a USB port in the glove box.

Pics of the entire extended leather interior and E46 armrest all dyed the same colour and refitted. No more shrunk leather around the dash pods.

The outside was then treated to a snow foam soak, 2 bucket clean, 3 stage polish and then a coating of Armor X ceramic coating.

Got to love a Montreal Blue in the sun

Managed to get a deep shine & good colour reflection in the paint.

Then to finish it off I managed to get my freshly painted Aero spoiler fitted. Might not be to everyone’s taste, but I like it especially with the next stage addition which will follow as soon as my painter gets some more paint.

 

[ktnez99]

Looks great @Jjim
What filler do you use on the leather, please*?
*asks nicely

 

[Jjim]

Looks great @Jjim
What filler do you use on the leather, please*?
*asks nicely

The leather filler I use is from Furniture Clinic.

 

[TrevD66]

Looking very very tidy @Jjim

 

[t-tony]

Top job mate, she's a beaut.

Tony.

 

[ktnez99]

I didn’t realise your car’s soft top is beige/tan. How do you get on keeping it clean @Jjim ?

 

[Jjim]

I didn’t realise your car’s soft top is beige/tan. How do you get on keeping it clean @Jjim ?

Just wash it with car wash shampoo, when I remember. Apart from that I don’t do anything else

 

[t-tony]

I always Hoover mine first while it's dry it gets quite a lot of muck out of the textile.

Tony.

 

[Stevo7682]

Your zed is looking really fresh in the pictures you have done a nice job on the refresh of the interior.
How easy did the re setting of the dislocated leather on the dash.
Stephen.

 

[Jjim]

Your zed is looking really fresh in the pictures you have done a nice job on the refresh of the interior.
How easy did the re setting of the dislocated leather on the dash.
Stephen.

I had to replace the leather on the passenger airbag cover and the drivers binnacle. The leather on the pod surrounds just needed glueing back down. All went back together nicely.

 

[Jjim]

Blue had a nice little upgrade today

Out with the old BMC Carbon Dynamic Airbox.....

and in with the Simota airbox

Haven’t had chance to test out the new sound yet, but the engine bay certainly looks nicer

Nothing wrong with the old air box, so it will be going up for sale.

 

[Jjim]

As I’ve had some spare time over the last week, I decided to use some spare leather to make a case for my brick fob.

Quite happy with how it turned out. At least it protects it.