Jonno's Atlanta Blue Rebuild

[Jonno Bee]

I’ve heard recently that some crime writers start at the end of their story and then weave the plot line back to the beginning. I’ve been meaning to piece together my experience of steadily overhauling my Zed. But with many interruptions and at times, a slower than glacial rate of progress I thought no one would stay with it to the end. So now, with over five hundred miles since the post rebuild MOT I thought it time to begin.

My Zed is a 1998, 2.8 bought with 72000 miles five years ago. I have full service history and receipts to prove that the four previous owners treated it reasonably well.
My aim is to outline the problems I’ve experienced and overcome along the way and add to the invaluable knowledge base already built on this forum. Knowledge and helpful gen I have benefitted from since before buying my car.

This photo was taken last weekend at an overnight stop in South Devon.

 

[Althulas]

 

[Jonno Bee]

I’ve always been interested in cars, engineering and the restoration of things that move or fly.
I was home on leave from a job overseas in 1998 driving across Suffolk on the A14 when I saw BMW Z3s for the first time. They were on board a transporter, I remember saying to my wife how cool I thought they looked and that one day when they were affordable I’d pick one up to restore. We were living in East Africa at the time with unmade roads and a Landrover TDI as transport.

We returned to live in the UK in 1999 and a couple of years later I was looking for an cheapish practical classic car as a rolling restoration. Our family wagon then was a ten year old Volvo 240 GLT Estate. It had tank-like build quality, heated leather seats and of course no indicators fitted as standard, or at least none I could ever find!

Impressed by the Swedish engineering I had a look at Volvo’s back catalogue and was surprised to unearth I think the most un-Volvo shaped car Volvo ever made, the P1800S. Back then, they were overlooked and not engulfed by the retro cool hype and high prices of today. I bought a 1969 2 litre which I gradually fettled into shape, finally selling it in 2013 to fund a house move and family stuff.

Two years later, seriously missing a project I found myself on a few popular car buying websites looking for a cheapish practical, rear wheel drive modern classic. The search for a Zed began.

 

[Jonno Bee]

I like to gather as much practical gen as possible before heading off to look at any potential purchase. I came across this site very early in my search and was impressed by the quality of the forums, technical info and buyers guide available. My thanks to all those who took the time in producing such excellent articles. They were especially useful given the lazy generalisations about primitive semi trailing arm suspension echoed across magazine and online reviews. My previous classic shared it’s basic underpinnings with it’s saloon car stablemate the Volvo Amazon, so it didn’t affect my decision at all.
I knew I liked the shape of the Zed and the sound of a BMW straight six.

So with a handwritten crib sheet distilled from Mike Fishwick’s buyers guide, a decent torch and inspection mirror I headed to a village near Colchester. About as far east from Exeter as it’s possible to go.

I recommend short listing your preferences. Engine and gearbox choice are the basics. How important is colour, trim and what mileage backed by how much service history is acceptable for your budget? I would always buy on condition rather than mileage. I like to see decent service history backed with receipts. It’s also important to be honest in your assessment of your potential purchase and decide what defects you are happy to accept.

Most Zeds are over 20 years old now so they may be carrying a few knocks.
My shortlist was for a 2.8 manual, pre facelift, in good (not perfect) condition and respectable service history. Colour and trim were less important to me.

Well the car ticked all my hastily scribbled boxes and had been accurately described and well looked after by its previous owner. The deal was done and we fitted the hard top sold with the car. I enjoyed the run home while listening out for signs of other things that may need attention.

 

[hard top]

Great photo in your above post ....

 

[Jonno Bee]

Great photo in your above post ....

Thanks Mike, it was my son's handiwork, taken on one of my favourite Dartmoor 'Zed' roads.

 

[Bazza]

Great write up, I also have a pre face lift 2.8 1998 absolutely adore the car, have done a total refresh of sills and all running gear and brakes this has now transformed it into something like when it left the factory so a very happy bunny good luck with yours.

 

[Jjim]

Hope you enjoy ownership
Z3s are great cars, and always something to tinker with