Nice project and interesting write up.
Looking for a Z (Now found & Built!)
- Thread starter Aaron MacQ
- Start date
Aaron MacQ
Zorg Guru (I)
Been quiet for a while as I haven't had much time to play with cars recently, but it's my dad's birthday tomorrow and I've got him a car related gift that took nearly 6 months to acquire... more on that tomorrow.
Meanwhile, he's loving driving the Z just as much as my mum likes posing in it
, especially with weather like we had here yesterday.
Meanwhile, he's loving driving the Z just as much as my mum likes posing in it
, especially with weather like we had here yesterday. 
I still love this car.
Aaron MacQ
Zorg Guru (I)
Aye, it's not bad for a scrap yard find! 
Arron I thought it was you I passed you on the shore road near ballygalley I was in my red z3 small world
Aaron MacQ
Zorg Guru (I)
Lol, I'm just sitting with my dad and he said someone in a red Z had given him a wave. He was well chuffed. He's loving the Z and the attention it gets.
I said it was probably you off as you'd said you were in that area. Small world indeed.
Aaron MacQ
Zorg Guru (I)
So, here's what I got him for his birthday....
Btw, MRM are his initials. I'm not implying he's now Mr ///M... lol, tho i'm sure that may make it a bit of an investment .
Btw, MRM are his initials. I'm not implying he's now Mr ///M... lol, tho i'm sure that may make it a bit of an investment .
Parmst
Zorg Addict
He looks well for 37
Aaron MacQ
Zorg Guru (I)
Lol, I was just trying to work out what age he must be when I realised I'm 37!!
Aaron MacQ
Zorg Guru (I)
With the weather a bit miserable we only just got the plate on the car yesterday. Dad seemed pretty pleased with it.
Also ordered some more parts, bushes, engine/gearbox mounts etc... for the underside refresh. That will be a project for September or October.
Also ordered some more parts, bushes, engine/gearbox mounts etc... for the underside refresh. That will be a project for September or October.
Aaron MacQ
Zorg Guru (I)
Hey Z'ers,
Hasn't been much to report and the cars been going great, although now tucked away from the weather for a few months.
In saying that, I have just acquired some bits...
First up, after fitting the Powerflex rear top mounts, my dad's been complaining about a slight (and I do mean very slight) knocking noise from just behind the seat. Obviously, it's related to the new mounts, but I'm certain it's not the mounts themselves and simply the fact they are harder is transferring more noise from whatever is causing it into the cabin.
Anyway, I've had the rear bodywork, arch liners and shocks off, and the only thing that made any difference, was removing the shock altogether and swapping in one of my original E46 M3 shocks that was lying about the garage. When manually compressing and releasing it a few times mid-stroke, there is the faintest knock from the internal valving, so my dad insisted it had to go. Well either that, or we had to switch back to noise insulating OEM rubber mounts, and I couldn't be having that.
So, a few weeks back, I'd ordered some treats from the states. Namely, Revshift rear end bushes (except for the trailing arm) Bushes and Diff raiser kit. Also, their poly engine and gearbox mounts. This should keep everything in check for years to come and reduce the rear camber, improving traction and tyre wear.
Add to that, some offset trailing arm bushes from Powerflex for precise adjustment of the rear camber/toe...
And just arrived today are some ST coilovers.
If you aren't aware of ST, they're basically a rebadged KW in a non-stainless body. Infact, they used to be badged KW and KW Inox-line (for the current stainless range), but internally and functionally, they're exactly the same.
I've run these before in my old 330Ci and still have a set in the M3 and they've been great on both.
Anyway, now that the Z's fresh in my head, I came on here and spotted some beige interior roll hoops on ebay that @Jjim had most helpfully reposted to the for sale section... Just what i've been looking for this past few months... Several seconds later and they're mine. Result!
Anyway, now just got to get the Z back to my garage for a few weeks to fit these goodies and get the front and rear subframes blasted, powdered and refitted.
Can't decide what to do with the old Apex coilovers though. They've only about 3k dry miles on them, and still within warranty for the next few months so I could get a full refund, but they were a bargain, and I'd like to buy another Z over the winter to tinker with and sell in the spring. There's really nothing wrong with them, or at worst, I could get the rear shocks replaced and see if they knock any less, and then I'd have a full suspension setup ready to fit on my next project.
Although must stress, it's not really a knock, just a slightly louder than normal internal valve movement that seems to wind my dad up.
Not sure what I'll do...
Hasn't been much to report and the cars been going great, although now tucked away from the weather for a few months.
In saying that, I have just acquired some bits...
First up, after fitting the Powerflex rear top mounts, my dad's been complaining about a slight (and I do mean very slight) knocking noise from just behind the seat. Obviously, it's related to the new mounts, but I'm certain it's not the mounts themselves and simply the fact they are harder is transferring more noise from whatever is causing it into the cabin.
Anyway, I've had the rear bodywork, arch liners and shocks off, and the only thing that made any difference, was removing the shock altogether and swapping in one of my original E46 M3 shocks that was lying about the garage. When manually compressing and releasing it a few times mid-stroke, there is the faintest knock from the internal valving, so my dad insisted it had to go. Well either that, or we had to switch back to noise insulating OEM rubber mounts, and I couldn't be having that.
So, a few weeks back, I'd ordered some treats from the states. Namely, Revshift rear end bushes (except for the trailing arm) Bushes and Diff raiser kit. Also, their poly engine and gearbox mounts. This should keep everything in check for years to come and reduce the rear camber, improving traction and tyre wear.
Add to that, some offset trailing arm bushes from Powerflex for precise adjustment of the rear camber/toe...
And just arrived today are some ST coilovers.
If you aren't aware of ST, they're basically a rebadged KW in a non-stainless body. Infact, they used to be badged KW and KW Inox-line (for the current stainless range), but internally and functionally, they're exactly the same.
I've run these before in my old 330Ci and still have a set in the M3 and they've been great on both.
Anyway, now that the Z's fresh in my head, I came on here and spotted some beige interior roll hoops on ebay that @Jjim had most helpfully reposted to the for sale section... Just what i've been looking for this past few months... Several seconds later and they're mine. Result!
Anyway, now just got to get the Z back to my garage for a few weeks to fit these goodies and get the front and rear subframes blasted, powdered and refitted.
Can't decide what to do with the old Apex coilovers though. They've only about 3k dry miles on them, and still within warranty for the next few months so I could get a full refund, but they were a bargain, and I'd like to buy another Z over the winter to tinker with and sell in the spring. There's really nothing wrong with them, or at worst, I could get the rear shocks replaced and see if they knock any less, and then I'd have a full suspension setup ready to fit on my next project.
Although must stress, it's not really a knock, just a slightly louder than normal internal valve movement that seems to wind my dad up.
Not sure what I'll do...
Interesting info about the ST shocks.
love the revshift upgrades on mine. looks like you'll be busy for a while
Aaron MacQ
Zorg Guru (I)
Yeah, I've always been a fan of polybushing, although always in the softer spec's available, but that should still last a lifetime with no deterioration.
We've little interest in using the Z until March so have plenty of time to strip it out, refurb, paint and so on, although it'll use up my garage space and I don't really want my other cars sitting out during the frost, snow, rain etc, unless they being used daily. My dad's garage only just fits the Z3, and unfortunately the 106 which would fit has no MOT and an irritating Airbag code that keeps recurring, so I can't just swap....
Might try and find a front & rear axle to use whilst ours are getting pampered. I know I could recon a used one off the car, then swap over in one action, but I want to keep the original components as they're in great condition. Hey, could always refurb both and have it ready for my next project...
Yup, nothing to be scared of with the ST stuff. Most people rave about the better known KW branded quality and performance but if you're not using the car over the winter in salt or snow, or need the top performance KW v3/v4/clubsport, then I don't see any reason to pay a premium for the stainless versions.
ST X = KW V1 (fixed damping)
ST XT = KW V2 (adjustable rebound damping)
ST XTA = KW V2 with the adjustable top mounts of the KW ClubSport kits.
Similar story with some other parts, like their anti-roll bars. It's the exact same part, just painted a different colour, and at a lower price!
challenge in the UK is that non stainless coil overs corrode really quickly and therefore need constant maintenance
So do K&W.
Tony.
Tony.
Aaron MacQ
Zorg Guru (I)
Agreed, although to be fair, if you're like me, you give them a wipe every week when cleaning the wheels, and if your a 'normal', you'll fit, set the ride height, and forget about them, so a bit of surface tarnishing wouldn't make much difference...
I had them on my 330Ci for 5 or 6 winters, used daily on wet, dirty, salty roads and they still looked fine.
A quick coat of spray-on wax over them each autumn and a clean in the spring each year, and I wouldn't be too concerned.
yeah i used to use chain wax on my old FK (on a golf)
Any squeeks - creeks - and clonks?
Aaron MacQ
Zorg Guru (I)
Nope. I'm fairly fussy and wouldn't be buying them again if I'd had any issues.
The only thing was that ever came up was when they were new on the M3, I had a click from the top spring perch, but that disappeared after a few weeks as it bedded in.