Looking for a Z (Now found & Built!)

t-tony

Zorg Expert (II)
Supporter
British Zeds
#ZedShed
Joined
Dec 31, 2013
Points
226
Location
Torksey Lock,Lincoln, England
Model of Z
E89 Z4 23i Auto
Ha,ha. Does Pop know what he's missing Aaron? Car is looking good mate, love those wheels in that picture :thumbsup:

Tony.
 

Aaron MacQ

Zorg Guru (I)
Joined
Jan 3, 2017
Points
95
Location
Bangor, NI
Model of Z
2.8 Z3
Ha,ha. Does Pop know what he's missing Aaron? Car is looking good mate, love those wheels in that picture :thumbsup:

Tony.
Ha, he's in Portugal where it's a few degrees colder, thunder storms and driving some rental supermini. Suits me just fine.:cool:
 

Aaron MacQ

Zorg Guru (I)
Joined
Jan 3, 2017
Points
95
Location
Bangor, NI
Model of Z
2.8 Z3
Well, it's a been a while since I posted, because there's been very little to post about.

The cars been at my dads for the past year and he's been loving it. Still getting the looks and complements wherever it goes, but I've just taken it back a few weeks ago, got a fresh MOT and tucked it away in my garage for the winter.

DSC_0292.JPG

However, reason for that is that as soon as I get some spare time, I'm going to set about fitting the M50 manifold with my orion induction system, and a full refurb of both front and rear subframes. The rear will be getting some mild camber reduction with the Powerflex offset control arm bushes and I'll probably do the diff seals whilst it's off the car.

Looking forward to it.
 

t-tony

Zorg Expert (II)
Supporter
British Zeds
#ZedShed
Joined
Dec 31, 2013
Points
226
Location
Torksey Lock,Lincoln, England
Model of Z
E89 Z4 23i Auto
Keep us posted with pictures please Aaron.

Tony.
 

Aaron MacQ

Zorg Guru (I)
Joined
Jan 3, 2017
Points
95
Location
Bangor, NI
Model of Z
2.8 Z3
Just a quick post as I've uploaded some of the previously unpublished videos from the Z3 build to YouTube

Link - My YouTube Channel (very much a work in progress).
Link - The Palmetto Z3 Playlist

I'm not really sure what exactly i'm up to just now, but I had a slight mishap with the M3 after driving off with an unsecured bonnet a few months back and it now needs a new bonnet so am about to undertake it's second life overhaul and am going to video a lot of the stuff I take on, so feel free to Subscribe and follow.

Oh, and I have my eyes on another Z3 too. A Boston Green 2.8 Widebody which I might try and pick up before christmas if it's still for sale. Again, as well as document everything with plenty of photos for the forum, I'll add more video content too.
 
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Aaron MacQ

Zorg Guru (I)
Joined
Jan 3, 2017
Points
95
Location
Bangor, NI
Model of Z
2.8 Z3
First up, happy new year to you all.

Hopefully get to work on the Z3 next week with the M50 manifold and Orion induction that been sitting here for well over a year now. :eek:
Just waiting on a new GoPro to arrive so I can try videoing the fun properly....:snaphappy:

Anyway, anyone know the part number for these plastic protection strips under the bonnet?
DSC_1638.JPG
Old pic. Much cleaner today, but never got round to replacing them after they'd come away.

In other news, here's a lesson. Close your bonnet properly before driving! :facepalm:

This happened at just 20 mph and the wind just got under and slapped it back on to the windscreen. Luckily no glass or roof damage.

DSC_0385.jpg DSC_0171.jpg

Obviously the bonnets scrap and the wings took a beating but they were starting to corrode (As they all do) so that didn't bother me so much...

Either way, it's a good excuse to start pulling bits off that haven't been off for a while and give it a good clean in prep for repair...

Under the wiper cowling and various gutters in the engine bay...
DSC_0636.jpg

Behind the sill covers / side skirts...
DSC_0671.jpg


Behind the rear lights....
DSC_0727.jpg

Should have the bumpers off in a few days too for a good poke about.

I've got new bonnet, wings, bootlid and diffuser arriving later this week but haven't decided what to do yet tho...

It's a 1st Sept 2003 Silbergrau Manual. That's a special date/spec in M3 terms, first day of release for the facelift (although no change to the face was made) and the first day carbon was used on a mainstream production car (the bumper carriers which are unseen). The CSL also came out with it's carbon roof, but that's another story.

Anyway, the car's in good condition (by my standards) but far from perfect. However, in time, I'd like to see it that way, so I'm troubled whether to fit and paint the new panels and blow in to the surrounding areas which will be relatively inexpensive and certainly freshen the car.
Or, do I save some money and just paint the panels off the car before fitting. Silver never quite looks right new against old paint.
Or, do I go all out with a full respray in the original colour...

Or do I go mad and paint it BMW Sakir Orange which wasn't an E46 colour but conforms to my OEM+ ethos ?
If going that far, carbon roof? and if so then wrap, skin or full structural replacement.....??

I've been stuck wondering what to actually do for about 3 months now. Still haven't a clue. :banghead:

First world problems!!
 

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t-tony

Zorg Expert (II)
Supporter
British Zeds
#ZedShed
Joined
Dec 31, 2013
Points
226
Location
Torksey Lock,Lincoln, England
Model of Z
E89 Z4 23i Auto
Hey Aaron, not so much a Happy New Year then:(. Sorry to see the damage have seen and experienced that over the years. Hope it's not to expensive to repair. Good luck.

Tony.
 

Aaron MacQ

Zorg Guru (I)
Joined
Jan 3, 2017
Points
95
Location
Bangor, NI
Model of Z
2.8 Z3
Hey Aaron, not so much a Happy New Year then:(. Sorry to see the damage have seen and experienced that over the years. Hope it's not to expensive to repair. Good luck.

Tony.
Got a good deal from a contact through one of the M3 forums so the bonnet only ended up adding £500 to the parts list of stuff I was planning on doing anyway in 2023 for it's 20th birthday.
Not great, but could have been much worse if the roof had been damaged, although this week my paintshop has had to reschedule me, so at the moment, I've no idea when I'll get it painted. Currently debating whether to build a booth in the garage and do it myself......

I've had great results with repairs on other cars with rattle tins in the past and would love to get into proper painting, but I'm not sure if a full respray of a cherished M3 is the place to start.... lol.
 

Palmetto

Zorg Addict
Joined
Feb 12, 2020
Points
64
Location
West Yorkshire
Model of Z
Palmetto Green 2.8
Brilliant write up. I've just gone over my lunch break by about an hour reading though it all.

Having just bought a Palmetto green 2.8, it's great for a comparison. I was planning on removing the sills soon and treating any rust. It's not bubbled like yours, but the rear edges are a bit scabby, and I want to get it sorted before it gets worse.
 

Aaron MacQ

Zorg Guru (I)
Joined
Jan 3, 2017
Points
95
Location
Bangor, NI
Model of Z
2.8 Z3
Brilliant write up. I've just gone over my lunch break by about an hour reading though it all.

Having just bought a Palmetto green 2.8, it's great for a comparison. I was planning on removing the sills soon and treating any rust. It's not bubbled like yours, but the rear edges are a bit scabby, and I want to get it sorted before it gets worse.
Thanks. As you'll know by now, I love the colour. Actually, I think I had spotted your car for sale recently. Was it the one in New Brighton? Id love another Palmetto widebody for a powerplant project.
 

Palmetto

Zorg Addict
Joined
Feb 12, 2020
Points
64
Location
West Yorkshire
Model of Z
Palmetto Green 2.8
Thanks. As you'll know by now, I love the colour. Actually, I think I had spotted your car for sale recently. Was it the one in New Brighton? Id love another Palmetto widebody for a powerplant project.
Yep it's the very same. It is an unusual colour and I did a bit of research into it before I went to see it, and found your post (https://zroadster.org/threads/palmetto-green.23075/) about the numbers made. Mine isn't an import either, so the figures you got from BMW may be a bit off.

Edit: I've just done a quick search and found four 2.8s previously for sale.
https://www.gumtree.com/p/bmw/bmw-z...almetto-green-with-black-interior./1330187567
https://www.rockvale.co.uk/print/154363/used-bmw-z3-2-8-2dr-auto-stockport
https://www.zroadster.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=37062
https://www.gumtree.com/p/bmw/bmw-z3-2.8-roadster-wide-body-1999-t-/1311919835
 
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Aaron MacQ

Zorg Guru (I)
Joined
Jan 3, 2017
Points
95
Location
Bangor, NI
Model of Z
2.8 Z3
Nice, was watching it. May have made a cheeky offer if it hadn't sold ;).

Saw all of those when they were for sale aside from the forum car back in 2013. Been keeping an eye on anything Palmetto related since I got ours. Most are narrow body 1.9s or TU engines tho. Can't remember all the figures i got from BMW but think there was only 2 green on green widebodys with the M52B28. That might be manuals only also. Doesn't really matter. It's rare, looks awesome and took centrefold in the original brochure. That's enough to get me excited.

You any plans for yours? Would defo favour silver wheels over black. Don't understand black wheels. Who wants nice wheels you can't see?
 

Palmetto

Zorg Addict
Joined
Feb 12, 2020
Points
64
Location
West Yorkshire
Model of Z
Palmetto Green 2.8
He fed up of the cheeky offers from ebay. Ah, two green on greens. Your interior is fantastic. I wish mine was like that. It's just black. The colour does look awesome, and I'm glad I went to look at it. It's better in real life than any of the pictures I saw.

Plans: I think the first thing would be to get the wheels back to silver. Then, probably following your lines. Sills off, fix any rust. Then suspension mods and cleaning & painting the underside. But you know what it's like, plans always change!

Edit: I also ordered the brochure today!
 

Aaron MacQ

Zorg Guru (I)
Joined
Jan 3, 2017
Points
95
Location
Bangor, NI
Model of Z
2.8 Z3
Can't believe it's over 3 years since I last posted, but hey, hope all you Z fans have been doing well.
DSC_9796.JPG

Anyway, in terms of an update, not much to report. We're still loving the Z3 and it's giving plenty of fun on those sunny roof down days but I still haven't fixed the M3.

DSC_7132.JPG

Either me or my daughter (she's sill a bit to young to get insurance 🤣) will get it back on the road some day, but we've had a few other cars through the fleet, last year a 2010 Audi TT and this year a 2007 Porsche Cayman, and still have the X5, 106, F20. All good fun in very different ways.

DSC_7905~2.JPG

Anyway, just hoping on here to ask if anyone uses a Foxwell NT530? Have a quick question to ask.
 

t-tony

Zorg Expert (II)
Supporter
British Zeds
#ZedShed
Joined
Dec 31, 2013
Points
226
Location
Torksey Lock,Lincoln, England
Model of Z
E89 Z4 23i Auto
Hi Aaron, nice to hear from you again mate. I have a Foxwell NT530, don’t know if I’ll be able to answer your question but fire away.

Tony.
 

Aaron MacQ

Zorg Guru (I)
Joined
Jan 3, 2017
Points
95
Location
Bangor, NI
Model of Z
2.8 Z3
I have a Foxwell NT530, don’t know if I’ll be able to answer your question but fire away.
Cheers, will send you a message regarding the scanner.

I see you've switched to a e89. Nice... Actually had a look at one last week.

It was this https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307019155519
It's in mint condition under the think layer of filth (previous owner mustn't have cleaned it much) and seemed well priced (and from a major local dealer too).
The idea was that my dad wanted to do a Euro road trip next year and rather than take one of the 8 cars we have between us, he wanted a '2 seater hard top convertible'. Anyway, e89 seemed the perfect choice, but he was put off by the boot space once the roof was down, so not sure what his plans are now, but anyway I liked it...
 
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