Nice thread. Look forward to seeing updates!
#ZedShed Nessie - Road to recovery (Z4 2.5)
- Thread starter Lee
- Start date
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2016
- Points
- 246
- Model of Z
- Z3M Imola and Z4 (e89)
Add a new rad to the parts list 
I've since found out you access this bolt from inside the boot, you undo the base of the roof to gain access to the wing bolt behind.
Add a new rad to the parts list
If your on about the front rad that's the aircon condenser, plenty more miles in her yet
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2016
- Points
- 246
- Model of Z
- Z3M Imola and Z4 (e89)
Mercedes 'Mutant Ninja Turtle' green.
Seen that one before on FB. Think the owners name is Charlie? But I do remember he didn't check with insurance before getting it sprayed! lol
We have a good two weeks worth of updates. We didn’t do too much last weekend due to it being -1 in the garage the day became a social event we did however remove the rear wings.
The last bolt holding the rear wings on we couldn’t access due to someone fitting a fastener up front on the roof frame, we were left with cutting the tab off the wing. Annoying but it did the job. The bolt is hidden under the roof frame here.
You can just see the tab from where I used a hacksaw blade.
Slight crispy edge
she’s looking very naked now.
crash bar also removed
Today we pulled the front apart…. More cut the front apart actually.
as predicted both pinch bolts sheard quite a common thing with the E46 platform, drill them out and replace with a nut n bolt.
used to be a nut.
lovely this.
leaving you with this.
and two shocks.
rusty hubs with a selection of bolts to drill out.
Again only surface rust to deal with.
the exhaust did give us a good fight. We won after a couple of hours.
finally off!!
Looking like we’ll replace these flanges and save the flanges on the car. Shot from the back facing forwards
Couple of underside shots.
gearbox
crispy
still plenty to do. Getting there slowly it’s nearly that time to start ordering all the new bits.
The last bolt holding the rear wings on we couldn’t access due to someone fitting a fastener up front on the roof frame, we were left with cutting the tab off the wing. Annoying but it did the job. The bolt is hidden under the roof frame here.
You can just see the tab from where I used a hacksaw blade.
Slight crispy edge
she’s looking very naked now.
crash bar also removed
Today we pulled the front apart…. More cut the front apart actually.
as predicted both pinch bolts sheard quite a common thing with the E46 platform, drill them out and replace with a nut n bolt.
used to be a nut.
lovely this.
leaving you with this.
and two shocks.
rusty hubs with a selection of bolts to drill out.
Again only surface rust to deal with.
the exhaust did give us a good fight. We won after a couple of hours.
finally off!!
Couple of underside shots.
gearbox
crispy
still plenty to do. Getting there slowly it’s nearly that time to start ordering all the new bits.
Seen that one before on FB. Think the owners name is Charlie? But I do remember he didn't check with insurance before getting it sprayed! lol
Yes it is. He lives round the corner from me in Glasgow.
Nice little update, we’ve started ordering parts and buying body panels, luckily we’ve found the same colour so no need to paint.
This Saturday was all about drilling out old rotten bolts and cleaning bits up ready for powder coat. First bits were the front knuckles, we had to bust the big guns out at one point and weld a nut on.
we opened this hole out to 13mm so we can change it to the E90 design which is a nut n bolt method, I’ve done this quite a few times for E46 owners.
Took a few hours but finally stripped ready for the blasters.
Old guys rule managed to get himself stuck under the car removing the propshaft, of course no one laughed at all
also Gary n Paul started stripping the rear brake assemblies getting the rear subframe ready to drop.
Better add handbrake shoes to the list
still so much crispyness
the powder coating pile is getting bigger.
with lots of parts on the way we sorted a plan B Zed we can strip for parts in our local breakers. We don’t fancy stripping it in the cold so it might even be plan C or D
As it stands now we’re 4 bolts away from dropping the subframe. This will be done the last Saturday before Christmas.
This Saturday was all about drilling out old rotten bolts and cleaning bits up ready for powder coat. First bits were the front knuckles, we had to bust the big guns out at one point and weld a nut on.
we opened this hole out to 13mm so we can change it to the E90 design which is a nut n bolt method, I’ve done this quite a few times for E46 owners.
Took a few hours but finally stripped ready for the blasters.
Old guys rule managed to get himself stuck under the car removing the propshaft, of course no one laughed at all
also Gary n Paul started stripping the rear brake assemblies getting the rear subframe ready to drop.
Better add handbrake shoes to the list
still so much crispyness
the powder coating pile is getting bigger.
with lots of parts on the way we sorted a plan B Zed we can strip for parts in our local breakers. We don’t fancy stripping it in the cold so it might even be plan C or D
As it stands now we’re 4 bolts away from dropping the subframe. This will be done the last Saturday before Christmas.
We had a serious day of shedding today. Firing on all cylinders. Our main goal was to remove the subframe, we did that and did some disassembly.
First hour was trying to separate the brake lines, we gave up and just cut them. We’ll be laying new lines front to back later.
Subframe out.
Now some close ups. Drive shaft to diff
subframe bush
trailing arm cage
Front diff bush
front subframe bush
Then with the help of heat bit by bit we started taking it apart we can confirm these are like trying to disassemble a broken Japanese puzzle
This is what we’re up against. That’s a camber adjusting bolt.
we then noticed an obvious difference in the drive shafts compliments of my beautiful assistant @pgunter …. Notice how clean his gloves are.
Starting to get a large pile of parts for the powder coaters, get your order in now before Christmas.
You can see why the drive shafts differ in length here
Powder coaters will love us.
some Under body shots.
nasty brake lines
this rust is like cancer
the subframe mounts look like we caught them just in time.
and same with the trailing arm housing
Least we have plenty of time off over Christmas, lots of power tools and painting.
First hour was trying to separate the brake lines, we gave up and just cut them. We’ll be laying new lines front to back later.
Subframe out.
Now some close ups. Drive shaft to diff
subframe bush
trailing arm cage
Front diff bush
front subframe bush
Then with the help of heat bit by bit we started taking it apart we can confirm these are like trying to disassemble a broken Japanese puzzle
This is what we’re up against. That’s a camber adjusting bolt.
we then noticed an obvious difference in the drive shafts compliments of my beautiful assistant @pgunter …. Notice how clean his gloves are.
Starting to get a large pile of parts for the powder coaters, get your order in now before Christmas.
You can see why the drive shafts differ in length here
Powder coaters will love us.
some Under body shots.
nasty brake lines
this rust is like cancer
the subframe mounts look like we caught them just in time.
and same with the trailing arm housing
Last edited:
salt air 1 zed 0
Any particular reason why this car got so rusty? A lot of salt up in bonny Scotland and neglect? My Z4 is thankfully nothing like that, but has anybody used Bilt Hamber Deox rust gel and if so what's the verdict?
Ive used the gel and it works, mine wasnt bad, but still needed a few goes on some bits. Not finished and have no comparison...but Im a fan
I've used Jenolite in the past, but as it's liquid it isn't easy to apply underneath and on vertical surfaces so I think I'll give the gel a go.
The deoxgel does work but takes a long time. Angle grinder and wire brush/flap wheels plus two coatings of a very strong acid that eats rust up and the second had a additive to protect the steel but needed a paper boiler suit, ffp3 mask, goggles and gloves to protect from the acid fumes and burns. I’m sure the shed will have a plan to tackle it.
Yeah we are planning to play in the shed on Friday, very possibly a few days inbetween Christmas and new year.
Will keep that in mind.
Don't forget to send me the RealOEM stuff so I can take a look at the underside parts you want
Don't forget to send me the RealOEM stuff so I can take a look at the underside parts you want