#ZedShed Nessie - Road to recovery (Z4 2.5)

[Lee]

Project update. We be made an unexpected change in direction, we even fitted the shinny new exhaust last weekend and got her running again and did some more front end tidying.

custom exhaust

front end.

so now we have decided to strip this Z4 for parts, and majority of the new parts transfer over to another Z4 we’ve just bought. This new Z4 has some minor front end damage it lightly tapped the back end of a 3 series so needs to be fixed.

watch this space plus lots of Z4 bits up for grabs.

 

[Althulas]

How come the change in direction @Lee ? Was the original chassis to grotty underneath or is the new one in better overhaul condition and have a larger engine? Just curious on why the change.

 

[Lee]

How come the change in direction @Lee ? Was the original chassis to grotty underneath or is the new one in better overhaul condition and have a larger engine? Just curious on why the change.

Nessie is actually in really good shape, but with a few panels left and some other bits it will blow the budget and we’ll never get that back in selling it after. This other Zed is in really good condition 2 keys, 2 owners and full history so worth fixing up, we’ll likely move the subframe over plus other bits, and strip the other Zed down powdercoat and keep some spares, we have quite a few Z4 builds on our list.

 

[MarkPlant]

Hoping to make that list

 

[Lee]

Hoping to make that list

You are indeed mate

 

[Lee]

After another couple of days play time In the shed it looks like we have a direction. We removed the front end off Nessie and disassembled it ready for powder coating, once back we’ll refit to the new Z4 to complete it.

New Z4 with the front end stripped off and binned. No further damage to report.

after the tip run we then started playing on nessie removing the front.

smaller bits boxed ready to coat

really shows off all the new bits.

now the process begins stripping this Z4. Engine has been bought, just need to start listing a few more bits.

 

[Lee]

Lots of shiny bits collected today! Shame the slam panel is all hidden.

 

[Dino D]

It’s like watching kids play with Lego - very large kids and very large pieces of Lego

 

[Lee]

It’s like watching kids play with Lego - very large kids and very large pieces of Lego

How the devil are you!! How's the UK's fastest 6-speed Z3 getting on ?

 

[Lee]

Lots of shenanigans going on last weekend. We had a day of stripping Nessie down and a mass fixing event on the Saturday.

First job Friday was to remove the 2.5 lump. This sold over night and is on its way being turnt into an E46 Turbo.

We’re surprised how quick this came out. Just over an hour.

so much stuff removed

then we removed the roof, this was a learning curve as we’ve never removed a Z4 roof before.

On the same evening two blokes arrived to collect the engine. I couldn’t believe my eyes when they arrived in a VW Golf to collect an engine complete with gearbox. No one would believe me if I didn’t take a photo.

The Saturday was just as much fun. Rocker gaskets, Mafs services, gearbox shift pins, suspension removals, you name it we did it.

 

[137699]

Christ I hope the guys in the Golf had smooth tarmac all the way home! One pothole and that rear suspension is toast!

 

[EnthuZiaZT]

Christ I hope the guys in the Golf had smooth tarmac all the way home! One pothole and that rear suspension is toast!

VW always did put the engine in the boot, looking at the picture I can see it’s what the golf has always looked for, a BMW 6pot engine in the boot.

 

[Lee]

Finally got some time to get the Z4 back into a running condition and she’s looking good.

We continued to transfer over all the shinny new bits. This also included new aux belts and water pump.

what would seem like a backwards step the wings had to come off. They both had slight twists to them so the shut lines were horrible. This did make it easier fitting all the new hardware.

we then did some more panel assembly to see how it all lined up. We also had to spin the car round to aid with bleeding the cooling system.

both wings rest on the headlights so these will be replaced.

not much left on old Nessie the poor girl.

next week we’ll drop the rear subframe and get the chassis shell on a pallet with casters.

 

[Lee]

Nice little update: huge changes coming in the next few weeks, fist being we are moving to a unit with enough room for 10+ cars. We’ve been getting everything ready here to move over, so the Nessies old chassis can go off to metal heaven and we’l finish swapping the rear subframe on the other Z4 while it’s on the lift.

Firstly we sorted a huge airlock on the Z4 and fitted a new thermostat. Quite common on this generation Z4, jack the nose up and allow it to burp itself.

Nessie on a pallet having the last few bits removed.

We took plenty of photos around the chassis, you don’t often get to see a Z4 up close like this.

How they’re both sat at the moment. Waiting for new wings and bumper to be sprayed. She’ll get moved to the new unit first.

 

[Lee]

Thought it was about time we brought this tread to an end. Nessie is no more she’s gone to scrap metal heaven. She does however live on with the other Zed which has all her running gear.

Sat on Dolly’s.

Was fun lifting it onto a flat bed

final resting place.

 

[Paul H]

RIP nessie

 

[spurs fan in a coupe]

RIP nessie

You animal @Lee

 

[Z Victor 1]

Just wondered what happened to the finished 'Nessie/donor' Z4 @Lee ? Was it sold, I can't remember ?

 

[Lee]

Just wondered what happened to the finished 'Nessie/donor' Z4 @Lee ? Was it sold, I can't remember ?

She’s still on going. Mechanically done, been repainted. Just having the interior changed from Ivory to black at the moment.