New Member, New to me Z3

[Brian4]

Not only newish BMW but cars in general are as you described about. Consumer pressure to provide clean and tidy interiors and elecctronic clever bits.

Wouldn't go without a warranty on current manufacturers offerings far to complicated and expensive.

 

[chilipeppermaniac]

Hi @chilipeppermaniac welcome from near Lincoln UK. Fire away on the problems that way we can start to help.

Tony.

Thanks Tony,

I will list my issues and then speak to those I have begun to remedy. I will address the sniggly ones once the important stuff is diagnosed and fixed. I have said this in other forums, but I am hoping for minimum expense caused by parts failure to water pump and leaking convertible top and the car sitting due to my fears of the worst.

Anyway, here goes:

1. Water Pump failure. Seems the bearings fried and left me with a broken plastic pulley, wobbly shaft with fan and clutch still attached and belt dangling in the mess.
A. Parts ordered, Water pump and pulley with the complete system planned once my testing plan is completed. Cooling system flush, Cylinder leak test and coolant pressure test to basically test for head warpage, valve issues etc..

B. I am keeping in mind to minimize cash outlay before knowing if engine damage occurred or future damage might occur due to potential oil in coolant or the actual small aluminum filings I found in coolant. Also plan to test for combustion gasses in coolant before calling engine 100%. Compression test also in order.
Basically all I can do to verify no need to do a head gasket, etc.

2. Possible Sensor and other electronic component issues from water in floor pans and carpets from leaking convertible top.

3. Linked to item 2,,, what to expect code wise once I reassemble all the items packed into the center console up by the radio etc.
**** not sure of the safety or abs, airbag, seat sensors or whatever is monitored that might show up once I reinstall the console and switches and seats etc and hook up the battery and attempt to run the car. I am so used to simple cars that can practically be driven sitting on a milk crate, giving it some gas and braking when I need to stop. No codes required type vehicles.

4. Convertible top issues. ( plan to see if a simple window replacement will fix it enough to keep it dry or else replace the whole top once I can get the car under permanent roof to eliminate any chance rain could get into a topless Z.)
A. Top leaks around rear window.
B. Power motor stopped working during period the car sat. It worked prior.
C. Found a mouse nest back under carpet by the Power top switch area. Some chewed wires but the most damaged ones appear to go to a non used plug end and very slight chew of insulation on 2 wires to the top switch.

5. Antenna Grommets, On order.
6. Manual Door cylinder not working, driver's side. Power Key Fob feature also not working to lock/unlock/set alarm
7. Driver's seat, seat belt guide broke
8. Various lighting issues such as interior light inop, a crack or 2 in the exterior light lenses etc.

That's it for now until I get status of engine condition after I do all my tests to see if the head/block etc are still in good shape.

 

[chilipeppermaniac]

D R Oldfield, best of luck with your new Z3. Learn all you can about the cooling system and make sure the water pump is fresh and all the plastic parts are replaced by 60K intervals or be hyper vigilant of the condition of the cooling system parts. The plastic pulleys can crack, the bearings on water pump, belt tensioners wear and seize, the plastic over flow tank, plastic parts of radiator, hoses, etc.

How I know this? My pump failed one night and left me in a gas station while driving my girlfriend's BMW I only had a short experience using.
Afterwards I scoured the web to find countless folks in same boat and many who warn of what happens when the cooling system components get past their service life.

 

[t-tony]

Looks to me like you're heading down the list in exactly the right way.
Soaking wet carpet underlay is very common on the cars and fair to say usually the electronics are fairly resilient and when you get rid of the water (often several litres of it ) and dry things out things do work ok.

Good luck with the project!

Tony.

 

[chilipeppermaniac]

That's reassuring about the electronics, Tony.

Having resources like this place and others helps immensely. Having 40+ years of driving cars and trucks that I'd inherit or purchase after being well worn, gave me the best training ground to fix most any "simple" car. These new ( cars built after the 80's) simply test my reliance on the fundamentals of automotive construction mixed in with the computerized monitoring, controlling, coding and uncoding of stuff that I have to muddle through what boobie traps I will encounter and how to undo the ramifications.

 

[t-tony]

That's reassuring about the electronics, Tony.

Having resources like this place and others helps immensely. Having 40+ years of driving cars and trucks that I'd inherit or purchase after being well worn, gave me the best training ground to fix most any "simple" car. These new ( cars built after the 80's) simply test my reliance on the fundamentals of automotive construction mixed in with the computerized monitoring, controlling, coding and uncoding of stuff that I have to muddle through what boobie traps I will encounter and how to undo the ramifications.

Mate, even though I've been in the "Motor Trade" all my working life (45 years) I'm really still in the same boat as you. To be honest, modern cars and all the computerisation has left me behind. The cars I first had to mess with as a kid had carburettors and plugs, points and condensers and even though they were not as reliable as the latter day offerings, when they did break down you could almost always get the things running at the roadside. Ain't so these days.

Tony.

 

[chilipeppermaniac]

Tony, you are talking my language and we likely have similar history/experiences despite driving on the other side of the road from each other.

My first car was a 1972 Datsun 510, complete with Points and Condensers, Carb, Hydraulic clutch, manual steering, and the ability to push it off the road due to it's light weight or get a couple pals to lift it up out of a snow ditch in wintertime should we get stuck.

Now, I am almost scared to lean on anything inside the Z3 for fear of the plastic giving way and breaking. Heck I bet some interior parts of the Z cost more than my whole Datsun did brand new.

 

[FRANKIE]

I am a new member here from Maryland USA. My interest is my 2001 Z3 2.5 i Roadster.

Wish I was here for other reasons, but sadly it is mainly due to our BMW problems I need to fix.

Welcome to the forum from Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey.................Frankie

 

[chilipeppermaniac]

Thanks, Frankie