New Member

[Owen ML]

Hi everyone. Glasgow based member with a 2003 Z3 3.0

Looking for advice and support as i maintain and improve this gorgeous car I co own with my mate Baz.

Car looks great but underneath is starting to look like it might need some love. We are not mechanically orientated, so advice on good quality professionals to work on the car will be much appreciated.

 

[andyglym]

to the forum from West Cumbria. Any specifics or pics would be great as there are plenty of peeps on here that have already done it and will be able to advise. Good luck.

 

[BillyB]

@Owen ML from Edinburgh. As @andyglym says plenty advice and knowledge on here .

 

[Mazza]

Hi and welcome to the forum from Bognor Regis

 

[andyglym]

Members in your neck of the woods may be of some help.

 

[Jack Ratt]

Hello Owen, welcome to the forum

 

[Owen ML]

Specifics. yep for sure. surface rust on outer sills, front panel and rear panel on both sides. Reading shows they can all be removed and repaired/replaced easily enough. Have read a couple of how to guides. Crawling around underneath shows the jack point mount and all four corners of the inner sills are showing surface rust. Additionally there is a seam that runs the length of the car about a foot in that is also showing first signs of rust. Keen to find a professional in Glasgow to attend to all this rather than do it ourselves.

The dilemma is that the car is currently complete original underneath with no evidence of previous repairs. As soon as we touch it, we lose the originality. Obviously though, we can’t leave it. So we want to get the work done to the best standard possible by a quality bodyshop.

So if anyone has positive experiences with a Glasgow based shop, we are very keen to take it to someone who will give it the love it deserves.

Looking around the car, there are lots of 5/10 min replacement jobs we will do. Rusty screws and bolts mainly.

the front cross brace under the engine looks awful, so that’s another job we want to get done.

 

[Fender2004]

Ask away, someone is bound to know the answer.
Welcome

 

[Stevo7682]

Hi and welcome from me in South Ayrshire

 

[Grumps]

Hi from Mansfield. That must be one of the last produced. Good luck with your project.

 

[DavidM]

Welcome from Ireland!

 

[benf]

Hi and welcome from me in Ashby Leicestershire

 

[PHILIP BAXTER]

Hi, and welcome from me in Cardiff.

 

[2DunnsZ3]

Hi and welcome from Canton Ohio, USA

 

[BMBabe]

Welcome from Aylesbury

 

[Antm72]

Hello from South Yorkshire

 

[g8jka]

Welcome, nice zed you got yourself.

The dilemma is that the car is currently complete original underneath with no evidence of previous repairs. As soon as we touch it, we lose the originality. Obviously though, we can’t leave it. So we want to get the work done to the best standard possible by a quality bodyshop.

I wouldn't be to worried about getting the repairs done underneath, sometimes it's not always about originality. I'd rather have a well maintained and repaired car than one with original, worn and rusty parts underneath. These are the sort of things that people look for on the Z3 now as they are the common areas, so having them repaired rather than keeping original will benefit everyone more in the future, whether you keep it yourself or eventually sell it on. All panels are bolt on so are very easy to take off to be repaired or replaced.

 

[Shelly]

Hi and welcome to ZroadSter

 

[Mint]

Hi @Owen ML, to the forum from another 3.0 owner in Staffordshire. Great colour you've got

 

[Robz3sport]

Hello and from Northern Ireland