New owner - Z3 2.8

nickp

Regular Member
British Zeds
Joined
Oct 11, 2015
Points
23
Location
Barnsley
Model of Z
Z3 Roadster
Hi all,

I've just bought my first Z3 this week. It's meant as a sunny day fun car for the Mrs to use for occasional work days, and me for track days / European trips. It's not perfect but does seem pretty decent and I don't think I paid silly money for it considering it's only supposed to have done 64k miles. It's had the rear crossmember / diff mount reinforced / welded and all the rubber bushes replaced with poly bushes front and rear.



I took it straight on a track day at Blyton park and tbh it handled pretty well in a soft and wallowy kind of way and went very well in a straight line and will be even better when I get the M50 manifold fitted that I have in the garage :wink: I'm gonna get some coilovers and a strut brace which should stiffen it up on track quite nicely. I'm a bit concerned how unstable it is on bumpy roads though and I'm getting a lot of kick back through the steering on rough roads :shock: Will see what it's like once the suspension is done, hopefully not worse!!

The front tyres are old and cracked and the original alloys are hardly inspiring are they? I was going to get some 17's but then a mates Dad offered me a very cheap and nearly new 18" Bridgestones off his Z4. So 18's it is and I've managed to pick up a bargain set of these just now with a 8"/9" stagger-



I'll get these few jobs done over this winter and it should be ready to hit the road / track in the spring :cool:
 

Jack Ratt

Zorg Expert (I)
Supporter
British Zeds
The West Country
Joined
Dec 3, 2013
Points
200
Location
TRURO, CORNWALL
Model of Z
2.8i AUTO and 2.8i MANUAL
Hello from Truro. You'll find plenty of Zed related things to spend your money on
 

ZTec

Zorg Guru (IV)
Supporter
British Zeds
The M44 Massive
Joined
Oct 18, 2014
Points
171
Location
Llantwit Major
Model of Z
Z3
Welcome from Llantwit Major..
 

nickp

Regular Member
British Zeds
Joined
Oct 11, 2015
Points
23
Location
Barnsley
Model of Z
Z3 Roadster
Hello from Truro. You'll find plenty of Zed related things to spend your money on
Already found the first thing to spend money on, FUEL!! Emptied the tank from full in 150 miles!! :thumbsup:
 

Antm72

Zorg Expert (II)
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
May 4, 2015
Points
246
Location
South Yorkshire
Model of Z
2.8
Hi Nick and welcome from me in South Yorkshire. Great pics and a great choice in car.:thumbsup::thumbsup:
 

GazHyde

Administrator
Administrator
Global Moderator
M Power
Joined
Dec 2, 2011
Points
226
Location
Berkshire
Model of Z
Z4 MR
Welcome.

Having had a wallowy Zed, I would highly encourage checking out all the rear subframe bushes - particularly the beam bushes. Replaced almost all the rear bushes on mine, and she corners much better now.
 

t-tony

The Legend
Deceased
Supporter
#ZedShed
Joined
Dec 31, 2013
Points
226
Location
Torksey Lock,Lincoln, England
Model of Z
E89 Z4 23i Auto
Hi Nick and welcome from me too. Are you local to Blyton? Just wondered even though I know it draws people from far and wide these days.

Tony.
 

nickp

Regular Member
British Zeds
Joined
Oct 11, 2015
Points
23
Location
Barnsley
Model of Z
Z3 Roadster
Hi Nick and welcome from me too. Are you local to Blyton? Just wondered even though I know it draws people from far and wide these days.

Tony.
I'm over Barnsley way, so about 40mins or so. Cracking track I've been there loads over the years, even before it was redeveloped :)
 

Mint

Zorg Expert (I)
Supporter
British Zeds
East Anglian Crew
Joined
Sep 23, 2012
Points
222
Location
Stafford
Model of Z
2.2 Sport Individual
Hi @nickp,:welcome: to the forum from me too in Staffordshire. I enjoyed a day at Cadwell Park this year, great fun.
 

Antm72

Zorg Expert (II)
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
May 4, 2015
Points
246
Location
South Yorkshire
Model of Z
2.8
Glad to see you made it over from the dark side Nick, people tend to be alot more welcoming here..... enjoy :)
 

t-tony

The Legend
Deceased
Supporter
#ZedShed
Joined
Dec 31, 2013
Points
226
Location
Torksey Lock,Lincoln, England
Model of Z
E89 Z4 23i Auto
We just employed an expat Barnsleyite to manage our villa in Florida ! Do you know @yocky z3 2.0 (Tony) he's from out your way at Cudworth I think. He recently organised a day at Santa Pod. I'm near Lincoln, a lot of S. Yorks. folk live here.

Tony.
 

Antm72

Zorg Expert (II)
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
May 4, 2015
Points
246
Location
South Yorkshire
Model of Z
2.8
@GazHyde would shed light on these i think he fitted them and they didn't last long at all even without track driving @Brian H and @Stormy_be amongst a few others will advise you here .Im sure they will be along soon
 

GazHyde

Administrator
Administrator
Global Moderator
M Power
Joined
Dec 2, 2011
Points
226
Location
Berkshire
Model of Z
Z4 MR
Is it the E36 compact coilover kit I'll be needing then?

http://www.jomcoilovers.co.uk/coilovers.php?car=307
Awful. Just awful.

I've already switched the rears back to standard as they were shockingly hard, and would bottom out on the smallest of bumps. The fronts are better, but you feel every bump or pothole through the entire car. Find a nice flat un-potholed road and they are absolutely fine. For daily use in the UK, I hope you know a good chiropractor.

I've just bought shocks to replace the fronts, and being completely honest the JOMs will likely just go in the bin. I'd be almost too ashamed to try and pass them on to someone else.
 
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