Newt in Alabama

[Newt]

Hi Newt and to .org. Clue to trouble with your battery is in your post! You gotta drive it more see.

Thank y'all so much everyone is being so helpful. Glad I joined.

 

[Newt]

Welcome from Ireland!

Thank y'all so much everyone is being so helpful. Glad I joined. I hope to be in your country in June. We are planning a trip across the pond.

 

[Newt]

Welcome

Thank y'all so much everyone is being so helpful. Glad I joined.

 

[Eddie Zedder]

Hello and .

This may help.

https://zroadster.org/resources/removing-and-installing-replacing-bmw-z3-antenna.21/

 

[Mint]

Hi @Newt, to the forum from me too in Staffordshire, UK. Have a look on this site, I think it may help you with your grommet problem:
http://blog.bavauto.com/11619/bmw-antenna-grommet-seal-how-to-replace-diy-z3-318ti-convertible-e36/

As somebody says 'get out and drive it more' or get a trickle charger

 

[Newt]

I set calendar reminders. I have a battery tender but was concerned that it might mess with the computer. We have owned BMW's for years and my mechanic has me scared to do anything with the battery. Have you ever used one? The picture of me and Santa is one of the few times I drove it last year. I had to deliver Santa to the Neighbor Christmas Celebration. Had to charge the battery of course.

 

[Mint]

These are very pouplar over this side of the pond Newt, or there are cheaper alternatives, but this will give you the idea. I think they are called 'Battery Chargers & Conditioners'
https://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=ctek+battery+charger

 

[Newt]

to the forum from West Cumbria, England.

Try a CTEK to keep your battery charged

http://www.ctek.com/gb/en

Got any pics of your steed

 

[PHILIP BAXTER]

Hi Newt and welcome from Cardiff, Wales. Enjoy the forum mate,and don't forget the pictures.

 

[Antm72]

A great choice as a retirement present and we can all relate to not wanting to sell...something captivating about these cars.
Hope you resolve your ariel issue it shouldn't be too bad to fix the grommits just perish in time good luck

 

[Shelly]

Hi and welcome from me too

 

[Nodzed]

 

[Stevo7682]

Hi and welcome from me in Scotland

 

[Newt]

A great choice as a retirement present and we can all relate to not wanting to sell...something captivating about these cars.
Hope you resolve your ariel issue it shouldn't be too bad to fix the grommits just perish in time good luck

 

[FRANKIE]

I am new to the forum and would like to introduce myself. I own a 1997 Z-3 Roadster. It was my retirement present to me from me. I don't drive it much but enjoy it when I do. It has around 75,000 miles on it and the biggest problem I have is keeping the battery charged.

But today I drove it and notice my antenna had slipped down into the body of the car. It appears the grommet holding it in came off. I tried to reset it above the body of the fender and it broke off. So now I have to replace it. Has anyone replaced an antenna on a 1997 Z-3? and is it hard to do?

Welcome to the forum @Newt from Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey. My Z is a '96. My grommet failed on the antenna and I had to replace it also. I had to go into the trunk and pull back the carpeting on the driver's side of the car to get to the antenna mast and unscrew it first then lower it to remove the old piece of the lower grommet. My antenna shaft unscrews from the top leaving just a nub sticking up. The grommet pushes over this. The grommet has a groove in it. When pushing the grommet over this nub, half the grommet pushes past the body to below the body metal. When the grommet is half way into the car, the metal of the car seats into the groove leaving the top half of the grommet above the frame of the car. I did this AFTER I had removed the antenna from the trunk side, removed the old piece of broken grommet and re-secured the antenna back in place again. Make sure the groove in the grommet is seated and situated so that it seals the grommet which will be half above the frame and half below the frame.. Also, make sure that you ABSOLUTELY order the correct one as it's easy to pick the wrong one as I did at first.
My top was bad and I ordered one and replaced it myself. Not as difficult as you might think. Frankie

 

[BillyB]

from Scotland

 

[Grumps]

Welcome aboard.

 

[zedwheels]

You must let us know if your trip over here is on and where it is your visiting and maybe a meet up can be sorted.