Rebody Oh no. It's not another 507 Rebody. Oh yes it is!

[Duncodin]

Did your MOT tester not ask any questions why it doesn't look like a Z3 anymore?
Or did he/she/they/it just treat it as per the DVLA info, as you have a standard interior and airbags, etc?
I understood, from previous dealings on Cobra forums, that it can be tricky if the car is registered as one thing (a Z3), but presented as something else.
Just interested.

My V5 says it's a Z3. The chassis number says its a Z3. The mot database says its a z3. Theres no badge on the back saying its something else. So he tests it as a z3.

Lots of people add body kits, side extensions, spoilers and grills to totally change the look of their car. Old 1100 escorts tarted up to look like RS2000 or mexico. Or a bmw 316 tarted up to look like an M3. Do they fail their MOT?

All I've done is add a body kit. It's still a Z3. With a BMW badge. Might even put the Z3 badge back on.

 

[Zephyr]

Asking out of curiosity.
in Greece they are testing according to build sheet, so only factory specs will pass (unless you put 50€ in the glovebox and wink at the tester, but thats another story).
Even body kits have to be approved as they can harm the pedestrian in case of an accident and the law says that you can not alter the exterior dimensions and form.
We have a guy building 356 replicas who exports them to the Netherlands, registers them there as replica porsches and then imports them back (charging 50k for a base one).
So in the UK you can identify your vehicle as whatever you like and make it look as a giraffe for example being legal all the time?
sorry for the off topic but all this rebody thing is very interesting and trying to see how this could work here.
no airbag, no approved seats, no rigidity perhaps and panels flying off the car in case of an accident, how do you manage? What bout insurance?

 

[Duncodin]

Asking out of curiosity.
in Greece they are testing according to build sheet, so only factory specs will pass (unless you put 50€ in the glovebox and wink at the tester, but thats another story).
Even body kits have to be approved as they can harm the pedestrian in case of an accident and the law says that you can not alter the exterior dimensions and form.
We have a guy building 356 replicas who exports them to the Netherlands, registers them there as replica porsches and then imports them back (charging 50k for a base one).
So in the UK you can identify your vehicle as whatever you like and make it look as a giraffe for example being legal all the time?
sorry for the off topic but all this rebody thing is very interesting and trying to see how this could work here.
no airbag, no approved seats, no rigidity perhaps and panels flying off the car in case of an accident, how do you manage? What bout insurance?

I ived in Germany for many years. I never passed a driving test in the UK. In germany anything, even a simple front spoiler, has a TUV or DEKRA certificate proving that it's built for and certified safe on the make/model of vehicle to which it's attached. Different sized wheels/tyre? No chance unless it's a size authorized by the manufacturer and inspected by TUV.

Me and my mate - another brit - owning our bog standard cars - would be reading custom car magazine or kit car magazine wishing we were allowed to do these things that people in brit-land were allowed to do.

Yep. Over here, in the UK, you can get away with pretty much anything.

 

[Zephyr]

So removing an airbag is ok as you also remove the airbag warning light?
dont they check the ecu for faults?
is it just rust, brakes, tyres and lights as in all normal cars?

 

[Pond]

So removing an airbag is ok as you also remove the airbag warning light?
dont they check the ecu for faults?
is it just rust, brakes, tyres and lights as in all normal cars?

The airbags thing is a very grey area. For instance; mine will have no airbags but will have an airbag light (temporarily). The tester only checks the light goes out (as you obviously can't test an airbag). But that is only for the first MOT as the car will still be on the MOT database as a Z3.
If you change the interior, it should be re-registered with the DVLA as something else, which can be whatever you like. I could call mine "Pond's bag of crap" and the DVLA would register it as that.
Then the MOT tester is asked to update their database to "Pond's bag of crap", so it is tested as that. My bag of crap didn't come with airbags, so it shouldn't be a problem.

It is all a bit 'liberal' (for the UK) at present and I can see the rules being tightened in the future.

That is how I understand it. I haven't got to the stage of trying it out yet and I presume you need a tester who is 'on board' with what has happened.

 

[Duncodin]

Was going through some old photos on my phone and found this

It was a good looking car. I'll miss it.

But no regrets. Onward and upwards etc.

 

[Pond]

I am biased but I would say it looks a lot better now than then. You can buy a Z3 that looks like yours did for small money anywhere. You can't buy one that looks like yours does now, though (not for small money anyway).

It's no secret that I am not a fan of the looks of the Z3. But to save me being banned or ostracised I am a massive fan of the looks of the E89 Z4.

 

[t-tony]

That comment don't hold sway with the Z3 owners.

Tony.

 

[DaveP]

My V5 says it's a Z3. The chassis number says its a Z3. The mot database says its a z3. Theres no badge on the back saying its something else. So he tests it as a z3.

Lots of people add body kits, side extensions, spoilers and grills to totally change the look of their car. Old 1100 escorts tarted up to look like RS2000 or mexico. Or a bmw 316 tarted up to look like an M3. Do they fail their MOT?

All I've done is add a body kit. It's still a Z3. With a BMW badge. Might even put the Z3 badge back on.

The only fly in that ointment is when plod are following you and their dBASE says it's a blue Z3 and they are following a green re body. Gives them cause to wonder whether to stop you. Mine is a red Kobra and the V5 reflects that. I'm all for keeping a low ish profile.

Not saying you are wrong. All of us do things differently

Dave

 

[Duncodin]

The only fly in that ointment is when plod are following you and their dBASE says it's a blue Z3 and they are following a green re body. Gives them cause to wonder whether to stop you. Mine is a red Kobra and the V5 reflects that. I'm all for keeping a low ish profile.

Not saying you are wrong. All of us do things differently

Dave

I changed the colour on the V5 yonks ago so if plod's DB says he's following a grey BMW then he will be following a grey BMW.

I think plod really only looks at the make and colour. Doesn't have time to care too much about model of car. As I mentioned above - BMW316 with full body kit and more M badges than you can shake a stick at. Or a base Golf with fat exhaust and GTi badges. Plod can't pull everyone over. All I'm doing is making my BMW look like a different model of BMW. It's still a BMW with the correct colour as per the V5. MOT guys also said he'd change the colour on his database too.

Now you guys driving Cobras and Ferraris. Now that's a different kettle of fish. Plod is duty bound to pull you over because it looks like a cobra or Ferrari on stolen plates.

All this is by the by though. I do plan on changing the V5 to "BMW Z507". If/when I get round to it.

 

[Duncodin]

Hardtop on for the winter - I will drive it regularly come rain, hail or shine.

Needs bigger/taller wheels to fill them arches

Bit of uneven gap on the hard top edge. But it'll do for the winter. I'll fix that over next summer.

But I'm starting to think the rear bumper is too big for the car. Needs something a bit daintier m'thinks. Not so sticky outy and less down the sides. Maybe even just corner bits. Something to think about over winter.

 

[DaveP]

That looks flipping wicked. I hope you are as proud as you deserve to be.

Nice build. Colour really suits it.

 

[10stb]

I've been so busy on a couple of house refurbs that I haven't touched the car in months. I wonder sometimes how I managed to find the time to do it in the first place.

Yours is looking lovely Ian

I'll look into doing a hardtop when my workload eases.

Still having problems with my chromework. The bumpers, boot handle and grill surrounds that I had hydrochromed have turned really gold coloured now.

I was getting a guy to chrome wrap them but he's turning out to be too unreliable so need to have a rethink

 

[Duncodin]

That looks flipping wicked. I hope you are as proud as you deserve to be.

Nice build. Colour really suits it.

Looks better in the photo. Not so good in the flesh. Most of the colour is still gelcoat. RAL7015. I had to paint the driver's door because I had to slice off the swage line and stick it back on half an inch higher. Hardtop also painted. Rattle can job. Couple of places where rubbing down the mould lines went all the way through the gelcoat also needed painting. Colour match is OK but not perfect. But I do like the RAL7015 but when i go to paint I may go a shade lighter towards MB Blaugrau

 

[10stb]

In the pics the chromework doesn't look too bad but in the flesh....it looks awful

 

[Duncodin]

I've been so busy on a couple of house refurbs that I haven't touched the car in months. I wonder sometimes how I managed to find the time to do it in the first place.

Yours is looking lovely Ian

I'll look into doing a hardtop when my workload eases.

Still having problems with my chromework. The bumpers, boot handle and grill surrounds that I had hydrochromed have turned really gold coloured now.

I was getting a guy to chrome wrap them but he's turning out to be too unreliable so need to have a rethink

I had the exact same problem with my bumpers. One problem I think is that the chrome vinyl doesn't stretch and shape as easy as normal stuff they work with. Makes it quite fiddly.

But I've gone off the idea of chrome wrap now. If you rub it with a cloth it leaves scuff marks spoiling the shine and it doesn't shine back up. I feel it'd look pants in no time.

 

[Duncodin]

In the pics the chromework doesn't look too bad but in the flesh....it looks awful

I think for now I'll just paint my bumpers silver till I decide what to do.

I'd forgotten that you'd moved your bonnet bulge. It looks good. Mine isn't moved quite as far back as yours. Now I wonder if I should move it again. But mine is much lower. Maybe just 10mm or so high so maybe better where it is. Got to make my mind up before painting.

The piece of trim in front of the bulge is a bit of metal chopped out of the old front bumper. Shaped up nice I think. I'll get some more to make trim along the front of the bulge when I get round to it.

 

[ruan]

Your hard top is looking excellent, I hope to get my kit at the end of the month.

 

[10stb]

I think for now I'll just paint my bumpers silver till I decide what to do.

I'd forgotten that you'd moved your bonnet bulge. It looks good. Mine isn't moved quite as far back as yours. Now I wonder if I should move it again. But mine is much lower. Maybe just 10mm or so high so maybe better where it is. Got to make my mind up before painting.

The piece of trim in front of the bulge is a bit of metal chopped out of the old front bumper. Shaped up nice I think. I'll get some more to make trim along the front of the bulge when I get round to it.

Bonnet and side vent chrome is on my deepest darkest p****** down with rain winter list

 

[Duncodin]

Bonnet and side vent chrome is on my deepest darkest p****** down with rain winter list

P****** down with rain? No shortage of that. You'll have those chrome bits finished in no time then.