One of those annoying little jobs !!!!

Mazza

Mazza

Zorg Guru (V)
Supporter
British Zeds
The M44 Massive
Joined
Nov 1, 2017
Points
190
Location
Bognor Regis
Model of Z
Z3 1.9 M44 Roadster Z3 2.8 Roadster
After having the clutch replaced recently , I swapped out the front discs and pads for new ones which I bought from @jasecasecarr via the forum.
While doing that job I could see that the underside covers were screwed together but not attached to the front beam.
So I assumed the body nut had rusted and given out.

Today after jacking up the front , removing the covers and the cross brace
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( which took and hour ….getting up and down covers most of that time :whistle: =)),
For which I needed a tea break
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removed the culprit….
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The part was not at all rusty so both must have been replaced when I refurbished the front end ( but dont remember doing them)

So now wondering if it was overtightened which broke the tangs off…… anyway biggest problem is that these are obsolete and not even listed on RealOEM. they call up a much smaller bodynut .

so had a cunning idea to use a second one at right angles …
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But the bit sticking out stops it being inserted……
So a quick whizz on the angle grinder…
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theory good ,,,, in practice a rubbish idea….. so as a back up plan …thinking of installing a rivnut ,,,,,as I have the tool and lots of different sizes……
But worth looking to see if I can find a body nut that fits first……so put everything away ( as there is footy on later :whistle:)

Then just thought might be worth checking on Halfords…. About 3 minutes up the road ,,,,,,,,and Eureka !!!!
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They do a fixing pack with two small and two big bodynuts ,,,, and blow me down its an exact match.

so tomorrow can slide it into position and put everything back …..:thumbsup:
 
I just had to know it that it fits..

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Screw ok

and without getting changed .. went grovelling on the front drive and ….

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IT FITS !!!!!! 😋😋😋😋

Probably another shirt ruined but just had to know =))=)):thumbsup:

and the price for this pack?? £1.99
 
One of those 2 minute jobs once you get access Malc, excellent effort in this heat. Good find at Halfrauds though:thumbsup:
 
Althulas said:
Reading the start of this Halfords came to mind as those fittings are used on my mini. Nice cheap fix.
Click to expand...
I suppose on the Z3M they are titanium with gold inlays =)) =))
 
As Mini is now BMW I wonder if that part is now under a different part number and listed as only used on mini’s
 
Good job Mazza.

Yeh, i removed that cross brace last year on my 2.2 - a little summer afternoon job me thought: wrong....
The brace was really crusty so I thought I'd bathe it in some Bilt Hamber hydrate 80. Also, like you, my under tray tabs were loose due to the crusty/lost bolts & body nuts.

First disaster - 3 of the bolts holding the cross brace snapped and as the cross member has threaded holes for these - they had to be drilled out and, as the thread was knarled, I had to widen the screw holes and use M10 petal nuts in replacement - quite a satisfying outcome in the end and serviceable in future too.


Yes, the metal self tapping body nuts you mention were different to original spec (that is once the dealer had even managed to deduce the right size) but I didn't have a problem refitting the under tray tabs - but heh.

Just a warning to others - the M8 bolts holding the brace on do get some stick, depending where you are in the world, so be prepared if you want to remove it.🙄

ALSO! Your petrol tank brackets have now gone a few years' good service now so bless you for that.😉
 
that link should be ‘pinned’ somewhere…. Way beyond my computer skill level though ! :whistle: =))=))
 
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