The bolts from hell are out. To be honest it was a caker this morning, all done in about 10 mins. A number 5 easy out, a tap with a hammer and a little heat. That's all 4 out in 10 mins. Phew!
Pi22 yUPs Rescue
- Thread starter RB2
- Start date
That's the rear bearings out. I'll get all the rear gubbins away for a blast and powder coat tomorrow. Trying to resist making everything red to match the seats. For me and the mot testers benefit
The chunk of iron is off the back. I've probably just reduced the cars weight by 25 -30kgs. There is some aftermarket holes in the car I'll need to seal up somehow.
Here are a few pics of how the tow bar was installed. Pretty sure this isn't a bmw part
Here are a few pics of how the tow bar was installed. Pretty sure this isn't a bmw part
I wonder if the old owner is the same pillock who fancied himself as some kind of Bob the builder at my old house?
- Joined
- Nov 25, 2012
- Points
- 178
- Location
- Newport, South Wales,UK
- Model of Z
- Z3 M43 1.8 (1999) and Z4 E85 2.5 (2003)
Looks like the fixing points were minimal, probably just about good enough for a small camping trailer, jet ski or small Dingy would be my guess. Looks custom made since the car didn't have towing authorised by the manufacturer.
So the gubbins are away for a blast and powdercoat. I've played it safe with gloss black and red calipers. They should be back next week. In the mean time I am cleaning up and treating any bits of rust I come across. I've still a stripped nut on the arb to tackle.
The stone chip bmw have used has done a great job of keeping the car clean. It had delaminated about the shock mount, so I've cut it back to shiny metal, wire brushed and treated..
Thats it for today, off to a whisky festival
The stone chip bmw have used has done a great job of keeping the car clean. It had delaminated about the shock mount, so I've cut it back to shiny metal, wire brushed and treated..
Thats it for today, off to a whisky festival
When I brought the car home the rear bumper had pealing clear coat. I decided I'd try and jet wash most of it off but quickly discovered some light accident damage that had previously been repaired and most likely led to the peeling. I am not a painter but I would love to learn and this car is going to be my guinea pig. Worst come to worst it still needs painting
Please add any advise you have
Please add any advise you have
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I've also been to the sand blasters. The offside trailing arm unfortunately has seen better days but everything else is nice.
Not 100% sure if I can have it welded up or if I'll just source a better 1.
Not 100% sure if I can have it welded up or if I'll just source a better 1.
Problem with welding up things like that is that you end up chasing steel. What I mean by that is that you fabricate a new piece of metal ready to weld in but the torch just blows a hole in the old steel and you have to make a bigger piece.
I'm also not sure about the rules whether you'r allowed to weld those parts. Personally I would never weld sub frame or suspension parts.
I'm also not sure about the rules whether you'r allowed to weld those parts. Personally I would never weld sub frame or suspension parts.
I am going to try and source a fresher 1 to be honest. It can be welded if it's done correctly but it's beyond my bag of tools which would mean outsourcing. Cheaper in the long run to find another arm. Looking at ebay circ £150
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A healthy coat of high build ready for a smoothing
- Joined
- Nov 25, 2012
- Points
- 178
- Location
- Newport, South Wales,UK
- Model of Z
- Z3 M43 1.8 (1999) and Z4 E85 2.5 (2003)
Looks like it would need a fair sized patch to be let in to replace that corrosion area, doable by a competent welder but probably best to find a better one, I understand they are injected with oil when the car was built to resist corrosion might be an idea to inject spray some clear waxoyle into your fresh arms and then plug the hole with a plastic plug for future top ups
Happy enough with my paint attempt so far. I'll give it a few days for the clear coat to cure properly and then try to flatten and mop it. It looks better than the pealing clear coat mess it was before. If the final effect is rubbish I'll rub it down and try again. It could be a fine excuse to get tooled up with a compressor. I still need to tackle the silver bonnet.
I got home from work early so decided to check out the bumper. So after 24 hours clear curing time, I could rub it without leaving scratches. I set about wet sanding with 800, 1200 then 2000 grit. I then wiped it down and mopped it with wet G3 compound followed by a hand polish of black hole. Now I've got the bumper on the car and off the stands I can see a couple of bits on the top edge that needs a little more g3 etc. To be honest for a driveway rattle can job it's turned out great. I just need to repeat this on all the panels haha
A before reminder
After the G3
Partially bolted in for effect. The top edge needs a little more mopping but I am pretty pleased. A country mile better than the pealing mess it was before.
The colour match isn't way off either
A before reminder
After the G3
Partially bolted in for effect. The top edge needs a little more mopping but I am pretty pleased. A country mile better than the pealing mess it was before.
The colour match isn't way off either
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You don't hang around, I would still be at the thinking about starting faze 
the paint job looks very good. What did you use to spay it, rattle cans or proper air gun
the paint job looks very good. What did you use to spay it, rattle cans or proper air gun
Haha yeah.. I am sure I have a medical condition for messing with cars. To be honest, so far it's been OK. It shares so much similarities with the e30 I feel like I know the cars. Certainly from a suspension / subframe point of view. Ironically my e30 has a z3 steering rack.You don't hang around, I would still be at the thinking about starting faze
Yes, just rattle cans bought from the local car factor's, a few youtube videos and a bit of f#ck it mentality. I am now thinking I'll just do a panel at a time.
Nice result from a rattle can job.
Back to the jigsaw puzzle. Thanks to Mazza for the fuel tank straps and Lee for the inbound pushrod plates. I've got a set of BC coilovers sitting at the unit for the car as well. I went with BCs as I am a BC supplier through my buisness and I've ran them for years on my E30. I am basically left with control arms, front disks and pads, front bearings and arbs to source and that should be the suspension etc taken care of.
My buddy has a 75kmiles engine sitting as well, so I am going to ditch the 150kmiles unit and stick the lower miles engine in.
I guess I need to paint the diff
My buddy has a 75kmiles engine sitting as well, so I am going to ditch the 150kmiles unit and stick the lower miles engine in.
I guess I need to paint the diff