Both the links look as though they're leaning to the left tbh so the N/S one may need moving further onto the ARB.
Tony.
Tony.
Red Highland Z3 1.9 Roadster
- Thread starter Pls
- Start date
Yes, I'll have a look this week when it's up on the lift again. If I undo the bottom link from the trailing arm, I should be able to work the top link to and fro and get it further on the end of the ARB, then reconnect the bottom link. If the top bush isn't damaged. Someone said that later models have a nut on the end of the ARB - is that so?
Anyway, as the car is in such lovely condition, I think more regular washing will be called for!
The previous owner had had a comprehensive paint correction/detailing/ceramic coating job done on it three years ago, since when he had driven it less than 200 miles, and kept it covered in a dry barn. And he had never touched the paintwork to clean it, just rinsed it off with a hose. I don't want to wreck the finish with swirls etc, so, following that lead, I looked up the theory of using a prewash foam with a pressure washer foam attachment, followed by a pressure washer rinse, then pulling a towel over the panels to dry them, although most of the water just runs straight off. So that's what I did today. I don't 3xpect that routine will clean it thoroughly, but for regular cleaning, the result looks pretty good.
Cheers
Paul
Anyway, as the car is in such lovely condition, I think more regular washing will be called for!
The previous owner had had a comprehensive paint correction/detailing/ceramic coating job done on it three years ago, since when he had driven it less than 200 miles, and kept it covered in a dry barn. And he had never touched the paintwork to clean it, just rinsed it off with a hose. I don't want to wreck the finish with swirls etc, so, following that lead, I looked up the theory of using a prewash foam with a pressure washer foam attachment, followed by a pressure washer rinse, then pulling a towel over the panels to dry them, although most of the water just runs straight off. So that's what I did today. I don't 3xpect that routine will clean it thoroughly, but for regular cleaning, the result looks pretty good.
Cheers
Paul
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Today I installed the replacement thermostat
After some some time refilling the coolant system with the front of the car raised, all seemed to be well, with the temperature gauge soon rising to the normal level, and the heater blowing much hotter air than previously.
Then I tackled the escaping rear anti roll bar drop link. I read Mike Fishwick's article, but decided to try removing the link manually in situ. I then inspected it, and the top bush seemed to be sound, so I cleaned the link up, and refitted it by pushing it on the tapered end of the bar, then winding it back and forth whilst pushing it further on. This took some time and effort, and I used some washing up liquid to assist this. It seemed to work, and didn't necessitate removing the wheels, spare wheel carrier, and the anti roll bar itself as recommended in the article. When the link was in its proper place, I reconnected thd bottom link to its carrier on the trailing arm.
After a drive of twenty miles, it's still in exactly the same place, but I shall keep an eye on it in case it starts creeping off again and needs replacing with a new one. One could almost drill a transverse hole in the end of the bar, fit a hefty washer and insert a split pin. That'd sort it.
Cheers
Paul
After some some time refilling the coolant system with the front of the car raised, all seemed to be well, with the temperature gauge soon rising to the normal level, and the heater blowing much hotter air than previously.
Then I tackled the escaping rear anti roll bar drop link. I read Mike Fishwick's article, but decided to try removing the link manually in situ. I then inspected it, and the top bush seemed to be sound, so I cleaned the link up, and refitted it by pushing it on the tapered end of the bar, then winding it back and forth whilst pushing it further on. This took some time and effort, and I used some washing up liquid to assist this. It seemed to work, and didn't necessitate removing the wheels, spare wheel carrier, and the anti roll bar itself as recommended in the article. When the link was in its proper place, I reconnected thd bottom link to its carrier on the trailing arm.
After a drive of twenty miles, it's still in exactly the same place, but I shall keep an eye on it in case it starts creeping off again and needs replacing with a new one. One could almost drill a transverse hole in the end of the bar, fit a hefty washer and insert a split pin. That'd sort it.
Cheers
Paul
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Last week I fitted replacement seat bushes, and went for a run over to the west coast to test them out! First a stop for tea by Loch Glascarnoch on the A835 to Ullapool:
After a stop for lunch at Ullapool, we ventured on up the coast a little, to turn off along the shore of Loch Canaird, then along the River Canaird to Dun Canna, the site of a fort, presumably prehistoric.
The seats were nicely solid with their new bushes. And I had got the seats in and out without scratching the paint!
The route from the main road was mostly not metalled, and I discovered that this car (now christened 'Poppy' by the family!) has lower ride height than 'Ratty' had - but that always sat up a bit higher than most other Z3s. I shall measure and compare the clearance on both cars - Ratty is now sitting somewhat forelornly in a friend's garage having failed the MOT on emissions requirements, and with no takers to buy it
Anyway, I shall have to be a bit more circumspect on some of the rougher Highland roads!
The other job this week was making a start on the hood. I hardly ever drive it with the hood up, but there are times .... Anyway, it seems in quite good condition, although a bit stiff and not as supple as that on Ratty. It hàs been treated at some time with some sort of protective coating which almost gives a slightly satin finish, which doesn't look very nice at all to my eyes. Especially as someone has used a pressure washer too closely on it and left some 'tracks'. It also showed some signs of what looked like previous mould. So I have started off with a small softish nylon brush and some dilute Miltons to ensure there's no active mould.
So it's a bit better now, and I shall give it a gentle clean next, so we'll see how that goes. The car had been sitting virtually unused, carefully cossetted under cover in a good modern dry barn, having covered just 150 miles in the last three years, so a comprehensive all round lubrication was called for. This has included all the joints in the hood frame, so it now moves a bit more easily.
Cheers
Paul
After a stop for lunch at Ullapool, we ventured on up the coast a little, to turn off along the shore of Loch Canaird, then along the River Canaird to Dun Canna, the site of a fort, presumably prehistoric.
The seats were nicely solid with their new bushes. And I had got the seats in and out without scratching the paint!
The route from the main road was mostly not metalled, and I discovered that this car (now christened 'Poppy' by the family!) has lower ride height than 'Ratty' had - but that always sat up a bit higher than most other Z3s. I shall measure and compare the clearance on both cars - Ratty is now sitting somewhat forelornly in a friend's garage having failed the MOT on emissions requirements, and with no takers to buy it
Anyway, I shall have to be a bit more circumspect on some of the rougher Highland roads!The other job this week was making a start on the hood. I hardly ever drive it with the hood up, but there are times .... Anyway, it seems in quite good condition, although a bit stiff and not as supple as that on Ratty. It hàs been treated at some time with some sort of protective coating which almost gives a slightly satin finish, which doesn't look very nice at all to my eyes. Especially as someone has used a pressure washer too closely on it and left some 'tracks'. It also showed some signs of what looked like previous mould. So I have started off with a small softish nylon brush and some dilute Miltons to ensure there's no active mould.
So it's a bit better now, and I shall give it a gentle clean next, so we'll see how that goes. The car had been sitting virtually unused, carefully cossetted under cover in a good modern dry barn, having covered just 150 miles in the last three years, so a comprehensive all round lubrication was called for. This has included all the joints in the hood frame, so it now moves a bit more easily.
Cheers
Paul
I did an oil change on Poppy this week, and was surprised at how gungy the old oil was. There's not much service history over the last ten years, but then the car has done less than 10,000 miles in that time. But I reckon previous owners hadn't seen the need to do an oil change because of the low mileage, despite BMW's recommendation to change it every year regardless of how few miles are covered.
Anyway, I obviously needed to test the new oil and make sure it worked ok, so I took it out for a spin, and visited a neighbour who has what's left of a 4000 year old Neolithic chambered cairn and stone circle in their garden, probably built around the time of Stonehenge.
It's an interest of mine, and I drove on to revisit the one at Corrimony, this one in state care,
and with its infill of cairn stones, entrance passageway and central chamber. There are lots of them up here, dotted around the countryside.
Anyway, as the day had been a bit damp, the car needed a wash on my return,
I hadn't used snow foam before, but not wanting to touch the paintwork with its ceramic coating any more than necessary, I thought I'd give it a try. When I first got the car I had tried Car Plan Demon Foam, but wasn't very impressed with its adherence or lack of it - it just seemed to slide off. So I then went for AutoSmart Snowfoam Pro from MacGregor Industrial Supplies. This clung much better doing its' prewash work. That picture shows it after about ten minutes.
So then I rinsed it down with the pressure washer, and this successfully removed all the bugs etc. This I followed with a blow-dry with the leaf blower to chase all the water off, so as not to touch the paint at all, nor leave any water marks.
I expect that I shall need to do a two-bucket wash using mitts occasionally, but this seems to be keeping it looking ok.
Macgregors also used a fancy scanner machine to measure the exact colour of the paintwork, which being red has undoubtedly faded in 25 years, and is probably no longer precisely the same as the original BMW Helrot spec. That being so, they then mixed a 100ml pot of the exact colour match for me to use for touching up any stone chips etc. (for £18).
Cheers
Paul
Anyway, I obviously needed to test the new oil and make sure it worked ok, so I took it out for a spin, and visited a neighbour who has what's left of a 4000 year old Neolithic chambered cairn and stone circle in their garden, probably built around the time of Stonehenge.
It's an interest of mine, and I drove on to revisit the one at Corrimony, this one in state care,
and with its infill of cairn stones, entrance passageway and central chamber. There are lots of them up here, dotted around the countryside.
Anyway, as the day had been a bit damp, the car needed a wash on my return,
I hadn't used snow foam before, but not wanting to touch the paintwork with its ceramic coating any more than necessary, I thought I'd give it a try. When I first got the car I had tried Car Plan Demon Foam, but wasn't very impressed with its adherence or lack of it - it just seemed to slide off. So I then went for AutoSmart Snowfoam Pro from MacGregor Industrial Supplies. This clung much better doing its' prewash work. That picture shows it after about ten minutes.
So then I rinsed it down with the pressure washer, and this successfully removed all the bugs etc. This I followed with a blow-dry with the leaf blower to chase all the water off, so as not to touch the paint at all, nor leave any water marks.
I expect that I shall need to do a two-bucket wash using mitts occasionally, but this seems to be keeping it looking ok.
Macgregors also used a fancy scanner machine to measure the exact colour of the paintwork, which being red has undoubtedly faded in 25 years, and is probably no longer precisely the same as the original BMW Helrot spec. That being so, they then mixed a 100ml pot of the exact colour match for me to use for touching up any stone chips etc. (for £18).
Cheers
Paul
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Today I finally got round to installing the seat lifters from @t-tony - thanks again.
So, being 6'5", my seating position is now much more comfortable, the seat squab offering much better support.
I had also dug out a few suitable CDs to add to the CD changer in the boot, so this morning we were out on the A9 to 'Bat out of Hell'
And I had also bought a couple of audio cassettes, because the original Business audio is staying, just because it is original!
Cheers
Paul
So, being 6'5", my seating position is now much more comfortable, the seat squab offering much better support.
I had also dug out a few suitable CDs to add to the CD changer in the boot, so this morning we were out on the A9 to 'Bat out of Hell'
And I had also bought a couple of audio cassettes, because the original Business audio is staying, just because it is original!Cheers
Paul
Thank you Paul. I'm glad you like them.
Tony.
Tony.
We were out for a test drive of the seat lifters today - very comfortable! We went Logie Steading near Forres, for bookshop, lunch and gardens. The house isn't open to the public, but the gardens get better every time we visit.
So we were in good company, with that very nice Z3 spotted in the car park. However, we weren't able to make contact with the owner and it was gone later on.
Anyway the seat lifters passed their one-hour run test!
Cheers
Paul.
So we were in good company, with that very nice Z3 spotted in the car park. However, we weren't able to make contact with the owner and it was gone later on.
Anyway the seat lifters passed their one-hour run test!
Cheers
Paul.
Our morning chores were completed early yesterday, and it was a beautiful day so we decided to go for fish and chips in Ullapool. There was a nice breeze too, so the midge forecast was good as well! We parked up some way from the chippy as the town was busy with tourists. There's a good little charity shop which Sara likes to frequent, while I have a coffee in the hotel.
We watched the ferry come in from the Uists, then set off to come home the longer way, north through the Assynt mountains then via Ledmore Junction, Lairg and Bonar Bridge. We passed a friendly blue Z3 going south.
That was Ben More Coigach just north of Ullapool with the Summer Isles off to the left.
120 miles there and back for fish and chips, but they were very good! And I filled the car up on departure and on return; it used just under 3 gallons of E5, and we weren't hanging around
Oh, and it passed its MOT on Monday, with no Advisories! That's a first for me!
Cheers
Paul
We watched the ferry come in from the Uists, then set off to come home the longer way, north through the Assynt mountains then via Ledmore Junction, Lairg and Bonar Bridge. We passed a friendly blue Z3 going south.
That was Ben More Coigach just north of Ullapool with the Summer Isles off to the left.
120 miles there and back for fish and chips, but they were very good! And I filled the car up on departure and on return; it used just under 3 gallons of E5, and we weren't hanging around
Oh, and it passed its MOT on Monday, with no Advisories! That's a first for me!
Cheers
Paul
Not much to report over the last five months, until a trip to Dornoch for a winter walk on the empty beach last week.
On the way, I started to feel a slight oscillation at the steering wheel and put it down to a poor road surface. But also the car started to feel slightly sluggish. And, when we got there and got out, I could smell something hot, and soon found that the drivers side front brake disc, and its caliper, were very hot. So we went for our walk and when we came back they had cooled down again. When we set off to come home, I stopped after a few miles and it was heating up again, so I tapped the caliper smartly with a small hammer, set off again and stopped after a few miles - the disc was warm but not hot. I continued this and found that when I used the brakes, it got and stayed hot, but when I slowed down just using the gears, all was well. So I surmised that the caliper piston might be sticking, and the next day took the car into cousin Ray's home workshop and got it up on the hydraulic lift.
It turned out that the rubber dust seal on the caliper piston was perished for half of its circumference and had allowed crud to get in, start corrosion and cause it to stick. The inner pad had glazed badly and had scored the inner face of the brake disc. I could have tried cleaning the corrosion in the caliper cylinder, but I decided to replace the caliper, the disc and the pads, and to do both sides of the car. Not cheap, but there was no record of the calipers being replaced previously, so they were probably 26 years old.
Very satisfying! I did consider painting the new calipers, but decided not to bother! Anyway, having complered the repairs and gone for a satisfactory test drive, the car is back to its' old self and it's nice to feel 100% confident in the brakes again!
Cheers
Paul
On the way, I started to feel a slight oscillation at the steering wheel and put it down to a poor road surface. But also the car started to feel slightly sluggish. And, when we got there and got out, I could smell something hot, and soon found that the drivers side front brake disc, and its caliper, were very hot. So we went for our walk and when we came back they had cooled down again. When we set off to come home, I stopped after a few miles and it was heating up again, so I tapped the caliper smartly with a small hammer, set off again and stopped after a few miles - the disc was warm but not hot. I continued this and found that when I used the brakes, it got and stayed hot, but when I slowed down just using the gears, all was well. So I surmised that the caliper piston might be sticking, and the next day took the car into cousin Ray's home workshop and got it up on the hydraulic lift.
It turned out that the rubber dust seal on the caliper piston was perished for half of its circumference and had allowed crud to get in, start corrosion and cause it to stick. The inner pad had glazed badly and had scored the inner face of the brake disc. I could have tried cleaning the corrosion in the caliper cylinder, but I decided to replace the caliper, the disc and the pads, and to do both sides of the car. Not cheap, but there was no record of the calipers being replaced previously, so they were probably 26 years old.
Very satisfying! I did consider painting the new calipers, but decided not to bother! Anyway, having complered the repairs and gone for a satisfactory test drive, the car is back to its' old self and it's nice to feel 100% confident in the brakes again!
Cheers
Paul
Great photos and lovely looking car! Where abouts do you call home? I am not a million miles from Elgin.
The renovated front brakes are a delight, and the intermittent ABS warning light has been cured by my having wiggled the connectors, having soaked them in WD40. So that’s good. When putting the new calipers on, I had reused the original anti rattle spring clips, which were slightly different, but one didn’t seem to seat quite right. And they looked a bit sad and rusty on the shiny new calipers! So I had ordered a new pair and fitted them the other day - much better!
Today was the annual Black Isle Ploughing Match on St Martins farm, Culbokie, with dozens of ploughmen (and women) from around the Highlands bringing their tractors to compete for cups and cash prizes. There were classes for vintage tractors, classic tractors and more modern ones, although they weren’t allowed to use GPS automated ploughing control systems used on most farms now. No heavy horses this year though.
Across the Firth, Ben Wyvis and the hills had a covering of snow:
It was bright and chilly, but most importantly it was dry. Judging is complex - there’s far more to it than just getting the furrows straight! There was a good tea tent, and a good time was had by all.
Cheers
Paul
Today was the annual Black Isle Ploughing Match on St Martins farm, Culbokie, with dozens of ploughmen (and women) from around the Highlands bringing their tractors to compete for cups and cash prizes. There were classes for vintage tractors, classic tractors and more modern ones, although they weren’t allowed to use GPS automated ploughing control systems used on most farms now. No heavy horses this year though.
Across the Firth, Ben Wyvis and the hills had a covering of snow:
It was bright and chilly, but most importantly it was dry. Judging is complex - there’s far more to it than just getting the furrows straight! There was a good tea tent, and a good time was had by all.
Cheers
Paul
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