Rha's Z3

[Sean d]

Fab job, loving the Ice upgrades, Give me a car body and I can do anything to it but hate electrics, I am desperate to do this upgrade so I need a good thread on it, oh and I would also have that spoiler. love it

 

[hard top]

With the positive comments so far it does make it all worth while.

Looking good, shame about the Bonzo interior and if you aint got sheep, put the rack on the right way round....

 

[Rha]

Fab job, loving the Ice upgrades, Give me a car body and I can do anything to it but hate electrics, I am desperate to do this upgrade so I need a good thread on it, oh and I would also have that spoiler. love it

Seems the spoiler is becoming more popular, must admit when seen at differant angles in the flesh it's not so OTT.
The thread that might be helpful is in the Forums under Z3 Roadster & coupe, Suzans Z3 sub box, the dimensions were followed on; How To Guide under, How To Build Your Own BMW Z3 Sub Woofer Box, best of luck.
Roy, Rha,

 

[oldcarman]

You're right @Rha, @Susan did a fantastic write up about the sub box, easy to follow. Will be tackling it when I can get into my shop finally! JIM

 

[Rha]

You're right @Rha, @Susan did a fantastic write up about the sub box, easy to follow. Will be tackling it when I can get into my shop finally! JIM

Glad to here it Jim, my one tip would be to arm yourself with a good plastic solvent glue like the plumbers use, a Dremmel for cutting any plastic (pipeing) makes easy work of fabricating in plastic the wood I'm sure you'll have no problem with. Good luck Jim but please don't show me up.

Roy.

 

[hard top]

please don't show me up

No chance of that mate, he has been talking about his 2000ft x 2000ft workshop since he came on here.
Don't even think he has repaired his rear window since he bought the car....

 

[Shelly]

Great looking job @Rha
Well done

 

[Lee]

That's a really nice job @Rha, I might be tapping you for all the inside info Sam wants a sub in her zed

 

[Rha]

That's a really nice job @Rha, I might be tapping you for all the inside info Sam wants a sub in her zed

After taking the mick, have I really got a choice?,.

Roy.

 

[Rha]

Another update completed this afternoon was the long overdue figment of my Koni sport adj shocks with H&R -30 MM Springs along with all new nuts,bolts,Spring pads and plates etc, we were so surprised at the extra bits needed to get this so called suspension KIT ready to fit, ok if your prepared to use most of the old bits off the cars original suspension but I wasn't and spent another £130 so we didn't have to, no wonder most of us dread going to the main dealers for spares. The front shocks were original and N/S was found to be failing even though it seemed OK on the car, the rear shocks were replacement at some time earlier than 9 yrs ago by previous owner,all four main springs were fine, Spring pads all very worn, all bolts were so tight/rusted and had to be heated for fear of breaking them which cost us extra time, time for this job was just over 2.5hrs and having the fronts ready assembled made the job much easier so the extra cost was probably worth it plus they were assembled at Richards garage with the use of a professional Spring press which was a relief safety wise. All shocks have been set to softest and the car was driven just over a mile home so it's got to go out on a run tomorrow to get it to settles in. Couldn't fit front strut reinforcement plates as not enough thread left when top strut bar fitted (that was with OEM top mounts and not the "M" ones originally planned) same problem with rears but at least the Bertini rear top strut does give a little more reinforcement.

Richard testing the tightness of the cold bolts and worried about snapping one decides to use a bit of heat.

Having them pre-assembled was an absolute godsend.

First front done 3 to go.

Not enough thread left to safely fit the reinforcement plates. Not too bothered as it won't be abused that much.

Last one done and my dinners in the dog.

Before.

After.

All that's left to do now is see if any bushing needs replacing and of course on Monday the re-alignment. Then we'll see if there's much improvement in the handling. So glad we found the faulty front strut, makes all this even more worth while. We're getting there.

Oh nearly forgot ;

Found this E46 330i inlet manifold to fit my 2.8 tu in local breakers for a song, now looking for a DISA to fit it, but this is another story.
Rha. Roy.

 

[oldcarman]

Well done young @Rha Roy!! JIM

 

[Rha]

Jim it was young Richard that pulled all the plugs out. I was the fetch and carry and only used where he needed two sets of hands.

Roy.

 

[Brian H]

Great job Roy, cracking projects these but as you say the little items add up, I bet you are really pleased.

 

[andyglym]

Great stuff Roy

 

[Rha]

Great job Roy, cracking projects these but as you say the little items add up, I bet you are really pleased.

Will be Brian if it handles just a bit better, can't ask much more of a 17yr old motor concidering the Z was already a good handling motor in my book. Love driving it quick, gets the old adrennelin rushing just like the first time I drove it.
Roy.

 

[Rha]

Great stuff Roy

Thanks Andy, shame my dinner went in the dog though, ha ha ha small price go pay in the end.

Roy.

 

[t-tony]

Will be Brian if it handles just a bit better, can't ask much more of a 17yr old motor concidering the Z was already a good handling motor in my book. Love driving it quick, gets the old adrennelin rushing just like the first time I drove it.
Roy.

Well mate, at least the dog didn't go hungry eh? I reckon you're still 18 years old mate. Glad it went well and get the tracking sorted early Monday I want to know how it drives now.

Tony.

 

[Rha]

Well mate, at least the dog didn't go hungry eh? I reckon you're still 18 years old mate. Glad it went well and get the tracking sorted early Monday I want to know how it drives now.

Tony.

To be honest Tony like I said to Brian H, even if it's not a big improvement it just goes to show just how good the Zs already are, ( or I'm not driving anywhere near the limit)

Ps; some points come off this Nov so I've not got to upset the local plod till then.

Roy.

 

[t-tony]

To be honest Tony like I said to Brian H, even if it's not a big improvement it just goes to show just how good the Zs already are, ( or I'm not driving anywhere near the limit)

Ps; some points come off this Nov so I've not got to upset the local plod till then.

Roy.

Best be good then mi'lad.

Tony.

 

[Rha]

Didn't get out on Sunday for the road test cos I'd promised to take my grandson Ryan out for the day, so today was the day I found out just what a good spend that suspension kit really was. Richard advised me to drive at least 20mls to try and help everything to bed in before re-alignment and I just couldn't wait. Well happy with the handling after 28mls of roundabouts and bends plus the ride is just about exceptable. Ride should get a little better with time as the springs settle. Had the ASC come in a couple of times so switched it off, dry roads saw me getting away with bends at much greater speed than before but roundabouts saw the rear tyres trying to let go under too much right foot, mid bend oversteer was non existing which was the one thing that I really didn't like in the previous setup. RE-alignment can't add much to this setup but has to be checked, front shocks top nuts checked and offside needed just a nip. The rear of the car feels really tight and front has developed a very slight noise similar to something vibrating, poor shuttle must think it's the end of the world or the local council has given up road repairs, yes I do think it's a bit harsh but I've owned the Z for 9yrs so that's only to be expected, the wife of course won't like it at all now and again that only to be expecten after all I've had her for 45yrs.

Rha, Roy.