I've already converted all the front to LED -- I'm waiting for new clear rear lights to do the same at the back...
Slowest Z Tweak Thread in the History of the Forum
- Thread starter buze
- Start date
Little progress - went to visit @spurs fan in a coupe Z3 temple last sunday, and left with quite a few bits and pieces -- as well as a few more things I didn't know about my car, really great time there!
So, before the next batch of parts arrive, the little bits I've updated since last time:
* New fog lights -- one was shattered the replacements aren't /fantastic/ but at least they aren't broken!
* New badges. the front one was particularly bad
* New clear rear lights! Now that completes the set, quite happy with the new look
* New antenna grommet. previous one was rotten.
New parts ordered:
+ New rear shocks + mounts
+ Spacers 20mm back (steel) 10mm front (Alu)
+ Arm wishbone bushes for the front
+ Front antiroll bar bushes
+ Polishing compounds. I also have paint repair kit for touchups; might also order rattle can version
So, before the next batch of parts arrive, the little bits I've updated since last time:
* New fog lights -- one was shattered the replacements aren't /fantastic/ but at least they aren't broken!
* New badges. the front one was particularly bad
* New clear rear lights! Now that completes the set, quite happy with the new look
* New antenna grommet. previous one was rotten.
New parts ordered:
+ New rear shocks + mounts
+ Spacers 20mm back (steel) 10mm front (Alu)
+ Arm wishbone bushes for the front
+ Front antiroll bar bushes
+ Polishing compounds. I also have paint repair kit for touchups; might also order rattle can version
Looks much better with the clear rear lights, I think it makes the zed look a little more modern. Nice work, keep it going!
Well today was SPACERS day! Had 20mm steel and 10mm alu on order, and they arrived with 5 minutes between them. The 20mm are from http://www.dvbcaraudio.co.uk/wheel-spacers-c-752_1042.html -- the wuality is excellent, the bolts are excellent too. The alu ones are more 'meh' and the (longer) bolts might need replacing, I'm not sure they are fantastic quality.
Anyway, operation was quite straightforward, and the result is subtle but definitely makes a lot of difference to the stance. Look at that nice fat ass !
Anyway, operation was quite straightforward, and the result is subtle but definitely makes a lot of difference to the stance. Look at that nice fat ass !
Ok so today was 'rear shocks day'! been waiting for the weather to clear, all good!
So, I prepare everything, get the car jacked up, move the carpet at the back, prepare to remove the wheels and.... TADA I realize I don't have the locking nut anymore. Yes, you guessed right, I left it on the wheel last week, and drove off with it, and lost it somewhere unknown.
So, car comes back down, and now I'll have to wait until next week to try again!
Doh!
So, I prepare everything, get the car jacked up, move the carpet at the back, prepare to remove the wheels and.... TADA I realize I don't have the locking nut anymore. Yes, you guessed right, I left it on the wheel last week, and drove off with it, and lost it somewhere unknown.
So, car comes back down, and now I'll have to wait until next week to try again!
Doh!
Damn that must have pee-ed you off. Next time then !
LOL yeah, I was stomping around for a little while
Ordered a replacement for £11 of ebay, so not THAT bad, hope I'll be able to do it this week-end...
Ordered a replacement for £11 of ebay, so not THAT bad, hope I'll be able to do it this week-end...
Rear Shocks + Mounts, Take II, the Return!
Well this morning it all went swimmingly well I have to say. This is the first time I actually do some proper car mechanic bits, and I'm well pleased. I was actually feeling a bit worried it went so well!
Anyway, got the car on stands (I'm still worried about the place I jack the car from to put the stands on!), removed the wheels.
I have bought some of "Hammerite 5092833 Stone Chip Shield Grey 600ml (Aerosol)": https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B002HMXTEI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 and decided I would treat anything coming out, and anything getting back on the car. Acts as spray paint, dries very quickly, so it can't be bad to add a layer of protection.
So, preping the new mounts undersides. The old one were heavily corroded.
The old shocks were basically gonners, leaking, and just BARELY getting out after you pressed them. Not sure about the mounts themselves, they were corroded, they were OEM, but I can't tell if they were originals.
I cleaned every surface, the rubber had a clean with the McGuire rubber cleaner (which is FANTASTIC really, restores rubber to almost new!)
After that I scrubbed the inside of the arch, as there was some rust, and sprayed some more of that Hammerite thing. I took my time and did two or 3 sprays. I also cleaned up and sprayed the bolts for the arch, as I know I'll have a go at them soon enough!
Shocks back in. Note the cleaned sleeve, Thanks Mr McGuire
Oh, I also sprayed the bottom end as protection, can't hurt.
Then Mrs Buze (with her hat) decided she would help! She reinstalled the bolts from the inside (I torqued them) and she even had a go at reinstalling the carpet (before giving up with a few choice words -- let's say Mrs Buze patience is plentiful but in very short bursts)
Well this morning it all went swimmingly well I have to say. This is the first time I actually do some proper car mechanic bits, and I'm well pleased. I was actually feeling a bit worried it went so well!
Anyway, got the car on stands (I'm still worried about the place I jack the car from to put the stands on!), removed the wheels.
I have bought some of "Hammerite 5092833 Stone Chip Shield Grey 600ml (Aerosol)": https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B002HMXTEI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 and decided I would treat anything coming out, and anything getting back on the car. Acts as spray paint, dries very quickly, so it can't be bad to add a layer of protection.
So, preping the new mounts undersides. The old one were heavily corroded.
The old shocks were basically gonners, leaking, and just BARELY getting out after you pressed them. Not sure about the mounts themselves, they were corroded, they were OEM, but I can't tell if they were originals.
I cleaned every surface, the rubber had a clean with the McGuire rubber cleaner (which is FANTASTIC really, restores rubber to almost new!)
After that I scrubbed the inside of the arch, as there was some rust, and sprayed some more of that Hammerite thing. I took my time and did two or 3 sprays. I also cleaned up and sprayed the bolts for the arch, as I know I'll have a go at them soon enough!
Shocks back in. Note the cleaned sleeve, Thanks Mr McGuire
Oh, I also sprayed the bottom end as protection, can't hurt.
Then Mrs Buze (with her hat) decided she would help! She reinstalled the bolts from the inside (I torqued them) and she even had a go at reinstalling the carpet (before giving up with a few choice words -- let's say Mrs Buze patience is plentiful but in very short bursts
)
Went for a test drive, it does make quite a difference! Mostly when cornening where the car is more 'planted' -- it could be a but under/oversteery before (sometime it would oversteer THEN understeer in the same corner!), now it's just steady, it's also quite a bit less lively on bad roads. Well pleased
Always nice to see someone "having a go" congrats on a job well done !! 
also to Mrs. buze too.
Tony.
also to Mrs. buze too.Tony.
So.. the car is booked for an MOT next week. I've found another BMW Indy in langley and visited them; the owner looks genuinely interested in that sort of cars, he loved mine, poped the bonnet and we discussed all kind of things.
So I'm booked with him to do a few check and changes I can't do myself, like transmission oil change, checking the diff mount to see if he can weld seam weld it, and also check and possibly just change the water pump and viscous coupling (my fan runs all the time!)
I'll see how that goes, I hope this garage is a keeper, and that the car passes! I've corrected the two advisories from last year; the only thing I know is a bit wrong is the lights alignment, but I can tweak that over the next few days...
Wish me luck
So I'm booked with him to do a few check and changes I can't do myself, like transmission oil change, checking the diff mount to see if he can weld seam weld it, and also check and possibly just change the water pump and viscous coupling (my fan runs all the time!)
I'll see how that goes, I hope this garage is a keeper, and that the car passes! I've corrected the two advisories from last year; the only thing I know is a bit wrong is the lights alignment, but I can tweak that over the next few days...
Wish me luck
So, I had a bit of a worry that I brobe a front shock this week, and with my MOT coming on monday, I went into a bit of a panic to change my front spring/shocks.
Luckily, the awesome crew of #zedshed was there to help! Went there, new spring/shocks were mounted (using their pretty cool spring compression machine to help). And as a newbie, i was allowed to change the lollipops as I had spares of that and the ones on the car were shot anyway...
Turns out, both shocks were shots, but the one that was 'rubbing' a bit was actually /completely/ destroyed. No wonder the car was rubbing! I'm not sure how it happened, but it's possible new new rear ones just made the front one take more load, or something and finished them off...
Anyway, all in all, the car feel like it's 'glued' now, it's awesome -- I also learned a lot at the #zedshed so thanks to everyone there! Oh also, I picked new discs and pads for the rear, so I hope I can do that job by myself in the next few days!
Luckily, the awesome crew of #zedshed was there to help! Went there, new spring/shocks were mounted (using their pretty cool spring compression machine to help). And as a newbie, i was allowed to change the lollipops as I had spares of that and the ones on the car were shot anyway...
Turns out, both shocks were shots, but the one that was 'rubbing' a bit was actually /completely/ destroyed. No wonder the car was rubbing! I'm not sure how it happened, but it's possible new new rear ones just made the front one take more load, or something and finished them off...
Anyway, all in all, the car feel like it's 'glued' now, it's awesome -- I also learned a lot at the #zedshed so thanks to everyone there! Oh also, I picked new discs and pads for the rear, so I hope I can do that job by myself in the next few days!
Ahah I'm not surprised, some of these bolts were self-welded, took a heck of an effort -- glad I had stashed the breaker bar with the part boxI ache. A lot. Was happy to help out today though. It's really helped out having a second bay (gazebo
Thanks tons @GazHyde
So, I gave the girl a bit of a clean, changed the wheel badges who arrived in the post today, and did a few photos to celebrate! I lost my 'free' sports suspension but she's still a looker ;-)
Ok, car is at the garage for the MOT. Since I was there I asked them to do a few bits and bobs I can't do easily.
1) Find/Fix the wierd noise the engine makes.
2) Check the water pump to see if it has been changed at some point. If original, replace+thermostat
3) Weld the diff mount. I've got 3/4 spots that are broken, so it's not too bad but needs sorting
4) Transmission oil change AND change the rubber on the transmission arm.
5) Install the engine mounts that have been kicking in the back of the car for a while
6) Change the cam sensors to fix the start/idle issue.
So, that's going to be expensive. He plugged his computer and read the codes, and there's an airbag issue as well (left door). Now the interesting thing is that there is no light on the dash, and somehow he ran the dash diag and realized that someone has tampered with it to hide the light, while the error is still there! Naughty, VERY naughty...
That, OR a previous owner paid a garage to fix the problem, and the garage shortcutted it by tampering with the dash light :/
Anyway, I'll leave the car there for the week, will pick it up friday, hopefully with a MOT too!
1) Find/Fix the wierd noise the engine makes.
2) Check the water pump to see if it has been changed at some point. If original, replace+thermostat
3) Weld the diff mount. I've got 3/4 spots that are broken, so it's not too bad but needs sorting
4) Transmission oil change AND change the rubber on the transmission arm.
5) Install the engine mounts that have been kicking in the back of the car for a while
6) Change the cam sensors to fix the start/idle issue.
So, that's going to be expensive. He plugged his computer and read the codes, and there's an airbag issue as well (left door). Now the interesting thing is that there is no light on the dash, and somehow he ran the dash diag and realized that someone has tampered with it to hide the light, while the error is still there! Naughty, VERY naughty...
That, OR a previous owner paid a garage to fix the problem, and the garage shortcutted it by tampering with the dash light :/
Anyway, I'll leave the car there for the week, will pick it up friday, hopefully with a MOT too!