So when does it end?

[the Nefyn cat]

Two rear tyres today, Avon ZV5s if you're interested, would have liked ZZ3s again but they don't seem to make them anymore. While the wheels were off had a look at the rear pads. Oops. Not quite gone but MOT next month so discs, pads, shoes being collected from ECP in Bangor tomorrow. Was quoted happy yesterday by BMBabe (thank you, nice to talk to someone at an insurance company who knows what they're talking about) so more expense soon. Got all the bits together to change the valve stem oil seals, and might as well do the Vanos seals while I'm at it. Then the MOT itself, passed first time for the last three years, can it manage four in a row? One of these days I'll have time to drive it, be nice if the sun would come out to play again. Not moaning, but does seem to be a lot going on all at the same time.

 

[Low Rider]

I know how you feel about the expense but I do really enjoy driving my Z3 it just makes me smile.

 

[andyglym]

Never I suspect, however, it's worth every penny IMHO. Won't be that many years before these cars are fabled in history as a great roadster, many of which are kept by enthusiasts such as on here.

 

[BMBabe]

@the Nefyn cat it was really good chatting with you and pleased you liked your quote
Ours Zeds Can be expensive if things need doing at the same time!
The sunshine is on its way

 

[smiffy]

When does it end?

When they nail the lid on your box mate!

Spend and enjoy the money now, why save it, you won't appreciate a nicer, posher box for your last trip!

 

[the Nefyn cat]

Don't get me wrong, not complaining, it's 14 years old after all, and bits will wear out. However, changed the rear pads, discs, shoes yesterday, and thought I'd take out the plastic wheel-arch liner. So new subframe bushes soon, then. Gives me the chance to try out the eccentric swing arm bushes and see if I can get rid of some of the negative camber, perhaps the rear tyres will last a bit longer if they sit a bit flatter to the road. Be much easier to sort out the anti-roll bar bushes with the subframe out of the way. And then get some black Hammerite for a little bit of extra prettiness underneath. Might as well change the flexi brake hoses, too. I'm a fool to myself, but it'll be worth it in the long run, perhaps the car will last another 14 years. So long as I do too that'll be fine.

 

[Jack Ratt]

There's no reason it wont last another 14yrs or even another 14 after that. These cars are built like "Gruber's little tank" ( 'Allo' 'Allo' fans will know what I mean ) and I'm sure that their place in roadster history is already guaranteed

 

[the Nefyn cat]

So, valve guide seals, eh? It is indeed possible to change them without taking the head off. Hoobloominray. Fiddly job, but not too bad, all I've got to do now is finish putting the cam-drive back together ( can't find the hole for the flywheel locking pin, must be under there somewhere). The old seals were absolutely cream crackered, I wonder if they're made of the same stuff BMW used for the Vanos seals. Speaking of which, the Vanos seals were really brittle, pretty much fell to pieces as I took them out. Here's hoping for some amount of improvement when I finally get it all back together. And if anyone else tries to do this, a magnetic pick-up tool will be your friend. The number of times I dropped a collet.....

 

[GazHyde]

Fingers crossed for an improvement. Will be considering this for mine if it yields good for you!

 

[the Nefyn cat]

Finally finished the job, guess that's one of the many downsides of not having a garage. Too wet to work on it half the time. Took it out for a decent test-drive last night, seventy or so miles and no problems. The engine wasn't a rough runner before, seemed like a normal smooth six, but it seems a lot smoother now, no little hesitations as the revs go up. Only time will tell if the oil consumption problem has gone away, but at least there's no puff of smoke on start up or pulling away from a junction. Many fingers crossed here, makes it hard to type.
All the rubber bits seemed in the same dried out brittle state, taking the old cam cover gasket out it just kept snapping. Not normal for rubber gaskets in my experience.

 

[the Nefyn cat]

Well, week and a half later and four hundred miles done, not had to top the oil up yet. Not bad considering it was getting through a litre in around three hundred miles. Still a bit of smoke after a long downhill bit earlier so not totally sorted yet. Next week two front tyres, new windscreen (five pounds more than a normal screen to have a graduated strip across the top) and MOT time on Friday. Then it'll be time to get some suspension bushes together before taking the back axle out. I know how to have fun.

 

[GazHyde]

That's great news, really pleased if it's getting sorted for you!

 

[Dickymint]

Mine uses not a lot of oil now but smokes after going down a long steep hill, now I have a theory about this......... when I changed the oil I put in the needed amount and it was just on the lower mark on the dipstick now usually the oil light would have come on (like it used to) but it didn't not even after starting the car to fill the filter ect, now when I changed the dipstick O ring I had a job putting it back in as it was tight but put it back in as far as possible but I have a feeling it was not sitting in as far as the old one so maybe now i'm filling it to far with oil so going down a steep hill the extra is splashing about and getting past the rings or something, not a lot extra but its a theory and the only way to tell is take everything off again and look but cant do that for a while

anyway just thinking out loud

 

[t-tony]

Mine uses not a lot of oil now but smokes after going down a long steep hill, now I have a theory about this......... when I changed the oil I put in the needed amount and it was just on the lower mark on the dipstick now usually the oil light would have come on (like it used to) but it didn't not even after starting the car to fill the filter ect, now when I changed the dipstick O ring I had a job putting it back in as it was tight but put it back in as far as possible but I have a feeling it was not sitting in as far as the old one so maybe now i'm filling it to far with oil so going down a steep hill the extra is splashing about and getting past the rings or something, not a lot extra but its a theory and the only way to tell is take everything off again and look but cant do that for a while

anyway just thinking out loud

That's a fair point, and as you say will need stripping again to make sure. Main thing on an oil change is to put the required amount in afterwards. Some modern cars don't have dip sticks and when the oil level light comes on, How much does it need?

Tony.

 

[Dickymint]

think it was something like 6.5L
also when it did smoke the mrs got out to look and said it was from just one of the pipes so that's what made me think about what it could be

 

[Alan W]

new windscreen (five pounds more than a normal screen to have a graduated strip across the top)

Ahh l was going to post a question which was "is there a graduated tint screen available for the Z3?" Because lve never seen a car with one.. Was your windscreen replaced through your insurance or did you pay outright and if outright can l be cheeky and ask you where you got it from and the cost? Cheers Alan

 

[Tracy Dee]

There must be a top tint screen as mines got it.

 

[Dickymint]

I used National Windscreens and it was about £220 all in I think

 

[the Nefyn cat]

Ahh l was going to post a question which was "is there a graduated tint screen available for the Z3?" Because lve never seen a car with one.. Was your windscreen replaced through your insurance or did you pay outright and if outright can l be cheeky and ask you where you got it from and the cost? Cheers Alan

Paying for it myself, coming from the local windscreen place over in Penrhyndeudraeth and being fitted at the bus garage in Nefyn while the car's in for MOT. £165 + VAT, whatever that adds up to. Don't know where he gets them from, but got quoted £160 for the standard screen and £165 with the tint.

 

[Dickymint]

yea I think mine was about that but then they added extra for the rubber around the screen
also the guy had a job fitting the glass flush until I suggested undoing the roof..