Sydney Hell Red

[196806]

Despite the name my little Z3 is a modest 1.9 litre (manual transmission, thankfully).

I've vowed to keep it as factory fresh as possible (it's likely been in at least one fender bender owing to its age but nevertheless it has only 137k kms on the odometer and deserves to be preserved until at least my daughter comes of age and takes it over).

Today marks the day I've sent to for a once over and full fluid change by my independent BMW guy, www.petermabey.com.au, before I take up routine maintenance, wife permitting.

I'll be posting everything as it happens.

Oh yes, because I live in Sydney, most photos I post will be in sunshine (yes, even in Winter) with the roof down.

 

[reddyzeddygo]

She looks great mate and great choice of colour! 'Factory fresh' is the way to go, in my opinion. Enjoy!

 

[spurs fan in a coupe]

Nice colour!

 

[EnthuZiaZT]

There are some colour biased people on here, who constantly only see red!!!
MIke & Sandy

 

[196806]

Well, news from service: a few common oil leaks, cam angle sensor and front dampers. Could do all myself but my wife would kill me having the car dismantled on the driveway for a week, so... Nothing major to do. Recommended to go for Bilstein dampers rather than OEM... Same price but I'm told much better performance.

 

[badman gee]

There are some colour biased people on here, who constantly only see red!!!
MIke & Sandy

And blue!

 

[jonco]

Nice colour!

Agreed.!

 

[196806]

After service car is running sweetly. Front dampers much firmer than OEM. Now it feels like the rears need doing to balance the car.

 

[micklaw]

shes looking great mate

 

[196806]

Bought a BMW Business CD off eBay to replace my aftermarket unit.

1. BMW Business CD ended up being a Rover unit (OK, it is the same OEM as the BMW unit but the front bezel has a faily conspicuous Rover graphic on the front which is hidden by a BMW sticker by the vendor - rip off).

2. After market unit was professionally done but will require me to re-wire the connector to fit the BMW unit again. Thankfully the wiring is labelled and neat (good job, whoever did the after market install).

 

[swamper]

is there no way of removing the rover badge?

 

[196806]

The rover badge is sort of embossed on the front bezel. I've decided to keep it and cover it with a thin black foil sticker when I get time to find one. The bigger problem is that I have to half re-wire the OEM plug behind the after market radio to enable re-fitting the BMRover unit... Have done a few other things in the meantime... Will be posting news soon.

 

[196806]

Well, it's been such a mild Winter that I've been driving rather than tinkering (or washing, for that matter). One little job out of the way. The dinky little headlight switch was missings it's cap which oddly made the whole car feel old and natty. Replaced. Happy.

 

[196806]

Not exactly progress... a little vandalism... someone kicked out my driver-side mirror and bent back the fuel cap. Pointless damage to an otherwise decent little car.

 

[hard top]

Yeh mate, barstewrds the lot of them. Mine got keyed last year, bonnet and both sides, they obviously took their time to do it. That is why I stay fully comp. insured.......

 

[badman gee]

p*****s they are

 

[Macca]

p*****s they are

You turning into Yoda Mark...lol

 

[196806]

The list is getting longer... I'll be busy this Spring;

1. Replace steering wheel with torn leather.
2. Replace after-market radio with original cassette deck.
3. Replace vandalised driver's side door mirror.
4. Replace vandalised fuel cover.
5. Fix seat bushes.
6. Fit original gear shifter (I'm using a BMW performance knob now but I find the longer throw easier for city driving.
7. Replace rear dampers with Bilsteins to match the front Bilsteins.
8. Fix sticky accelerator - clean and possibly replace accelerator cable.

 

[196806]

I've cleaned the throttle. A slight improvement but the accelerator still sticks. I'll have to take the throttle body off altogether to get to the spring to clean it properly.

 

[196806]

What's done:

1. Replaced steering wheel with same type in much better condition. Had a bit of problem centering the wheel but it's done now. Spline on new wheel was a little worn resulting in the wheel rocking. Fixed it by using aluminium foil as a shim.
6. Fitted original gear shifter. And then returned the BMW performance shifter to service.
8. Fixed sticky accelerator. At least for the time being.

What's left:

2. Replace after-market radio with original cassette deck.
3. Replace vandalised driver's side door mirror.
4. Replace vandalised fuel cover.
5. Fix seat bushes.
7. Replace rear dampers with Bilsteins to match the front Bilsteins.
9. Respray boot lid (top coat is peeling).