The Z3 Bug!

andyglym

Shiny Dust Caps Make Your Zed Go Faster.
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
Feb 20, 2015
Points
231
Location
Moresby, West Cumbria, England
Model of Z
2.8 Roadster
After much effort at convincing the C-in-C that I "needed" a mid life crisis car at the ripe old age of 49 I finally won the battle! Trawling the Internet I kept angling towards the Z3 because of its handsome and brutish looks. That was it, Z3 it was to be then, but which one with so many to choose from? I came across this lovely lady and was smitten.
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Spotted in Wigan some two hours south I went for a viewing, despite a few minor issues the combination of colour, interior and wheels made her the one. Great drive home in my new to me 98 2.8 Roadster, so much torque!. What was first? Inspection 2 at the local BMW garage just to make sure as despite a comprehensive service history she'd not had much done for a couple of years.

1. Front flexible brake pipes (MOT advisory)
2. Brake fluid change
3. Power steering flush
4. Coolant flush
5. New horn as a tad weak
6. New Bridgestone front tyres (legal but no good for me)
7. New rear exhaust bracket ( ripped off going over the cattle grid where I live!)
8. Powder coated all 4 alloys (alloys ok but starting to bubble in a few places)
9. Drivers side chrome "Roadster" strip remounted with creases taken out, ish.
10. BMW dust caps
11. BMW chrome cigarette lighter (missing)
12. Roof cleaned and re-proofed with Auto Glym
13. Roof cover (ebay)

What's to do?

1. Respray as paintwork is ok but stone chips and swirls on all panels
2. Seat bushes (purchased and ready to go, just plucking up the courage!)
3. Front right fog light. Works fine but interior is a little corroded.
4. Spare wheel, rotten as a rotten thing!
5. Rear window. Water tight but marked and creased. No amount of cleaning will get it sorted!

Mods;
1. 18" alloys ( not sure what type)
2. Alpine single shot CD player with ipod

Other than that, all is dandy and I'm getting there mostly inspired by the guys and girls on here. Don't get me wrong, no engine rebuilds for me, change the pads and discs is about my limit!

Oh, these cars are so infectious! The smiles per gallon are great!

I'll feed back with pics post respray.

Andy
 

Bozzy

Zorg Guru (V)
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
May 21, 2015
Points
191
Location
Long Eaton.
Model of Z
3 2.8
:welcome: from Nottingham. Nice choice of z as you say the torque is wicked and you can't help but have a big grin on your face with these cars :happy:. Summer's around the corner,roof down = bigger smiles. Steve.
 

andyglym

Shiny Dust Caps Make Your Zed Go Faster.
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
Feb 20, 2015
Points
231
Location
Moresby, West Cumbria, England
Model of Z
2.8 Roadster
:welcome: from Nottingham. Nice choice of z as you say the torque is wicked and you can't help but have a big grin on your face with these cars :happy:. Summer's around the corner,roof down = bigger smiles. Steve.
Thanks Steve. Live in the Lakes so wicked fun on these roads plodding along with the roof down:thumbsup:
 

Jack Ratt

Zorg Expert (I)
Supporter
British Zeds
The West Country
Joined
Dec 3, 2013
Points
200
Location
TRURO, CORNWALL
Model of Z
2.8i AUTO and 2.8i MANUAL
Nice looking car. Mine was born in 97 too and registered in 98. I gave her a good clean today and I too am thinking that I need a respray, for the same reasons as you.

I cracked my lower front bumper on a high kerb so that's something else I've got to sort out. It's not too bad and hardly noticeable really but I know it's there so it's got to be sorted.
 

ZTec

Zorg Guru (IV)
Supporter
British Zeds
The M44 Massive
Joined
Oct 18, 2014
Points
171
Location
Llantwit Major
Model of Z
Z3
After much effort at convincing the C-in-C that I "needed" a mid life crisis car at the ripe old age of 49 I finally won the battle! Trawling the Internet I kept angling towards the Z3 because of its handsome and brutish looks. That was it, Z3 it was to be then, but which one with so many to choose from? I came across this lovely lady and was smitten.
View attachment 16429 View attachment 16430 View attachment 16431

Spotted in Wigan some two hours south I went for a viewing, despite a few minor issues the combination of colour, interior and wheels made her the one. Great drive home in my new to me 98 2.8 Roadster, so much torque!. What was first? Inspection 2 at the local BMW garage just to make sure as despite a comprehensive service history she'd not had much done for a couple of years.

1. Front flexible brake pipes (MOT advisory)
2. Brake fluid change
3. Power steering flush
4. Coolant flush
5. New horn as a tad weak
6. New Bridgestone front tyres (legal but no good for me)
7. New rear exhaust bracket ( ripped off going over the cattle grid where I live!)
8. Powder coated all 4 alloys (alloys ok but starting to bubble in a few places)
9. Drivers side chrome "Roadster" strip remounted with creases taken out, ish.
10. BMW dust caps
11. BMW chrome cigarette lighter (missing)
12. Roof cleaned and re-proofed with Auto Glym
13. Roof cover (ebay)

What's to do?

1. Respray as paintwork is ok but stone chips and swirls on all panels
2. Seat bushes (purchased and ready to go, just plucking up the courage!)
3. Front right fog light. Works fine but interior is a little corroded.
4. Spare wheel, rotten as a rotten thing!
5. Rear window. Water tight but marked and creased. No amount of cleaning will get it sorted!

Mods;
1. 18" alloys ( not sure what type)
2. Alpine single shot CD player with ipod

Other than that, all is dandy and I'm getting there mostly inspired by the guys and girls on here. Don't get me wrong, no engine rebuilds for me, change the pads and discs is about my limit!

Oh, these cars are so infectious! The smiles per gallon are great!

I'll feed back with pics post respray.

Andy
Looking good Andy, paint looks good from here. Why do you want to change the wheels, they look lovely, what size are they:whistle:. I picked up a spare off eBay for a fiver virtually new no one else bid, bargain.
 

Bozzy

Zorg Guru (V)
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
May 21, 2015
Points
191
Location
Long Eaton.
Model of Z
3 2.8
You'r lucky living in that area its a place on my wish list to visit and i bet the roads and scenery are some thing special....One day:cool:. Keep us up to date on any work/mods :)
 

andyglym

Shiny Dust Caps Make Your Zed Go Faster.
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
Feb 20, 2015
Points
231
Location
Moresby, West Cumbria, England
Model of Z
2.8 Roadster
Looking good Andy, paint looks good from here. Why do you want to change the wheels, they look lovely, what size are they:whistle:. I picked up a spare off eBay for a fiver virtually new no one else bid, bargain.
Sorry, poor comes on my part. The wheels are staying but have been powder coated as they weren't up to scratch. A mahoosive 18" and like you I think they look great, one of the reasons I bought her.
 

andyglym

Shiny Dust Caps Make Your Zed Go Faster.
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
Feb 20, 2015
Points
231
Location
Moresby, West Cumbria, England
Model of Z
2.8 Roadster
Oh, yeah the
Looking good Andy, paint looks good from here. Why do you want to change the wheels, they look lovely, what size are they:whistle:. I picked up a spare off eBay for a fiver virtually new no one else bid, bargain.
Paint looks good from a distance but the rear wheel arches have been hammered by stone chips with one side starting to bubble up in a few places. Bottom of both doors are pitted to and lots of stone chips on the bonnet with swirls and scratches elsewhere.
 

andyglym

Shiny Dust Caps Make Your Zed Go Faster.
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
Feb 20, 2015
Points
231
Location
Moresby, West Cumbria, England
Model of Z
2.8 Roadster
You'r lucky living in that area its a place on my wish list to visit and i bet the roads and scenery are some thing special....One day:cool:. Keep us up to date on any work/mods :)
Wettest County in England Steve but when it's nice there's nowhere better IMHO. The roads are just the best especially when you get into the heart of the Lakes, a must visit.
 

ZTec

Zorg Guru (IV)
Supporter
British Zeds
The M44 Massive
Joined
Oct 18, 2014
Points
171
Location
Llantwit Major
Model of Z
Z3
Hi Andy,
Well looks good from Cardiff=)). Sorry I thought you were changing the wheels when you said 'not sure what type'.
 

andyglym

Shiny Dust Caps Make Your Zed Go Faster.
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
Feb 20, 2015
Points
231
Location
Moresby, West Cumbria, England
Model of Z
2.8 Roadster
Hi Andy,
Well looks good from Cardiff=)). Sorry I thought you were changing the wheels when you said 'not sure what type'.
I got asked if they were MVB's in the street, my answer was a vacant stare. Not a scooby=)):whistle:
 

Bozzy

Zorg Guru (V)
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
May 21, 2015
Points
191
Location
Long Eaton.
Model of Z
3 2.8
Better keep your soft top well proofed then haha. Got to get the rear window on mine replaced at some point as well,just trying to decide weather to have ago at it my self but not sure i'm brave enough:confused:
 

andyglym

Shiny Dust Caps Make Your Zed Go Faster.
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
Feb 20, 2015
Points
231
Location
Moresby, West Cumbria, England
Model of Z
2.8 Roadster
Better keep your soft top well proofed then haha. Got to get the rear window on mine replaced at some point as well,just trying to decide weather to have ago at it my self but not sure i'm brave enough:confused:
Same page Steve. The kids would need counselling the air would be that blue. I work on the basis that if your house is on fire you call the fire brigade and not do it yourself. Very minor stuff for me.:(
 

t-tony

Zorg Expert (II)
Supporter
British Zeds
#ZedShed
Joined
Dec 31, 2013
Points
226
Location
Torksey Lock,Lincoln, England
Model of Z
E89 Z4 23i Auto
but not sure i'm brave enough
Very minor stuff for me.
Well you guys I'm a big believer in horses for courses. You can't know everything about everything, so I'm getting a man who does know about soft tops to put me a new one on when I have finally saved up enough to do it. I stick to the oily parts, that's my scene.;)

Tony.
 

andyglym

Shiny Dust Caps Make Your Zed Go Faster.
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
Feb 20, 2015
Points
231
Location
Moresby, West Cumbria, England
Model of Z
2.8 Roadster
Nice looking car. Mine was born in 97 too and registered in 98. I gave her a good clean today and I too am thinking that I need a respray, for the same reasons as you.

I cracked my lower front bumper on a high kerb so that's something else I've got to sort out. It's not too bad and hardly noticeable really but I know it's there so it's got to be sorted.
I'd be on the same page, had a few skipped heart beats with my front bumper too.
 
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