Time for an overhaul of my 1.9 '98 BMW Z3 Individual

[Mazza]

that drain is fixed to the gaiter and clips onto the side of the tank
mine came off at the gaiter end and I super glued it back on

 

[Matt Barnes]

that drain is fixed to the gaiter and clips onto the side of the tank
mine came off at the gaiter end and I super glued it back on

yeah but how do you fit the tube after the tank has been fitted? the route I saw just looks weird..guess as long as it's connected it doesn't matter

 

[Mazza]

the tank was fitted , and when you install the gaiter the pipe seemed to locate itself , and from underneath just clipped it in to the clip on the side of the tank

 

[Matt Barnes]

the tank was fitted , and when you install the gaiter the pipe seemed to locate itself , and from underneath just clipped it in to the clip on the side of the tank

thanks mate, I'll have another go next weekend!

 

[Eureka]

Good Luck DO you wash Z3

 

[Matt Barnes]

the tank was fitted , and when you install the gaiter the pipe seemed to locate itself , and from underneath just clipped it in to the clip on the side of the tank

I just did my Miss Marple bit.. and found a photo of said drain hanging out the 'ole

 

[Mazza]

I found a picture of mine when I repaired it
That drain tube is quite long

 

[Matt Barnes]

I found a picture of mine when I repaired it
That drain tube is quite long View attachment 359819

showing off your long drain ... yeah I disconnected my tube from the gaiter as I didn't want to snap it off... so yesterday with just the tube tried poking through various gaps and none looked right. But it is just literally poking it where there's a gap between the tank and the body and as you say, pressing it into the clips. Now I've found the "before" photo I get it now...

 

[Matt Barnes]

Another weekend comes around.... not much to really update you on this time as this morning I had the joys of rodding the sewer drain as it was blocked and water rising through the inspection cover. Thanks to neighbours slightly higher up there were about 10,000 wet wipes and a mummified nappy that actually looked like a small branch !..... anyway onto things Z3

I'm getting to the stage of the rebuild where I'm inventorying clips and fixings...

I looked at refreshing the door kickplates and they were about 400 quid !!.... found a company that actually supplied the chrome trim as a separate item.... and they look the dogs doo dah's !
Company called TuneOn Designs in Germany https://www.tuneon-design.com/en/

Then today I realised the best thing about ordering things when you've had too much to drink, it genuinely feels like Christmas
"oooooo a new shift knob for the Z3..how did you know?"

completely forgot I ordered it.....anyway..... no play tomorrow either as I'm taking the good lady out for the day..... mark W/C 4th May in your Calendars, as I'm taking the week off to hopefully, finally get the car off the jacks and back onto 4 wheels !

 

[ChrisD]

Another weekend comes around.... not much to really update you on this time as this morning I had the joys of rodding the sewer drain as it was blocked and water rising through the inspection cover. Thanks to neighbours slightly higher up there were about 10,000 wet wipes and a mummified nappy that actually looked like a small branch !..... anyway onto things Z3

I'm getting to the stage of the rebuild where I'm inventorying clips and fixings...

View attachment 360917

I looked at refreshing the door kickplates and they were about 400 quid !!.... found a company that actually supplied the chrome trim as a separate item.... and they look the dogs doo dah's !
Company called TuneOn Designs in Germany https://www.tuneon-design.com/en/

View attachment 360919

Then today I realised the best thing about ordering things when you've had too much to drink, it genuinely feels like Christmas
"oooooo a new shift knob for the Z3..how did you know?"

View attachment 360921

completely forgot I ordered it.....anyway..... no play tomorrow either as I'm taking the good lady out for the day..... mark W/C 4th May in your Calendars, as I'm taking the week off to hopefully, finally get the car off the jacks and back onto 4 wheels !

I’d be interested to see how the install goes on those kickplate trims. The instructions mention gluing over the top of the existing ones. That would be easy but I’m not sure how effective that would be. Looking forward to see how it goes.

 

[Matt Barnes]

I’d be interested to see how the install goes on those kickplate trims. The instructions mention gluing over the top of the existing ones. That would be easy but I’m not sure how effective that would be. Looking forward to see how it goes.

I'll certainly be showing it. Seems odd as the originals are just glued on. I was going to peel those off, clear off the remaining glue and stick the new ones down. I'll need to conduct some forensic analysis !

 

[Matt Barnes]

another weekend that's succumbed to doing things garden wise like putting together a 10 seater patio set and fire pit.......☀🌤

anyway.. onto Z3 things

@ChrisD I sort of get where they're coming from. If you look at the original kickplate chrome it's contoured to the moulding

and when you look at the profile of the new one, there is no contour

so I guess that's why they say stick it to the old one maybe ?

other things ordered and arrived is the Driver's door replacement wing mirror from X8R. This is the glass fibre solution to snapping mirror posts

My one failing was order "cheap" side and boot badges.... they're the right part number but nowhere near the quality of my new bonnet badge, plus the idiot posted something that has pegs on it, in a jiffy bag!

Genuine BMW ones are about 50 quid each..... but probably worth it...

 

[Matt Barnes]

Afternoon all... well this could be a seminal moment.... I'm taking next week off work in order to TRY and finish the car AAAAAAAAH!! ... I know there'll probably be clips and trim bits that I've forgotten to order but I'm hoping I can get four wheels on the ground by next weekend

but.. before then..... things to do !

I replaced the nearside front brake pipe about 5 years ago with one I bought off Ebay..... and now I'm braver, and have replaced all the others myself... so this one is letting the side down. it's fully functional.... but it just won't do...

I dug out my reel of kunifer, and knocked up a replacement...

I couldn't find a Union with the correct size for the ABS pump so cut off the old one, cleaned it up and reused it

There... much better !!

The bulkhead grommet with all that overspray on it was really bothering me, so I had to clean it up.... I know I know.... I'll check myself into the clinic later !

There... SO much nicer !!

I kept staring at the bolts I'd put back into the holes after taking off the old rusty cross brace..... "no Matt.....don't plate them, they're hidden by the under tray anyway !".... the devil on my shoulder said "yes but it's a brand new powder coated cross brace... get the plating kit out!"

sooooooooo

I used drinking a glass of Gin as a timer...

Then I saw the headlight screws looking sorry for themselves..... no I didn't plate them !.. I knocked off all the rust on the brass wheel and gave them a coat of matt black

so what's next !!?

Inventory check....... then.......

PUTTING IT ALL BACK TOGETHER !!!!!

 

[Matt Barnes]

ok so it's Bank Holiday Monday....... I thought to myself "right....let's see if we can get the whole front suspension done today"

we'll come back to that statement later...

let's start with that cross member.. lovely powder coated black, freshly zinced bolts.... let's get it on there...so I did......

Then I thought.... "Right.... Anti Roll bar next".... so I did......... then took it off again...

WHY !!??.. I hear you cry.... weeeeell...... I recall taking the wishbones off rather easier with nothing in the way so thought putting them back on, with nothing in the way easier as well

well.....this is where I've stalled. For the life of me, I cannot get the lolliops on the arms... they just pop off. I've used more silicon grease than an adult film. I've tried having it on the floor and using my bodyweight, then jammed against a cupboard. Then tried using my weight on the lollipop and lastly the vice, and there's no way it's going in.........even if I relax

I could crack on with the rest but I really want to get these on whilst there's nothing in the way..

 

[bmwz3tower]

ok so it's Bank Holiday Monday....... I thought to myself "right....let's see if we can get the whole front suspension done today"

we'll come back to that statement later...

let's start with that cross member.. lovely powder coated black, freshly zinced bolts.... let's get it on there...so I did....

View attachment 361767
View attachment 361769


Then I thought.... "Right.... Anti Roll bar next".... so I did......... then took it off again...

View attachment 361771


WHY !!??.. I hear you cry.... weeeeell...... I recall taking the wishbones off rather easier with nothing in the way so thought putting them back on, with nothing in the way easier as well

well.....this is where I've stalled. For the life of me, I cannot get the lolliops on the arms... they just pop off. I've used more silicon grease than an adult film. I've tried having it on the floor and using my bod and there's no way it's going i....even if I relax

View attachment 361773


I could crack on with the rest but I really want to get these on whilst there's nothing in the way..

Have you tried getting a heat gun on them?

 

[Matt Barnes]

Have you tried getting a heat gun on them?

@bmwz3tower to be honest that never crossed my mind !... in my head it was "just" a push fit... might give that a go later cheers!, plus i think I popped a rib muscle under the car so I might have to resort to alcohol !

 

[Matt Barnes]

UPDATE.... I'm in !!..... laid the lollipop on the ground, soaked it with silicone grease, pushed the wishbone in and leant on it with my bodyweight with like a sawing twisting action. Got the end level with the back hole of the bush, turned it upside down and pushed it home !!

 

[Matt Barnes]

ok bit of a frustrating first day, but.... got something done !!.... let me run than lollipop past you again...laid it on the yes a very dirty garage carpet

squirted it with silicone spray, then sprayed the end of the wishbone, and basically went for it... if you hear squeaking that means it's moving

so with brute force and ignorance I went at it

got it so the head of the post was touching the floor, turn it round and pushed down on the lollipop and it eventually "gave up" and slid down.

so that enabled me to get one lollipop on the car after about an hour wrestling with it...and there it is... SO glad I zinced those bolts

The reason I didn't want anything else in the way was so I could access that middle nut with a spanner.... so I jack up the middle ball joint to stop it spinning. To get the old nut and wishbone off I used a 22mm open ended spanner. For the Meyle one that was too big !. end up using an imperial one to sit snugly. Not sure how i'm going to torque it yet as you can't get a socket on it. Might have to go from the top with extension bars

Test fitted the new inner and outer tie rod

So tomorrow all hangs on me getting that other lollipop on... if I do, I should be able to finish the front end.

 

[Matt Barnes]

ok well Day 2 of my week off to get the Z3 on 4 wheels again !!..... a LOT more success than yesterday.....


Overnight I had the lollipop half on and today with renewed vigour, I decided a deep socket and a lump hammer was needed... and yes, Crocs are my PPE of choice !

There was some minor damages cause by the edges of the socket but sorted out with a bit of matt black spray

Then it was straight into it for the nearside

measured the old Tie rods from the base of the inner tie rod to the middle of the post of the outer tie rod and for me both sides were 76mm

so transferred that to the new ones

As my gaiters weren't damaged I decided to clean them up. Using brake cleaner and dustpan brush really did the trick as it's soft flexible bristles

on with the new Tie rods

Then I had my moment of little panic, the brake hose wouldn't go on.... it was then I realised I'd put a 12mm union on my extended line... aaaaargh !

soon sorted with a new 10mm, going to buy a new brake hose for the offside as that looks really tatty now

New one on the nearside

Then on with the Anti Roll bar, completely refreshed with new bushes and brackets

in with the splash guards

Then on with the offside shock

Then it was the turn of the nearside... I was really annoyed that the bottom ball joint nut was missing from the wishbone... looked back at my photos from when I bought and sod it, it was missing from the box. So I've had to order one

I was just about to torque everything down and realised I'd forgotten to put the shock top hat gasket on... ..so off it came again...

now with a gasket in place ...all back in

So there you go !.... quite a productive Day 2 of my week off.... still annoyed about that bloody missing nut though...

 

[Mint]

ok well Day 2 of my week off to get the Z3 on 4 wheels again !!..... a LOT more success than yesterday.....


Overnight I had the lollipop half on and today with renewed vigour, I decided a deep socket and a lump hammer was needed... and yes, Crocs are my PPE of choice !

View attachment 361883
View attachment 361885

There was some minor damages cause by the edges of the socket but sorted out with a bit of matt black spray

View attachment 361887

Then it was straight into it for the nearside

View attachment 361889
View attachment 361891
View attachment 361893

measured the old Tie rods from the base of the inner tie rod to the middle of the post of the outer tie rod and for me both sides were 76mm

so transferred that to the new ones

View attachment 361895

As my gaiters weren't damaged I decided to clean them up. Using brake cleaner and dustpan brush really did the trick as it's soft flexible bristles

View attachment 361897
View attachment 361899
on with the new Tie rods

View attachment 361901

Then I had my moment of little panic, the brake hose wouldn't go on.... it was then I realised I'd put a 12mm union on my extended line... aaaaargh !

soon sorted with a new 10mm, going to buy a new brake hose for the offside as that looks really tatty now

View attachment 361903

New one on the nearside

View attachment 361905

Then on with the Anti Roll bar, completely refreshed with new bushes and brackets

View attachment 361907
View attachment 361909

in with the splash guards

View attachment 361913
View attachment 361915

Then on with the offside shock

View attachment 361917View attachment 361919View attachment 361921
View attachment 361923View attachment 361925

Then it was the turn of the nearside... I was really annoyed that the bottom ball joint nut was missing from the wishbone... looked back at my photos from when I bought and sod it, it was missing from the box. So I've had to order one

View attachment 361927View attachment 361929

I was just about to torque everything down and realised I'd forgotten to put the shock top hat gasket on... ..so off it came again...

now with a gasket in place ...all back in

View attachment 361931

So there you go !.... quite a productive Day 2 of my week off.... still annoyed about that bloody missing nut though...

Great progress today Matt, looking good