Great work Matt
Time for an overhaul of my 1.9 '98 BMW Z3 Individual
- Thread starter Matt Barnes
- Start date
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2020
- Points
- 134
- Location
- Portchester, Fareham
- Model of Z
- 1998 BMW Z3 Individual 1.9 M44 B19
Thanks mate... getting there !.. hoping to have her running by the end of the week...
Paint match looks good.
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2020
- Points
- 134
- Location
- Portchester, Fareham
- Model of Z
- 1998 BMW Z3 Individual 1.9 M44 B19
thanks @Mint. It's definitely taken a few goes ! the bonnet will need repainting at some point but I'm hoping cutting compound and polish will make it a bit less tiredThose panels look brilliant Matt, great job you're doing
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2020
- Points
- 134
- Location
- Portchester, Fareham
- Model of Z
- 1998 BMW Z3 Individual 1.9 M44 B19
well.. Day 4 !!... and nearly everything got completed....
got all the body panels now on... took quite a while to get the gaps aligned, and there's still some more work to do on that.
Now I can explain about the boot lid.
I didn't bother taking the boot lid off the bracket once I realised it's a real faff to get the cable harness out..... but I found a cheat way of bolting it back on. If you rest the boot lid in the aperture... and then push it fully to one side.. you can just about get two fingers and a 10mm bolt in the gap.... I wound it in finger tight, then an 8mm spanner on it, enough for the hinge to operate. Then lifting the boot lid up a bit was enough room to get a bolt in the other side. Then the hinges fully operate and you can do the rest of the bolts
Just look at that backside... phwoooooaar
Then another momentous event.... battery in !!
and yep I'm rocking the tennis ball battery bracket
We have a dash!... I'm hoping the ABS fault is because the ECU hasn't worked out the wheels haven't moved together yet.
Refreshed spark plug cover back on
I turned the engine over, firstly without plugs and then with.... obviously it didn't fire up given the tank is empty...... but wait !
I bought a little present for tomorrow..... 5L of unleaded !
got all the body panels now on... took quite a while to get the gaps aligned, and there's still some more work to do on that.
Now I can explain about the boot lid.
I didn't bother taking the boot lid off the bracket once I realised it's a real faff to get the cable harness out..... but I found a cheat way of bolting it back on. If you rest the boot lid in the aperture... and then push it fully to one side.. you can just about get two fingers and a 10mm bolt in the gap.... I wound it in finger tight, then an 8mm spanner on it, enough for the hinge to operate. Then lifting the boot lid up a bit was enough room to get a bolt in the other side. Then the hinges fully operate and you can do the rest of the bolts
Just look at that backside... phwoooooaar
Then another momentous event.... battery in !!
and yep I'm rocking the tennis ball battery bracket
We have a dash!... I'm hoping the ABS fault is because the ECU hasn't worked out the wheels haven't moved together yet.
Refreshed spark plug cover back on
I turned the engine over, firstly without plugs and then with.... obviously it didn't fire up given the tank is empty...... but wait !
I bought a little present for tomorrow..... 5L of unleaded !
Attachments
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2020
- Points
- 134
- Location
- Portchester, Fareham
- Model of Z
- 1998 BMW Z3 Individual 1.9 M44 B19
So here we are .... Day 5 of my week off to finally finish the car... Have I got there?..... not quite
Started well... wheel arch liners were surprisingly compliant. After a bit of faffing about, they all clipped in and lined up with all the threaded inserts.....
Then I tried putting the rear springs in and oh my god what a pain !....As well as the shocks, I also ended up having to disconnect the Anti Roll Bar to get enough space...had to do this on both sides, then of course jack the whole lot up to get the brackets back in.
Exhaust back in
Yes I had previously zinc plated the springs and bolts
Now we come to the downside. Fitted the new X8R mirror... that was fine.... threaded through the cables, went to insert the door cars and broke the handle bracket
As you just might be able to make out.. that isn't OEM and I've repaired it before... *cough *
Now the elephant in the room.....yesterday I managed to get it to turn over... today I gave it 10 litres of fresh fuel but......... no....just won't fire.
It might be an airlock from being all apart, might be blocked injectors.... don't know, turns over fine, just won't fire.....I'll try again with a cleared head
Started well... wheel arch liners were surprisingly compliant. After a bit of faffing about, they all clipped in and lined up with all the threaded inserts.....
Then I tried putting the rear springs in and oh my god what a pain !....As well as the shocks, I also ended up having to disconnect the Anti Roll Bar to get enough space...had to do this on both sides, then of course jack the whole lot up to get the brackets back in.
Exhaust back in
Yes I had previously zinc plated the springs and bolts
Now we come to the downside. Fitted the new X8R mirror... that was fine.... threaded through the cables, went to insert the door cars and broke the handle bracket
As you just might be able to make out.. that isn't OEM and I've repaired it before... *cough *
Now the elephant in the room.....yesterday I managed to get it to turn over... today I gave it 10 litres of fresh fuel but......... no....just won't fire.
It might be an airlock from being all apart, might be blocked injectors.... don't know, turns over fine, just won't fire.....I'll try again with a cleared head
Last edited:
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2020
- Points
- 134
- Location
- Portchester, Fareham
- Model of Z
- 1998 BMW Z3 Individual 1.9 M44 B19
well here we are again ... seven straight days on the Z3.... yesterday I got to the point where everything was back on but she would crank but not fire.
Today was fault finding day.... to rule out the fuel pump.. I undid the clamp for the fuel feed to the injector rails (black pipe) and yep there was fuel pressure alright !.. needed some brake cleaner to get that off the engine !
Took the plugs out and tested them, each one sparked on each coil pack... so it wasn't that. Thought it might be stuck injectors, but that means taking the inlet manifold off which a previous owner has glued down with mastic.
So I managed to find my Code reader adaptor cable so hooked up my AutoPhix code reader. I got the model that was designed for BMWs including 1998 BMW Z3s.
loads of faults came up which is not surprising given what's been disconnected.
EWS was a red herring given EWS stops the start motor cranking, so I know it's not that. Plus it went green when I cleared the faults
Having cleared the faults, all were green until I drilled down into the ECU and system faults
This is where I saw the "Terminal 30" fault.... with the ignition off (Terminal R).. it was ok...
but with the ignition on I got
So something is pulling down the 12v enough for the injectors to not fire?
I did google it and......
If your car is showing a "Terminal 30 not ok" error alongside "Terminal R on", it usually means the vehicle is detecting a power supply interruption to essential modules (like the powertrain, DME, or ABS) or a short circuit/parasitic drain. Terminal 30 is the constant battery power line, while Terminal R is the key/ignition accessory
oh but in other news.... the X8R offside wing mirror is on!.....
Today was fault finding day.... to rule out the fuel pump.. I undid the clamp for the fuel feed to the injector rails (black pipe) and yep there was fuel pressure alright !.. needed some brake cleaner to get that off the engine !
Took the plugs out and tested them, each one sparked on each coil pack... so it wasn't that. Thought it might be stuck injectors, but that means taking the inlet manifold off which a previous owner has glued down with mastic.
So I managed to find my Code reader adaptor cable so hooked up my AutoPhix code reader. I got the model that was designed for BMWs including 1998 BMW Z3s.
loads of faults came up which is not surprising given what's been disconnected.
EWS was a red herring given EWS stops the start motor cranking, so I know it's not that. Plus it went green when I cleared the faults
Having cleared the faults, all were green until I drilled down into the ECU and system faults
This is where I saw the "Terminal 30" fault.... with the ignition off (Terminal R).. it was ok...
but with the ignition on I got
So something is pulling down the 12v enough for the injectors to not fire?
I did google it and......
If your car is showing a "Terminal 30 not ok" error alongside "Terminal R on", it usually means the vehicle is detecting a power supply interruption to essential modules (like the powertrain, DME, or ABS) or a short circuit/parasitic drain. Terminal 30 is the constant battery power line, while Terminal R is the key/ignition accessory
oh but in other news.... the X8R offside wing mirror is on!.....
Last edited:
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2020
- Points
- 134
- Location
- Portchester, Fareham
- Model of Z
- 1998 BMW Z3 Individual 1.9 M44 B19
well that's the end of my week off and we nearly got there. Everything is back on (apart from a coupe of trims and kickplates) but I'm still having starting issues. Fuel is reaching the engine so the pump is ok, cranks no problem at all. Plugs all sparking. My code reader is saying "Terminal 30 Not OK" with the ignition on so something is pulling it down
Also I don't understand how the brown earth lead on my antenna when disconnected is reading 11.5v !!! I'm wondering if something has shorted to it
I fiddled about with the throttle body connectors and the ignition coil and on one attempt the engine spluttered into life for about 3 seconds... couldn't repeat it.....
so visually, we're nearly there... just can't get it to start...
Also I don't understand how the brown earth lead on my antenna when disconnected is reading 11.5v !!! I'm wondering if something has shorted to it
I fiddled about with the throttle body connectors and the ignition coil and on one attempt the engine spluttered into life for about 3 seconds... couldn't repeat it.....
so visually, we're nearly there... just can't get it to start...
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2020
- Points
- 134
- Location
- Portchester, Fareham
- Model of Z
- 1998 BMW Z3 Individual 1.9 M44 B19
thanks Ant....I've been googling the cr@p out of this and one reason is the Injectors have lost sync with the ECU as the battery was out for so long...I'm hoping I can update my scanner to enable it to re sync the injectors
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2020
- Points
- 134
- Location
- Portchester, Fareham
- Model of Z
- 1998 BMW Z3 Individual 1.9 M44 B19
Yeah I have an Autophix 7910 but it's not cutting it.Trying a software update to it...But I see INPA is only about 20 quid so I.might just get that
Lots of folks on here know how to use it if you get stuck .. think you need it to write to/ customise the modules…. Beyond me anyway
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2020
- Points
- 134
- Location
- Portchester, Fareham
- Model of Z
- 1998 BMW Z3 Individual 1.9 M44 B19
Well it's another weekend so eyes down look in....
Everything is now back apart from the door trim and kick panels as I just want to fettle the panel gaps a bit more...
After much faffing about in the boot, I finally managed to get the aerial antenna base and roof pump back in...... this missing earth proved crucial !
as basically without it, nothing in the rear works..... found my crimp set and re attached it, with a new crimp of course..........and
after a bit of cleaning and fitting new indicator bulbs, we have all the lights back now, including the "third" brake light on the boot lid.
tried to get the roof to work and to start with, nothing, tried with my foot on the brake, checked the micro switch and still nothing....plus the roof was really stiff after being shut for three years... so got it all freed up.
connecting the pump might have helped !!
but again, nothing.... so because I can't actually sit in the car at the moment (still on jack stands) I used a breaker bar between the seat and brake pedal, and that was enough to light the brake lights (as above)
Now with the brake lights energised and completing the roof circuit... we get...
Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehaaaaaaaah ! (the Z3 stickers on the seats wasn't me by the way !)
so now we get down to that starting issue
smart money points to the Idle Control Valve.... so I took it off
what is supposed to happen is the ECU controls the opening of this barrel valve
It's cylindrical, a bit like a revolving door... and whilst I could move it with a screwdriver, it was a bit stiff..so cleaned it up
but as my meter suggested last week, when you apply power it ..nothing.. so I've ordered a new one....
meanwhile with both the ICV and Throttle Position Sensor unplugged, occasionally the car would fire up and sound VERY smooth... for about 4 seconds then die... I assume through lack of air. I'm hoping a new ICV with finally sort this out..... hopefully !!
Everything is now back apart from the door trim and kick panels as I just want to fettle the panel gaps a bit more...
After much faffing about in the boot, I finally managed to get the aerial antenna base and roof pump back in...... this missing earth proved crucial !
as basically without it, nothing in the rear works..... found my crimp set and re attached it, with a new crimp of course..........and
after a bit of cleaning and fitting new indicator bulbs, we have all the lights back now, including the "third" brake light on the boot lid.
tried to get the roof to work and to start with, nothing, tried with my foot on the brake, checked the micro switch and still nothing....plus the roof was really stiff after being shut for three years... so got it all freed up.
connecting the pump might have helped !!
but again, nothing.... so because I can't actually sit in the car at the moment (still on jack stands) I used a breaker bar between the seat and brake pedal, and that was enough to light the brake lights (as above)
Now with the brake lights energised and completing the roof circuit... we get...
Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehaaaaaaaah ! (the Z3 stickers on the seats wasn't me by the way !)
so now we get down to that starting issue
smart money points to the Idle Control Valve.... so I took it off
what is supposed to happen is the ECU controls the opening of this barrel valve
It's cylindrical, a bit like a revolving door... and whilst I could move it with a screwdriver, it was a bit stiff..so cleaned it up
but as my meter suggested last week, when you apply power it ..nothing.. so I've ordered a new one....
meanwhile with both the ICV and Throttle Position Sensor unplugged, occasionally the car would fire up and sound VERY smooth... for about 4 seconds then die... I assume through lack of air. I'm hoping a new ICV with finally sort this out..... hopefully !!
Those idle control valves can be a real pain. I had issues with one on a 1998 E36 318i where occasionally it would just bog down and lose power. I've got a box full of them somewhere.
Bosch might still make them, unlike the older pre ASC cylindrical ones.
Bosch might still make them, unlike the older pre ASC cylindrical ones.
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2020
- Points
- 134
- Location
- Portchester, Fareham
- Model of Z
- 1998 BMW Z3 Individual 1.9 M44 B19
Cheers Andy, my crystal ball suggests I'll be spending most of today with a code reader, multimeter and a fuse puller
..according to google and AI.. the 4 seconds of running is the engine going into limp mode before shutting off the injectors. Implying there's a short or bad earth somewhere.
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2020
- Points
- 134
- Location
- Portchester, Fareham
- Model of Z
- 1998 BMW Z3 Individual 1.9 M44 B19
ok now I'm a bit stuck........... using my new friend Google assist, given that my symptoms are the car goes to "Terminal 30 Not Ok" on key Position 1.... it implies it's the heavy side and not the fused side. So I checked out the earth strap and yes it was a bit grubby... so I took it off... all nice and easy with enough extensions....
now crucially I didn't photograph the other end.... and that becomes important later !!
So this is it off the car..... bit grubby
so I cleaned it up on the brass wire wheel and some brake cleaner
went to put it back and.... er.... hang on !.... the bolt just dropped though and the hole isn't threaded
I've got a feeling I might have ground off some threaded washer or something ?
for now I've put the bolt back in and jammed it in enough for me to put the battery back long enough to put the windows up and took the whole lot off.........am I going mad ?...... let me rephrase... more mad?
now crucially I didn't photograph the other end.... and that becomes important later !!
So this is it off the car..... bit grubby
so I cleaned it up on the brass wire wheel and some brake cleaner
went to put it back and.... er.... hang on !.... the bolt just dropped though and the hole isn't threaded
I've got a feeling I might have ground off some threaded washer or something ?
for now I've put the bolt back in and jammed it in enough for me to put the battery back long enough to put the windows up and took the whole lot off.........am I going mad ?...... let me rephrase... more mad?
Nut and Bolt?
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2020
- Points
- 134
- Location
- Portchester, Fareham
- Model of Z
- 1998 BMW Z3 Individual 1.9 M44 B19
gawd knows mate... tried the bolt the other way up and it fits in the flange but you can't then keep it in place to put a nut on the top side as you can't get a socket of spanner on it.... I've given up for today... try again another day
I've realised I can jam a nut in the casting web, but when I attempt to put the bolt through it just falls out...
I don't recall a nut when I took this bolt out is what's getting me.
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