Z3 Conversion RHD->LHD

A

AndersFIN

Regular Member
Joined
Nov 7, 2023
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Hello everyone!

I am planning to do Z3 rebody with either the Tribute or the DNA California kit. As a base car I have wanted to do have either the 2.8 litre or 3.0 litre version with manual gearbox and around 100k on the clock.
The problem is that here in "mainland" Europe, the prices are sky high for these configurations at the moment and rising (starting from 5digit numbers). From the UK I can get good examples for around 3000-3500 GBP and even after shipping and taxes the landed cost is around 50% of a price for a similar one here.

I could get a 1,9 litres LHD donor car nearly for free, where I could just pick all the parts for this conversion. I will do a rebody so seats, door cards, dash,instruments, lights etc will not be an issue as these will not be used in the finished car. I have read that the wiring loom is the biggest issue. Is this because the fusebox is in the opposite side in the engine and lenght of wires is too short to relocate or what? Can anything from the 1,9 litre wiring loom be used for the 2.8 configuration or would it be best to get a LHD wiring loom for the 2.8 litre car?

PM me if you are considering to sell your Z3, exterior damage is ok as long as it works well mechanically.

Anders
 
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So you’re going to buy a rhd 2.8, and convert it to lhd? Using the parts from a 1.9 lhd?

The simplest way is to use the full wiring loom from the 1.9, strip out the 4cyl engine wiring from the loom and replace with 6cylinder.
Plenty of people have done that on e36’s, which is essentially what a Z3 is. There are several ‘how to’ on YouTube. Not watched one in years, I believe it can be cut back to less than 6wires for the drift people. If you have both fuse boxes side by side it should be straightforward (famous last words, but as I say it’s a popular drift swap).
I’ve seen 2.8’s go for less than £2000 with mot, without as low as £1200. If having it shipped, not driving it over, I would get a cheap one, it’ll be stripped for the new body anyway, a ‘good’ one may need work after you take the panels and sills off. Even a perfect one will still need bushes. . At the very least.
 
Trouble is, anything that's been here for 20+ years will resemble the Titanic underneath. They rust and rust and rust.

Just look for a tatty or battered Z3 in Southern Spain, Greece etc.

Looks also on Copart USA for a write off from California, Arizona etc and ship it over.
 
I would think an engine transplant a much easier option than trying to convert from LHD to RHD. Spurs fan would be worth contacting to see how much he would want for a 2.8 engine and gearbox along with eco and any other parts you need. Not a problem using a narrow body car as a lot of people fit the Z4 hubs to narrow the rear end although it is much cheaper just to fit the right size wheels in the first place.
If Spurs is on the lookout for you he could let you know beforehand so you could visit him and drive it first, engines and gearboxes are not big sellers so are pretty cheap.
I'm sure there must be a European Copra or similar, they are great value and you get some fantastic cars with just light body damage that will be unbolted anyway.
 
IainP said:
So you’re going to buy a rhd 2.8, and convert it to lhd? Using the parts from a 1.9 lhd?

The simplest way is to use the full wiring loom from the 1.9, strip out the 4cyl engine wiring from the loom and replace with 6cylinder.
Plenty of people have done that on e36’s, which is essentially what a Z3 is. There are several ‘how to’ on YouTube. Not watched one in years, I believe it can be cut back to less than 6wires for the drift people. If you have both fuse boxes side by side it should be straightforward (famous last words, but as I say it’s a popular drift swap).
I’ve seen 2.8’s go for less than £2000 with mot, without as low as £1200. If having it shipped, not driving it over, I would get a cheap one, it’ll be stripped for the new body anyway, a ‘good’ one may need work after you take the panels and sills off. Even a perfect one will still need bushes. . At the very least.
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Thanks for your response.

Yes, that was the idea. I need to check if I can get to look at some of these videos. Obviously it would need some wiring work on the inside as well as the instrument cluster will be relocated.
Your approach sounds good, I will have to start looking after some good 2.8:s :)
 
Andyboy said:
Trouble is, anything that's been here for 20+ years will resemble the Titanic underneath. They rust and rust and rust.

Just look for a tatty or battered Z3 in Southern Spain, Greece etc.

Looks also on Copart USA for a write off from California, Arizona etc and ship it over.
Click to expand...

Yes that´s true. I have seen some really bad examples from rusted cars from UK and need to pay attention to that. What I had in mind was that I could utilise doors and underbody parts from the donor 1.9 if they would be in bad condition.
I have looked at the Copart and I have also considered that option as well. It just feels like a even bigger risk and I am afraid that there are additional hidden charges included after you win a bid? Do you have experience from Copart?
Thank you for this!
 
AndersFIN said:
From the UK I can get good examples for around 3000-3500 GBP
Click to expand...
You will struggle to find a 'good' 2.8 Z3 for that sort of money TBH. Depends on your idea of good, though, I suppose.

One thing I have learned recently regarding a rebody of the Z3 is don't try to scrimp on costs anywhere. It either won't work, or you will end up with a poor end product (unless you are a mechanical AND coachworks genius).
 
jaguartvr said:
I would think an engine transplant a much easier option than trying to convert from LHD to RHD. Spurs fan would be worth contacting to see how much he would want for a 2.8 engine and gearbox along with eco and any other parts you need. Not a problem using a narrow body car as a lot of people fit the Z4 hubs to narrow the rear end although it is much cheaper just to fit the right size wheels in the first place.
If Spurs is on the lookout for you he could let you know beforehand so you could visit him and drive it first, engines and gearboxes are not big sellers so are pretty cheap.
I'm sure there must be a European Copra or similar, they are great value and you get some fantastic cars with just light body damage that will be unbolted anyway.
Click to expand...

The thing is that in this country (Finland) you are not allowed to swap an engine with more than 20% additional horsepower, which would mean that the only legal swap option from the 1.9 would be to the 2 litre version, which would obviously not make sence.

I am looking at the european sites for slight damaged 2.8:s but they are not easy to find:

Here is one from France at 5900EUR

Here is one 2.2 with high mileage
 
I bought a 2.2 for my son as he wasn't able to in sure a 2.9 due to his age and cost.
I was expecting it to be underpowered but to be honest it seems almost as good as a 2.8, if a reasonably priced 2.2 come up I wouldn't turn my nose up at it.

I ave bought a lot of cars and bikes from Copra but never go for anything structurally damaged. I have never ended up with a lemon and have been very pleased with every purchase, about 20 cars and bikes.
 
jaguartvr said:
I bought a 2.2 for my son as he wasn't able to in sure a 2.9 due to his age and cost.
I was expecting it to be underpowered but to be honest it seems almost as good as a 2.8, if a reasonably priced 2.2 come up I wouldn't turn my nose up at it.

I ave bought a lot of cars and bikes from Copra but never go for anything structurally damaged. I have never ended up with a lemon and have been very pleased with every purchase, about 20 cars and bikes.
Click to expand...

Thanks for this. With your experience, how much is shipping and additional costs on top of the price for the car?
 
Shipping depends on the Copart location, I don't bid on anything more than about 120 miles away and can generally get it delivered for a little over £100. Some delivery couriers charge more for picking up at Copart as they are kept waiting and have to allow for it. I seem to remember you need to add about 5% to the final bid fee but you can check this on the Copra website. I haven't used them for a while as they increased the fees to be a member and I wasn't buying enough to make it worth while.

shipping to Finland would be very expensive, not worth while. I think you would be better off searching for a car in Germany and driving it home.
 
Putting a larger engine in can cause problems. The car pictured below started up was a 2.8 Z3 but was fitted with a 7.0 Corvette engine. I was sold at auction for a very large sum but the new owner only managed 8 miles in it! Could have just been unlucky or it could have been overpowered
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As the original poster has already said, he is limited to a 20% increase in power so it can't be done.
 
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