Rebody Z3 to Kobra build thread

DaveP

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Great stuff :thumbsup:
There is only one thing that would stop me from doing something like this, the roof line.
For people in the know, it always screams Z3 IMHO ....
But what if you put a hard-top on ? :)
 

DaveP

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I agree about the roof line. But what I end up with is an unusual roadster. In a wacky colour and with a roof and doors that work :)

It will never be a cobra. I’ll accept a Kobra though
 

DaveP

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Z3 2.2 Kobra rebody (see pic)
2FB3C960-4C02-48A6-B56B-D24A07E0687F.jpeg
Mercedes centre cap with the spinner’s threaded attachment in place. Held on currently with three grub screws.

18BCF815-F374-4584-A3D7-2F22676D176F.jpeg
Underside of the wheel showing that the fixings of the merc centre cap go through too far and will foul the bmw hubs front and back

3C8BD43C-9FD0-44F5-854E-0EA955C4EF2A.jpeg
Closer view. The hubcentric wheels are killing my design thoughts.

442F882F-6988-403D-9C81-63222A2C08BF.jpeg
What it looks like right way up which is just right.

So plan would be to take out the retaining spring and a little off the tabs so they sit just inside the wheel’s centre. And find a way of sticking them there.

Original body of my post below.
Quick question to those in the know (MOT know). It’s a longish explanation so stay with me if you’re interested.

I am fitting satin black banded steels to my Kobra and intend to fit chrome spinners to the centres. Now I have chosen Empi spinners usually for VW and they have smaller diameter than that of the std bmw steel wheel centres. They are bigger than BMW alloys so bmw centre caps don’t fit their steels (w t f).

Now what I’ve found is that merc centre caps fit and they do ones that stick out a bit so the Empi spinner back fits in the merc centre cap (still with me?),

The merc centre cap fits in the steel wheel off the car but when on the car get caught on the hubs. Dammit.

Onto my question. If I cut a little off the centre cap so they just fit into the wheel without touching th hub I could fix them in (tiger seal would be the glue-iest). Now if the centre caps are glued on is that a no-no from an MOT type perspective?

Sorry about the long winded description - I’ll take pics Friday if this doesn’t make sense.
Thanks
Dave

So I took pics tonight instead.
 
Last edited:

t-tony

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I'll wait for the pictures.

Tony.
 

DaveP

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7F2E2D8A-2270-4783-BAC5-9E373F17026C.jpeg
Spinner with its retaining threaded ring to connect,usually, to a VW wheel.

BC9A1E7A-9975-44B7-804C-E8079D84CD5E.jpeg
The Mercedes centre cap without merc sign


C247024D-53E7-44A9-8C7D-665B01556C7D.jpeg

Underneath of the spinner on its threaded retainer. The threaded section is usually fixed with. Eye small grub screws with an Allen head.

The spinner then threads on and held in place with another grub screws to tighten in place.
 

t-tony

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As long as they're secure I can't see a problem, in fact I don't think you could find a reason for failure any way. Even if they project outside of the wheels at best an advisory item.

Tony.
 

DaveP

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As long as they're secure I can't see a problem, in fact I don't think you could find a reason for failure any way. Even if they project outside of the wheels at best an advisory item.

Tony.
Thanks Tony.

Will try the attachment of them Friday. They definitely don’t extend out side the wheel. That would look crap :)
 

t-tony

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Things which apply to wheels, security (all nuts/bolts fitted and tight) condition, (no cracks etc.) same size on an axle. I'll check the manual later. Pool and beer night.;)

Tony.
 

Sean d

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I have some old alloys at work, they are 16's, very wide and very retro, the PCD is 120 but not sure of off set, IMO they would really suit a Kora, I'll ask the guy how much he wants for them and take some pics
 

Brian H

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I njoyed reading through so far.

Sus fitted.

Bad pics of the suspension fitted and car dropped (too flipping low at the moment) a bit.
Last pic shows how the bushes were on the original lollipops.

Looking back at the pics I could have gone further and cleaned up the knuckle and back plate ... but it’s all going to get dirty anyway after time. It will never ever be concourse so ...
Surprised you managed to get the front BC Racing arb drop links on, they would nor go on mine, stuck with the original setup.
 

DaveP

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I njoyed reading through so far.



Surprised you managed to get the front BC Racing arb drop links on, they would nor go on mine, stuck with the original setup.
I didn’t fit them myself Brian so dont know if they were a pig to fit.

Dave
 

DaveP

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Latest on the Kobra is that the rear has been fitted (I hope as waiting for the sikaflex to go off)

Also fitted the banded steels. There is no way I can fit the spinners on the current plan so giving more thought to this. More pics,rough ones, to follow.

Dave
 

DaveP

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Z3 2.2 Kobra rebody (see pic)
A947F1CC-2E72-438D-8926-A0AE8DD3F75E.jpeg
Front banded
ECD653B3-BF0E-44ED-96C4-9D114B64EA10.jpeg
Banded on trial fit.

429C2D7E-85D7-4B53-9A07-B7087CFDC357.jpeg
Rears fitted no centre caps.

Rough shots of the banded steels attached.

They are staggered 7.5 and 8.5 16 inch steels shod with Toyo Proxes. Getting 16” tyres in the size I wanted was a struggle for the rears. The fronts were ‘easy’.

Dave
 

DaveP

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Z3 2.2 Kobra rebody (see pic)
Would love to see them on a real Zed. I bet they would look mean !
 
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