1999 Z3 2.0 Manual

[AussieAbroad]

Hi all,

After admiring the Z3 for many years, but always choosing something else whe it came time to buy, I’m finally in a Z3!

She’s a 1999 facelift M52TUB20 manual. I owned an E87 130i once upon a time back in Australia, and was addicted to that straight 6 sound and smoothness.. so when I was out looking for a car, a 6 cylinder Z3 was almost top of the list for the unique combination of looks, performance and price.

I almost couldn’t believe that such a car is so affordable! I wanted a nice one, that needed some tidying up, but as good body-wise as possible. I think I found it!

She’s got a reasonably high mileage (150k mi), but absolutely zero rust (only driven on sunny trips to the continent and around the UK) and had been stored for 4 years in the mid 2010’s while the owner worked in Dubai.

A few pics as it stood when I picked it up. Straight away, the work list included:
- thermostat
- fan clutch (sounded like a 747 on takeoff!)
- rear window
- huge clean needed with significant paint correction
- passenger seat adjustment no longer working
- air conditioning not working
- poor repair to the lower front bumper
- clouded front headlights

Some pictures as it stood on collection..

 

[AussieAbroad]

So I got to work straight away with the cosmetic work first.. I find it more motivating to have the car looking nice before getting stuck in to the rest!

I started with a full wash, and renovo 3 stage roof treatment to bring some colour and water repellant back into the original roof. The rear window had to be replaced too to fix a leak which had started where the rubber seal had come away. It was amazing how dirty the roof actually was.. the soap was filthy as I brushed it in to the roof!

Even after just the clean it came up nicely, but the dye and repellant treatment really made it look like new!

I ordered an emiata window (not everyone’s thing, I know), and replaced the old leaking one. Looks much better now!

 

[Stevo7682]

Look good you have done a nice job on the rear window fit .
What you need now is a rear window protector for when you have the roof down or the roof will damage the window and leave the line across the middle.

 

[Althulas]

Good start, might be worth buying a new water Myle pump (metal impeller) as well as it needs to be removed to get at the thermostat. Well worth taking your belt off and checking condition of them and spin your pulleys to see if you have any rattles from them. Hopefully a regas will sort your aircon out.

 

[Jack Ratt]

Good work

 

[AussieAbroad]

Thanks all!

I spent a good 2 days on a full paint correction and protection too. It came up really well- looks like a new car!

The roof looks excellent too. I’ll replace it somewhere down the line, but for the moment, it looks pretty good for an 18 year old roof! All leak free now too which is a huge success.

I spent a few hours correcting the headlights too which now look excellent!

Next job will be to tackle the cooling system. She needs a good service too- engine oil, gearbox and diff. I need to check which gearbox oil I need first, then I’ll get the fluid and get to work!

Thanks for the recommendation on the water pump. I’ll change it while I’m there.

 

[Althulas]

For your info when you decide to change the roof at the moment Jack Trimmers of Swansea £300 and Softops Crydon £395 all in sewn in window though but at those prices can change a roof every five years. Several members have had them done at both and been happy customers.

Agree paint work looks great.

 

[AussieAbroad]

Thanks all!

I tackled the thermostat replacement and fan clutch today. It was a fairly simple job actually- better than I was expecting! I managed to remove and replace the thermostat without removing the water pump (with the fan off there was plenty of room to access the thermostat) and replaced the fan clutch.

Much better now, it’s nice and quiet and gets up to temperature in no time. The thermostat was the original, as was the fan clutch. Interestingly, the thermostat had failed as they all seem to, with the plastic lugs holding the actual thermostat broken off.

I also drained all the coolant and replaced with BMW coolant, another good sign as the coolant I drained was still blue and looked quite clean!

Unfortunately, I think my air conditioning may be a bigger job than I hoped. I checked the electric fan on the front of the radiator, and it’s seized solid. I’ll need to see if I can get a good used replacement and change that while I take a good look at the condenser before going too much further.

I forgot to take photos while I was doing the work, and only got one at the beginning with my friends 190E 2.6.

 

[Sean d]

Hi and welcome.

 

[BMBabe]

Nice work well done

 

[Slam]

Looking good !!

 

[AussieAbroad]

Well, far from doing nothing over the last 2 weeks, my updates have been a little slow because I’ve been so busy!

I flushed the brake fluid using my pressure bleeder, which makes things much quicker. The old fluid was pretty filthy!

The underside looks quite good though, with no rust to speak of. The spring mounts were perfect too, which is reassuring!

I also removed and repaired my blower fan resistor, as the fan only worked on stage 4. It turned out to be the bimetallic switch contacts which just needed a clean, and it was as good as new!

I also found a split intake pipe on my last service, so ordered a replacement and swapped them over. It was a fiddly job, but 15 minutes or so later, and with the help of some dishwashing liquid, the replacement was fitted!

 

[AussieAbroad]

Next job will be new shocks and top mounts, with some new poly bushes!

 

[TrevD66]

Well done it’s looking very smart the way it’s sitting

 

[AussieAbroad]

Thanks Trev!

Where abouts in Oz are you located? I’m a Melbournian who was living in Sydney before moving to the UK...!

Well done it’s looking very smart the way it’s sitting

 

[t-tony]

Stance of the car looks spot on now mate. Shame you went with black wheels tho .........................

Tony.

 

[Ianmc]

Those black wheels really look good with the dark green body.

 

[TrevD66]

I live in Perth but currently touring through Europe...... keep getting different flags as I move I to another country

 

[AussieAbroad]

Those black wheels really look good with the dark green body.

Thanks very much! I think it looks great, and really suits the colour!

 

[Clockwatcher]

AusieAbroad,

Love the car, she looks near as dammit mint, and the paint work looks pretty darn good after correction! A couple of questions about your rear window.......

1. Where did you source your new one from?
2. What did you use to reseal the window back in place it when you zipped her in?

Looking forward to your next posts.

CW