JAPANESE IMPORTS

train driver

Dedicated Member
Joined
Jun 20, 2018
Points
34
Has anyone had any experience of z3 imports, they seem to be automatics, any difference to offical cars [apart from speedo km] spares etc.
 

AntStark

Zorg Guru (III)
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
May 15, 2021
Points
139
Location
Hampshire
Model of Z
2002 3.0 Sport
Less rust and lower mileage..see this thread
 

SYMZ3

Zorg Addict
British Zeds
Joined
May 11, 2019
Points
60
Location
Holme Valley, Yorkshire
Model of Z
2.8i widebody
I’m exploring getting a 2.8i coupe from Japan, as you say lower mileage and less rust issues.
 

Colinator

Regular Member
Joined
Apr 22, 2023
Points
11
Location
Manitoba Canada 🍁
Model of Z
2.8
I have a 2000 2.8 5 speed manual from Japan and yes they are rust free and lower mileage, but, only a Japanese scanner can be used to decode engine and system problems.
I am in Canada and have had BMW and a European garage both try to scan problems but no luck.
 

t-tony

Zorg Expert (II)
Supporter
British Zeds
#ZedShed
Joined
Dec 31, 2013
Points
226
Location
Torksey Lock,Lincoln, England
Model of Z
E89 Z4 23i Auto
How are they scanning it?, via the under dash OBD connection or the round, under bonnet (Pac man) connection? The under dash OBD one only reads engine and Auto trans ECUs.

Tony.
 

motco

Zorg Legend
Joined
Dec 6, 2011
Points
74
Location
Chilterns
Model of Z
Z3 2.2i Sport
I'm surprised about the rust because an Japanese built S2000 in our family fleet was like a sieve over the rear wheels at the same age as my Z3. Japanese cars are known to have been rust buckets in the past.
 

Z Victor 1

Formerly "Ontiken1"
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
May 4, 2015
Points
194
Location
Ripley,Derbyshire.
Model of Z
E 89 Z4 S drive 23i
It's not a Japanese car! Just lived in Japan for a while. My MX5 rusted while I watched, my older Z3 was rust free.
 

t-tony

Zorg Expert (II)
Supporter
British Zeds
#ZedShed
Joined
Dec 31, 2013
Points
226
Location
Torksey Lock,Lincoln, England
Model of Z
E89 Z4 23i Auto
The Z3 was built for the North American and European markets, hence they didn’t dissolve like most Japanese cars, Mazda being by far the worst in my experienc.

Tony.
 

Colinator

Regular Member
Joined
Apr 22, 2023
Points
11
Location
Manitoba Canada 🍁
Model of Z
2.8
How are they scanning it?, via the under dash OBD connection or the round, under bonnet (Pac man) connection? The under dash OBD one only reads engine and Auto trans ECUs.

Tony.
My main problem is engine related. At an idle (stop light) it will drop a cylinder and only run on 5. If you switch it off and start again right away it will run on all 6. No problem while driving, only at idle after about 30 seconds. The problem does not show up on a OBD scanner. I have replaced all coils and plugs, not the problem.
 

t-tony

Zorg Expert (II)
Supporter
British Zeds
#ZedShed
Joined
Dec 31, 2013
Points
226
Location
Torksey Lock,Lincoln, England
Model of Z
E89 Z4 23i Auto
I had a very similar problem some years back on my 2.0 Z3. It was the start of the inlet camshaft position sensor starting to fail. It did throw a fault code but didn't cause the EM light to come on.

Tony.
 

Colinator

Regular Member
Joined
Apr 22, 2023
Points
11
Location
Manitoba Canada 🍁
Model of Z
2.8
I had a very similar problem some years back on my 2.0 Z3. It was the start of the inlet camshaft position sensor starting to fail. It did throw a fault code but didn't cause the EM light to come on.

Tony.
No lights coming on. Is the position sensor an involved thing to replace??
 

t-tony

Zorg Expert (II)
Supporter
British Zeds
#ZedShed
Joined
Dec 31, 2013
Points
226
Location
Torksey Lock,Lincoln, England
Model of Z
E89 Z4 23i Auto
No, if you're a competent mechanic an hour at the most. I did a "How to" guide on here.


Tony.
 

Colinator

Regular Member
Joined
Apr 22, 2023
Points
11
Location
Manitoba Canada 🍁
Model of Z
2.8
No, if you're a competent mechanic an hour at the most. I did a "How to" guide on here.


Tony.
Is there an intake and and and exhaust sensor?
 

t-tony

Zorg Expert (II)
Supporter
British Zeds
#ZedShed
Joined
Dec 31, 2013
Points
226
Location
Torksey Lock,Lincoln, England
Model of Z
E89 Z4 23i Auto
Is there an intake and and and exhaust sensor?
Yes, there are. The inlet is the most difficult to do, while the exhaust one is on the front end of the engine. IIRC it's on the timing cover and doesn't have a lead as part of the sensor, but, I could be wrong as its a long time since I did mine.

Tony.
 

Colinator

Regular Member
Joined
Apr 22, 2023
Points
11
Location
Manitoba Canada 🍁
Model of Z
2.8
Parts ordered, waiting for snow to be gone and warm weather. Need to replace wheel speed sensors as well. That’s an easy job.
Thanks Tony
 

t-tony

Zorg Expert (II)
Supporter
British Zeds
#ZedShed
Joined
Dec 31, 2013
Points
226
Location
Torksey Lock,Lincoln, England
Model of Z
E89 Z4 23i Auto
Parts ordered, waiting for snow to be gone and warm weather. Need to replace wheel speed sensors as well. That’s an easy job.
Thanks Tony
Happy to help. Please let us know when you have some news.

Tony.
 

Colinator

Regular Member
Joined
Apr 22, 2023
Points
11
Location
Manitoba Canada 🍁
Model of Z
2.8
Happy to help. Please let us know when you have some news.

Tony.
Part arrived, removed old one but decided to compare with new one before unplugging it. New one too big for the opening 1.8mm where the old one is 1.2mm. Even though the website said it fits, it doesn’t.
New one is on order.
Do you know where ABS fuse #49 is under the steering wheel?
I’ve looked and can not see one.
My ABS light is on and thought it was wheel speed sensor, replaced both front. Light still on. Thought I should check all fuses before replacing rear ones too.
Colin
 

Colinator

Regular Member
Joined
Apr 22, 2023
Points
11
Location
Manitoba Canada 🍁
Model of Z
2.8
Part arrived, removed old one but decided to compare with new one before unplugging it. New one too big for the opening 1.8mm where the old one is 1.2mm. Even though the website said it fits, it doesn’t.
New one is on order.
Do you know where ABS fuse #49 is under the steering wheel?
I’ve looked and can not see one.
My ABS light is on and thought it was wheel speed sensor, replaced both front. Light still on. Thought I should check all fuses before replacing rear ones too.
Colin
 
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