Mor61e's Topaz 2.8 Z3

Mor61e · Jan 7, 2017

I bought my Z3 three years ago as a daily driver to replace my Integra Type-R, and to accompany my long term MK1 Golf GTi project. It has since had a good old tidy up and is no longer my daily driver, just a weekend car to enjoy in the nice weather

Here are some progress pictures from along the way, hope you enjoy!

This is how I bought it, the pictures do it some justice as the paintwork wasn't great but I loved the interior so couldn't turn it down :happy:

Sean d · Jan 7, 2017

Lovely looking Z you have,

Mor61e · Jan 7, 2017

Sean d said:
Lovely looking Z you have,

Thank you Sean, got many more pictures to catch up to date

andyglym · Jan 7, 2017

Looks in great nik :thumbsup:

Mor61e · Jan 7, 2017

I'll just mention now that I used to work in a body repair shop and still fortunately am able to use their facilities so all the work was done by myself unless otherwise stated

First order of business was to correct the wonky steering wheel, and this is why:

Predictably the tie rods were seized:

So I fitted a new pair and hey presto, the car drove straight again!

Also a quick clean up under the bonnet, clearly hadn't been done for quite a while:

Found a fellow Z:

Grumps · Jan 7, 2017

Hi and welcome aboard. Nice looking Zed you have there. :thumbsup:

Low Rider · Jan 7, 2017

Love the paint work has it has a wonderful shine.

Mor61e · Jan 7, 2017

Fitted a new gear knob:

I wasn't a fan of how high the car sat so on went some coilovers:

The wheels needed a refurb anyway so I tried them black:

Sean d · Jan 7, 2017

Looks awesome on the coil overs however I much prefer the silver wheels

Mor61e · Jan 7, 2017

The black wheels were only a temporary experiment while I was on the hunt for some new ones. I actually still have them awaiting being painted silver again! :thumbsup:

I test fitted some MV1s but I thought they were a bit too big and sat too far in so left them:

Pretty soon these Style 32s popped up locally for sale:

Perfect

They needed a refurb as well but I couldn't wait :whistle:

Mor61e · Jan 7, 2017

As the car was sitting much lower now and the front bumper was getting worryingly close to speed bumps/kerbs I figured some protection in the form of a lower splitter was on the cards. It is made of a very stiff rubbery plastic so is enough to protect the bumper but also bend backwards if it needs to, which it does, regularly

Didn't need much fettling

:

But soon:

Aaaaaand:

Taadaa:

Also refurbed the wheels in a darker grey:

andyglym · Jan 7, 2017

Mor61e said:
As the car was sitting much lower now and the front bumper was getting worryingly close to speed bumps/kerbs I figured some protection in the form of a lower splitter was on the cards. It is made of a very stiff rubbery plastic so is enough to protect the bumper but also bend backwards if it needs to, which it does, regularly

Didn't need much fettling :

View attachment 47772

But soon:

View attachment 47773

Aaaaaand:

View attachment 47779

Taadaa:

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Also refurbed the wheels in a darker grey:

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That front end shot looks the dogs!

Mor61e · Jan 7, 2017

Thanks folks

Andy McDonnell said:
That front end shot looks the dogs!

Thanks Andy

More still to come

Mor61e · Jan 7, 2017

As I mentioned earlier, the photos made the paintwork look better than it was. Every panel had a scratch, chip, rust, or damage so I decided to go for a full respray

Here are some pictures of the panels before the work so you don't think I'm mad:

Mor61e · Jan 8, 2017

I spent a week of evenings and a weekend stripping and prepping what I could at home, before driving it to my old work to spend another week on it doing the rest of the prep for painting:

Pre bodged rear exhaust hanger:

The sills were much worse than I expected! If yours look anywhere close to how mine were I'd suggest removing them and treating the inner sills. Luckily mine were ok and I was able to grind the surface rust out and underseal them: