Sympathise with the garage situation Tom, my lads car is still languishing in a lock up in Hemel, can’t find anywhere to keep it up here. Even with me offering to chip in for something larger, we can’t find anything close to our price range.
Z3(00S) - EV project
- Thread starter Tom Cheesewright
- Start date
-
- Tags
- electric car
Yeah it's a PITA. Trying to get the capital together to buy something through the business at the moment. But there's no cheap property round here at the moment and commercial mortgage means 25% down...
I sympathise Tom, lost my huge workshop/barn (40000 ft sq) recently and my 250 California project has completely ground to a halt to the point of putting it up for sale as all I can find is a crappy lock-up with no power (£117 pm!!!!).
I cannot even sensibly keep the finished 250 SWB I built 2-years ago as I do not have parking for this. It is currently sitting outside with the chrome going rusty, mildew inside the hood, door car leather going baggy and so on (not good).
All because my partners' son (who owns the workshop/barn) wants to try for planning permission to convert it to holiday lets. A fruitless venture as it is is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and who the hell wants to go on holiday to stay in a converted metal-clad agricultural barn from the 70's. Grrrrr............
The situation is now costing me a fortune (£117 pm plus selling the 250 Cal unfinished (15-18k ish) vs finished £70k (one went for £77k just before xmas on Car & Classic Auctions)).
Anyway, onwards and upwards and I hope you find somewhere soon.
I cannot even sensibly keep the finished 250 SWB I built 2-years ago as I do not have parking for this. It is currently sitting outside with the chrome going rusty, mildew inside the hood, door car leather going baggy and so on (not good).
All because my partners' son (who owns the workshop/barn) wants to try for planning permission to convert it to holiday lets. A fruitless venture as it is is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and who the hell wants to go on holiday to stay in a converted metal-clad agricultural barn from the 70's. Grrrrr............
The situation is now costing me a fortune (£117 pm plus selling the 250 Cal unfinished (15-18k ish) vs finished £70k (one went for £77k just before xmas on Car & Classic Auctions)).
Anyway, onwards and upwards and I hope you find somewhere soon.
Ooft. That's a rough one. Can't see him succeeding with that and not doing you any favours.
I'm still counting on a lottery win at the moment. But they just keep changing the bloody numbers!
Yep, 26 years old and thinks he knows everything!
Not many updates recently as there hasn't been much progress. All my time has been spent shifting the car out of the garage and into a couple of storage units - car in one, tools and parts in the other.
Now that it is there though, and I've finally fixed my 3D printer, I can crack on with buttoning up the back end.
Job list for that piece of work is as follows:
I'm starting with the number plate as it's the most complicated job, and it can be done indoors. It's still bloody miserable out there and I've knackered my back with all the moving, so anything I can do to stay warm and comfortable is a bonus at the moment.
I've been through about three designs so far and I'm pretty happy with the latest one. It's simple, easy to print, and in limited testing so far, seems to work. Not sure how easy it will be to understand from the pics but I'll post a video of all it all working once it's done.
Complicated part is the solenoid as I'm having it pull the cable around a 90 degree bend so that mounting is easier/more compact. But will see how that goes in testing.
Now that it is there though, and I've finally fixed my 3D printer, I can crack on with buttoning up the back end.
Job list for that piece of work is as follows:
- Finish making the hinge mechanism for the rear number plate and mounts for the charge ports that will fit behind it. (Updates on this below)
- Print the remaining light buckets
- (Possibly) trim/tweak the inner bumper to fit around the outer light buckets (there was a minor clash on the last test)
- Adapt the wiring to suit the new setup
- Bond & fibreglass everything together
I'm starting with the number plate as it's the most complicated job, and it can be done indoors. It's still bloody miserable out there and I've knackered my back with all the moving, so anything I can do to stay warm and comfortable is a bonus at the moment.
I've been through about three designs so far and I'm pretty happy with the latest one. It's simple, easy to print, and in limited testing so far, seems to work. Not sure how easy it will be to understand from the pics but I'll post a video of all it all working once it's done.
Complicated part is the solenoid as I'm having it pull the cable around a 90 degree bend so that mounting is easier/more compact. But will see how that goes in testing.
Attachments
Not too much to report other than that I've managed to print two of the light buckets. But my printer isn't turning out great quality stuff at the moment. Stringy and lots of shifting between layers. Sadly I can't justify a new one at the moment. So I'll have to address this with filler - which it was going to be covered in anyway.
In the meantime, I'm off on a budget snowboarding weekend. Starting with a long drive down to Kent tomorrow in the ICE Z3 (my Japanese import 1.9). So I've done a quick and dirty stereo upgrade to keep me entertained along the way, as the (loosely) fitted business RDS (tape) was failing. This is the Kenwood head unit out of the car I scrapped, with a Bluetooth receiver I had lying around bodged in, and a multi-way splitter tucked away to power everything - including providing 2x3.1A 5v outputs for the phone and the Bluetooth.
There is half a Parrot system in the wiring back there but I seem to be missing a piece from it so couldn't wire that in for the Bluetooth. This will do for now.
In the meantime, I'm off on a budget snowboarding weekend. Starting with a long drive down to Kent tomorrow in the ICE Z3 (my Japanese import 1.9). So I've done a quick and dirty stereo upgrade to keep me entertained along the way, as the (loosely) fitted business RDS (tape) was failing. This is the Kenwood head unit out of the car I scrapped, with a Bluetooth receiver I had lying around bodged in, and a multi-way splitter tucked away to power everything - including providing 2x3.1A 5v outputs for the phone and the Bluetooth.
There is half a Parrot system in the wiring back there but I seem to be missing a piece from it so couldn't wire that in for the Bluetooth. This will do for now.
Attachments
I think you’ve earned a break Tom. Enjoy mate.
Tony.
Tony.
Cheers! I fully intend to. My fitness may not be up to too much boarding but my apres ski game is strong.
Progress! Eventually I decided to write off getting another garage until I can afford to buy one and instead to bring the car home. With a bit of nice weather I can get it moving again, and into the paint shop.
It has been home for a couple of weeks now and things are moving apace.
Back to doing two videos a week on the YouTube channel (where work/family permits). Goal is MOT in July, then in for paint/wrap. Might be optimistic - not least as to whether my budget will support that/any paint shop will take it on with the amount of prep required, but we'll see.
Slightly jumbled photos but you get the idea.
It has been home for a couple of weeks now and things are moving apace.
- Headlight buckets are in
- Grille and front number plate mount are on
- Original loom has been stripped back and modified for new lights
- EV loom has been largely redone, with just battery management and heater wires to go
- Brake booster arrangement has been redesigned and refitted
Back to doing two videos a week on the YouTube channel (where work/family permits). Goal is MOT in July, then in for paint/wrap. Might be optimistic - not least as to whether my budget will support that/any paint shop will take it on with the amount of prep required, but we'll see.
Slightly jumbled photos but you get the idea.
Attachments
Last edited:
Good to see you're getting some progress Tom.
Tony.
Tony.
Cheers Tony!
Nice to see you progressing Tom, anyway if I have to work on the drive so should you
You know what they say misery loves company
You know what they say misery loves company
Ha! Thanks Andy. We can grumble together!Nice to see you progressing Tom, anyway if I have to work on the drive so should you
You know what they say misery loves company
Yea but think of all of the interesting people you meet when you're out front working on your car, did you read the spare time post I did
take a look at the first post
Spare time
So I was doing a bit of work on the Z yesterday lots of people stop and start conversations with me when the bonnets up. I've lived here for 20+ years and this guy who lives up the road stopped and started talking to me he's lived here as long as me and other than a general polite hello nice day...
zroadster.org
Just replied! I've met alsorts while working on the car outside the house. There's a LARPER who walks past all the time carrying a shield on his back and a big duffle bag of rubber swords and axes!Yea but think of all of the interesting people you meet when you're out front working on your car, did you read the spare time post I did
take a look at the first post
Spare time
So I was doing a bit of work on the Z yesterday lots of people stop and start conversations with me when the bonnets up. I've lived here for 20+ years and this guy who lives up the road stopped and started talking to me he's lived here as long as me and other than a general polite hello nice day...
Really not doing well at keeping up posting on here. Tbh I'm a few weeks behind where I wanted to be now between work and various other distractions.
Nonetheless, lots of progress which you will have seen if you're following the YouTube channel or Instagram. 90% of the engine bay rewired. Just got to finish and test the battery management system and PP detect (which turns the car on but disables drive when the charger is plugged in).
Front lights are in. No covers yet (need to look into those and in the meantime, drill some drain holes). Rear light buckets have gone in today and I'm starting to wire all the lights in.
Nonetheless, lots of progress which you will have seen if you're following the YouTube channel or Instagram. 90% of the engine bay rewired. Just got to finish and test the battery management system and PP detect (which turns the car on but disables drive when the charger is plugged in).
Front lights are in. No covers yet (need to look into those and in the meantime, drill some drain holes). Rear light buckets have gone in today and I'm starting to wire all the lights in.
Attachments
Lights! All in and working now.
Video out tomorrow with details.
Video out tomorrow with details.
Attachments
Looking forwards to that Tom.
Tony.
Tony.
Been busy again today between finishing work and it starting to rain. Trimmed up the cutout and the number plate surround from the old bumper and fibreglassed the two together. Lots of filling and fettling to do, starting with another couple of coats of CSM on the back for strength. But I'm really happy with how it has come out. Exactly like I imagined.
Need some new LED number plate lights now. Anyone know if the Z4 ones fit? I can only find bulbs for the Z3 and one of mine is knackered.
Need some new LED number plate lights now. Anyone know if the Z4 ones fit? I can only find bulbs for the Z3 and one of mine is knackered.
