Z3 3.0 project

[bear2020]

A short day yesterday at work so thought as I now had all the parts I'd rebuild the manifold. Got everything bolted on and then noticed the new crankcase vent hose had unclipped so left it for last night to start afresh from work today. Realised I had to take the whole lot back off to gain access. Did that bolted everything down stuck all the air intake back on all I needed to do was connect the F type fitting into the air intake pipe and SNAP! The engine block breather pipe (sucking jet pump) decided to snap leaving the whole lot to be dismantled again. At that point every tool was dropped bonnet shut and decided that rather than hit it with a massive sledge hammer I would come indoors. I think that is it now have no interest in spending anymore and will be cutting my losses and breaking it for parts in a few months. Wish I had listened to the missus and that is a first!

 

[Althulas]

Sometimes you just have to do that and take a breather, prefer a single malt though, your nearly there, just hopefully one more push and it’ll be done.
I had to do that the other day on the wife’s copper S, changing the vanos solenoids. Some muppet had been there before and chewed up the torx bolt on the rear one with very tight access but Irvine socket to the rescue the following day when I had sat down and calmly thought through it.

 

[bear2020]

Sometimes you just have to do that and take a breather, prefer a single malt though, your nearly there, just hopefully one more push and it’ll be done.
I had to do that the other day on the wife’s copper S, changing the vanos solenoids. Some muppet had been there before and chewed up the torx bolt on the rear one with very tight access but Irvine socket to the rescue the following day when I had sat down and calmly thought through it.

I wouldn't mind I came in to build my brand new bike and both the wheels are buckled! I just looked at the missus and she just laughed and said I think the punchbag is calling your name! The Z3 just taunts me just when I think "ah almost finished she goes like hell have you , have some of that!"
Can I really face taking that bloody manifold off for the 3rd time? I suppose it will be quicker now I'll be dreaming about it in my sleep

 

[bear2020]

Well I bit the bullet ordered a new air breather pipe ripped the manifold off and fitted the new pipe and bolted everything back up within 2.5hrs (I think I could do it asleep now)
Codes all gone, tick over is great and doesn't hunt anymore.
Took her out for a drive and now noticed the gear changes up are fine and smooth as they always were but on the way down it feels like it is "thumping" no noises just changing down harder then it ever did before. No codes and not sure if its just because it has sat there for a while but as nothing has been touched but first time I have noticed it but it was nice to finally hear the engine running how it should with no coughing spluttering and farting like an asthmatic that's has run a marathon!

 

[Althulas]

Glad you perseverance got you there in the end. Enjoy for now until the next item on the list?

 

[bear2020]

Glad you perseverance got you there in the end. Enjoy for now until the next item on the list?

The list is far from finished but I really don't want to put anymore than I already have into a 4k car (3.0 auto with 122k miles) and that will be on a good day. Stands me in at 5.5k so far so time to cut my losses and run

 

[Delk]

The list is far from finished but I really don't want to put anymore than I already have into a 4k car (3.0 auto with 122k miles) and that will be on a good day. Stands me in at 5.5k so far so time to cut my losses and run

There is always option B. Double down with a tuned up auto, add a turbo and throw money at it until your smile reaches your ears.

 

[bear2020]

There is always option B. Double down with a tuned up auto, add a turbo and throw money at it until your smile reaches your ears.

I think there are a lot of better cars I'd rather throw money at and sadly the Z3 is not top of my list. It as it has been one problem after another and in 14months of owning it I have achieved a whopping 212miles in it. That works out with buying it and all the bits I have done a staggering £26 a mile Gulp did I really just work that out lol

 

[bear2020]

All fluids topped up today ready for the second attempt at the body shop to paint it again and to remove the paint from the tyres and the roof! Oddily satisfying cleaning the engine a little and seeing it complete!

 

[Iamjonw]

What a tale of woe, good luck on this step, hopefully a much better outcome on the way. Kudos for perseverance though!

 

[bear2020]

What a tale of woe, good luck on this step, hopefully a much better outcome on the way. Kudos for perseverance though!

If I had £1 for every curse word I've said to her I'd be a millionaire! Now got an issue with change down in 1st & 2nd gear as it feels like you have hit the brakes briefly but all other gears up and down are fine. I'm not going to say I can see light at the end of the tunnel but hoping I'm nearly there!

 

[bear2020]

Another update full of woe. The body shop after having her 7 weeks did nothing to her apart from cover it even more in over spray from other cars they were spraying. And now it looks like they have shut up shop after telling me to collect the car in a text message late friday night. The headlights I polished and lacquered are opaque and the idiots even left a roll of tape and a blade on the car so when they removed it I have a nice ring and blade print on the bonnet where it hasn't had over spray. She does look in a sorry old state with white stains on the roof, over spray on the tyres and the whole car feels like sandpaper and is now matt
On the upside the engine that has had all the work done ran like a dream and we actually for the first time owning it got the roof down and drove 70miles for leisure. Even though she looks rough the drive was enough to put a smile on my face and at least the engine work has been worth it. But seeing her doing 19mpg was a bit scary haha but it was an "enthusiastic" drive

 

[bear2020]

With a couple of body shops declining to even attempt the car and a detailing shop said it would cost too much I ordered a couple of clay bars and set to work on the car. 10hrs later the paint is smooth and had to clay bar it for 3hours then machine cut with 3000, 5000, 9000, 12000 then a polish and sealer. It highlights the poor spray job even more but it is better than it was. Managed to get the headlights back to how they were and cleaned all the interior. As for the spray job think it will be another attempt next year with a different shop or if some good panels come up 2nd hand I'll grab them. She is nearly there just an auto box and differential oil change and hopefully can get her out in the sun.

 

[Althulas]

I don’t know if this Facebook listing is of any use to you https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/profile/100012041178087/?ref=permalink&tab=listings

 

[bear2020]

I don’t know if this Facebook listing is of any use to you https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/profile/100012041178087/?ref=permalink&tab=listings

Cheers my panels are ok and rust free as I have changed them just the paint work is rubbish!

 

[bear2020]

Got a quote to do a back box delete £225 plus VAT. Decided to cut the back box off the car before committing to it and glad I did. Took it for a drive and its way too loud! Cant imagine a couple bits of 50mm pipe 400mm long will make it any quieter at all. The drone was mad so now going for option B and will cut open the back box and straight pipe it (with some holes to stop the droning) Can't find anything like this for the 3.0 only single piped backboxes so may make a "how to" whilst I do it.

 

[bear2020]

A nice sunny day could only mean one thing and that was to get under the car and do the diff fluid and gearbox fluid and refit the backbox from the mods I had done inside. Sounds just how I wanted gentle burble when cruising but a nice throaty sound when you open it up. All done I thought until I get her back and noticed coolant dripping from the front. I thought I had finally put my last days work in but she had other plans. Was going to take it to drive to a car show tomorrow but guess it will be the Z4. I'm thinking its the water pump from the location of the leak as dripping down and onto the back belt but if anyone has any ideas as to whether they have ever had this leak and where it could be would be appreciated!
Gear changes are a lot smoother now was very surprised at the difference and imagine it has never been done. Thanks to T-Tony for the guide it was a little different for the 3.0 but covered most of what you need to know

 

[t-tony]

Coolant leak could be from the thermostat housing "O" Ring seal as it sits above the water pump. It was on my 3.0 Z4 when I suspected the w/pump.

Tony.

 

[bear2020]

Coolant leak could be from the thermostat housing "O" Ring seal as it sits above the water pump. It was on my 3.0 Z4 when I suspected the w/pump.

Tony.

Thanks Tony I did the checks on the top hose and it felt like there was pressure so I was then unsure if it was the pump. This car is like a scorned woman she will not give me a break but she is not going to win. I will have at least one summer out of her!

 

[bear2020]

After buying a new thermostat housing discovered when I went to take it off someone had been there before and only fitted it with 3 bolts This now seems to be a regular thing with the car I'm truly amazed it had all the wheel bolts. Any bolts that are difficult to get back in were left out. Put a new bolt in and the leak has disappeared.
Whilst up on the ramps just casually spun the wheels and found the nearside calliper is sticking so that will need replacing but may just do both whilst I'm at it.
So a spare thermostat to add to the list of spares Cheers to t-tony for mentioning the thermostat as I would never have noticed the bolt was missing otherwise! At least it now matches the Disa valve that had a bolt missing and the manifold that had nuts missing