Z3 wreck repair build-up (QLD Australia)

oldcarman said:
you may find a forum member willing to do the leg work involved with picking up your parts from this seller and posting them to you. Any offers??
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I'm just under 20 miles from Marlborough but pass through it fairly regularly. I can only collect what can fit in the passenger seat/foot wells of a Z3 though...
 
Thanks Gaz, that's the kind of support we should all be providing one another. Just one more thing for your heavy schedule though. JIM
 
oldcarman said:
Hi fuzz, you may find a forum member willing to do the leg work involved with picking up your parts from this seller and posting them to you. Any offers?? JIM
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Thanks Jim, I stopped short of saying the same myself as i'm new here and their are forum members selling parts.

However if there is anyone going there or who is not too far away and can help that would be most appreciated and reimbursed for their time.

Cheers
 
GazHyde said:
I'm just under 20 miles from Marlborough but pass through it fairly regularly. I can only collect what can fit in the passenger seat/foot wells of a Z3 though...
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Thank Gaz - I think the fenders and bumper wouldn't make for a good passenger and would dirty or damage your interior!
 
Being new I can understand your hesitation, but, this forum is like no other I know of when it comes to volunteer knowledge and labour. In fact, if there are a couple of people sorting a problem it turns into a get together of several more members getting together. A good example is the seat bushing gathering held a couple of weekends ago. You can check out the thread to give you an idea how it played out. I'm sure something can be arranged to get your parts to you. JIM
 
Sounds good Jim - I've got an order ready to go for the new parts with getbmwparts.

Focusing on cleaning and interior trim/sound system now until I get the parts needed. fixed up that ugly headlight. A couple of shots from the weekend:

IMG_2569.webp
IMG_2574.webp
headlights.webp
 
fuzz said:
Sounds good Jim - I've got an order ready to go for the new parts with getbmwparts.
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quick update - don't go near getbmwp@rts.com...absolutely terrible service, money charged for parts which aren't available and just all round a terrible experience.

despite that I have been able to get the parts needed now. it's all sitting at the smash repairer and hopefully I'll have a result in the next couple of weeks.

I've turned my attention to some other essential area's for now - wheels and sound.

quick question on the wheel fitment: what are people successfully running without modification. I am looking at a set of 17 inch wheels which are 8.5 at the front and 9.5 at the rear. would love to run a wide rear tyre but I don't want to roll the guards.

with the offset how much closer to the body can we safely go at the rear? the offset of the wheels I'm looking at will see -10mm clearance? when does this become an issue?

cheers
 
Sorry to hear about the problems with the parts supplier but sounds like you're back on track. Keep patient and keep us informed. JIM
 
Hi fuzz, to be honest I'm not sure re the offset on my wheels but they are 17" double spoke( in English) with the staggered set up. I have recently fitted spacers on mine at 12mm on the front and 20mm on the rear and I still have clearance on the arches without having to "roll" them. Having said that my car is also fitted with K&W suspension which has lowered the car but I'm not too sure by how much?. HTH.

Tony.
 
Thanks Tony,
I figured with the 17's it shouldn't be too much of an issue. I will also get coilovers and drop it a bit eventually. I have to be mindfull in Australia about the rules (they are very draconian). I don't want the wheels sticking out from the guards which they will pull me up on. As the car is in the shop I can't measure but I'm not sure how much extra room there is to get wider wheels in.
 
Hi fuzz just to add, on the front I run 225/45x17W and on the rears I have 245/40x17W.

Tony.

ps. mine are well inside the wheel arches as you can see in the pictures. I bought these spacers last September while we were in Florida.023.webp 016.webp 020.webp
 
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Hi Tony,

Did you need to have the spacers because of the coilovers? Or could you have coilovers without spacers (and have the extra space for "more tyre/rim")?

I was under the impression that because of the E30-suspension at the back, the Z3 wasn't able to have real coilovers at the back.
Just a lowering spring and separate damper (possibly a damper with adjustable hardness).
Can you confirm what you have?

Thanks, Koen
 
thanks for the pics Tony - looks great.

also curious re Koen's questions as i'm planning to get coilovers. Koen does anyone make a moderately priced full coilover set for the Z3? most I could find the rear is a separate spring and damper. Looking at getting KW V1's or ST.
 
Stormy_be said:
Hi Tony,

Did you need to have the spacers because of the coilovers? Or could you have coilovers without spacers (and have the extra space for "more tyre/rim")?

I was under the impression that because of the E30-suspension at the back, the Z3 wasn't able to have real coilovers at the back.
Just a lowering spring and separate damper (possibly a damper with adjustable hardness).
Can you confirm what you have?

Thanks, Koen
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Hi Koen, no the rears are simply shocks and lower springs. I only fitted the spacers to push the wheels out to edge of the arches. Had the same wheels before that. Fronts are adjustable.

Tony.
 
Stormy_be said:
I have been looking at a set from BC Racing and the set from HSD (that Matt is also using for racing - although they don't mention Z3's on their webpage)

BC racing: http://www.bc-racing.co.uk/applicat...e36-8-96-02/br-series-coilover-type-ra-1.html

Regards, Koen
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Morning guys,

Quite a few of my friends run these coilovers, they are very good but also very stiff. You actually get more arch space running these because they are thinner in size then the standard shocks.

Worth noting that the website may state bmw compact instead of Z3, they run the same chassis. Or alternatively buy Bmw E36 front coilovers and source E30 rear but that’s a right faff with shock/spring length etc.

Lee
 
I love this site!! Once again everyone chiping in with loads of advice and help
Thanks to this group my 2.2 is back on the road after meeting amazing people from here @Lee @pgunter @GazHyde

Can't wait to see your finished project
 
I do know bc-racing has a set for the z3.
But can't find info an the shocks from hsd. Although Matt runs them.
 
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