Search found 818 matches

by lightning
Sun 02 Oct, 2016 11:33
Forum: Z3 roadster
Topic: Job lot of 13 Z3s - seen on eBay
Replies: 3
Views: 1374

Re: Job lot of 13 Z3s - seen on eBay

Mostly scrap value only, looking at the pictures. All the cars have been stripped of useable parts. I'm guessing the guy wants to clear his junk yard in order to store fresh stock.
by lightning
Sat 01 Oct, 2016 14:18
Forum: Z3 roadster
Topic: BMW quality!
Replies: 11
Views: 3755

BMW quality!

Had my aircon serviced today as while it was still working it has not been done for at least four years.

Gas quantity was only down about 15% from full, and the car sits idle all winter. I have never had car aircon that's held gas so well. And on top of that it's fourteen years old.
by lightning
Sun 18 Sep, 2016 20:16
Forum: Z3 roadster
Topic: Help please.
Replies: 5
Views: 2201

Re: Help please.

Manufacturers change detail specifications on their cars all the time.
I would not worry about these minor differences between the two cars.

At least you both bought the 3.0 which is a lovely engine and makes the Z3 into a genuine high performance vehicle.
by lightning
Sun 18 Sep, 2016 20:10
Forum: Z3 roadster
Topic: HELP FIX A STUPID MISTAKE
Replies: 7
Views: 2048

Re: HELP FIX A STUPID MISTAKE

I would hope that the designers of convertible cars make them able to survive a soaking. As chances are it will one day happen.
As in the console switches and under floor wiring etc.
by lightning
Wed 14 Sep, 2016 07:11
Forum: Z3 roadster
Topic: fog light needed
Replies: 13
Views: 3320

Re: fog light needed

Can't you get it from BMW?

Their prices are not that high.
by lightning
Sun 11 Sep, 2016 08:49
Forum: Z3 roadster
Topic: Z3 gone bang :(
Replies: 30
Views: 5848

Re: Z3 gone bang :(

lt is possible, and not as hard as you might think. You just need time and space! My friend's VW Polo oil pressure light was on and a garage diagnosed oil pump failure. The car was not worth repairing....so (having never done anything like it before) l hired an engine crane and set to it on my frien...
by lightning
Sat 10 Sep, 2016 17:58
Forum: Z3 roadster
Topic: help 1 series
Replies: 11
Views: 2487

Re: help 1 series

http://www.bmwforums.info/general-bmw-c ... eater.html

Recall included the 1 Series. Potential failure of the fuel heater wiring harness, but only certain build dates.
by lightning
Fri 09 Sep, 2016 20:29
Forum: Z3 roadster
Topic: Z3 gone bang :(
Replies: 30
Views: 5848

Re: Z3 gone bang :(

I guess it's make or break time for this Z3 !

If you are attached to the car, or it's a particularly good one, then it's going to be worth repairing. Otherwise you could pick up a useable 2.8/3.0 for maybe £3,000.....or less if you are lucky.
by lightning
Fri 09 Sep, 2016 19:00
Forum: Z3 roadster
Topic: help 1 series
Replies: 11
Views: 2487

Re: help 1 series

There was a recall on the 1 series for a fuel heater wiring problem, the harness could short out and put the fuel heater on continuously.

You could contact BMW to see if your car is affected, and if it was done.
by lightning
Thu 08 Sep, 2016 20:29
Forum: Z3 roadster
Topic: Z3 gone bang :(
Replies: 30
Views: 5848

Re: Z3 gone bang :(

Earlier in this thread somebody offered you a FREE engine! Why not just fit that? The mileage shouldn't put you off. If it's been looked after it'll do another 100,000. A free engine.....sounds like a no brainer to me but the offer was skipped over? If you had seven years good fun with the 1.9 then ...
by lightning
Thu 08 Sep, 2016 20:20
Forum: Z3 roadster
Topic: Rust compared to SLKs
Replies: 5
Views: 2021

Re: Rust compared to SLKs

Mercedes vans don't last and the older cars seem to rust quite badly.

I've never seen a Z3 with any more than superficial rust. Which is not bad considering the newest are now 13 years old.
by lightning
Mon 05 Sep, 2016 20:37
Forum: Z3 roadster
Topic: clutch stop rubber
Replies: 15
Views: 3751

Re: clutch stop rubber

That's the company. On my 3.0 Z3 l needed the screw in one, l mistakenly ordered the plastic one that pushes in. Like l said....what a difference. I've never got to grips with the large amount of travel before the biting point is reached on my car. A better solution as mentioned by Trevsky would be ...
by lightning
Wed 31 Aug, 2016 22:51
Forum: Z3 roadster
Topic: Z3 Power.
Replies: 16
Views: 4731

Re: Z3 Power.

So the Vanos guy wants £700 to come out and overhaul it.

That's not happening......l will get the kit and repair it myself before l pay that. Seems likely that it's just the 0-rings and l can check the solenoids as well.
by lightning
Wed 31 Aug, 2016 07:05
Forum: Z3 roadster
Topic: Z3 Power.
Replies: 16
Views: 4731

Re: Z3 Power.

I'm having the same issue with my 3.0 it runs fine but is just not delivering the performance l'd expect. However l don't fancy doing the Vanos rebuild myself, l'll be interested to see how you get on with it.
by lightning
Sun 28 Aug, 2016 19:34
Forum: Z3 roadster
Topic: Z3 3.0 not as fast as it should be?
Replies: 8
Views: 2084

Re: Z3 3.0 not as fast as it should be?

I'll buy a code reader.

Looking on Ebay they start at £15 and go to over £100. The cheap ones are listed as suitable for any car manufactured after 1996 that is "OBD ll compatible"

So will the £15 one do it?
by lightning
Sun 28 Aug, 2016 14:44
Forum: Z3 roadster
Topic: Z3 3.0 not as fast as it should be?
Replies: 8
Views: 2084

Re: Z3 3.0 not as fast as it should be?

I'll get a quote on that as l don't know how much it costs.

The Vanos guy says he will check it before doing any work.
by lightning
Sun 28 Aug, 2016 13:16
Forum: Z3 roadster
Topic: Z3 3.0 not as fast as it should be?
Replies: 8
Views: 2084

Re: Z3 3.0 not as fast as it should be?

Thanks for the reply. It's a manual transmission. The car does not push you back in the seat when you floor it. Where is the DISA valve located? I'll have a look at it. If that's not the cause l'll get Mr Vanos out to rebuild that unit. I looked at it online and don't fancy taking it apart. There's ...
by lightning
Sun 28 Aug, 2016 12:18
Forum: Z3 roadster
Topic: Z3 3.0 not as fast as it should be?
Replies: 8
Views: 2084

Z3 3.0 not as fast as it should be?

My Z3 3.0 does not seem as fast as it was. It may be that l've been driving my friend's Tesla Model S while he's on holiday! But my Z3 does not feel like a car that has 231bhp. I'm thinking VANOS might have failed? But there's none of the usual symptoms.....it's smooth with no lumpy idle or jerky po...
by lightning
Fri 26 Aug, 2016 21:00
Forum: Z3 roadster
Topic: clutch stop rubber
Replies: 15
Views: 3751

Re: clutch stop rubber

So the part arrived and it turned out l had ordered the wrong one. So l made one from a bolt with a rubber blanking grommet on the end. What a difference....the car is so much nicer to drive without the two inches of wasted travel at the bottom of the clutch pedal. I don't know if all Z3's have so m...
by lightning
Fri 26 Aug, 2016 07:48
Forum: Z3 roadster
Topic: New Project - 1998 M Roadster
Replies: 82
Views: 22752

Re: New Project - 1998 M Roadster

Great work restoring the Z3.

It's definitely the most ambitious restoration on a "modern classic" that l have seen.
by lightning
Thu 25 Aug, 2016 13:10
Forum: Z3 roadster
Topic: Black 2.8 Facelift for sale
Replies: 2
Views: 803

Re: Black 2.8 Facelift for sale

That could be a problem.

There was a guy doing that repair but he's stopped doing it. Is there anybody else doing the Z3 boot floor repair?
by lightning
Tue 23 Aug, 2016 06:49
Forum: Z3 roadster
Topic: clutch stop rubber
Replies: 15
Views: 3751

Re: clutch stop rubber

The part is sold by a company called "Burger Motorsports" in the USA.

There are two types, for the Z3 you need the screw in one and not the plastic "fir tree" one which is for post-2006 BMW's.
by lightning
Mon 22 Aug, 2016 06:29
Forum: Z3 roadster
Topic: Z3 Power.
Replies: 16
Views: 4731

Re: Z3 Power.

If you floor the accelerator the transmission should change down into the lowest available gear depending on your speed.
by lightning
Sat 20 Aug, 2016 09:35
Forum: Z3 roadster
Topic: What's it worth? 3.0 Z3 Sport. 21k miles, 2 owners, 51 pla
Replies: 120
Views: 26216

Re: What's it worth? 3.0 Z3 Sport. 21k miles, 2 owners, 51

Del wrote:What looks like a dealer operating via a mobile phone via ebay doesn't exactly fill one with confidence :D
Yes you are right, l missed that. I'm still surprised nobody's bought it with that mileage. I thought Sytner would have been on the blower to snap it up :-)
by lightning
Fri 19 Aug, 2016 22:19
Forum: Z3 roadster
Topic: spare pannels for you z3?
Replies: 1
Views: 562

Re: spare pannels for you z3?

Well, there's plenty of Z3's about.
Prices are low and they are well made. The larger engines deliver all the performance you'd want. In many ways an ideal base for a body conversion.
by lightning
Fri 19 Aug, 2016 17:06
Forum: Z3 roadster
Topic: clutch stop rubber
Replies: 15
Views: 3751

Re: clutch stop rubber

Well it seems you are alone in your interest. The USA Z3 forum rave about this modification, saying it transforms the car. I'll report back when l've fitted it!
by lightning
Fri 19 Aug, 2016 16:57
Forum: Z3 roadster
Topic: What's it worth? 3.0 Z3 Sport. 21k miles, 2 owners, 51 pla
Replies: 120
Views: 26216

Re: What's it worth? 3.0 Z3 Sport. 21k miles, 2 owners, 51

Interestingly (after all this talk of big money low mileage Z3's) there's a very nice looking 17,000 mile 2.8 at under £8,000 been sitting unsold on Ebay for weeks. Is anybody actually paying £12,000+ for these cars? There's one with 17,000 miles at £7495 and it seems nobody has nibbled. http://www....
by lightning
Wed 17 Aug, 2016 18:18
Forum: Z3 roadster
Topic: clutch stop rubber
Replies: 15
Views: 3751

Re: clutch stop rubber

Doesn't look like there's much interest here in the UK then.

I'll fit one and see if it improves the clutch action.
by lightning
Tue 16 Aug, 2016 20:24
Forum: Z3 roadster
Topic: clutch stop rubber
Replies: 15
Views: 3751

clutch stop rubber

There's a lot of positive comment on the US Z3 forum about fitting a bigger clutch pedal end stop rubber. Apparantly it removes the free play at the lower part of the pedal travel (adjustable so you still have enough to fully disengsge the clutch) and makes the car much nicer to drive. I must admit,...
by lightning
Fri 12 Aug, 2016 06:57
Forum: Z3 roadster
Topic: M44 Catalytic Converter
Replies: 4
Views: 1443

Re: M44 Catalytic Converter

I always use OEM parts where possible. But l just had to replace the CAT on my Defender and the price from Land Rover was £750!
So an aftermarket part went on, as you say a third the price of the OEM.
by lightning
Fri 12 Aug, 2016 06:48
Forum: Z3 roadster
Topic: The new arrival
Replies: 15
Views: 4298

Re: The new arrival

I fitted cruise control to my 3.0
It's a great feature, l use it every time l go on the motorway.
by lightning
Thu 11 Aug, 2016 19:01
Forum: Z3 roadster
Topic: The new arrival
Replies: 15
Views: 4298

Re: The new arrival

The red soft top looks superb on that silver Z.

I never thought the 3.0 had as much as 50bhp over the 2.8.
Looking at it, the 3.0 is 231bhp and the 2.8 is 193bhp. So 38bhp...l guess near enough.
by lightning
Wed 10 Aug, 2016 06:51
Forum: Z3 roadster
Topic: The new arrival
Replies: 15
Views: 4298

Re: The new arrival

There's not that much difference between the 2.8 and the 3.0. The 3.0 pulls better through the gears but in real terms both are very fast if pushed. My 3.0 will approach 40mpg if driven carefully....the same as my wife's 2012 Polo 1.2 did. I don't know how BMW do it. The 2.8 always managed over 30mpg.
by lightning
Mon 08 Aug, 2016 20:19
Forum: Z3 roadster
Topic: Windscreen woes
Replies: 21
Views: 5165

Re: Windscreen woes

Well, l took it in to BMW last Wednesday for a new windscreen, said they'd need it overnight "for the bonding to dry" Then on Thursday they called to say that the surround needed replacing (l assume they meant the rubber seal) and it would be done by Friday. So it's Monday evening and l've...
by lightning
Thu 04 Aug, 2016 13:54
Forum: Z3 roadster
Topic: Impala Brown with unusual options
Replies: 16
Views: 3419

Re: Impala Brown with unusual options

Well if it's as suggested a pilot build it could have any combination of parts fitted.
by lightning
Thu 04 Aug, 2016 07:06
Forum: Z3 roadster
Topic: Impala Brown with unusual options
Replies: 16
Views: 3419

Re: Impala Brown with unusual options

Yeah l don't generally like brown cars, but l do like that.
by lightning
Wed 03 Aug, 2016 09:01
Forum: Z3 roadster
Topic: Better handling- where to start?
Replies: 29
Views: 6927

Re: Better handling- where to start?

So if l ever need new shocks, what do l fit?
by lightning
Tue 02 Aug, 2016 21:14
Forum: Z3 roadster
Topic: Better handling- where to start?
Replies: 29
Views: 6927

Re: Better handling- where to start?

Well, my 2002 3.0 drives really well with none of the issues mentioned above. The car has done 56,000 miles and is in mint condition with no rust underneath on any parts. But it still has 56,000 miles. It is the Sport version so l don't know how much better that is. I had a 2.8 a few years ago and t...
by lightning
Tue 02 Aug, 2016 20:58
Forum: Z3 roadster
Topic: Putting a Z3 into storage?
Replies: 16
Views: 4325

Re: Putting a Z3 into storage?

It's a good idea to use the aircon (if fitted) once a month to stop the seals drying out.
by lightning
Sun 31 Jul, 2016 20:58
Forum: Z3 roadster
Topic: Putting a Z3 into storage?
Replies: 16
Views: 4325

Re: Putting a Z3 into storage?

If the garage floor is concrete, put a carpet or some other covering on it to prevent condensation.
by lightning
Sat 30 Jul, 2016 22:20
Forum: Z3 roadster
Topic: Putting a Z3 into storage?
Replies: 16
Views: 4325

Re: Putting a Z3 into storage?

How long are you planning to store it for? Less than 12 months in a dry garage you don't really need to do anything except leave the handbrake off and either remove the battery or leave a maintenance charger on it. I just put a 2002 BMW Mini Cooper back on the road, that had not been used for 11 yea...
by lightning
Sat 30 Jul, 2016 18:04
Forum: Z3 roadster
Topic: Windscreen woes
Replies: 21
Views: 5165

Re: Windscreen woes

My windscreen needs replacing and l contacted BMW for a quote, which was £450+VAT. Then l contacted my insurance company (Classicline) and they said they were fine with that, except that the excess would be £125 instead of £70. Also l would have to pay for the work and then send them the invoice. So...
by lightning
Sat 30 Jul, 2016 17:57
Forum: Z3 roadster
Topic: To buy... or not to buy..
Replies: 6
Views: 1889

Re: To buy... or not to buy..

Any update on this.

Did you buy the car? That's very cheap for an M Roadster with that mileage. Assuming it's in good condition of course and not been in an accident or anything.
by lightning
Thu 28 Jul, 2016 07:22
Forum: Z3 roadster
Topic: Just about to push the button
Replies: 20
Views: 2961

Re: Just about to push the button

A lot of car for under £1500.
by lightning
Wed 27 Jul, 2016 21:56
Forum: Z3 roadster
Topic: Just about to push the button
Replies: 20
Views: 2961

Re: Just about to push the button

You can buy the hardtop adaptor wiring harness from BMW for about £20 and the HRW switch is a similar price. Both just plug in to existing wiring.
by lightning
Wed 27 Jul, 2016 17:57
Forum: Z3 roadster
Topic: Just about to push the button
Replies: 20
Views: 2961

Re: Just about to push the button

To be honest at that price who cares about heated seats anyway!
by lightning
Tue 26 Jul, 2016 07:03
Forum: Z3 roadster
Topic: Does the ECU take time to settle down?
Replies: 26
Views: 6853

Re: Does the ECU take time to settle down?

This method is a recognised way to reset the ECU and is used by the RAC. It's called a "power latch". The procedure is as follows. Warm the engine up to operating temperature. Turn the engine off then turn the ignition back on, but do NOT start the engine. Take off the battery positive lea...
by lightning
Fri 22 Jul, 2016 07:14
Forum: Z3 roadster
Topic: What's it worth? 3.0 Z3 Sport. 21k miles, 2 owners, 51 pla
Replies: 120
Views: 26216

Re: What's it worth? 3.0 Z3 Sport. 21k miles, 2 owners, 51

I wonder what happened to the buyer, as Sytner told me it was "sold, a lot of phone calls and interest" I do think they are pushing the boat out at £17,000. It's possible to talk up prices at a main dealer's showroom but only up to a point. Maybe they are going to have a "Sale, previo...
by lightning
Fri 22 Jul, 2016 07:11
Forum: Z3 roadster
Topic: Cost to replace clutch
Replies: 21
Views: 10189

Re: Cost to replace clutch

The car has only done 55,000 miles so hopefully the DMF will be OK.

But if it needs a new one, it will still be no dearer than the BMW dealer quoted to replace just the clutch.