JOURNAL - Z3 Individual - Sold!
Performance/ Engine Cosmetics - Part 3
UUC Clutch Stop - 20/09/2008
To improve the drive of the Z3 I thought I'd begin at the lower end of the spectrum, fitting a UUC clutch stop I have reduced the amount of pedal travel; in my opinion this is such a worthwhile modification with regard to bang for buck.
UUC Clutch Stop - 20/09/2008
To improve the drive of the Z3 I thought I'd begin at the lower end of the spectrum, fitting a UUC clutch stop I have reduced the amount of pedal travel; in my opinion this is such a worthwhile modification with regard to bang for buck.
Last edited by yalden on Fri 28 Aug, 2009 10:36, edited 1 time in total.
Interior Makeover - Part 8
OEM 'R US - 20/09/2008
After getting sick and tired of my aftermarket floor mats getting caught up under my pedals and forever sliding around I bit the bullet and got hold of a genuine set. The aftermarket ones suited the interior well with the two tone edging, but the OEM ones make use of the all important carpet clips and for that reason were a must have!
OEM 'R US - 20/09/2008
After getting sick and tired of my aftermarket floor mats getting caught up under my pedals and forever sliding around I bit the bullet and got hold of a genuine set. The aftermarket ones suited the interior well with the two tone edging, but the OEM ones make use of the all important carpet clips and for that reason were a must have!
Last edited by yalden on Fri 28 Aug, 2009 10:36, edited 1 time in total.
After posting up a backlog of 5 updates it'd only be fair to add some more shots of the car; I made the most of the sun by treating the Z3 to a much needed clean (inside and out - although engine bay needs going over again) and of course I put the tonneau on before going for a drive
Last edited by yalden on Fri 28 Aug, 2009 10:36, edited 1 time in total.
- Roadmonster
- Z Register organiser
- Joined: Sun 02 Jul, 2006 10:43
- Posts: 151
- Location: Goxhill
It's nice to see you using Mirage stainless and not the cheap knock offs that are about. If you want Martin to make you a custom piece he will be quite happy to do so and you can be assured of a perfect fit as he uses my Z3 to make his templates and adjust fitting. My engine bay is outstanding thanks to him and he has done several lovely special bits for me over the years.yalden wrote:Performance/ Engine Cosmetics - Part 2
Magpie - 28/08/2008
Being a bit of a magpie, I decided to fit some parts I'd kept my mitts on following the sale of my E36:
Mirage Stainless service inspection cap cover
Mirage Stainless brake fluid reservoir cover
Mirage Stainless brake fluid reservoir cap cover
Mirage Stainless header tank cap cover
In addition, to compliment the blue hose I fitted a blue citroen washer cap!
Click to enlarge
BMW - Bitch Makes Whupass.......(Topless)
Yeah, Martin has always provided top service... I really need to order a few more bits from him!Roadmonster wrote:It's nice to see you using Mirage stainless and not the cheap knock offs that are about. If you want Martin to make you a custom piece he will be quite happy to do so and you can be assured of a perfect fit as he uses my Z3 to make his templates and adjust fitting. My engine bay is outstanding thanks to him and he has done several lovely special bits for me over the years.
Any shots of your bay? Pm them across
Thanks mate, yeah likewise, I was speaking to Andy last night about booking it in for the rear wings/doors/front bumper to be repainted and he mentioned your car, I just need to acquire a few more bits first and then I'll get it all sprayed at the same time!pablo wrote:lovely work as always chris. id love to have a look and hear the sound of the gruppe m!
Why don't you come along to the BMW meet on the 28th? It's at Cheddar Gorge so it's a fair ol' trek but should be a bit of a laugh (weather providing).
Hi Yalden.yalden wrote:Thanks mate, yeah likewise, I was speaking to Andy last night about booking it in for the rear wings/doors/front bumper to be repainted and he mentioned your car, I just need to acquire a few more bits first and then I'll get it all sprayed at the same time!pablo wrote:lovely work as always chris. id love to have a look and hear the sound of the gruppe m!
Why don't you come along to the BMW meet on the 28th? It's at Cheddar Gorge so it's a fair ol' trek but should be a bit of a laugh (weather providing).
Always admired the work your doing to your Zed but how come you need to have the wings and doors resprayed? looks OK in the pics?
Tim.
Thanks,
The front bumper has a scuff on it's lower edge, hence the respray.
The rear quarters have lots of small chips/marks on them, obviously due to their slightly flared nature they are prone to stonechips from the front wheels - after a respray I'll definately purchased a set of magnetic guards. They aren't too obvious from a few steps back but once up close they are unbareable to my eyes (black really shows up marks worse than any other colour too!).
The doors have a couple small car park dents in them, I looked at dent removal but at £150 it seemed worthwhile getting them repainted, that way any small marks can be waved goodbye too!
The front bumper has a scuff on it's lower edge, hence the respray.
The rear quarters have lots of small chips/marks on them, obviously due to their slightly flared nature they are prone to stonechips from the front wheels - after a respray I'll definately purchased a set of magnetic guards. They aren't too obvious from a few steps back but once up close they are unbareable to my eyes (black really shows up marks worse than any other colour too!).
The doors have a couple small car park dents in them, I looked at dent removal but at £150 it seemed worthwhile getting them repainted, that way any small marks can be waved goodbye too!
I guess it depends how badly the paint is chipped, the rear arches on mine are peppered but looking closely it seemed to be the clearcote that has suffered. I gave both sides a really good polish with some Scratch X which has taken alot of them out, as yours is black like you say its bit more tricky than the silver. I bought the magnetic stone guards as a must and they cover up the few chips that are there anywaysyalden wrote:Thanks,
The front bumper has a scuff on it's lower edge, hence the respray.
The rear quarters have lots of small chips/marks on them, obviously due to their slightly flared nature they are prone to stonechips from the front wheels - after a respray I'll definately purchased a set of magnetic guards. They aren't too obvious from a few steps back but once up close they are unbareable to my eyes (black really shows up marks worse than any other colour too!).
The doors have a couple small car park dents in them, I looked at dent removal but at £150 it seemed worthwhile getting them repainted, that way any small marks can be waved goodbye too!
It might be just as cheap or not much more to get the whole car resprayed to ensure a colour match, that would be the only thing that would put me off a partial respray.
Tim.
i like the sound of that.... is there a link to follow regarding this.yalden wrote:Thanks mate, yeah likewise, I was speaking to Andy last night about booking it in for the rear wings/doors/front bumper to be repainted and he mentioned your car, I just need to acquire a few more bits first and then I'll get it all sprayed at the same time!pablo wrote:lovely work as always chris. id love to have a look and hear the sound of the gruppe m!
Why don't you come along to the BMW meet on the 28th? It's at Cheddar Gorge so it's a fair ol' trek but should be a bit of a laugh (weather providing).
mines back at andys on the 15 oct....ive an m front end for mine
So much for keeping it standard...pablo wrote:i like the sound of that.... is there a link to follow regarding this.yalden wrote:Thanks mate, yeah likewise, I was speaking to Andy last night about booking it in for the rear wings/doors/front bumper to be repainted and he mentioned your car, I just need to acquire a few more bits first and then I'll get it all sprayed at the same time!pablo wrote:lovely work as always chris. id love to have a look and hear the sound of the gruppe m!
Why don't you come along to the BMW meet on the 28th? It's at Cheddar Gorge so it's a fair ol' trek but should be a bit of a laugh (weather providing).
mines back at andys on the 15 oct....ive an m front end for mine
CLICK HERE FOR MEET DETAILS
Don't expect a massive turn out, but it's not often we have any kind of BMW get together in the SW
Exterior Makeover - Part 5
Ooo errr - 02/10/2008
Another euro touch that I wanted to carry over to the Z3 was something I first ran on my E36... initially I was put off due to the Z3's integral bonnet/grill combo but after seeing one fitted to an E46 I decided to go with it!
Can you guess what it is yet...
Click to enlarge
Ooo errr - 02/10/2008
Another euro touch that I wanted to carry over to the Z3 was something I first ran on my E36... initially I was put off due to the Z3's integral bonnet/grill combo but after seeing one fitted to an E46 I decided to go with it!
Can you guess what it is yet...
Click to enlarge
Last edited by yalden on Fri 28 Aug, 2009 10:36, edited 1 time in total.
- Justin Time
- Joined: Thu 22 Jun, 2006 20:34
- Posts: 2183
- Location: Kent
I haven't had a chance to fit it properly yet, I gave it a very quick night time trial run when I got home from work and found it inside the door just to make sure it fits etc... but no photos!
The bra thing is something I have always liked, I'm not sure why exactly, I guess because it's an extra detail; although admitadly I'm conscious that it may not work on the Z3 as it's a trend normally reserved for straight line bonnets.
Here is my E36 wearing its bra, just to show you the concept...(click to enlarge)
At least if it doesn't work I have both the bonnet bra and bumper bra, so if nothing else it'll help to prevent stone chips while going on long road trips...! lol
The bra thing is something I have always liked, I'm not sure why exactly, I guess because it's an extra detail; although admitadly I'm conscious that it may not work on the Z3 as it's a trend normally reserved for straight line bonnets.
Here is my E36 wearing its bra, just to show you the concept...(click to enlarge)
At least if it doesn't work I have both the bonnet bra and bumper bra, so if nothing else it'll help to prevent stone chips while going on long road trips...! lol
Exterior Makeover - Part 6
No More Gills - 03/10/2008
I have always been a fan of the Z3M's replacement for the regular Z3 side gills, firstly I prefer the retro design and secondly I prefer the loss of the oversized BMW badge!
While having them sprayed in BMW's finest 303 Cosmos Black I ensured to have the recess for the //M badge smoothed out as I'm not trying to build a replica.
Click to enlarge
No More Gills - 03/10/2008
I have always been a fan of the Z3M's replacement for the regular Z3 side gills, firstly I prefer the retro design and secondly I prefer the loss of the oversized BMW badge!
While having them sprayed in BMW's finest 303 Cosmos Black I ensured to have the recess for the //M badge smoothed out as I'm not trying to build a replica.
Click to enlarge
Last edited by yalden on Fri 28 Aug, 2009 10:36, edited 2 times in total.
Exterior Makeover - Part 7a
Painted Plastic > Plain Plastic- 03/10/2008
I hate plain black plastic, especially when polishing my car... thankfully the Z3 doesn't have much on show, even better yet the main bit is easily removed, rubbed down, primed and sprayed. A turd attempt at a photo, but it's getting dark and I'm sure you get the idea...
Click to enlarge
Painted Plastic > Plain Plastic- 03/10/2008
I hate plain black plastic, especially when polishing my car... thankfully the Z3 doesn't have much on show, even better yet the main bit is easily removed, rubbed down, primed and sprayed. A turd attempt at a photo, but it's getting dark and I'm sure you get the idea...
Click to enlarge
Last edited by yalden on Fri 28 Aug, 2009 10:36, edited 1 time in total.
I think I'd be a little stumped with what to do if I had your car though, I'd say the Z4's are pretty complete as they are... even mine was supposed to be left as it came... but soon enough I drew up a small list of things I needed to put right with the carpablo wrote:feel jealous when i see you doing these little touches!
Well I had chance today to give the car a quick clean... before taking some regular photos I thought I'd trial fit the bra. It's a great fit, much better than the E36 variant. There are 6 elasticated straps that ensure a balanced fit, overall I like the aggressive look it gives and the 2 minute fitting time is a bonus... despite this, I think it'll come into it's own a little more later down the line, so until then it can stay in the box!BenZ3-2.0 wrote:lets see it on?
(Click to enlarge)
Following the above escapade, I ventured out for some end-of-day photos, unfortunately the sun went down earlier that anticipated!
(Click to enlarge)
Exterior Makeover - Part 8
The man with the Golden bolts - 14/10/2008
The first parts of the wheel build arrived from Germany today...
The man with the Golden bolts - 14/10/2008
The first parts of the wheel build arrived from Germany today...
Last edited by yalden on Fri 28 Aug, 2009 10:36, edited 1 time in total.
Thanks, personally I love working on little projects such as this! I rebuilt a set of 3-piece Hartge Design E's 2 years ago as part of my E36 build. I had new custom dishes etc, it was a great opportunity for me to do something myself, rather than just hand it to a bodyshop!LEX77 wrote:Rather you than me mate
bet they'll look great when finished though !
cheers & beers
Exterior Makeover - Part 9a
Mirror Mirror on the drawer- 15/10/2008
I should really have saved this update until the weekend/next week as they'd be sprayed and fitted by then, but what the heck... yet another parcel arrived today, so here's another update from the Yaldenator...Genuine Z3M wing mirrors with heated glass.
(Click to enlarge)
They are so much nicer than the standard BOX-TV style ones, I can't wait to get them fitted!
Mirror Mirror on the drawer- 15/10/2008
I should really have saved this update until the weekend/next week as they'd be sprayed and fitted by then, but what the heck... yet another parcel arrived today, so here's another update from the Yaldenator...Genuine Z3M wing mirrors with heated glass.
(Click to enlarge)
They are so much nicer than the standard BOX-TV style ones, I can't wait to get them fitted!
Last edited by yalden on Fri 28 Aug, 2009 10:37, edited 1 time in total.
Really unsure about the bra It doesn't look too bad on black as it blends in somewhat but no matter how careful you are it will scratch the finish and is ideal for trapping grit. If your serious about protecting the front end I would get a clear bra fitted, well worth it and had this done to my Cooper S, hardly tell its there and you keep the looks
Tim.
Tim.
As above; I ran one on my E36 without any troubles. The key is to ensure the inside padding of the bra is always clean, I generally hoover/clean it while doing the interior of my car. Also, I would only put it on the car following a wash, to ensure I don't rub road dirt into the paint. It'd only be used on nice days so there's no fear of it getting wet or dirty.
Clear bra's make much more sense in terms of chip prevention, I'll agree that!
Clear bra's make much more sense in terms of chip prevention, I'll agree that!
Exterior Makeover - Part 10a
BMW Aerodynamics - 27/10/2008
Before getting the mirrors painted I decided it'd be worthwhile acquiring a few more exterior additions first and sending them all into the bodyshop at the same time.
There are only 4 remaining exterior body parts I'd like on the car; after selling a few parts following a garage clear out, I decided to invest some paypal funds towards one of the 4 parts.
I phoned BMW, armed with the necessary part number, only to find out that the item has been discontinued! A quick search on Google and I'd located an American enthusiast that'd posted on a board about a 'new and unused' BMW aero spoiler that he'd bought for his '98 Z3. I contacted him to explain that the spoiler he'd bought would only fit facelift Z3's and as a result he sent it back to the original seller. I then contacted the original seller and after many messages managed to convince him to agree to ship internationally! Hurrah! So on order is the below:-
(Click to enlarge)
Part #5
I have a feeling that the ETK image was an initial design which was superceeded in practise when the spoiler came into manufacture; you can see below that the actual spoiler has a raised 3rd brake light mould, presumably to maintain good visibility of the brake light when in operation.
Fitted examples:-
BMW Aerodynamics - 27/10/2008
Before getting the mirrors painted I decided it'd be worthwhile acquiring a few more exterior additions first and sending them all into the bodyshop at the same time.
There are only 4 remaining exterior body parts I'd like on the car; after selling a few parts following a garage clear out, I decided to invest some paypal funds towards one of the 4 parts.
I phoned BMW, armed with the necessary part number, only to find out that the item has been discontinued! A quick search on Google and I'd located an American enthusiast that'd posted on a board about a 'new and unused' BMW aero spoiler that he'd bought for his '98 Z3. I contacted him to explain that the spoiler he'd bought would only fit facelift Z3's and as a result he sent it back to the original seller. I then contacted the original seller and after many messages managed to convince him to agree to ship internationally! Hurrah! So on order is the below:-
(Click to enlarge)
Part #5
I have a feeling that the ETK image was an initial design which was superceeded in practise when the spoiler came into manufacture; you can see below that the actual spoiler has a raised 3rd brake light mould, presumably to maintain good visibility of the brake light when in operation.
Fitted examples:-
Last edited by yalden on Fri 28 Aug, 2009 10:37, edited 3 times in total.
Maintenance
Inspection 1 Service - 07/11/2008
With the car being due an Inspection 1 service; I phoned around the local dealerships and found that Oceans Plymouth was over £100 cheaper than Westerly Exeter, better yet, it was cheaper than Oakdens of Plymouth (a local Porsche and BMW specialist). Despite being cheaper than it's local competitors, I still felt that £250 for an Inspection 1 seemed a touch heavy. I looked closer to work and found a specialist firm based in Fenny Bridges, Devon (12 miles from Exeter) called The Paddock, the cost of the service came to £155; better yet the customer service was brilliant, they allowed me to drop my car off the late in the evening prior to the day of the service and they communicated with me the following day to update me with each process. No additional work was carried out without my authorisation.
I'd highly recommend the team, their details can be seen on their WEBSITE
Inspection 1 Service - 07/11/2008
With the car being due an Inspection 1 service; I phoned around the local dealerships and found that Oceans Plymouth was over £100 cheaper than Westerly Exeter, better yet, it was cheaper than Oakdens of Plymouth (a local Porsche and BMW specialist). Despite being cheaper than it's local competitors, I still felt that £250 for an Inspection 1 seemed a touch heavy. I looked closer to work and found a specialist firm based in Fenny Bridges, Devon (12 miles from Exeter) called The Paddock, the cost of the service came to £155; better yet the customer service was brilliant, they allowed me to drop my car off the late in the evening prior to the day of the service and they communicated with me the following day to update me with each process. No additional work was carried out without my authorisation.
I'd highly recommend the team, their details can be seen on their WEBSITE
Last edited by yalden on Fri 28 Aug, 2009 10:39, edited 1 time in total.
Exterior Makeover - Part 7b
US-Spec Licence Surround - 16/10/2008
I’m forever looking for inspiration and ideas when it comes to cars; a while ago I was browsing a US based forum and noticed that their cars have a rear registration plate surround to suit the regular US sized licence plate. I thought it would’ve been a nice touch to run one of these surrounds with a UK road legal plate; this is possible due to my personalised registration only containing 5 digits.
As usual, I managed to strike gold when a forum member made a post to say that he actually had the US spec rear plate surround with a square motorbike plate fitted, he wasn’t sure if he liked the square plate on the rear so I made him an offer; in true enthusiast style he refused and offered to hand it over free of charge!
I began by trimming the surround so that its base didn’t extend down to accommodate the deeper US plates, leaving approximately 110mm of depth (regular UK size).
I then dropped it into the body shop for painting at the same time as I handed over my Z3M wing vents last month.
Earlier this month I ordered a road legal registration plate; plain with no border. I masked the plate and carefully used a jigsaw to trim its edges off, reducing the length down to 335mm for a snug fit within the new surround, a final run over with some wet and dry saw a nice smooth edge with rounded corners.
Today I got around to fitting the surround with new plate, a small touch… but I feel it adds a little character and individuality while also remaining road legal.
Click to enlarge
US-Spec Licence Surround - 16/10/2008
I’m forever looking for inspiration and ideas when it comes to cars; a while ago I was browsing a US based forum and noticed that their cars have a rear registration plate surround to suit the regular US sized licence plate. I thought it would’ve been a nice touch to run one of these surrounds with a UK road legal plate; this is possible due to my personalised registration only containing 5 digits.
As usual, I managed to strike gold when a forum member made a post to say that he actually had the US spec rear plate surround with a square motorbike plate fitted, he wasn’t sure if he liked the square plate on the rear so I made him an offer; in true enthusiast style he refused and offered to hand it over free of charge!
I began by trimming the surround so that its base didn’t extend down to accommodate the deeper US plates, leaving approximately 110mm of depth (regular UK size).
I then dropped it into the body shop for painting at the same time as I handed over my Z3M wing vents last month.
Earlier this month I ordered a road legal registration plate; plain with no border. I masked the plate and carefully used a jigsaw to trim its edges off, reducing the length down to 335mm for a snug fit within the new surround, a final run over with some wet and dry saw a nice smooth edge with rounded corners.
Today I got around to fitting the surround with new plate, a small touch… but I feel it adds a little character and individuality while also remaining road legal.
Click to enlarge
Last edited by yalden on Fri 28 Aug, 2009 10:39, edited 1 time in total.
Audio - Part 1
Becker Quality Sound - 17/10/2008
Although I was always contempt with the OEM BMW Business RDS stereo and 6-Disc CD Changer, it was somewhat flawed by its lack of line-out channels and incompatibility with MP3 CD's. In addition to this it looked somewhat dated.
I'm not a fan of multicoloured flashing headunits or flip out screens. I wanted a replacement that maintained an OEM look and feel, something with elements of class that would look at home set in the dash while also have the capability to deliver top quality sound, with the added option of line-out channels for any future audio upgrades.
After a little bit of research I came to find that the words 'Harman' seem popular amongst many BMW enthusiasts, the Harman group are highly regarded as one of the better manufacturers of OEM headunits, producing unfound clarity through both their Harman Kardon brand, and also their Harman Becker brand - incidentally Harman Kardon are the key supplier of BMW upgraded audio setups through the options list. A little more digging unveiled that Harman Becker supply a similar service to the likes of Ferrari, Mercedes and in the case of the original Becker Traffic Pro, also BMW; superseding models such as the Becker Indianapolis dropped the BMW specific display format, although as can be seen below; a few fanatics took it upon themselves to dismantle older traffic pro models and rebuild the newer Indianapolis models to reproduce the ability to switch between positive/negative display colours (allowing BMW’esque amber on black display).
(Click to enlarge)
I don’t have the knowledge or time to carry out such a conversion so I decided to live with a newer model and accept that it won’t display amber text against a black screen. Newer Becker models are released with a small range of illumination colours; red, yellow and green. The red illumination seems to be the common choice amongst BMW owners; providing a good match to the amber dial lights, it seemed the perfect choice; as for which headunit to go for, I opted for the Becker Mexico Pro MP3 7932; it’s virtually identical in appearance to the Indianapolis models (albeit non-sat nav), however it boasts additional features which have more appeal to me as I’m more than contempt with my Tom Tom.
(Click to enlarge)
Unfortunately I haven't yet been able to fit the headunit as I need to purchase the required connection block to link the headunit to the fitted BMW jack. I'm hoping Becker can supply this, otherwise I'll need to get out my soldering iron and start splicing.
The only downfall is that the line out channels aren't present in the form of RCA connectors; instead I need a Becker adapter that will plug into a custom socket on the rear of the unit and then present me with the standardised line-out sockets... more money to be spent
Becker Quality Sound - 17/10/2008
Although I was always contempt with the OEM BMW Business RDS stereo and 6-Disc CD Changer, it was somewhat flawed by its lack of line-out channels and incompatibility with MP3 CD's. In addition to this it looked somewhat dated.
I'm not a fan of multicoloured flashing headunits or flip out screens. I wanted a replacement that maintained an OEM look and feel, something with elements of class that would look at home set in the dash while also have the capability to deliver top quality sound, with the added option of line-out channels for any future audio upgrades.
After a little bit of research I came to find that the words 'Harman' seem popular amongst many BMW enthusiasts, the Harman group are highly regarded as one of the better manufacturers of OEM headunits, producing unfound clarity through both their Harman Kardon brand, and also their Harman Becker brand - incidentally Harman Kardon are the key supplier of BMW upgraded audio setups through the options list. A little more digging unveiled that Harman Becker supply a similar service to the likes of Ferrari, Mercedes and in the case of the original Becker Traffic Pro, also BMW; superseding models such as the Becker Indianapolis dropped the BMW specific display format, although as can be seen below; a few fanatics took it upon themselves to dismantle older traffic pro models and rebuild the newer Indianapolis models to reproduce the ability to switch between positive/negative display colours (allowing BMW’esque amber on black display).
(Click to enlarge)
I don’t have the knowledge or time to carry out such a conversion so I decided to live with a newer model and accept that it won’t display amber text against a black screen. Newer Becker models are released with a small range of illumination colours; red, yellow and green. The red illumination seems to be the common choice amongst BMW owners; providing a good match to the amber dial lights, it seemed the perfect choice; as for which headunit to go for, I opted for the Becker Mexico Pro MP3 7932; it’s virtually identical in appearance to the Indianapolis models (albeit non-sat nav), however it boasts additional features which have more appeal to me as I’m more than contempt with my Tom Tom.
(Click to enlarge)
Unfortunately I haven't yet been able to fit the headunit as I need to purchase the required connection block to link the headunit to the fitted BMW jack. I'm hoping Becker can supply this, otherwise I'll need to get out my soldering iron and start splicing.
The only downfall is that the line out channels aren't present in the form of RCA connectors; instead I need a Becker adapter that will plug into a custom socket on the rear of the unit and then present me with the standardised line-out sockets... more money to be spent
Last edited by yalden on Fri 28 Aug, 2009 10:39, edited 3 times in total.
Audio - Part 1b
Becker Quality Sound - 18/10/2008
I purchased the necessary harness to link the car audio loom to that of the Becker headunit, the Autoleads product retailed at £10.00 which didn't seem too bad; although cheaper could have been had online, I was desperate to get it fitted!
Excuse the lame photo, it's a bit dark to be getting much clarity free-hand. I am more than happy with the headunit, it suits the Z3 aesthetics perfectly. I just need to work out all its functions and get it set up to my preference.
(Click to enlarge)
Becker Quality Sound - 18/10/2008
I purchased the necessary harness to link the car audio loom to that of the Becker headunit, the Autoleads product retailed at £10.00 which didn't seem too bad; although cheaper could have been had online, I was desperate to get it fitted!
Excuse the lame photo, it's a bit dark to be getting much clarity free-hand. I am more than happy with the headunit, it suits the Z3 aesthetics perfectly. I just need to work out all its functions and get it set up to my preference.
(Click to enlarge)
Last edited by yalden on Fri 28 Aug, 2009 10:39, edited 2 times in total.
Interior Makeover - Part 9
AccessoriZ3 - 25/12/2008
Browsing RealOEM is proving to be a costly past time, albeit very interesting. I found out that BMW could supply a very neat BMW embroided umbrella with leather stitched sheeth as an interior accessory to replace the passenger footwell cargo net.
However great the idea, I couldn't really justify the expense when there are so many other items on my 'must-have' list; it's times like these when it's great to have close friends that understand your needs and are aware of the upcoming festive occasion... officially my first 2008 christmas present... expect fitted photos to be included later
(Click to enlarge)
AccessoriZ3 - 25/12/2008
Browsing RealOEM is proving to be a costly past time, albeit very interesting. I found out that BMW could supply a very neat BMW embroided umbrella with leather stitched sheeth as an interior accessory to replace the passenger footwell cargo net.
However great the idea, I couldn't really justify the expense when there are so many other items on my 'must-have' list; it's times like these when it's great to have close friends that understand your needs and are aware of the upcoming festive occasion... officially my first 2008 christmas present... expect fitted photos to be included later
(Click to enlarge)
Last edited by yalden on Fri 28 Aug, 2009 10:39, edited 4 times in total.
Interior Makeover - Part 10
AccessoriZ3 - 19/12/2008
Wanting to add more OEM touches to my car I decided to purchase two genuine BMW parts that seemed exempt towards any Z3 model. They are just part of my bid to recreate a boot setup similar to that I'd achieved in my previous car (Click thumbnail link below)
I first began this OEM+'esque build shortly after taking ownership of the car; acquiring a VW zippable cargo net, Castrol Oil kit, BMW Oil bag and BMW tyre bag. Taking this a little further I have now purchased a BMW Fire Extinguisher with bracket/mount and a BMW First aid kit.
(Click to enlarge)
I decided to mount the fire extinguisher adacent the HK amp position in the boot; for now I've located the first aid kit inside my cargo net! The fire extinguisher is obviously of some age now, the markings are worn and as a result I'm likely to rub it down and paint it in hellrot - as per my previous E36 setup.
(Click to enlarge)
Following on from the above, I thought about other BMW products that the Z3 seemed to lack... one such item is the BMW Glove Box Rechargeable Torch! Extremely useful and a great little gadget, I managed to get hold of one with the bracket and a length of wiring... I'm just contemplating where best to position it, the glove box seems the obvious place but it's wedge like shape doesn't seem to help matters, the search goes on...
(Click to enlarge)
The final addition of this ilk was a random find while removing the glove box rechargeable torch from my local breakers, an amber glove box light - ideal for providing some form of illumination for finding things at night!
(Click to enlarge)
I'm not particularly switched on when it comes to electrical wiring, but I'm assuming that I can run both of the above off of the cigarette lighter feed - seeing as this is ignition fed?
AccessoriZ3 - 19/12/2008
Wanting to add more OEM touches to my car I decided to purchase two genuine BMW parts that seemed exempt towards any Z3 model. They are just part of my bid to recreate a boot setup similar to that I'd achieved in my previous car (Click thumbnail link below)
I first began this OEM+'esque build shortly after taking ownership of the car; acquiring a VW zippable cargo net, Castrol Oil kit, BMW Oil bag and BMW tyre bag. Taking this a little further I have now purchased a BMW Fire Extinguisher with bracket/mount and a BMW First aid kit.
(Click to enlarge)
I decided to mount the fire extinguisher adacent the HK amp position in the boot; for now I've located the first aid kit inside my cargo net! The fire extinguisher is obviously of some age now, the markings are worn and as a result I'm likely to rub it down and paint it in hellrot - as per my previous E36 setup.
(Click to enlarge)
Following on from the above, I thought about other BMW products that the Z3 seemed to lack... one such item is the BMW Glove Box Rechargeable Torch! Extremely useful and a great little gadget, I managed to get hold of one with the bracket and a length of wiring... I'm just contemplating where best to position it, the glove box seems the obvious place but it's wedge like shape doesn't seem to help matters, the search goes on...
(Click to enlarge)
The final addition of this ilk was a random find while removing the glove box rechargeable torch from my local breakers, an amber glove box light - ideal for providing some form of illumination for finding things at night!
(Click to enlarge)
I'm not particularly switched on when it comes to electrical wiring, but I'm assuming that I can run both of the above off of the cigarette lighter feed - seeing as this is ignition fed?
Last edited by yalden on Fri 28 Aug, 2009 10:39, edited 1 time in total.
Miscellaneous
ZRoadster Forum Calandar - 09/01/2009
A fellow member of the ZRoadster forum did a sterling job of putting together a forum calandar for 2009, a great way to raise a little cash for the site while also giving everyone a good excuse to clean their cars and take some nice photos, I was lucky enough to have one of my photos appear on the front cover and also on the month of October; albeit a silhouette.
Click to enlarge
ZRoadster Forum Calandar - 09/01/2009
A fellow member of the ZRoadster forum did a sterling job of putting together a forum calandar for 2009, a great way to raise a little cash for the site while also giving everyone a good excuse to clean their cars and take some nice photos, I was lucky enough to have one of my photos appear on the front cover and also on the month of October; albeit a silhouette.
Click to enlarge
Last edited by yalden on Fri 28 Aug, 2009 10:41, edited 2 times in total.
Performance/Engine Cosmetics - Part 4
OEM Gloss Black Exhaust Tips - 17/01/2009
The standard chrome exhaust trims were starting to show their age, they had began to perish and crack so it was time for a replacement. I like the shape/size of the OEM trims so the decision was taken to keep with what I had, however after seeing fellow Z3Roadster forum member RonZ's car last year I decided to order the gloss black version.
Click to enlarge
OEM Gloss Black Exhaust Tips - 17/01/2009
The standard chrome exhaust trims were starting to show their age, they had began to perish and crack so it was time for a replacement. I like the shape/size of the OEM trims so the decision was taken to keep with what I had, however after seeing fellow Z3Roadster forum member RonZ's car last year I decided to order the gloss black version.
Click to enlarge
Last edited by yalden on Fri 28 Aug, 2009 10:41, edited 3 times in total.
Miscellaneous
Full Valet - 24/01/2009
After much use on Englands salty roads, it was time to show the Z3 a little tender care...
Click to enlarge
A quick before shot...
After...
Engine bay...
Full Valet - 24/01/2009
After much use on Englands salty roads, it was time to show the Z3 a little tender care...
Click to enlarge
A quick before shot...
After...
Engine bay...
Last edited by yalden on Fri 28 Aug, 2009 10:41, edited 2 times in total.
Exterior Makeover - Part 11
Amber Hues - 10/02/2009
I decided to implement a little more subtle 'euro' influence to the car, this took the form of orange side repeaters courtesy of a fellow Zroadster forum member and also a new pair of OEM US-Spec amber front bumper marker lights. I love the contrast against the black
Click to enlarge
Amber Hues - 10/02/2009
I decided to implement a little more subtle 'euro' influence to the car, this took the form of orange side repeaters courtesy of a fellow Zroadster forum member and also a new pair of OEM US-Spec amber front bumper marker lights. I love the contrast against the black
Click to enlarge
Last edited by yalden on Fri 28 Aug, 2009 10:41, edited 2 times in total.
Interior Makeover - Part 9b
AccessoriZ3 - 26/12/2008
Well I finally got round to taking some photos of the umbrella fitted, not the best shot in the world but you get the idea. It's located in the passenger footwell, in place of the usual 'cargo-net'; which incidently has been relocated to the drivers side footwell.
(Click to enlarge)
AccessoriZ3 - 26/12/2008
Well I finally got round to taking some photos of the umbrella fitted, not the best shot in the world but you get the idea. It's located in the passenger footwell, in place of the usual 'cargo-net'; which incidently has been relocated to the drivers side footwell.
(Click to enlarge)
Last edited by yalden on Fri 28 Aug, 2009 10:41, edited 2 times in total.
Cheers Katie... glad to see another E36'er looking to join the fold! Unfortunately for me I bought at the wrong time, narrowly missing out at the bargains the recession has recently given us... I could've got myself an M if I'd waited a couple months!Katie_K wrote:ohh I love the idea of having the brolly fitted, so handy
Shes coming along very quickly
Saying that, I love the spec/colour combination on my roadster so I'm still happy enough! And the cost savings help towards a deposit!
Good hunting and make sure you get the model that best suits you... (Imola red?)