JOURNAL - Z3 Individual - Sold!
Audio - Part 2a
Custom Sub Build - 15/02/2009
I was lucky enough to snap up the custom sub build from Z3roadster forum member 'Mikemac' earlier this month; following payment I arranged a courier to collect the unit from him and bring it down to sunny Cornwall.
Upon arrival I decided to take some photos of how it looked.
(Click to enlarge)
This is the OEM part it is to replace (rear glove box lid):
(Click to enlarge)
Needless to say, credit is certainly due to Mikes dad who did a sterling job at recreating the lines and fitment of the original rear glove box lid. I'm not particularly educated when it comes to acoustics, or audio products but I'm sure I can soon enough learn; however it seems fair to say that the Elemental Designs 6.5" subwoofer included in the sale certainly seems to fulfil my needs on paper.
I promised Mike I'd look after the unit and in keeping with my word I can confirm that the unit has been received by Bespoke Leathering, Birmingham who are currently looking into trimming the unit in black nappa leather (as it is currently painted black) and the potential of adding some Arizona Sun coloured stitching around the perimeter of the sub recess.
I'll keep this thread up to date on the progress of the build.
Custom Sub Build - 15/02/2009
I was lucky enough to snap up the custom sub build from Z3roadster forum member 'Mikemac' earlier this month; following payment I arranged a courier to collect the unit from him and bring it down to sunny Cornwall.
Upon arrival I decided to take some photos of how it looked.
(Click to enlarge)
This is the OEM part it is to replace (rear glove box lid):
(Click to enlarge)
Needless to say, credit is certainly due to Mikes dad who did a sterling job at recreating the lines and fitment of the original rear glove box lid. I'm not particularly educated when it comes to acoustics, or audio products but I'm sure I can soon enough learn; however it seems fair to say that the Elemental Designs 6.5" subwoofer included in the sale certainly seems to fulfil my needs on paper.
I promised Mike I'd look after the unit and in keeping with my word I can confirm that the unit has been received by Bespoke Leathering, Birmingham who are currently looking into trimming the unit in black nappa leather (as it is currently painted black) and the potential of adding some Arizona Sun coloured stitching around the perimeter of the sub recess.
I'll keep this thread up to date on the progress of the build.
Last edited by yalden on Fri 28 Aug, 2009 10:43, edited 3 times in total.
Interior Makeover - Part 10
Custom Armrest- 17/02/2009
During my usual ebay rounds, I managed to spot a product usually sold on Roadster Solutions for approximately £50 + P&P from the US.
I managed to win the auction for a touch under £40 delivered, so all in all I feel I got a good deal.
The item in question is a custom black leather armrest (something I have missed since owning a Z3), I'm extremely impressed with the fitment of the item:-
(Click to enlarge)
I intend to purchase the OEM BMW Coin & Cup holder accessory later this month, I can confirm that this armrest will fit neatly into the rear pocket of this unit and should prove a tidy accessory in the process.
Custom Armrest- 17/02/2009
During my usual ebay rounds, I managed to spot a product usually sold on Roadster Solutions for approximately £50 + P&P from the US.
I managed to win the auction for a touch under £40 delivered, so all in all I feel I got a good deal.
The item in question is a custom black leather armrest (something I have missed since owning a Z3), I'm extremely impressed with the fitment of the item:-
(Click to enlarge)
I intend to purchase the OEM BMW Coin & Cup holder accessory later this month, I can confirm that this armrest will fit neatly into the rear pocket of this unit and should prove a tidy accessory in the process.
Last edited by yalden on Fri 28 Aug, 2009 10:43, edited 2 times in total.
Audio - Part 3
Spaghetti Junction - 22/02/2009
Knowing that my sub enclosure would soon be returning from the retrimmers I thought it'd be useful to get a head start on the installation!
With the help of a friend I was able to strip the car right down so that the necessary phonos/remote/speaker cables could all be run neatly through the car adjacent the OEM loom. We had to remove the boot lining, the roll bars, the rear storage compartment and roll bar shrouds, the rear seatbelt, the n/s sill and footwell cover, the glove box and the centre console (approx 6hr job - although could be done in half the time now knowing how it all comes apart).
It's only when taking the car apart like this that I realised how well built it is, needless to say, we ended up with 3 screws left over and not a clue where they were meant to go
(Click to enlarge)
And a couple photos to prove it all went back together in the right place:-
(Click to enlarge)
Spaghetti Junction - 22/02/2009
Knowing that my sub enclosure would soon be returning from the retrimmers I thought it'd be useful to get a head start on the installation!
With the help of a friend I was able to strip the car right down so that the necessary phonos/remote/speaker cables could all be run neatly through the car adjacent the OEM loom. We had to remove the boot lining, the roll bars, the rear storage compartment and roll bar shrouds, the rear seatbelt, the n/s sill and footwell cover, the glove box and the centre console (approx 6hr job - although could be done in half the time now knowing how it all comes apart).
It's only when taking the car apart like this that I realised how well built it is, needless to say, we ended up with 3 screws left over and not a clue where they were meant to go
(Click to enlarge)
And a couple photos to prove it all went back together in the right place:-
(Click to enlarge)
Last edited by yalden on Fri 28 Aug, 2009 10:43, edited 1 time in total.
Audio - Part 4
Amplifier - 22/02/2009
Following on from the above, knowing the car is all wired up ready for installation of the sub/amp/components I decided to look online and find out some more information about particular set ups.
I initially read up on dual voice coil subs (seeing as this is what I have) and I soon came to realise my amplifier requirements:-
- 2 Channels for front components
- 2 Channels (unbridged) for subwoofer
- Output relative to subwoofer of 4 Ohm with 250Wrms
- Sized to fit within the designated HK hidden bracket in boot
Finding an amp wasn't too difficult, but finding one that met the performance requirements and yet was small enough to fit within the HK Audio bracket, was.
In the end I decided to scrap the last criteria and replace it with 'aesthetically clean'.
After an hour or so of web trawling, I came up trumps with the following amplifier:-
Infinity 475A
I love the styling of the amplifier, especially it's grey shades which will compliment the OEM boot lining. I will see whether I can 'make' it fit into the above mentioned location, failing that I will mount it in place of the original BMW CD Changer, beneath my fire extinguisher.
Amplifier - 22/02/2009
Following on from the above, knowing the car is all wired up ready for installation of the sub/amp/components I decided to look online and find out some more information about particular set ups.
I initially read up on dual voice coil subs (seeing as this is what I have) and I soon came to realise my amplifier requirements:-
- 2 Channels for front components
- 2 Channels (unbridged) for subwoofer
- Output relative to subwoofer of 4 Ohm with 250Wrms
- Sized to fit within the designated HK hidden bracket in boot
Finding an amp wasn't too difficult, but finding one that met the performance requirements and yet was small enough to fit within the HK Audio bracket, was.
In the end I decided to scrap the last criteria and replace it with 'aesthetically clean'.
After an hour or so of web trawling, I came up trumps with the following amplifier:-
Infinity 475A
(Click to enlarge)4-Channel full-range amplifier with on-board electronic crossover and variable bass boost.
• The Reference 475a's high-output PWM MOSFET power supply ensures optimum power delivery into numerous impedances with low distortion.
• A variable bass boost circuit is provided to optimize the low fequency performance of your system.
• Full range preamp outputs are provided facilitating multiple amplifier hookups without the need for costly Y-adapters or signal splitters.
• The 475a comes outfitted with a variable 12dB per octave electronic crossover allowing you to optimize system tuning based on speaker location and accompanying loudspeaker components
• The RCA low-level inputs on the 475a have allow for connection to both a preamp level signal and direct connection to a high-level factory head unit.
Power Output 75 watts RMS x 4 channel at 4 ohms and ≤ 1% THD + N
180 watts RMS x 2 channel at 4 ohms, 14.4V supply and ≤ 1% THD + N
Signal-to-Noise Ratio 85dBA (reference 1 watt into 4 ohms)
Dynamic Power 117 watts at 2 ohms
Effective Damping Factor 6.315 at 4 ohms
Frequency Response (-3dB) 10Hz to 100kHz (-3dB)
Maximum Input Signal 6V
Maximum Sensitivity 100mV
I love the styling of the amplifier, especially it's grey shades which will compliment the OEM boot lining. I will see whether I can 'make' it fit into the above mentioned location, failing that I will mount it in place of the original BMW CD Changer, beneath my fire extinguisher.
Last edited by yalden on Fri 28 Aug, 2009 10:44, edited 1 time in total.
Audio - Part 2b
Custom Sub Build, Reworked - 23/02/2009
It's been a pretty good day all round, I aced an exam with 98% and came home to be rewarded with a couple of packages from Mr Postman. The first was the return of my sub enclosure, back from the realms of Bespoke Leathering, Birmingham. I'm chuffed to bits with the look of the unit, it's exactly what I'd asked for! Prior to posting it I was conscious that the thickness of the leather would compromise the fitment of the sub, seeing as it was extremely tight in the first place. Due to this I ensured to rub a mm or so off the inner edge prior to having it trimmed, unforunately I should've probably gone 2mm as it's not slotting in freely; I'm confident I can make it fit, but it'll be a squeeze and I'm going to have to be extra careful not to scratch the leather!
(Click to enlarge)
Custom Sub Build, Reworked - 23/02/2009
It's been a pretty good day all round, I aced an exam with 98% and came home to be rewarded with a couple of packages from Mr Postman. The first was the return of my sub enclosure, back from the realms of Bespoke Leathering, Birmingham. I'm chuffed to bits with the look of the unit, it's exactly what I'd asked for! Prior to posting it I was conscious that the thickness of the leather would compromise the fitment of the sub, seeing as it was extremely tight in the first place. Due to this I ensured to rub a mm or so off the inner edge prior to having it trimmed, unforunately I should've probably gone 2mm as it's not slotting in freely; I'm confident I can make it fit, but it'll be a squeeze and I'm going to have to be extra careful not to scratch the leather!
(Click to enlarge)
Last edited by yalden on Fri 28 Aug, 2009 10:44, edited 1 time in total.
Exterior - Part 12a
I can see the light - 23/02/2009
Not quite as exciting as the above, but my second parcel today was a set of 6000K HID bulbs, I'll probably fit these at the weekend so expect fitted photos later!
(Click to enlarge)
I can see the light - 23/02/2009
Not quite as exciting as the above, but my second parcel today was a set of 6000K HID bulbs, I'll probably fit these at the weekend so expect fitted photos later!
(Click to enlarge)
Last edited by yalden on Fri 28 Aug, 2009 10:44, edited 1 time in total.
Exterior - Part 13
Tint my Ride - 28/02/2009
I decided today that it was time to bite the bullet; break out the Lamin-X headlight tint and get stuck in!
In order to separate the headlights I read that you needed to put your headlight in the oven for 10 minutes to soften the sealant. I didn't fancy putting a dirty car part in the same place that would be cooking tomorrows roast dinner so I decided to use a Black & Decker heat gun instead; this did a BRILLIANT job and had the each of the headlights apart in no more than 10 minutes.
Being extremely careful I unclipped the lenses and set them out on the workbench (kitchen table).
(Click to enlarge)
I began by taking the high beam lens and carefully applying the Lamin-X film, unfortunately I soon realised that the chrome edging to the lens is merely a cheap chrome effect paint, which subsequently peels off with even the smallest amount of contact with any even remotely adhesive materials. Thankfully I made this mistake on the smallest 'chrome ring' area and in this instance managed to touch it up 'ok' with a mercury silver artistic pen.
Learning from my mistakes, I then started to mask the chrome rings with paper which was fastened at the rear with masking tape! The outcome will be a perfect compliment to my previous french fog conversion!
(Click to enlarge)
I then decided to tackle the more irregularly shaped indicator lens, this actually turned to be pretty tricky due to it's curves however a great deal of patience and scalpel related precision provided me with an absolutely perfect finish!
(Click to enlarge)
Once finished, the comparison from start to finish was pretty distinct.
(Click to enlarge)
I then refitted the lens' and reheated the sealant before rebuilding the headlight unit.
(Click to enlarge)
I'm over the moon with the quality of the Lamin-X film, and I'm glad I managed to make a good job of it (all bar the small peeling of chrome during my first attempt).
The 'french high beam' may not be to everyones taste, but the lightly smoked indicator still looks OEM and blends into the car so much better than the original ghastly white lens always did!
Unfortunately it's starting to get dark so better photos will have to wait till tomorrow!
Tint my Ride - 28/02/2009
I decided today that it was time to bite the bullet; break out the Lamin-X headlight tint and get stuck in!
In order to separate the headlights I read that you needed to put your headlight in the oven for 10 minutes to soften the sealant. I didn't fancy putting a dirty car part in the same place that would be cooking tomorrows roast dinner so I decided to use a Black & Decker heat gun instead; this did a BRILLIANT job and had the each of the headlights apart in no more than 10 minutes.
Being extremely careful I unclipped the lenses and set them out on the workbench (kitchen table).
(Click to enlarge)
I began by taking the high beam lens and carefully applying the Lamin-X film, unfortunately I soon realised that the chrome edging to the lens is merely a cheap chrome effect paint, which subsequently peels off with even the smallest amount of contact with any even remotely adhesive materials. Thankfully I made this mistake on the smallest 'chrome ring' area and in this instance managed to touch it up 'ok' with a mercury silver artistic pen.
Learning from my mistakes, I then started to mask the chrome rings with paper which was fastened at the rear with masking tape! The outcome will be a perfect compliment to my previous french fog conversion!
(Click to enlarge)
I then decided to tackle the more irregularly shaped indicator lens, this actually turned to be pretty tricky due to it's curves however a great deal of patience and scalpel related precision provided me with an absolutely perfect finish!
(Click to enlarge)
Once finished, the comparison from start to finish was pretty distinct.
(Click to enlarge)
I then refitted the lens' and reheated the sealant before rebuilding the headlight unit.
(Click to enlarge)
I'm over the moon with the quality of the Lamin-X film, and I'm glad I managed to make a good job of it (all bar the small peeling of chrome during my first attempt).
The 'french high beam' may not be to everyones taste, but the lightly smoked indicator still looks OEM and blends into the car so much better than the original ghastly white lens always did!
Unfortunately it's starting to get dark so better photos will have to wait till tomorrow!
Last edited by yalden on Fri 28 Aug, 2009 10:44, edited 5 times in total.
Exterior - Part 12b
I can see the light - 28/02/2009
Whilst the headlights were out for the above mentioned reasons, it seems a perfect opportunity to make a tidy job of the HID installation.
I began by attaching the bulbs in the correct manner; the supplied loom came with an additional set of cables so if you were running them through a plastic casing you could use the one loom for your regular full beam aswell - in this instance they're not needed so I zip tied them up neatly.
(Click to enlarge)
I then mounted the ballast units into the bumper carrier bar. Conveniently there were two well sized holes already available, needless to say, the ballast cage bolted straight into place.
(Click to enlarge)
Stupidly, before fitting I didn't think to check that the car loom was long enough to extend beneath the headlight and connect to the ballast, needless to say - it wasn't
After throwing my ratchet at a local stray, I had a brain wave! Remove the spare cable from the HID loom and use it as an extension of the existing car loom! Perfect!
(Click to enlarge)
And just as the day began to turn into night, we were finished and ready for a quick photo!
(Click to enlarge)
I can see the light - 28/02/2009
Whilst the headlights were out for the above mentioned reasons, it seems a perfect opportunity to make a tidy job of the HID installation.
I began by attaching the bulbs in the correct manner; the supplied loom came with an additional set of cables so if you were running them through a plastic casing you could use the one loom for your regular full beam aswell - in this instance they're not needed so I zip tied them up neatly.
(Click to enlarge)
I then mounted the ballast units into the bumper carrier bar. Conveniently there were two well sized holes already available, needless to say, the ballast cage bolted straight into place.
(Click to enlarge)
Stupidly, before fitting I didn't think to check that the car loom was long enough to extend beneath the headlight and connect to the ballast, needless to say - it wasn't
After throwing my ratchet at a local stray, I had a brain wave! Remove the spare cable from the HID loom and use it as an extension of the existing car loom! Perfect!
(Click to enlarge)
And just as the day began to turn into night, we were finished and ready for a quick photo!
(Click to enlarge)
Last edited by yalden on Fri 28 Aug, 2009 10:44, edited 2 times in total.
Exterior - Part 14
All Reddy Now- 28/02/2009
While in the spirit of masking, cutting and sticking it seemed daft not to carry out a small task on the taillights also!
They aren't a bad design from the factory, but I felt the clear indicator clutters the unit unnecessarily.
(Click to enlarge)
A quick bit of masking, marking, sticking, cutting and peeling later, job done!
(Click to enlarge)
All Reddy Now- 28/02/2009
While in the spirit of masking, cutting and sticking it seemed daft not to carry out a small task on the taillights also!
They aren't a bad design from the factory, but I felt the clear indicator clutters the unit unnecessarily.
(Click to enlarge)
A quick bit of masking, marking, sticking, cutting and peeling later, job done!
(Click to enlarge)
Last edited by yalden on Fri 28 Aug, 2009 10:44, edited 1 time in total.
Audio - Part 2c
Custom Sub Build, Reworked - 28/02/2009
I woke up a little disappointed this morning, all week I've been eagerly awaiting the arrival of my amplifer... so far no show, and worse still, no contact from the seller!
Needless to say, there's still plenty of work to be done, so here goes!
Firstly, the sub didn't fit into the enclosure, even though I had rubbed the enclosure down a good 1-2mm prior to having it trimmed, something more had to give! I managed to curve the outer edge of the subwoofer plate inwards, allowing it just enough room to fit into the enclosure; ideal!
My attention then turned to the subwoofer cone itself, the silver finish really wasn't going to suit my interior, over and above buying a new subwoofer I wasn't sure what to do! I contemplated painting the cone and did a little bit of research, I found mixed reviews; a lot of people saying the extra weight would throw the speaker out of balance VS a lot of people saying they've done it and haven't experienced any troubles. If the only doubters are those that haven't done it, I'm happy to give it a shot! A quick trim to Focus and I was armed with some Plasticoat Black Enamel, a few light coats soon did the trick (albeit for one speck of dirt that I daren't remove in fear of making a mess of things, instead I've named him Simon, after my helpful friend).
(Click to enlarge)
The masking tape really didn't take to the foam/rubber part of the subwoofer, time to break out the electrical tape
(Click to enlarge)
After spraying the subwoofer and removing the masking, we then fixed the sub into the enclosure. To finish up I used a fine brush to touch up the silver bolt heads in black enamel.
(Click to enlarge)
I decided not to fully secure the unit until I've tried and tested it once I receive my amplifier, however I can't wait to get this thing working!
Finally, a comparison against the original lid.
(Click to enlarge)
Custom Sub Build, Reworked - 28/02/2009
I woke up a little disappointed this morning, all week I've been eagerly awaiting the arrival of my amplifer... so far no show, and worse still, no contact from the seller!
Needless to say, there's still plenty of work to be done, so here goes!
Firstly, the sub didn't fit into the enclosure, even though I had rubbed the enclosure down a good 1-2mm prior to having it trimmed, something more had to give! I managed to curve the outer edge of the subwoofer plate inwards, allowing it just enough room to fit into the enclosure; ideal!
My attention then turned to the subwoofer cone itself, the silver finish really wasn't going to suit my interior, over and above buying a new subwoofer I wasn't sure what to do! I contemplated painting the cone and did a little bit of research, I found mixed reviews; a lot of people saying the extra weight would throw the speaker out of balance VS a lot of people saying they've done it and haven't experienced any troubles. If the only doubters are those that haven't done it, I'm happy to give it a shot! A quick trim to Focus and I was armed with some Plasticoat Black Enamel, a few light coats soon did the trick (albeit for one speck of dirt that I daren't remove in fear of making a mess of things, instead I've named him Simon, after my helpful friend).
(Click to enlarge)
The masking tape really didn't take to the foam/rubber part of the subwoofer, time to break out the electrical tape
(Click to enlarge)
After spraying the subwoofer and removing the masking, we then fixed the sub into the enclosure. To finish up I used a fine brush to touch up the silver bolt heads in black enamel.
(Click to enlarge)
I decided not to fully secure the unit until I've tried and tested it once I receive my amplifier, however I can't wait to get this thing working!
Finally, a comparison against the original lid.
(Click to enlarge)
Last edited by yalden on Fri 28 Aug, 2009 10:45, edited 1 time in total.
Miscellaneous
Full Valet - 15/03/2009
I treated the car to a full valet in celebration of the coming Spring season; it'd have been wrong not to take a few shots as proof that England does have nice weather... sometimes.
(Click to enlarge)
Full Valet - 15/03/2009
I treated the car to a full valet in celebration of the coming Spring season; it'd have been wrong not to take a few shots as proof that England does have nice weather... sometimes.
(Click to enlarge)
Last edited by yalden on Fri 28 Aug, 2009 10:45, edited 2 times in total.
Exterior - Part 15
Aero Go Again - 28/03/2009
To kick start the weekend I was lucky enough to receive my BMW Aerodynamics package sideskirts this morning, all the way from Germany!
All that's left to order now is the Aerodynamics rear bumper and hamann front splitter! I may get the car in the bodyshop sooner though and get all the bits sat around sprayed and fitted; after all, I can fit the bumper/splitter myself at any given time.
I compared the skirts to the original items, it seems they are the same depth, however whereas half the depth of the original items is curved beneath the car and out of site, these flare outwards. They're probably going to add 1-2" of visual depth to the side of the car, and should help to make it stand out that little more!
(Click to enlarge)
Aero Go Again - 28/03/2009
To kick start the weekend I was lucky enough to receive my BMW Aerodynamics package sideskirts this morning, all the way from Germany!
All that's left to order now is the Aerodynamics rear bumper and hamann front splitter! I may get the car in the bodyshop sooner though and get all the bits sat around sprayed and fitted; after all, I can fit the bumper/splitter myself at any given time.
I compared the skirts to the original items, it seems they are the same depth, however whereas half the depth of the original items is curved beneath the car and out of site, these flare outwards. They're probably going to add 1-2" of visual depth to the side of the car, and should help to make it stand out that little more!
(Click to enlarge)
Last edited by yalden on Fri 28 Aug, 2009 10:45, edited 3 times in total.
yalden wrote:Exterior - Part 14
All Reddy Now- 28/02/2009
While in the spirit of masking, cutting and sticking it seemed daft not to carry out a small task on the taillights also!
They aren't a bad design from the factory, but I felt the clear indicator clutters the unit unnecessarily.
(Click to enlarge)
A quick bit of masking, marking, sticking, cutting and peeling later, job done!
(Click to enlarge)
after seeing this, went onto their website, and bought a small amount. They even supply the knife !
only a 5 minute job..... an hey presto! perfect.
Looks great..... thanks for the idea fella.
Silver Z3 3Litre " gone "
Performance/Engine Cosmetics - Part 5a
ACStremely Exhausted - 14/04/2009
It was only 3 months ago that I replaced the tired looking OEM chrome exhaust trims for the identically shaped gloss black versions. Although I'm fond of the look, they don't stand out, they're pretty 'normal' and they don't give me an excuse to break out my various metal polishes.
Whilst doing the rounds on eBay I made a good spot; newly listed AC Schnitzer exhaust trims, albeit that they are intended for an E36 M3 (part number 1812 36 10) and replicate the look of the original ACS CLS E36.
I'm confident they'll fit fine, so I clicked the 'buy it now' and got them delivered to my door cheaper than the aforementioned OEM replacements cost me.
They arrived today and I was even more pleased to see that the previous owner had kept the original ACS box and accompanying leaflets etc.
Click to enlarge
Never the less, the trims were stained and grubby. 1 hour of tedious labour, a small portion of Brasso, Autosol and Meguiars NXT metal polish later and hey-presto... good as new.
Click to enlarge
Before:- ................. After:-
Before & After:- .... Before & After:-
Both Finished:-
AC Schnitzer Laser Etched Detailing:-
I have always loved this style of ACS exhaust (ever since seeing an E36 CLS) and regardless of how they look on my car I had to buy them... if only to clean up and pass on. Never the less, I went out in the rain today to remove the existing trims and slide these into place for a few quick and dirty shots; at first I thought 'oh no' but the more I look at them, the more I'm warming to them!
Click to enlarge
They're back off and in the box now, I'll have a better play on the weekend
ACStremely Exhausted - 14/04/2009
It was only 3 months ago that I replaced the tired looking OEM chrome exhaust trims for the identically shaped gloss black versions. Although I'm fond of the look, they don't stand out, they're pretty 'normal' and they don't give me an excuse to break out my various metal polishes.
Whilst doing the rounds on eBay I made a good spot; newly listed AC Schnitzer exhaust trims, albeit that they are intended for an E36 M3 (part number 1812 36 10) and replicate the look of the original ACS CLS E36.
I'm confident they'll fit fine, so I clicked the 'buy it now' and got them delivered to my door cheaper than the aforementioned OEM replacements cost me.
They arrived today and I was even more pleased to see that the previous owner had kept the original ACS box and accompanying leaflets etc.
Click to enlarge
Never the less, the trims were stained and grubby. 1 hour of tedious labour, a small portion of Brasso, Autosol and Meguiars NXT metal polish later and hey-presto... good as new.
Click to enlarge
Before:- ................. After:-
Before & After:- .... Before & After:-
Both Finished:-
AC Schnitzer Laser Etched Detailing:-
I have always loved this style of ACS exhaust (ever since seeing an E36 CLS) and regardless of how they look on my car I had to buy them... if only to clean up and pass on. Never the less, I went out in the rain today to remove the existing trims and slide these into place for a few quick and dirty shots; at first I thought 'oh no' but the more I look at them, the more I'm warming to them!
Click to enlarge
They're back off and in the box now, I'll have a better play on the weekend
Last edited by yalden on Fri 28 Aug, 2009 10:45, edited 2 times in total.
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The ACS trims I have are for an E36 M3, but they sleeve over the existing pipes without any problems... as I only did a dummy run I haven't tightened the grub screws to ensure that they 'clamp' into place, but I'm confident that if they don't it'll be an easy enough fix...!cosmosblack wrote:hi, i do like the exhaust trims and look better then before, i having been looking at the AC trims for a while but i was unsure to whether they would fit, did they go straight on?? were they expensive? cheers
I will report back after the weekend when I've spent a little more time on the car.
As for cost, I obviously purchased them second hand, for £30 delivered. I'm pretty sure they're about £100 from ACS although I could be wrong! The part number is written on my previous post to perhaps give Rossiters a call and get a price
Performance/Engine Cosmetics - Part 5b
ACStremely Clean - 19/04/2009
Well I spent a little bit of time fitting the trims properly today.
I'd say it was a 'fairly' straight forward job, but being that their made for either an E36 M3 Evo or genuine ACS backbox it wasn't entirely straight forward! Firstly, the grub screws supplied weren't long enough to make contact with my smaller exhaust pipes; this was overcome by using M6 20mm bolts (ideally I'd have used 15mm, but I couldn't find these anywhere local). In addition to this I had to apply a small insert between my existing pipe and the ACS trim to act as a spacer so that it would clamp tight without sitting at an odd angle.
Here are the results, this time on a clean car...
Click to enlarge
ACStremely Clean - 19/04/2009
Well I spent a little bit of time fitting the trims properly today.
I'd say it was a 'fairly' straight forward job, but being that their made for either an E36 M3 Evo or genuine ACS backbox it wasn't entirely straight forward! Firstly, the grub screws supplied weren't long enough to make contact with my smaller exhaust pipes; this was overcome by using M6 20mm bolts (ideally I'd have used 15mm, but I couldn't find these anywhere local). In addition to this I had to apply a small insert between my existing pipe and the ACS trim to act as a spacer so that it would clamp tight without sitting at an odd angle.
Here are the results, this time on a clean car...
Click to enlarge
Last edited by yalden on Fri 28 Aug, 2009 10:45, edited 1 time in total.
Performance/Engine Cosmetics - Part 6
Golden Calipers - 19/04/2009
Something I've been meaning to do for such a long time is clean and pain the calipers and hubs; such an simple and cheap job that only demands a couple hours should've really been done last year... still, better late than never.
I chose gold for the calipers, which in time will compliment the gold plated split rim bolts I've got waiting to fit when I refurb the wheels. Meanwhile, the hubs have been painted black.
Click to enlarge
Golden Calipers - 19/04/2009
Something I've been meaning to do for such a long time is clean and pain the calipers and hubs; such an simple and cheap job that only demands a couple hours should've really been done last year... still, better late than never.
I chose gold for the calipers, which in time will compliment the gold plated split rim bolts I've got waiting to fit when I refurb the wheels. Meanwhile, the hubs have been painted black.
Click to enlarge
Last edited by yalden on Fri 28 Aug, 2009 10:45, edited 1 time in total.
Maintenance
MOT - 28/05/2009
I had my car booked in for MOT, thankfully it passed straight through! Advisory sheet indicated the following:-
- Rear tyres low - Old wheels back on
- Small chip outside of drivers view in windscreen - Needs filling
MOT - 28/05/2009
I had my car booked in for MOT, thankfully it passed straight through! Advisory sheet indicated the following:-
- Rear tyres low - Old wheels back on
- Small chip outside of drivers view in windscreen - Needs filling
Last edited by yalden on Fri 28 Aug, 2009 10:45, edited 1 time in total.
Exterior - Part 16a
Bits and Pieces - 21/06/2009
Well, two days into my 9-day R&R holiday I decided to get my hands dirty and strip a few bits off the car; the car is now in the hands of my local bodyshop!
Whilst having the BMW Aerodynamics rear spoiler, sideskirts and Z3M mirrors fitted I thought it'd only make sense to fit new rubber seals for the boot lock, aerial and door handles. I'm also having the doors, wings, rear quarters and bootlid repainted... just to freshen it up and aleviate the numerous stone chips, and a few carpark dents.
(Click to enlarge)
The 3rd brake light must've been out before... whoever refitted it decided to cake it with clear silicone (surely not a BMW job?). This was by far the most frustrating thing to remove, let's just hope it's work it!
Kidney's are out... surrounds are being scotched ready for paint!
Sideskirts and petrol flap off... note the stone chipped rear quarters and dents in door (one by handle, one central)
The worst of my car park dents; they will not be missed!
Quick tape-on trial fit of the new spoiler
Bits and Pieces - 21/06/2009
Well, two days into my 9-day R&R holiday I decided to get my hands dirty and strip a few bits off the car; the car is now in the hands of my local bodyshop!
Whilst having the BMW Aerodynamics rear spoiler, sideskirts and Z3M mirrors fitted I thought it'd only make sense to fit new rubber seals for the boot lock, aerial and door handles. I'm also having the doors, wings, rear quarters and bootlid repainted... just to freshen it up and aleviate the numerous stone chips, and a few carpark dents.
(Click to enlarge)
The 3rd brake light must've been out before... whoever refitted it decided to cake it with clear silicone (surely not a BMW job?). This was by far the most frustrating thing to remove, let's just hope it's work it!
Kidney's are out... surrounds are being scotched ready for paint!
Sideskirts and petrol flap off... note the stone chipped rear quarters and dents in door (one by handle, one central)
The worst of my car park dents; they will not be missed!
Quick tape-on trial fit of the new spoiler
Last edited by yalden on Fri 28 Aug, 2009 10:46, edited 3 times in total.
Sub fixing
Hi. Nice work on your car yalden. Could you please tell me how you fixed your sub to your centre box. Did you make an enclosure or did it just fix to the old aperture? Any pics would be very helpful. I have just purchased the same sub and I am about to start on fitting.
regards Paul
regards Paul
<img src="http://gallery.me.com/the_reamer/100016 ... 8446880001" alt="Z3-SIG" width="500" height=“128” />
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- Joined: Tue 02 Jun, 2009 17:18
- Posts: 41
Re: Sub fixing
I purchased my enclosure from another forum member, he and his dad had replicated the original hatch lid from wood and recessed the subwoofer into it. The hatch is fitted using the original hinges, it would really benefit from being sealed... I'm yet to do this, and in honesty it's a little out of my expertise so I'm likely to take it to a spealise to finish the build!D-reame wrote:Hi. Nice work on your car yalden. Could you please tell me how you fixed your sub to your centre box. Did you make an enclosure or did it just fix to the old aperture? Any pics would be very helpful. I have just purchased the same sub and I am about to start on fitting.
regards Paul
Exterior - Part 16b
Clean fresh - 28/06/2009
Having just got my car back from the bodyshop I thought it'd only be fair to share a few photos; of course this could only be done after a thorough afternoon of detailing!
As aforementioned, the work undertaken includes:-
Respray rear quarter panels
Respray doors
Respray front wings
Respray bootlid
Paint and fit BMW Aerodynamic rear spoiler
Paint BMW Aerodynamic sideskirts
Paint Z3M wing mirrors
Paint kidney grill surrounds
Paint and fit doorhandles
Flush and paint petrol flap
The detail consisted of:-
2 bucket method with grit guards
Meguiars NXT shampoo
Meguiars Quick Detailer with Claybar
Autoglym Ultra Deep Shine polish (x2)
Meguiars NXT wax (x2)
The photos:-
Click to enlarge
A few shots showing the closer details:-
Clean fresh - 28/06/2009
Having just got my car back from the bodyshop I thought it'd only be fair to share a few photos; of course this could only be done after a thorough afternoon of detailing!
As aforementioned, the work undertaken includes:-
Respray rear quarter panels
Respray doors
Respray front wings
Respray bootlid
Paint and fit BMW Aerodynamic rear spoiler
Paint BMW Aerodynamic sideskirts
Paint Z3M wing mirrors
Paint kidney grill surrounds
Paint and fit doorhandles
Flush and paint petrol flap
The detail consisted of:-
2 bucket method with grit guards
Meguiars NXT shampoo
Meguiars Quick Detailer with Claybar
Autoglym Ultra Deep Shine polish (x2)
Meguiars NXT wax (x2)
The photos:-
Click to enlarge
A few shots showing the closer details:-
Last edited by yalden on Fri 28 Aug, 2009 10:46, edited 1 time in total.
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- Joined: Mon 29 Jan, 2007 22:28
- Posts: 257
- Contact:
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- Joined: Mon 29 Jan, 2007 22:28
- Posts: 257
- Contact:
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- Joined: Mon 29 Jan, 2007 22:28
- Posts: 257
- Contact:
Exterior - Part 17a
More AerOEM+ - 14/07/2009
Last week, whilst parked out on the street, some delightful individual decided to scuff my front bumper and damage my marker light in the process. Thankfully the bumper is long overdue a repaint anyway, however the light was an annoyance, albeit only £15 for a replacement it was a cost I'd rather not have to put up with!
Damaged/Replaced:-
Click to enlarge
I contacted an online 'genuine BMW parts distributor' and explained the situation, I asked if they'd be willing to supply a replacement marker light free of charge should I spend over £170; needless to say they agreed, the perfect excuse to purchase the BMW Aerodynamics rear bumper I've been pining for.
Earlier today I got the call telling me a great big box had been delivered, I immediately visioned my new wheel build, and began thinking 'what if', although deep down I knew that'd have to wait at least another week yet.
The boring photos:-
Click to enlarge
You'll notice that the Aerodynamic rear bumper flares out along it's lower edge, this line neatly follows that of the recently fitted sideskirts; and should also set off the exhaust a little better.
Aerodynamic/Standard comparison shots:-
Click to enlarge
More AerOEM+ - 14/07/2009
Last week, whilst parked out on the street, some delightful individual decided to scuff my front bumper and damage my marker light in the process. Thankfully the bumper is long overdue a repaint anyway, however the light was an annoyance, albeit only £15 for a replacement it was a cost I'd rather not have to put up with!
Damaged/Replaced:-
Click to enlarge
I contacted an online 'genuine BMW parts distributor' and explained the situation, I asked if they'd be willing to supply a replacement marker light free of charge should I spend over £170; needless to say they agreed, the perfect excuse to purchase the BMW Aerodynamics rear bumper I've been pining for.
Earlier today I got the call telling me a great big box had been delivered, I immediately visioned my new wheel build, and began thinking 'what if', although deep down I knew that'd have to wait at least another week yet.
The boring photos:-
Click to enlarge
You'll notice that the Aerodynamic rear bumper flares out along it's lower edge, this line neatly follows that of the recently fitted sideskirts; and should also set off the exhaust a little better.
Aerodynamic/Standard comparison shots:-
Click to enlarge
Last edited by yalden on Fri 28 Aug, 2009 10:46, edited 1 time in total.
- 3.0 Lakes Lee
- Joined: Wed 01 Apr, 2009 08:34
- Posts: 258
- Location: Kendal
God......! thats a gorgeous bmw on the left!....................who's is it?
<a href="http://s185.photobucket.com/albums/x201 ... ooter2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x201 ... ooter2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
No idea, but whoever the owner is... he shouldn't be posting, he should be building it a garage3.0 Lakes Lee wrote:God......! thats a gorgeous bmw on the left!....................who's is it?
Indeed, my old mans Harley Roadking... it's his pride and joy, he's owned a few different models now!BonBon wrote:Cute Puppy
Is it a Harley?
Exterior - Part 18a
Dishing it out - 14/07/2009
I wasn't expecting to see these boxes waiting for me when I got home from work today, but I'm sure as hell glad they were!
Click to enlarge
Up front I've gone for genuine OZ Racing 9J x 18" ET 32 2-piece tubes (dated July 1997 - no wonder they hold a premium). These provide a 2.0" dish, just 0.5" over stock.
Out back I've gone for a genuine OZ Racing 10.5J x 18" 3-piece set-up, comprising inner barrels (dated May 1995) and 3.0" lips, 1.5" over stock; producing a final offset of ET 26.
Final measurement... 11.5"
The final item in the box was my new set of genuine OZ Racing nuts, I thought better to replace the originals during the rebuild just to be safe.
I couldn't help but play around with the set up, if only to take a few more photos; bare in mind the centres of my wheels bolt from the front, so the bolts won't sit up against the dish as per the below photos, instead they'll sit within the recess of the centre.
Time to hire out the custom 10-spline OZ Racing sockets and get wrenching
Dishing it out - 14/07/2009
I wasn't expecting to see these boxes waiting for me when I got home from work today, but I'm sure as hell glad they were!
Click to enlarge
Up front I've gone for genuine OZ Racing 9J x 18" ET 32 2-piece tubes (dated July 1997 - no wonder they hold a premium). These provide a 2.0" dish, just 0.5" over stock.
Out back I've gone for a genuine OZ Racing 10.5J x 18" 3-piece set-up, comprising inner barrels (dated May 1995) and 3.0" lips, 1.5" over stock; producing a final offset of ET 26.
Final measurement... 11.5"
The final item in the box was my new set of genuine OZ Racing nuts, I thought better to replace the originals during the rebuild just to be safe.
I couldn't help but play around with the set up, if only to take a few more photos; bare in mind the centres of my wheels bolt from the front, so the bolts won't sit up against the dish as per the below photos, instead they'll sit within the recess of the centre.
Time to hire out the custom 10-spline OZ Racing sockets and get wrenching
Last edited by yalden on Fri 28 Aug, 2009 10:46, edited 2 times in total.
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- Joined: Wed 12 Mar, 2008 14:33
- Posts: 1967
- Location: UK
this is really looking sooooo good! plenty of dish on the rear ftw
Progress Thread:http://www.zroadster.net/forum/viewtopi ... 32&t=36117
Previous - S54 M Roadster, S50 M Roadster, Ibiza Cupra IHI 340bhp, Ibiza Cupra K04 270bhp, 6n2 Polo GTi
You don't do anything by halves do you Chris! I knew you were considering a refurb of your wheels - I didn't think that it would be a rebuild though Looking forward to pics of them on the car
I don't suppose you fancy bringing your zed to Santa Pod in September do you? http://www.zroadster.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=20767
I don't suppose you fancy bringing your zed to Santa Pod in September do you? http://www.zroadster.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=20767
Current...1998 ///M Coupe
Previously...1997 Z3 2.8
Previously...1997 Z3 2.8
I did a few sums and came up with 38mm when compared to the Schnitzers in their current state... This'll protrude the arch by circa 8mm so a moderate stretch should take care of any problems. I'm hoping my research has paid off and they'll look how I envisage - I had a similar set up on my previous car and loved the style!c_w wrote:Should look good with these wheels - are you going to have to go for a fair bit of tyre stretch to keep them within the arches? The 10.5 rear is going to sit out almost 45mm more that the stock 8.5J!!
I'll keep the board updated with any trial fitments etc... fingers crossed I don't need to do any arch work, especially as I've just had the rear quarters repainted lol...!