Z3cades Zed - journal

[Z3cade]

Thanks to everyone for all your comments

Dave i promiss not to copy anymore of your ideas ( we must have the same taste )

I will say if you wanted a set of Dtms then get them bought asap as there nearly out of stock everywhere.. and arnt making them anymore...

I had to have a set as there the only alloys i liked in there price range..

I should have them all fitted with rubber and on by saturday cant wait..


To be honest my zed will soon be at the point where its staying for a long time in regards to mods... im just waiting for the gear knob then thats it...

I think....

[Dave'z3]

Sounds like something you've probably told the Mrs over and over again! I really love your car, I've seen those wheels on a silver zed and I felt like there should be a spacer at the back to give it an even more staggered look. It would also push the wheels out to fill out those rear wheel arches!

Deffo share the same taste in mods, subtle, almost standard but at the same time personal to you...the repair bills have kept my zed - "as seen".

Think my progress thread (when I make one) is going to be more a "Damage Report" than anything else

You've practically re-sold me on those front splitters, as the only thing that was putting me off them at all was how much space they took up. I wouldn't have had the balls to cut them down like that. MASSIVE improvement IMO.

Look forwards to seeing those pics up once they are all gimped!


Dave

[Z3cade]

Thanks Dave

I have 15mm spacers on the rear already so they should stick out perfect...

Mine will look slightly different as the Dtms are 18x8" all round.. But im still having the tyre setup staggered with 245 rears and 225 fronts...

[macca]

Thanks Dave

I have 15mm spacers on the rear already so they should stick out perfect...

Mine will look slightly different as the Dtms are 18x8" all round.. But im still having the tyre setup staggered with 245 rears and 225 fronts...

What tyres are you going for Liam, Falken's ?

[Z3cade]

Yes ive gone for some more falken 452s
ive been very impressed with my last set...

[Dave'z3]

Thanks Dave

I have 15mm spacers on the rear already so they should stick out perfect...

Of course you do!!!! lol It's going to look epic...jealous! Looked at those black and white pictures of mine and the wheels look like runners you get under a desk! !!

Regards,

Dave

[Z3cade]

Yours looks lovely dave.. I love the pictures you took with the back drop.. Wish i had as good photo skills

i started off with my standard alloys for the first 6 months then my 17s for the last year...
Im sure you'll get a nice new set at some point youve spent the money in the right places transplanting an awsome 2.2 lump in there..

I had half a day off today and managed to get my tyres and all the wheels on...!!!!
Im so happy with them... There amazing... I'll get some pics up over the weekend when ive taken some decent shots...
Can i borrow your camera Dave!!?

[Z3cade]

The New beasties 18" Inovit Dtms

[Daz3]

Cars looking good now the dtms really suit the zed nicely! Just watch out for the kerbs!

[Naeem.m]

They look great pal. Love the polished lips on them. Really Suit your Z.
I think maybe some spacers on the rear ones might help it look alot better.

[Dave'z3]

Clean up on isle me!! They look amazing...wouldn't hurt to put a slightly larger spacer on the back, but I'm in love with them.

Only thing...just given mine a wash and thinking about cleaning those would be a nightmare.

Not saying that has put me off in any way shape or form.

I'm jealous Liam!

Dave

[GazHyde]

Looks awesome Liam, good call

Not being rude about the old ones, but these are 1 million times more juicy!
As with everyone else, I'm glad they are yours to wash and not mine

Gary

[J1SUA]

Looking lovely. Dish FTW!

[Gazza]

Looking good

[macca]

They look great Liam, can't wait to see them tomorrow...

[EnthuZiaZT]

The New beasties 18" Inovit Dtms

Don't you mean 'booties'
Will admire them tomorrow

[TitanTim]

The new shoes look great theyre similar to BMWs style 78 that I had but with the dish and once you've cleaned them a few times it really doesnt take that long

Good choice for the Zed

Tim.

[Z3cade]

Thanks Guys

Like Tim said they do look close to OEM Bmw wheels and thats why i went for them.. i think they suit the zed without looking to aftermarket..


I may get some bigger spacers but theyre currently on 15mm spacers now! Maybe 20mm spacers would look slightly better?? but in all honesty its kind of an illusion as the top of the tyres are very close to the inner arch liner now..
The rear tyres are 245/35/18 fronts 225/40/18


Heres another shot from the side



The old girl was also treated to some halfrauds specials...





With the wheel sealer water and dust should beed off them now and hopefully make it easyer to keep them clean



The Clay Kit is brilliant the bonnet now feels like glass!!



Now shes all tucked up for morning

[Brian H]

Looking Superb with the new wheels

[Badman gee]

Hope you have done the whole car sir not just the bonnet



See u sun

[Tori]

Shiny shiny

[clairemad]

few more resent pics....
M54 inlet manifold convertion




Body coloured door handles and `hang em highs` stone guards



High chrome painted side grills and clear indies



And after about an hours polishing...






Oh and something to keep that dam cat from sleeping on my roof!!!




Just need me eibach springs now so roll on xmas!!

im glad im not the only one that has a hairy cat that has to have a nap on my roof

[Guest]

im glad im not the only one that has a hairy cat that has to have a nap on my roof

All my cats have been hairy

[sobe_on]

I think SACH Super Touring will be die within 15000km if you're useing the lower spring

[clairemad]

im glad im not the only one that has a hairy cat that has to have a nap on my roof

All my cats have been hairy

http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9 ... 0SMRnzoSHS

[Guest]

im glad im not the only one that has a hairy cat that has to have a nap on my roof

All my cats have been hairy

http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9 ... 0SMRnzoSHS

Oooooooooooooooh! Is that inside out

[Z3cade]

The new addition is my 98 S50 //M




Re-trimmed wheel - //M stitching



Storm works gear knob, handbrake, lighter plug



Full interior re-trim. Seats, door-cards and centre console



New soft top.



Clay bar, polished and waxed.



Carbon fibre badges



Refurbished alloys, new discs, red stuff pads, refurbished callipers



Simota filter, Dinan strut brace, New vanos, detailed engine bay.



Bilstein B8 Shock Absorbers - Intrax springs



H&R Anti roll bars



Full Supersprint exhaust system - ceramic coated tips





Stage 3 Evolve Tuned

[Z3cade]

The new stereo

Sony CDX-GT650UI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKpOjm63B9s

[bournii]

Looks amazing loving the topaz center, my zed looks like yours so I will be taking some tips from this
Joel.

[J1SUA]

That is gorgeous!

[Z3cade]

[Z3cade]

Painted number plate surround and tinted rears

[g8jka]

Have you tinted your original lights now as you sold the old ones? Looks great with the lights slightly tinted and the number plate surround sprayed

[shantybeater]

Really liking that, remember seeing an article a while back now with a silver M with a grey surround and it looked great if not a bit too daring for my liking. On the blue it works a treat though!

[si-forks]

I love the new back end looks great

Si-forks on tapatalk

[Jonttt]

Now that looks cool. You would not get away with that on any other Z3 but on yours it just works

[('_')Z3]

I love the new back end looks great

Si-forks on tapatalk

+1^^^^

[Z3cade]

Thanks for the likes guys..

It's something I had been thinking of doing since I got the car and I think it suits the rear end spot on.

Yes the rear lights are the standard with a tinting film, so easy to remove if needed.
Jonttt - I think the idea would suit yours perfectly, with your front lights and smoked sides..
I think red and black/smoked go well together as a colour combo.. Do it!

[Jonttt]

Mmmmm not sure will look at yours at Zfest though. I like the mix of chrome and smoke on mine and the OEM red rear lights work with imola well.

[Z3cade]

As its winter and after a few jobs done since my last update I thought I'd better update my zed journal

After sourcing a Bmw aero dynamics spoiler from a member I had it painted and fitted..





This winter I took on the job of sorting out the weedy sound setup in the M
So I've upgraded the rear speakers with 4" Rockford Fosgate P142s - great set of speakers and a big improvement on the 'golf ball' size speakers that were behind the seats!



I've replaced the front footwell speakers and door tweeters with a set of Vibe 5.25" components.



I did a lot of research on how to get the best from the Z3 front speakers. I followed a build thread on an audio site where a Zmcoupe owner used sound deadening in and around the speaker hole and made sure the speaker became near as possible a sealed unit..

And wow! It's made all the difference. Now it sounds punchy with added low tone that was just missing before.. Highly recommend doing this if your looking to upgrade your speakers..

[g8jka]

I have the same 5.25 Vibe components in the front of mine, definitely worth the upgrade from the standard speakers

[shantybeater]

looking good, I was hoping to source the same spoiler for mine but never managed to find one. A daring look would be to blend it in to the rear bumper ala CSL - could work?

[martyb]

very very nice. Its looking smashing, puts a few ideas in my head for when i get mine now.

[Althulas]

We're your original rear speakers the 3" screwed in type if so did you manage to fit those behind the panel or had to chop some material out to sit on the outside? Do you have the link to the audio site for reference for us all? Can you post a ball park figure for the retrim it looks a quality job done.

[Z3cade]

The rear speakers were custom fitted by myself. There's no way you would get any upgraded speakers behind the original grills. They sit flush on the out side of the trim. I'm afraid the Interior re-trim was carried out by the previous owner so I'm not sure what the price was. I do know it was done by the company PGTrimmers in milton keynes and they also fitted the new soft top.
Www.pgtrimmers.com

[Althulas]

Is there rear window a zip in one?

[Z3cade]

No it's a fixed/sewn in rear window. Most replacement soft tops are fixed windows un less you buy one direct from bmw.
If it ever needed replacing I'm sure a new window could be sewn in. But I use the bmw window protector towel and never drop it this time of year.

[renmure]

Now, that does look like a top car!!

[Z3cade]

Thanks, It puts a big smile on my face

[bessieblue]

Managed to get the rear shocks fitted today - Very easy job i would recomend doing these yourself as it only took me about an hour!!

And WOW What a differents....... The car no longer bottoms out at the rear over big bumps and its stiffened the rear up a treat, so much more feel at a the rear with no sagyness.... Worth doing if your rear feels alittle soft and saggy....
Cant wait to get the fronts on now!!! i think its going to transform the car

Few pics....



Old and new shock



Rebuilt rear shock with new top mount



Passenger side done!



Drivers side done!



Will get fronts on in next few days...

have to get the wife some