James Rowe's - 3.0 Z3 - Now low and stanced!

[JamesRowe]

So I thought I'd form some kind of build, I think this is the place to put them here on this forum so here it goes!


So the car in question, 2000 z3 3.0 with 120k on the clock. Purchased on 24th December 2011 as a christmas present to myself.





Had a few issues with the car at first, EML light kept coming on when I purchased her (got price down due to issue etc). Then after having a couple of plays with my mates e36 stripped and cammed 3.0 M3 one night she then started running very rough.

After many head scratching, few swear words and many youtube videos later I put my hand on the issue which was both the EML light cause and running rough. One split in an intake pipe hose, doh. - Glad it was simple in the end!

So I'm 23, wood affect isn't really my thing. I had already purchased and had delivered the required incredients for the task . So I set to work:





So....



Couple hours later, saw fingers and not too many stanley craft knife cuts later:





Got it all back on



Few more of her at this stage:





My friend and I decided one saturday to alter the exhaust, I love the 6cyl sound so it had to be enhanced.... The end result: (If you are eagle-eyed youll noticed the slant on the tips, that was corrected after the video ).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcwbbbaVuRo - Please feel free to watch

So this left me for a few months, I then purchased some coilovers to get her lower and remove the rather soft old suspension.







Next up, I've got some rather rare German wheels.... 8.5j fronts, 9.5j rears mmm..

Schmidts Space Liners!





Now waiting for my spacers to come through for the fronts, so hopefully in just over a week they will be on

Comments welcome.



James

[Sp1key]

Hi

What a difference the carbon fibre wrap made - transformation!

Looking forward to seeing those wheels on the car, they look unique

It's all lookin good

[g8jka]

Looks similar to my spare that I wrapped a few weeks ago



Only just fitted it though and got no pics yet, did the steering wheel tabs as well.

How did you wrap around the switch holes etc. Did you fold the wrap inside or just trim upto the edges? I folded most inside apart from around the heater and OBC controls, just waiting to see if it lifts but hopefully not.

Like the new wheels there gonna look cool

[JamesRowe]

I trimmed it around, I attempted to fold but it just kept peeling back up so continued with the knife .

Thanked for the comments, shes coming on nicely. I really want to find a black hard top...

[shantybeater]

Some great mods already, schmidts look nice. What are the offsets?

[myredzed]

Lovin' the new wheels Top work so far James!

[JamesRowe]

Cheers dudes!

The wheels are 8.5j fronts and 9.5j rear offset et35. Need 15mm hubcentric spacers on the front to clear the shock which are currently on order. Should be here this week I hope, then I will go get some tyres put on. Little bit of stretch will be required tho! Once thats on, I will see what it looks like and maybe put some spacers for the rear if required.

[JamesRowe]

Tyres are now in the process of instalment

[Gazza]

Carbon fibre looks good

The youtube vid has a great 20 second cliffhanger at the end

[JamesRowe]

[PCSAM]

what size tyres have on the deep-dish alloys mate ....... they are deeper than mine

[shantybeater]

bit of stretch! so you will be running ET20 8.5 upfront? what size tyres you going with front and back?

[JamesRowe]

At the moment they are 225/45/17 all round but want 215s or 205s on front due to fitment isn't great at front!





Also getting some 15/20mm spacers for rears

[JamesRowe]

Got my spacers for the rears and had 205s fitted at the front ..



C+C welcome.

[Heath]

Looks nice
I think they really suit the car


Heath on Tapatalk

[JamesRowe]

Went and done some pics with a friend, couple for you to looksy on









I'm happy with the Z so far

[Captain]

Car's looking great.

[JamesRowe]

Thank you! It is coming on nicely

[Wolverine_1999]

Wow excellent transformation! Those wheels look very euro as well, very cool. Just a few cracked side markers to replace now Seems every mechanic has cracked one of these

[PCSAM]

car looks stunning mate ............ im just a little jelous

[Pistol968]

Car looks fantastic- a brilliant shine on that bodywork. What wax did you use?

[JamesRowe]

Thanks for the comments guys . Shes now finally been debadged, makes back end look a bit better. Oh and yes, the side light plastics etc were broken before I brought the car. Its one of those things you forget about!

As for wax, I didnt wax it as I didnt get time. However it was fully bathed and then treated to a once over with Polish (Merr).

[Gazza]

I wasn't sure about the wheel choice but now they are fitted it looks great

[Z3cade]

Wheels look great now you've sorted the tyres n spacers

What other plans do you have for it?

[Captain]

Car's looking really good, looks like the front lower grill is missing. Planning on doing something there ?

[JamesRowe]

It is missing, its currently in the boot after I had a slight incident when sliding in the wet and parked it attached to a kerb! Oops.

Its will go back on soon!

As for other plans, plan to make her a bit cleaner, sort out some of the pitting on the lips of the wheels. Enjoy her for the summer and take her off the road for winter, then I will have time to think on what todo next!

[JamesRowe]

I got bored, so I washed her, polished and waxed.

While I as doing all that, I was treating the grills to a bit of blacking....



That is all for now

[JamesRowe]

Nothing has really changed lately, had to get the car through the MOT which cost some worn out ball joints and a few bits. Other then that, debadged the rear (no pics yet)

But for now, a few little pics Ive taken when out and about.

[g8jka]

Did you remove the wheel arch liner for any reason? Do the wheels catch on it? Mine do slightly if I hit a bump at speed but only the drivers side

[M@r]{]

Looks very nice....... those wheels really enhance the lovely curves of the arches. Got me thinking now whether I should have gone for 17's for my road wheels I'll wait until I get the coilovers on before going on a wheel hunt for 17's!!

By the way guys, how hard was it to remove those centre console pieces? I'm planning on doing mine as well

[JamesRowe]

One wasnt there when I got the car, I removed the other when it was on the other wheels due to the balloooon tyres. I plan to buy new ones as it makes a mess of the bonnet in the wet. They shouldnt catch now, i hope!!!!

The centre consoles are not too difficult, just got to take all the leathery trimm around it out and be careful. Takes a bit of time and swear words tho.

[JamesRowe]

Debadged and modding the exhaust

[Daz3]

Lovely car wheels go great as said! I'd recommend a set of M mirrors they are one of the best mods and completely change the appearance of the car!

[M@r]{]

oooh, what are you doing to the exhaust?

[JamesRowe]

Yeah M mirrors are on the list for sometime soon when they come up .

I removed the rear box awhile ago but did a quick job, taken it off with a mate and put a more perm. solution on. Basically finishing off what they call in America the 'muffler' delete.

Its really worth it if you want a bit of 6cyl noise, sounds amazing, really amazing.

[M@r]{]

Yeah M mirrors are on the list for sometime soon when they come up .

I removed the rear box awhile ago but did a quick job, taken it off with a mate and put a more perm. solution on. Basically finishing off what they call in America the 'muffler' delete.

Its really worth it if you want a bit of 6cyl noise, sounds amazing, really amazing.

Sounds exactly what I want. Any guides anywhere?

[JamesRowe]

Not really mate, I went on the basis of youtubes. For example, youtube 330 muffler delete. Gives you an idea of the sound, mines very meaty (friends say it sounds like a WW2 aero plane when on full chap past lol).

Other then that, all it is is removing the rear back box and replacing with straight pipe and I've got a split single pipe to dual tips.

I got some 2.5" exhaust pipe from ebay, cut that down, used a flexi pipe from ebay and bolted it all on. Then fabbed some way of hanging it. I've been quoted £100 to do it professionally if you want it done and piece of mine but im a DIY person and it cost about £35 myself

I will take some pictures in a bit and upload them to here so you get an idea, but its literally cut off the old rear box, 2.5" pipe and flexi clamp and hang it somehow