New Member, New Z1
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- Joined: Tue 19 May, 2009 10:41
- Posts: 31
- Location: London
New Member, New Z1
Well, sort of - on both counts.
Joined back in May when I started to contemplate a Z1 as a permanent secind car and have been lurking ever since.
And the Z1 in question is hardly new, being a 1989 or 1990 model, it is new to the UK as I only got HMRC customs clearance last week.
Based on my lurking this forum looks great, certainly the most detailed I've seen in terms of Z1 info. So I look forward to finding out more about this great car as well as causing some annoyance by dragging up some topics that have been done to death (apologies in advance) - not least because I now have the slightly daunting task of getting a EU spec Z1 through an MOT next week.
Joined back in May when I started to contemplate a Z1 as a permanent secind car and have been lurking ever since.
And the Z1 in question is hardly new, being a 1989 or 1990 model, it is new to the UK as I only got HMRC customs clearance last week.
Based on my lurking this forum looks great, certainly the most detailed I've seen in terms of Z1 info. So I look forward to finding out more about this great car as well as causing some annoyance by dragging up some topics that have been done to death (apologies in advance) - not least because I now have the slightly daunting task of getting a EU spec Z1 through an MOT next week.
Re: New Member, New Z1
Welcome to Z1 ownership!survivalist wrote:... not least because I now have the slightly daunting
task of getting a EU spec Z1 through an MOT next week.
I would guess you'll have two challenges getting an MOT: the headlamps and the side repeaters. The headlamps can easily be converted to drive on the left by loosening a screw and rotating the bulb assembly. Side repeaters seem to be hit and miss - if you don't want to fit them and fail an MOT try a different garage. My car has been in the UK for almost all its life and it doesn't have them. An MPH speedo is not required for an MOT.
- Racing Tortoise
- Z Register member
- Joined: Mon 07 Nov, 2005 15:53
- Posts: 894
- Location: SW6
Welcome indeed.
Yes, side repeaters are debatable. My Z1 was imported from Germany in 1997 and has had them fitted. Conversely, my 500E was imported from Germany in 2004 and did not have them fitted, which has never caused any issues at MoT time.
I think you also need the rear foglights changing - on both my imports, there are now rear fogs on both sides, rather than just on one as is usual in this country.
Speedo doesn't need changing unless you want it changed - both my imports retain their original km/h speedos which seems fine for MoTs and doesn't bother me.
Yes, side repeaters are debatable. My Z1 was imported from Germany in 1997 and has had them fitted. Conversely, my 500E was imported from Germany in 2004 and did not have them fitted, which has never caused any issues at MoT time.
I think you also need the rear foglights changing - on both my imports, there are now rear fogs on both sides, rather than just on one as is usual in this country.
Speedo doesn't need changing unless you want it changed - both my imports retain their original km/h speedos which seems fine for MoTs and doesn't bother me.
Currently: bereft of Z1
Previously: 1991 Ur-grun Z1 and 1991 Traum-schwartz Z1
Previously: 1991 Ur-grun Z1 and 1991 Traum-schwartz Z1
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- Joined: Tue 19 May, 2009 10:41
- Posts: 31
- Location: London
Thanks for the warm welcome. I'll post some pictures once I've had a chance to clean the car, it's filthy at the moment and the weathers not been very encouraging.
I extended the fog light wire over to the offside yesterday evening, shame the BMW wiring loom doesn't just provide power to both sides as standard. As I don't have a spare bulb holder I've just moved the fog light for now.
The headlights seem more troublesome. I had a look in the manual and it seems to suggest they can just be rotated as you said. Strange thing is that the assembly on my headlights seem to have 4 screws, not the 3 indicated in the manual. I can loosen these off, but while this loosens the reflector and allows me to move it front to back, the assembly won't rotate at all.
That said, I did a very unscientific test by shining the dip beams against the garage door and the light pattern seems to be "further left" than my UK spec daily drive.
Looks like I may have to get the headlights out to have a closer look, but that might have to be a weekend job.
Also, would anyone be able to recommend a specialist/indy in the North London/Herts/Bucks with experience of the Z1. Based on my experience of BMW main dealers they're not necessarily the best bet for knowledge of the older BMWs.
Thanks for all your help so far.
I extended the fog light wire over to the offside yesterday evening, shame the BMW wiring loom doesn't just provide power to both sides as standard. As I don't have a spare bulb holder I've just moved the fog light for now.
The headlights seem more troublesome. I had a look in the manual and it seems to suggest they can just be rotated as you said. Strange thing is that the assembly on my headlights seem to have 4 screws, not the 3 indicated in the manual. I can loosen these off, but while this loosens the reflector and allows me to move it front to back, the assembly won't rotate at all.
That said, I did a very unscientific test by shining the dip beams against the garage door and the light pattern seems to be "further left" than my UK spec daily drive.
Looks like I may have to get the headlights out to have a closer look, but that might have to be a weekend job.
Also, would anyone be able to recommend a specialist/indy in the North London/Herts/Bucks with experience of the Z1. Based on my experience of BMW main dealers they're not necessarily the best bet for knowledge of the older BMWs.
Thanks for all your help so far.
Congratulations and welcome to the board, glad to see somone buck the current trend of these great cars leaving the UK, due to a very weak sterling. What made you buy a Z1?
The answer to your question may lie in this thread, from the positive feedback they have received.
http://www.zroadster.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=22031
The answer to your question may lie in this thread, from the positive feedback they have received.
http://www.zroadster.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=22031
Welcome
Welcome to the world that is Z1. I'm sure you will enjoy z1 ownership and all the forum, with most of us meeting up every now and then. Looking forward to seeing pics of your new toy...
All the best, Ben...[/list]
All the best, Ben...[/list]
Benslick
Greetings from across the pond! I used to take my Z1 to Kevin Bird's Garage in Buckinghamshire which was pretty close to my office in Uxbridge when I lived in London. That might be further away than you are looking for, but they are close to Heathrow so you could always drop your car off next time you have to fly out of town and pick it up when you get home. In addition to knowing their way around the Z1, Kevin's guys are true BMW enthusiasts as well.survivalist wrote: Also, would anyone be able to recommend a specialist/indy in the North London/Herts/Bucks with experience of the Z1. Based on my experience of BMW main dealers they're not necessarily the best bet for knowledge of the older BMWs.
Looking forward to your pics
"Asphalt is evil, it must be punished!"
1989 Z1, 1990 Z1, 1998 318ti (supercharged--The Original Budget M3), 2003 M3 Cabrio, 1985 M635Csi, 2006 Cayenne Turbo, 1960 Airstream Land Yacht
1989 Z1, 1990 Z1, 1998 318ti (supercharged--The Original Budget M3), 2003 M3 Cabrio, 1985 M635Csi, 2006 Cayenne Turbo, 1960 Airstream Land Yacht
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- Joined: Tue 19 May, 2009 10:41
- Posts: 31
- Location: London
Seems that too much work and a very welcome holiday means that I haven't had much time for Z1 related things recently.
The good news is that I got an MOT pass without having to add side repeaters, giving me almost all the info I needed to get a UK registration sorted out. The rest of the seemingly endless info required by the DVLA meant that I did some digging into the car's past and managed to discover that although it was sold to a collector in Germany, it was registered 6 months later in Switzerland and has been serviced by one garage for all of it's 30k Kilometres.
Having got it registered the same digging uncovered the fact that although it had been regularly serviced, the cambelt had gone unchanged for 20 years it's been on the roads - probably just as well I hadn't had the chance to drive it much.
Thanks to the recommendation on here I booked it into Birds Garage and after replacing the cambelt, oil, coolant, spark plugs and various filters and seals I am happy to report that the car is running very nicely. I even got the chance to go for a 2h drive on Saturday. Seemed to get plenty of looks as well, but I can't say whether that's because of the car, or just that most people can't understand why you'd be driving around with the roof down when it's 5 degrees outside.
I did find time to replace the stereo with something more modern as the original one only seemed to work 50% of the time. In the process of doing this I discovered that at some point the radio had been taken out, with a fair few bits of trim being damaged in the process (ashtray holder, bezel for the electric window switches) so I've been hunting down e30 parts on ebay.
Anyway, I've attached a picture. Better ones will follow as soon as the weather gets better and I get a chance to get out more.
The good news is that I got an MOT pass without having to add side repeaters, giving me almost all the info I needed to get a UK registration sorted out. The rest of the seemingly endless info required by the DVLA meant that I did some digging into the car's past and managed to discover that although it was sold to a collector in Germany, it was registered 6 months later in Switzerland and has been serviced by one garage for all of it's 30k Kilometres.
Having got it registered the same digging uncovered the fact that although it had been regularly serviced, the cambelt had gone unchanged for 20 years it's been on the roads - probably just as well I hadn't had the chance to drive it much.
Thanks to the recommendation on here I booked it into Birds Garage and after replacing the cambelt, oil, coolant, spark plugs and various filters and seals I am happy to report that the car is running very nicely. I even got the chance to go for a 2h drive on Saturday. Seemed to get plenty of looks as well, but I can't say whether that's because of the car, or just that most people can't understand why you'd be driving around with the roof down when it's 5 degrees outside.
I did find time to replace the stereo with something more modern as the original one only seemed to work 50% of the time. In the process of doing this I discovered that at some point the radio had been taken out, with a fair few bits of trim being damaged in the process (ashtray holder, bezel for the electric window switches) so I've been hunting down e30 parts on ebay.
Anyway, I've attached a picture. Better ones will follow as soon as the weather gets better and I get a chance to get out more.
Sounds like you got that belt changed just in time...glad to hear that Bird's did well by you.
Great pic...the dark colors always looks good in low light conditions...
Great pic...the dark colors always looks good in low light conditions...
"Asphalt is evil, it must be punished!"
1989 Z1, 1990 Z1, 1998 318ti (supercharged--The Original Budget M3), 2003 M3 Cabrio, 1985 M635Csi, 2006 Cayenne Turbo, 1960 Airstream Land Yacht
1989 Z1, 1990 Z1, 1998 318ti (supercharged--The Original Budget M3), 2003 M3 Cabrio, 1985 M635Csi, 2006 Cayenne Turbo, 1960 Airstream Land Yacht
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- Joined: Tue 19 May, 2009 10:41
- Posts: 31
- Location: London
At the moment it is completely standard apart from an Alpine CD player and I was thinking about swapping out the speakers for something better/newer.
I have to admit I'm not really sure what improvements are out there and my plan so far has been to keep it original. That said, If there are some reasonably easy to reverse modification that make a difference I'd be interested.
Also, It's currently got a very 90s steering wheel and pedal lock. What's the consensus in terms of security for UK based Z1s? Have you all got immobilisers, alarms etc fitted?
survivalist
I have to admit I'm not really sure what improvements are out there and my plan so far has been to keep it original. That said, If there are some reasonably easy to reverse modification that make a difference I'd be interested.
Also, It's currently got a very 90s steering wheel and pedal lock. What's the consensus in terms of security for UK based Z1s? Have you all got immobilisers, alarms etc fitted?
survivalist
- Racing Tortoise
- Z Register member
- Joined: Mon 07 Nov, 2005 15:53
- Posts: 894
- Location: SW6