Front Wing Mounting Reinforcement

[TJS]

Finally got around to reinforcing the front wing bolt holes given two had split between the inner edge and the hole. What should have been a 45 minute task took several hours as the wing refused to slide forward. The offside light units were removed and the front horizontal lower bobbin was unbolted and removed with the wing. There were no "C" clamps on the horizontal wing / nose seam in front of the wheel arch, I am not sure it really needs one if the mounting forks are in good shape.

Unfortunately, the plastic wheel arch liner fractured and split, I was surprised just how brittle it is. So... pending ordering and fitting a new wheel arch liner is was temporary repair time using Alraldite, with duct tape.

The chassis was marked "13" plus a group of small rubber pads on the upper mounting. All the rubber bobbins were cleaned and covered in silicone grease to aid refitting, with the lights already off the car the front rubber bobbin was fitted to the front wing fork then bolted in place when the wing was in the correct position, much easier. New rubber washers were installed and bolts done up finger tight. Lights re-fitted, job done.

TJS

[Jet]

Nice Job. No matter how many times I see it, still amazed at just how clean your car is underneath, even under the wings.
You at Silverstone? Gaydon?

[TJS]

J

The underside of the wing and the chassis was dusty which was removed with compressed air and a quick wipe over . I noticed a horizontal 45 degree join in the chassis behind the front wheel arch which had a couple of mm of grime which was removed and the area treated with ACF-50. Its the nearest I have seen to a potential mud trap on the Z1.

I also replaced the missing offside rear wheel arch cover which overlaps the two sections of the liner. £14 and noted on. The 32mm steering column nut was checked and tightened - it only moved one flat after plenty of heave.

May be at Silverstone, potentially Gaydon

Regards

TJS

[sfh3l]

"araldite and duct tape".

You are now a fully qualified Jedi, Mr Smith. A man after my own heart. The only difference is that in my book that qualifies as a 'full' repair and there is no such thing as 'temporary'

[TJS]

A £291 each temporary is likely to become the new permanent ! I have been discussing the situation with a friend who is a boat builder, principally making up fibreglass replacements using the existing units as a mould. The problem is they would not be flexible enough to fit plus the liner also forms the inside of the engine bay, and both sides would need to be gel coated.

As the plastic ages it becomes brittle and it would be interesting to know just how old the current BMW stock actually is. I still struggle with the thick end of £600 per pair, aftermarket plastic front wheel liners for the MGB (similar size to the Z1) can be purchased at £50 per pair ... I will try to track down the manufacturer, maybe they would be interested in producing a batch of Z1 panels.

http://www.moss-europe.co.uk/Shop/ViewP ... exID=13321

The MGB is rarely used, and, after 30 plus years in my ownership does not need the liners, if it rains the car stays in the garage. I did however replace the tyres last weekend .... its first new set in 27 years. Size of front wheel arch below.

[Pat Slade]

An excellent repair, long may it last.
Interested to note your costing of £291 each. When I bought my new one from BMW Battersea in August 2013 it was £177.10 (after 5% discount)
+ VAT which means I paid £212.52. I wonder if this another instance of BMW Classic price inflation?
Regarding the "old new stock" issue I can report that the new arch liner is unlike my 1989 original, and a distinctly different texture.

Pat

[TJS]

Hi Pat.

I am getting confused , alternatively the profit margin for each stakeholder in the supply chain simply adds to price, from BMW to BMW UK to Dealer to customer.

The link posted by Michael shows the front wing liners listed at euro 204 each including vat. (£165). Almost worth a trip to Germany in the estate car and collect a job lot .. with a bulk discount. I am beginning to think that BMW are simply taking a strict line in enhancing Z1 part profitability, almost to deter people keeping an iconic part of BMW heritage on the road. There comes a point in time where the accountants no longer wish to allocate capital to providing discontinued model parts for a very limited market. I seem to recall that car manufacturers are required to supply parts for [10] years ? hence why some manufacturers contract supply to specialist such as unipart etc.

https://shop.bmw-classic.de/is-bin/INTE ... AUTOMOBILE

TJS