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Roundozo's zed
- Roundozo
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1526
- Joined: Wed Dec 18, 2013 5:17 pm
- Location: Hampshire
Roundozo's zed
Hi everyone,
I thought I give you all a little update of my car maintenance themed weekend. I planned on doing some work on the car over the weekend and had bought lots of bits prior to this. I got the oil from Asda as they had a deal on Castrol Edge and the service parts from ECP. I haven’t managed to photograph all of the work done as time was precious as I needed the car back on the road by Sunday afternoon.
Things I bought;
Oil – 8lt
Oil filter and seal
New sump bolt and seal
Air filter
Cabin filter
Front Pads & new wear sensor
Rear Pads & new wear sensor
Oil filter removal tool
2 x torque wrenches (low range/high range)
The day started well (I know the car is filthy but I was going to clean it after the work was complete but just didn’t have time). I ran the car for 5 to10 minuets to warm up the oil. I then drove her onto some makeshift ramps to enable me to get the trolley jack underneath so that I could then get the axle stands under her (Oh I wish I had a pit).
I then loosened of the oil filter hosing to aid the draining process and put my oil pan underneath.
The air filter was a quick easy change and no pictures to show for it I’ afraid.
I then started to remove the front wheels to change the pads and wear sensor. Oh dear....
As other people have mentioned before the wheels didn’t want to come off even after the bolts were undone. Lying on the floor and using my feet to kick at 9 & 3 o’clock positions it eventually started to move but only after I discovered a lot of play in the rear of the front wishbone bushes. I had started to notice this in the feel of the drive but I was planning on changing it all in the summer when working on a car outside is more pleasurable. Anyhow another trip to ECP and i had come back with some replacement bushes.
To remove the old ones the lower trays were removed. Then with the wishbone hanging down I attempted to remove the bush. This was a complete PITA!! I gave up trying to remove it gracefully and brought out the big guns.
Ok, so this grinder was a bit too big for the job but it worked.
New bushes fitted and a much tighter front end.
This took almost all of Saturday up so changing the pads had to be done on Sunday. I didn’t get any pictures of this I’m afraid as I just got on with it. All the callipers came off nice and easy and pads were also easy to fit. However whoever designed the location of the rear brake pad wear sensor junction box needs to be hung. It’s the most inaccessible thing to get to so I’ll try to never let the pads wear down enough to need to change this again.
I will be changing more bushes etc on the car but I’m going to wait until warmer weather graces our shores as I was frozen to the bone, I usually enjoy this type of thing but not with freezing weather beating down on me.
p.s. I will clean the car soon!
I thought I give you all a little update of my car maintenance themed weekend. I planned on doing some work on the car over the weekend and had bought lots of bits prior to this. I got the oil from Asda as they had a deal on Castrol Edge and the service parts from ECP. I haven’t managed to photograph all of the work done as time was precious as I needed the car back on the road by Sunday afternoon.
Things I bought;
Oil – 8lt
Oil filter and seal
New sump bolt and seal
Air filter
Cabin filter
Front Pads & new wear sensor
Rear Pads & new wear sensor
Oil filter removal tool
2 x torque wrenches (low range/high range)
The day started well (I know the car is filthy but I was going to clean it after the work was complete but just didn’t have time). I ran the car for 5 to10 minuets to warm up the oil. I then drove her onto some makeshift ramps to enable me to get the trolley jack underneath so that I could then get the axle stands under her (Oh I wish I had a pit).
I then loosened of the oil filter hosing to aid the draining process and put my oil pan underneath.
The air filter was a quick easy change and no pictures to show for it I’ afraid.
I then started to remove the front wheels to change the pads and wear sensor. Oh dear....
As other people have mentioned before the wheels didn’t want to come off even after the bolts were undone. Lying on the floor and using my feet to kick at 9 & 3 o’clock positions it eventually started to move but only after I discovered a lot of play in the rear of the front wishbone bushes. I had started to notice this in the feel of the drive but I was planning on changing it all in the summer when working on a car outside is more pleasurable. Anyhow another trip to ECP and i had come back with some replacement bushes.
To remove the old ones the lower trays were removed. Then with the wishbone hanging down I attempted to remove the bush. This was a complete PITA!! I gave up trying to remove it gracefully and brought out the big guns.
Ok, so this grinder was a bit too big for the job but it worked.
New bushes fitted and a much tighter front end.
This took almost all of Saturday up so changing the pads had to be done on Sunday. I didn’t get any pictures of this I’m afraid as I just got on with it. All the callipers came off nice and easy and pads were also easy to fit. However whoever designed the location of the rear brake pad wear sensor junction box needs to be hung. It’s the most inaccessible thing to get to so I’ll try to never let the pads wear down enough to need to change this again.
I will be changing more bushes etc on the car but I’m going to wait until warmer weather graces our shores as I was frozen to the bone, I usually enjoy this type of thing but not with freezing weather beating down on me.
p.s. I will clean the car soon!
Last edited by Roundozo on Mon Jun 27, 2016 12:58 pm, edited 5 times in total.
Past - Z4 Coupe, gone but not forgotten
Present - 530d M sport touring
Present - 530d M sport touring
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- srhutch
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Re: My weekend of tinkering!
What's the iron for
- Roundozo
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1526
- Joined: Wed Dec 18, 2013 5:17 pm
- Location: Hampshire
Re: My weekend of tinkering!
errrm, Iron is for....errrr.......steam cleaning the under tray? Ok so this pick was taken in my utility room, the Iron photo bombed me.
Past - Z4 Coupe, gone but not forgotten
Present - 530d M sport touring
Present - 530d M sport touring
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- Location: Tunbridge Wells
Re: My weekend of tinkering!
To put creases in his overalls before he started work of coursesrhutch wrote:What's the iron for
2007 Z4 ///M Roadster, Black Sapphire, Nav, Deflector, Eibach's, Bilstein B6's, OEM CSL's 6 Pot BMW Performance Calipers
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Re: My weekend of tinkering!
Stu Boy wrote:To put creases in his overalls before he started work of coursesrhutch wrote:What's the iron for
- Stratts
- Member
- Posts: 391
- Joined: Sun Oct 19, 2014 4:04 pm
- Location: Upminster, Essex (East Laaandan)
Re: My weekend of tinkering!
Nice work. Doing these things yourself is so satisfying.
Just a couple of pieces of advice if you don't mind...
1) Make yourself some ramps out of some old scaffold boards or similar. You can drive up these and get underneath for an oil change. Makes the whole process simple. I have mine made like this (pictured under my old E38):
2) If you got the OCAP or similar bushes from ECP, I would budget on replacing them within a year or so. They're not the best quality. If they were Lemförder then that's better.
3) Removal of the bushes needs a £15 3-arm puller from Halfords. 5 minute job each side, just so you know next time (if there is one)
Just a couple of pieces of advice if you don't mind...
1) Make yourself some ramps out of some old scaffold boards or similar. You can drive up these and get underneath for an oil change. Makes the whole process simple. I have mine made like this (pictured under my old E38):
2) If you got the OCAP or similar bushes from ECP, I would budget on replacing them within a year or so. They're not the best quality. If they were Lemförder then that's better.
3) Removal of the bushes needs a £15 3-arm puller from Halfords. 5 minute job each side, just so you know next time (if there is one)
2004 Z4 3.0i Auto
Sapphire Black / Red M Sport Leather / Eibachs / 108s / Poly Bushes / Vanos upgrade / Stubby
Amateur BMW Guru. If I don't know how to fix it, it's because I haven't broken it yet.
Diagnostics and coding services available.
Sapphire Black / Red M Sport Leather / Eibachs / 108s / Poly Bushes / Vanos upgrade / Stubby
Amateur BMW Guru. If I don't know how to fix it, it's because I haven't broken it yet.
Diagnostics and coding services available.
- Roundozo
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1526
- Joined: Wed Dec 18, 2013 5:17 pm
- Location: Hampshire
Re: My weekend of tinkering!
Thanks for the tips. I used some old decking boards but used the stands as I wanted loads of room for working under. Yes the bushes are Lemförder as I'd never heard of the other brand. Will next time definitely use the bush puller though as the grinder was a ball ache.
Past - Z4 Coupe, gone but not forgotten
Present - 530d M sport touring
Present - 530d M sport touring
- Beatman
- Member
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- Joined: Wed Mar 27, 2013 8:00 pm
- Location: West Country
Re: My weekend of tinkering!
Stratts I like the ramps a good idea.
My Car- 2004 3.0se sterling grey, mv3s , satnav, heated seats, ZHP.
- Taz
- Lifer
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- Joined: Tue Jul 14, 2009 9:56 pm
- Location: Saddleworth
Re: My weekend of tinkering!
I so wish I had a garage, nothing worse than car jobs out in the freezing cold
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Re: My weekend of tinkering!
great week end of messing on the motor .trouble is I just like to drive the car not work on it but only did 1200 miles last year
- Bazoz4
- Member
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- Joined: Fri Jun 27, 2014 8:42 pm
- Location: West Yorkshire, Leeds
Re: My weekend of tinkering!
Nice weekends work, surprising what you find when you get up close, working on a car outside in winter is a ball ache, but your adding some good tackle to your tool kit, get your spade out and get digging out that pit that will keep you warm. like srhutch says very satisfying when you do it yourself. Cheers Baz
2007 Z4 2.0 Roadster Montego Blue euro N46
2009 Hyundai Coupe S111 2.0 Silver
K5 Suzuki GSXR 1000 Blue and White Bike
All in use Z4 and Bike dry days only
2009 Hyundai Coupe S111 2.0 Silver
K5 Suzuki GSXR 1000 Blue and White Bike
All in use Z4 and Bike dry days only
- ronk
- Lifer
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- Location: Durham
Re: My weekend of tinkering!
In the 80's I had a Saab 99 Turbo and it had a very deep spoiler which prevented the use of ramps - Until I fabricated some half ramps which latched half way up the full rams.
Im sure they would work for the zed!
Im sure they would work for the zed!
You don't stop playing when you get old - You get old when you stop playing!
So I bought a 35is with all the toys to play with.
So I bought a 35is with all the toys to play with.
- Roundozo
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1526
- Joined: Wed Dec 18, 2013 5:17 pm
- Location: Hampshire
Re: My weekend of tinkering!
The previous owner of our home got planning permission to build one of those barn type double garages but the cost is a bit out of my budget ATM (They're bloody expensive). When it does finally get built I'm making sure it either has a pit or a type of car lift.
No more under car shenanigans for me until the summer is here and the temperature rises a little.
No more under car shenanigans for me until the summer is here and the temperature rises a little.
Past - Z4 Coupe, gone but not forgotten
Present - 530d M sport touring
Present - 530d M sport touring
- Zed Five
- Senior Member
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- Joined: Thu Aug 20, 2009 1:58 pm
Re: My weekend of tinkering!
My garage has a pit. Never wanted one until I got one free with the new house. Now love it.
Why is it that people who can't take advice always insist on giving it?
E89 35is | BMW S1000rr Motorsport Ed.
E89 35is | BMW S1000rr Motorsport Ed.