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2003 Z4 - New Member & Pics!

2003 - 2009, roadster, coupe, facelift
10Terp
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2003 Z4 - New Member & Pics!

Post by 10Terp » Mon Jan 29, 2024 12:45 am

MikeyH wrote: Sun Jan 28, 2024 1:06 pm Yes my rattle can attempts didn't turn out very good so I will get someone to do mine now I've got the damage sorted myself.
We'll see how it turns out. After sanding, and priming, and sanding, and priming, and sanding, and priming and sanding some more....here's how the car sits:

Image

This pic is actually after the disaster of last Friday. I primed and painted it and it turned out AWFUL. The paint color didn't match (ordered by paint code), and the actual can spray was terrible. So the pic above is after spending an entire day sanding again and re-priming. There's an automotive paint supply store near me that will color-match aerosol cans, so I'm going to take the gas (petrol?) cap up and have them match the color. One of my best friends regularly repaints motorcycles using their aerosol cans and he sings their praises, so hopefully it'll turn out better. I'll keep everybody here posted. If it turns out like crap again, off to the professionals it will go.

In the mean time I need to figure out why the running lights are flickering that will keep me from getting through state safety inspection:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ixyu2mWE7k

Ignore the "outside ones are halogen" statement. I realized after popping the rear lights out that they're all LED. Any input is welcome! Electrical is where my comfort level reaches its end.
2003 Z4 3.0i 6MT
2022 Ford Ranger XLT

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MikeyH
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2003 Z4 - New Member & Pics!

Post by MikeyH » Mon Jan 29, 2024 10:51 am

I hope you have better luck as mine were colour matched but came out darker :thumbsdown:
Now, Sterling grey Z4 2.2 with cup holders, stubby aerial and sport seats. Roadsters ‘cause they’re great with the roof down.
Ford Anglia, Red Sprite, a few MG midgets, MGB Roadster and yellow Ford Capri, all gone many years now.

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enuff_zed
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2003 Z4 - New Member & Pics!

Post by enuff_zed » Mon Jan 29, 2024 10:59 am

I don't think we appreciate in the UK how lucky we are to be able to source replacement used panels so relatively easily.
HQ of 'Norfolk Zed Rescue'.
Always happy to help if I can.

If the forum helped you, why not help the forum back. Thats the Z4 way! :thumbsup:
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10Terp
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2003 Z4 - New Member & Pics!

Post by 10Terp » Mon Jan 29, 2024 3:48 pm

MikeyH wrote: Mon Jan 29, 2024 10:51 am Attleborough, Norfolk
It will be interesting to see how it turns out. I'm not looking for perfection; just a good bit better than it was. However, if it turns out awful again I'll probably send it to a body shop in the spring.
2003 Z4 3.0i 6MT
2022 Ford Ranger XLT

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True-Blue
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2003 Z4 - New Member & Pics!

Post by True-Blue » Mon Jan 29, 2024 4:35 pm

Nice work :thumbsup:
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Previous Z4’s :E89 30i, E89 20i, E85 3.0Si (X4) E85 3.0i, E86 3.0 Si, E85 2.5si, E85 2.5i

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2003 Z4 - New Member & Pics!

Post by 10Terp » Tue Jan 30, 2024 2:09 pm

You guys will never believe this. Yesterday I was searching youtube for a video on expansion tank replacement and stumbled across this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPCeuNj0_Jo

Then I noticed the "Zed4Me" channel name, and a light bulb went off. My car had a wind breaker with a "zed4me" sticker on it (you can see it in one of the pics on the first post). I went digging into this channel more and realized it's MY CAR. This gave me a ton of information on it. Why the fender was painted, aftermarket wheels, last time the trans oil was changed, strut changes, etc etc. Still kinda in disbelief I randomly stumbled on this channel.

Here's an entire series he made on the fender:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92RFiBSem34&t=2s

Looks like he is/was a member here as well. Time to read through all his posts to get a history! memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=15912
2003 Z4 3.0i 6MT
2022 Ford Ranger XLT

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MikeyH
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2003 Z4 - New Member & Pics!

Post by MikeyH » Tue Jan 30, 2024 7:09 pm

They are very good videos. :thumbsup:
Now, Sterling grey Z4 2.2 with cup holders, stubby aerial and sport seats. Roadsters ‘cause they’re great with the roof down.
Ford Anglia, Red Sprite, a few MG midgets, MGB Roadster and yellow Ford Capri, all gone many years now.

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2003 Z4 - New Member & Pics!

Post by OneFastMac » Tue Jan 30, 2024 11:43 pm

Welcome, and wow, what a bargain! Love to see people putting effort and care into these cars :)
I'll be doing my Vanos and valve cover gaskets next month.
Bright Red 2004 3.0i Manual

10Terp
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2003 Z4 - New Member & Pics!

Post by 10Terp » Wed Jan 31, 2024 2:02 am

OneFastMac wrote: Tue Jan 30, 2024 11:43 pm Welcome, and wow, what a bargain! Love to see people putting effort and care into these cars :)
I'll be doing my Vanos and valve cover gaskets next month.
Good luck! If you need any tips feel free to PM me. Getting that thing off was challenging with the minimal space at the front of the engine.
2003 Z4 3.0i 6MT
2022 Ford Ranger XLT

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2003 Z4 - New Member & Pics!

Post by 10Terp » Sun Feb 04, 2024 11:56 pm

Another update. Got the bad fender painted and clear coated today:

Image

One coat of base:

Image

Four coats of base:

Image

Three coats of 2k clear:

Image

This was all done with rattle cans. I had an autobody paint supply store use their camera match machine to get as close as they could. Unfortunately the color is just a little off (slightly darker), but I expected that and it's good enough until I feel compelled to take it to a body shop for a proper job (i.e., until I am willing to cough up $1,000+).

Now I have some runs in the clear to clean, and am going to sand and polish the whole fender to reduce orange peel. Overall, I'm happy compared to how it was.
2003 Z4 3.0i 6MT
2022 Ford Ranger XLT

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2003 Z4 - New Member & Pics!

Post by buzyg » Mon Feb 05, 2024 1:00 am

Nice work. Bet your looking forward to driving her though. :thumbsup:
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MikeyH
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2003 Z4 - New Member & Pics!

Post by MikeyH » Mon Feb 05, 2024 10:44 am

Well done, my can of matched paint was also darker but luckily it was down the bottom so not too bad. I will get mine professionally done in the spring. It was much easier back in the 70s and 80s using the paint then to get a good match. :thumbsup:
Now, Sterling grey Z4 2.2 with cup holders, stubby aerial and sport seats. Roadsters ‘cause they’re great with the roof down.
Ford Anglia, Red Sprite, a few MG midgets, MGB Roadster and yellow Ford Capri, all gone many years now.

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2003 Z4 - New Member & Pics!

Post by OneFastMac » Tue Mar 05, 2024 11:37 pm

10Terp wrote: Wed Jan 31, 2024 2:02 am Good luck! If you need any tips feel free to PM me. Getting that thing off was challenging with the minimal space at the front of the engine.
At first I was stumped, but I disconnected the engine from the mounts and lifted it up by about 2 inches so the vanos cleared the front brace no problem!
Bright Red 2004 3.0i Manual

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