I had a 2.0 6 cylinder Z3 for a few years and thought that was the "nuts" but this 2.0L E85 is just a few levels up. This is all about a car I bought by remote control. Found her on Facebook marketplace at the shocking price of 2k. The seller, after advising him I was in Catalunya immediately declared she had an oil leak (cam cover gasket) and drivers window doesn't work and said "you can have her for 1800"! I got a mate to take a look and he decided she was a great buy.
First observations: A search online revealed she had had ten owners and was previously registered CatD. I'm never scared away by Categories (my 3 had been CatC). But ten owners!!!! Webuyanycar doesn't even stretch to that number! MOT history looked shockingly suspicious - two and three MOT's earlier picked up on Rusty brake lines rear and flexi brake hoses front. Amazingly the last MOT was totally clean. My mate's mech drove it back to his place, hoisted her and immediately declared "I'm not driving that thing even off the ramp, those rear brake lines and front flexi's are dangerous!" So we know what happened there don't we kids? The oil leak turned out to be cam cover gasket but he also recorded a buggered brake sensor and evidence of radweld. I'm not scared of much but the radweld had me butt clenching. Thanks to you guys here I was able to direct him to the expansion tank. All work completed and fresh genuine MOT obtained all I had to do was get her down to Catalunya. So with the boot filled up with bottles of Spitfire ale and one packet of crisps for the missus we set off on our journey of re-discovery looking for the passion for driving long since awol.
I fixed up a trip to our very own Zed Shed for some tweaks. Mike looked after me royally. Had to be on a Sunday - no problem. Not sure what we are going to need to do - no problem. Great service! On the way I discovered the aircon didn't work, called in advance to Mike - no problem. Mike did all the work and right at the end showed me that stupid oil level checking procedure! WTF??? No dipstick! So when the sensor stops working how do you know what's actually in there? "Dump it all and replace it as a measured amount" says Mike. Great! That's a viable option at the motorway services isn't it? With 1800km ahead of me in a car I have only known for ten minutes it was obvious what we had to do! Oil dropped and then returned back in I was good to go.
Trip through UK wasn't the most exciting. On a mission to meet up with a guy in Brum to replace the Macbook air I had thrown tea over that morning meant motorway as a start. Is there a complete mile stretch that isn't down to a 50 limit on that so called motorway??? Visited Mum in her nursing home in Dover and then set about on a twisty to Newhaven to catch my ferry. Umm..... sorry if if I offend anyone again but was has happened to UK roads? I heard of the pothole crisis but had no idea of the extent. Couldn't say I enjoyed that but we got there.
"France was where we first met and fell in love." Oh my f@cking God! French roads are quality, no question. I didn't want to stop even for pee breaks. Wow, ok she's only a recently re-loved 2.0L but just wow! this makes me want to rethink and go back and get a 2.5 or 3.0 but I can't take anything away from the whole experience. Incredibly at a constant 90Mph on the national roads she's returning 40Mpg too! That's one hell of a ride for this money.
Milau Bridge first time in the Zed by Ian Kenyon, on FlickrHere's me and the new "lover" crossing the Milau bridge.
So, this is the new beginning for me and this particular mid-life crisis. New oil level sensor on order and wheels to refurb are the next two jobs on the list. Then lefty headlights and we are on a new beginning. Hoping to make some real genuine friends on this forum. I have to say you're shaping up just fine up to now.
Thanks guys, here's to the future! - Ian
