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My First Zed Thread (2003 E85 3.0)

2003 - 2009, roadster, coupe, facelift
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wonkydonkey
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My Z Thread

Post by wonkydonkey » Mon Mar 18, 2019 6:30 am

Barry is hilarious :)
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~2006 Z4MR in Silver Grey
~2003 3.0i E85 in Sterling Grey

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Timmyboybunter
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Post by Timmyboybunter » Thu Mar 21, 2019 12:52 am

Hard top stand arrived today, assembled in about 20 minutes. Bought from ukcustomcovers.com (via Amazon, £10 cheaper than their website strangely).

Not the best quality item build quality wise, but the hard top does feel rock solid in the upright position. £80 though? Feels a bit steep but there are few alternatives.

Gratuitous picture of my Daytona included. Owned for 2 years now and I still catch myself just staring at it.
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2012 VW Passat 1.4 Tsi Estate
2005 Mercedes CLK 55 AMG
2015 E89 BMW Z4 sDrive35iS (sold)
2010 E89 BMW Z4 sDrive30i (sold)
2003 E85 BMW Z4 3.0 (sold)

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Timmyboybunter
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Post by Timmyboybunter » Thu Mar 21, 2019 12:58 am

Also gave the roof a clean at the weekend just with Milton and a nail brush - has got rid of *all* the green mould specs with just a single 20 min clean, so I'd highly recommend this as a solution.

I have the Autoglym twin set of products ready to use at some point, hoping this will remove some of the crease lines.
2012 VW Passat 1.4 Tsi Estate
2005 Mercedes CLK 55 AMG
2015 E89 BMW Z4 sDrive35iS (sold)
2010 E89 BMW Z4 sDrive30i (sold)
2003 E85 BMW Z4 3.0 (sold)

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paulc_bkk
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My Zed Thread

Post by paulc_bkk » Thu Mar 21, 2019 10:49 am

Congratulations on the hardtop! I also managed to pick up one that matched my car (sapphire black) on the weekend.
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I also noticed marks as the fitment is too tight at the rear - the marks that were made polished out, but for now I’ve lubricated the seals and put painters tape in the contact areas since it was too dark and difficult to see properly to adjust the height. It looks like the roof fitment is slightly skewed on mine so the right needs to move forward slightly as well as being raised to 5mm

I’ll have a better look at it over the weekend.

I also pulled out the hardtop stand from my old E36 convertible and I’m curious to see if it will suit this hardtop - mine was home-made using measurements I found online. It only cost about £20 to put together over here in Thailand
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Timmyboybunter
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Post by Timmyboybunter » Thu Mar 21, 2019 11:14 am

Great looking car - the hard top really suits black I think. Nice wheels too :)

Fairly sure your hard top stand will work - I'd imaging the Z4 hard top is shorter than the E36 one, so as long as the base section is deep enough (which it looks like it is) then it should be stable. Give it a try and see what happens - ideally with 2 people just in case the fit is not very good and you need to lift off in a hurry.
2012 VW Passat 1.4 Tsi Estate
2005 Mercedes CLK 55 AMG
2015 E89 BMW Z4 sDrive35iS (sold)
2010 E89 BMW Z4 sDrive30i (sold)
2003 E85 BMW Z4 3.0 (sold)

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wonkydonkey
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Post by wonkydonkey » Thu Mar 21, 2019 2:00 pm

Guys, if your hardtops are rubbing on painted bodywork, I would get straight in there with some PPF (paint protection film). It costs peanuts, is practically invisible and will prevent any scuffing of your paint.
Previous:
~2006 Z4MR in Silver Grey
~2003 3.0i E85 in Sterling Grey

Click here for the Sticky Steering thread
<My name is James>

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Timmyboybunter
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Post by Timmyboybunter » Thu Mar 21, 2019 3:12 pm

wonkydonkey wrote: Thu Mar 21, 2019 2:00 pm Guys, if your hardtops are rubbing on painted bodywork, I would get straight in there with some PPF (paint protection film).
Good tip James - they shouldn't rub though. Rubbing only occurs if the fit has not been properly adjusted to leave the required 5mm gap at the back - the concern is for newbie owners like me who rock up to buy these things 2nd hand and expect them to just fit correctly. I'm actually thankful that mine was initially fitted INcorrectly and wasn't locked down tight - I dread to think what a mess it what have made, rubbing directly on both rear quarters for near enough 100 miles :cry:

Take an adjustable spanner along and something easy to quickly guage a 5mm gap e.g. a rawl plug. The locking pins are very easy to adjust - when you know this is needed anyway.
2012 VW Passat 1.4 Tsi Estate
2005 Mercedes CLK 55 AMG
2015 E89 BMW Z4 sDrive35iS (sold)
2010 E89 BMW Z4 sDrive30i (sold)
2003 E85 BMW Z4 3.0 (sold)

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wonkydonkey
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Post by wonkydonkey » Thu Mar 21, 2019 3:36 pm

Happy days. The hardtop looks great :)
Previous:
~2006 Z4MR in Silver Grey
~2003 3.0i E85 in Sterling Grey

Click here for the Sticky Steering thread
<My name is James>

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Timmyboybunter
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Post by Timmyboybunter » Thu Mar 21, 2019 4:31 pm

Ta - they do look nice don't they. That black one above looks proper menacing - mini batmobile :evil:
2012 VW Passat 1.4 Tsi Estate
2005 Mercedes CLK 55 AMG
2015 E89 BMW Z4 sDrive35iS (sold)
2010 E89 BMW Z4 sDrive30i (sold)
2003 E85 BMW Z4 3.0 (sold)

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Post by Timmyboybunter » Sun Mar 24, 2019 11:40 pm

Cream passenger seat fitted today - very pleased with the overall result.
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2012 VW Passat 1.4 Tsi Estate
2005 Mercedes CLK 55 AMG
2015 E89 BMW Z4 sDrive35iS (sold)
2010 E89 BMW Z4 sDrive30i (sold)
2003 E85 BMW Z4 3.0 (sold)

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Mr Tidy
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Post by Mr Tidy » Sun Mar 24, 2019 11:44 pm

Timmyboybunter wrote: Thu Mar 21, 2019 12:52 am Gratuitous picture of my Daytona included. Owned for 2 years now and I still catch myself just staring at it.
Made me laugh - I was expecting to see a Ferrari! :rofl:

But your hardtop looks great. :thumbsup:
Coupes because stunning!
Current - Silver Grey MC, Imola Red heated Nappa & carbon trim. Aeros, H & R Coil-overs, 224s, OE Strut brace, Nav, cup-holders, DSP Hi-Fi, pdc, cruise, MFSW, no CDV! E90 330i daily
Gone - Montego Blue
Gone - Ruby Black

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Post by Timmyboybunter » Sun Mar 24, 2019 11:47 pm

Pair of Suplex 06231 rear coil springs fitted, the off side rear had snapped.

Not a bad job at all, but needed a pry bar (borrowed from neighbour) and a tall bloke to stand on it (same neighbour) to get the springs out and in. 2nd one took 20 mins start to finish - easy once you've done one.
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2012 VW Passat 1.4 Tsi Estate
2005 Mercedes CLK 55 AMG
2015 E89 BMW Z4 sDrive35iS (sold)
2010 E89 BMW Z4 sDrive30i (sold)
2003 E85 BMW Z4 3.0 (sold)

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Timmyboybunter
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Post by Timmyboybunter » Sun Mar 24, 2019 11:50 pm

Mr Tidy wrote: Sun Mar 24, 2019 11:44 pm Made me laugh - I was expecting to see a Ferrari! :rofl:
I'm quite some way off bring able to afford a Daytona with a horsey badge on :)
2012 VW Passat 1.4 Tsi Estate
2005 Mercedes CLK 55 AMG
2015 E89 BMW Z4 sDrive35iS (sold)
2010 E89 BMW Z4 sDrive30i (sold)
2003 E85 BMW Z4 3.0 (sold)

mjennings23
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Post by mjennings23 » Mon Mar 25, 2019 12:13 am

Timmyboybunter wrote: Sat Mar 09, 2019 5:54 pm Fitted uprated DISA valve internals from X8R. Fairly straightforward to do.

There was zero play in my DISA valve though, but preventative maintenance makes me feel warm and fuzzy.

For some reason, my DISA valve unit was missing the sealing o-ring, but a new one is supplied in the X8R pack.
So, I've just seen this and someone may have already said, but you're not missing the o-ring. The idea of the replacement is that you remove the red/orange one that, no doubt, is now completely flat and doing nothing after being disturbed. It does require scraping out mind, then you install the new o ring in the groove left behind.

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Post by Timmyboybunter » Mon Mar 25, 2019 12:17 am

Ahhhh, ok that makes sense - thanks. I thought the orangey bit was just part of the plastic moulding.

I'll take the unit out again next weekend and scrape it out as you suggest.

Cheers :thumbsup:
2012 VW Passat 1.4 Tsi Estate
2005 Mercedes CLK 55 AMG
2015 E89 BMW Z4 sDrive35iS (sold)
2010 E89 BMW Z4 sDrive30i (sold)
2003 E85 BMW Z4 3.0 (sold)

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