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Z4 Gaz' E85

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Rusky
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Z4 Gaz' E85

Post by Rusky » Wed Apr 18, 2018 9:18 pm

Nice car Op :thumbsup:
3.0l Silver SMG, whippy and ginge fringe/ Sound gen mod/ Media bridge fitted (bluetooth and audio streaming) / Clear third break light/ Hard Top/ Eibachs springs and DLV back box/ Roof motor in the boot/ plus lots more.

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Z4 Gaz' E85

Post by Z4 Gaz » Fri Apr 27, 2018 5:37 pm

Replaced both front shocks now. I was going to get Bilstein B4, however Larkspeed were out of stock, as were their suppliers and the wait was a few months to get some from Germany, so rather than mess around and possibly get the same response from other stores I went and ordered some Sachs. Didn't want to make the car any firmer than it is, hence sticking with OEM dampers.

Whilst there I noticed the front ARB bushes had seen better days, so replaced them with some poly items, and to complete things some Meyle HD ARB drop links were added to the list.

Whilst up on the ramps today doing the bushes I went and gave it fresh oil and a filter. Even did the oil on the 335 whilst in spannering mode.

EDIT, why has it rotated my photo?
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E85 3.0i

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kis
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Z4 Gaz' E85

Post by kis » Mon Apr 30, 2018 2:49 pm

Z4 Gaz wrote: Fri Apr 13, 2018 9:03 pm
dhobbs wrote: Fri Apr 13, 2018 8:42 pm What's the O2 pilot mod?
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=1115223
Is the installation the same on the Z4? (Same engine I know but in terms of well... everything else!). Just looking into this now and figuring out how involved it is! And what procedures may be different from our cars to the E46
My E85 Z4 3.0i SMG

BMW Family History (past and present):
1 Series - E87
3 Series - E46 Coupe, E46 M3, E90 (x3)
4 Series - F36, F82 M4
5 Series - E34 (x2), E39
7 Series - E32
X5 - E53, E70
X6 - E71

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Z4 Gaz
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Z4 Gaz' E85

Post by Z4 Gaz » Mon Apr 30, 2018 3:31 pm

kis wrote: Mon Apr 30, 2018 2:49 pm
Z4 Gaz wrote: Fri Apr 13, 2018 9:03 pm
dhobbs wrote: Fri Apr 13, 2018 8:42 pm What's the O2 pilot mod?
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=1115223
Is the installation the same on the Z4? (Same engine I know but in terms of well... everything else!). Just looking into this now and figuring out how involved it is! And what procedures may be different from our cars to the E46
From what I remember it is exactly the same.

My car was using a lot of oil despite being low milage. Something like 1l in less than 1000 miles. Since doing this it hasn't been using any, but then I haven't really done that many miles in it recently to gauge just how little, if any, it is using now.
E85 3.0i

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Z4 Gaz' E85

Post by kis » Mon Apr 30, 2018 9:02 pm

Mine uses as well. In that video it explains why the M54 uses oil. So I guess exactly how much is dependant on the car/person/driving style/etc. I think a few people have claimed no top ups are required. But majority from what I’ve seen have to top up. I’m not that bothered about it but would be a good mod... eventually! Hospital job :)
My E85 Z4 3.0i SMG

BMW Family History (past and present):
1 Series - E87
3 Series - E46 Coupe, E46 M3, E90 (x3)
4 Series - F36, F82 M4
5 Series - E34 (x2), E39
7 Series - E32
X5 - E53, E70
X6 - E71

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Z4 Gaz
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Z4 Gaz' E85

Post by Z4 Gaz » Mon May 14, 2018 6:52 pm

Knowing how bad the lollipop and front ARB bushes were I decided to replace the RTABs the other weekend, then had 4 wheel alignment done.
I went with strongflex and thankfully don't have any squeaking, which I was slightly concerned about.


Having changed the belts ages ago i finally got round to replacing the 2 tensioners and idler pulley. Nice easy job that needed doing, 1 of the tensioners and the idlers bearing were out of grease and span way too freely.


Whilst getting the car ready for its MOT, which is due next month, I noticed the front headlight washers weren't working. For some reason the lower part of the hose was missing and the top half had a stick jammed up it. I can only assume it must have been leaking at some point and was bodged.
Got hold of a second hand pipe from a member on here and replaced it today. Annoyingly I snapped the output from the motor whilst faffing with the pipe work. Gorilla glue didn't work so I got out the soldering iron and tried my hand at plastic welding. Worked perfectly and the washers are now fully functioning.
This was a good time to remove the washer bottle and give it a good clean inside and out.

Also took a quick vid of the engine.
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E85 3.0i

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kis
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Z4 Gaz' E85

Post by kis » Tue May 15, 2018 9:33 am

I'd be a bit worried about how long the weld would hold up, not that the washer jet is that important. I assume the pumps themselves are pretty cheep and many other models like the e46 will work? But otherwise the car seems to be progressing nicely! Have you had a chance to drive it much? Can you feel the difference before and after?
My E85 Z4 3.0i SMG

BMW Family History (past and present):
1 Series - E87
3 Series - E46 Coupe, E46 M3, E90 (x3)
4 Series - F36, F82 M4
5 Series - E34 (x2), E39
7 Series - E32
X5 - E53, E70
X6 - E71

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Z4 Gaz
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Z4 Gaz' E85

Post by Z4 Gaz » Tue May 15, 2018 12:19 pm

As soon as the MOT has been done the headlight washer is being unplugged anyway :wink:
You can get cheap ones for less than £13 on ebay, so no loss if it does break off again.

Not driven it that much, mostly locally, however it does feel more accurate now, and the front end irons out the bumps much better. There is still a slight shimmy from the rear when you hit a bump/rut mid corner, so going to replace the other 4 bushes either side, arb bushes and drop links and it should then handle as new/better thanks to all the polyurethane.
E85 3.0i

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Z4 Gaz' E85

Post by Z4 Gaz » Thu Jun 21, 2018 5:09 pm

A month on and the plastic weld has held.

Replaced the rear shocks with B4. Both were dead and wouldn't rebound on their own.

Changed the outer rear bushes. The top rose joints had a small amount of play which was causing the rear end mid corner bump shimmy. Read somewhere that the bottom outer bushes can be replaced with rose joints too as an upgrade, so did that, Meyle top and bottom.

Did the inner bushes on the drivers side only to find the passenger side can't be done without moving the diff. Not exactly sure what needs doing to move the diff enough to get the bolts out, so have left it as is for the time being.

Replaced the 3rd brake light.

Bought a strut brace for an E46. Fitted it. Couldn't close bonnet. Removed it. :x

Blacked up the engine plastics when doing the strut brace earlier whilst the bonnet was up.

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E85 3.0i

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Z4 Gaz' E85

Post by Z4 Gaz » Sat Aug 11, 2018 2:14 pm

Been chasing a problem where the car pulls left under braking at higher speeds.

Think I have narrowed it down to one front caliper not working as hard as the other side, despite the piston being rust free.

Decided it would be a good time to upgrade, so bought some used 330 E46 calipers, gave them a good wire wheel on a drill treatment, followed by some acid etch and silver paint and lacquer. Ferodo Premier Eco pads and Ferodo discs. Despite their name the pads are supposedly between 10-17% better than normal OEM pads in 100kph braking tests. They are also cheap at £37 a set for the fronts. Thanks to the rain I am yet to take the car out for a test run.

Changed the front wishbones too as there was a very small knock which is now gone.

I still haven't needed to add any more oil since doing the o2 pilot mod some 3.5-4k miles ago. There has been quite a lot of high speed driving and a few flat out sections of autobahns with 140+ indicated speeds, so it has worked wonders for my oil consumption.

As usual the forum thinks it knows best and has rotated one of the photos upside down.
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E85 3.0i

RROB
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Z4 Gaz' E85

Post by RROB » Sat Aug 11, 2018 5:12 pm

Were the seat alterations difficult ?

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Z4 Gaz' E85

Post by Z4 Gaz » Sat Aug 11, 2018 5:31 pm

Went in to a bit more detail here.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=100386&hilit=s2000+seats
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Z4 Gaz' E85

Post by RustyZ4 » Sat Aug 11, 2018 6:21 pm

Wow, well impressed, lots of nice work there, you have been busy
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Z4 Gaz' E85

Post by Keet » Sat Aug 11, 2018 6:28 pm

Great looking car! :thumbsup:
Keith

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