I'm "new" to the forum as a member but old hands to the Z4 scene. I remember back in the day when Phil (cj10jeeper) was modding his rear bumper to integrate the carbon diffuser. Something which I was following with great interest at the time. Anyway had to get shot of the car, moved onto a little MX5, then a cheap practical E46 coupe and now I'm back here. And it feels right. So after lots of searching, a close call with almost settling for a TT 3.2 DSG...
I purchased this beauty back in July '16.
What really won me over was the low mileage and spec.
2003 e85 3.0
Just over 58k on the clock
SMG
Sat Nav
Cruise
Heated/Electric Seats
Electric Mirrors (by this I mean powerfold)
Few issues as usual (it's 13years old), but overall very happy and proud owner!
-tyres are all mixed. Different brands and different treads. Rear right was balled.
-alloys could do with a refurb. Corrosion visible through paintwork. Also some curbing.
-airbad light issue. Covered this separately but it's the Airbag ECU.
-headlights require restoration.
-right side (drivers) fog light glass has a crack.
First things first, prior to purchase it was washed, inside and out. Now I'm not sure about anyone on here, but they can never do a job as good as you. On principle I don't get my car washed by any 3rd parties. They can't and won't be able to do as good a job as you can. They also won't treat the car with respect, which it rightfully deserves!
So once it got home it was hoovered and polished the inside. Still not perfect, will need one or two more heavy sessions but after that it'll be more of a light clean required than a heavy purge. I guess I'm a bit of a perfectionist.
Washed the car by hand, thoroughly. Still need to clay it, that's on my to-do list. Went over panel by panel and got all the green crap out of the roof. I washed it 4 times and still not perfectly happy with it. So will continue to wash it once or twice with every wash. After I'm done and happy I'll apply the fabric protector.
It wasn't due but had a full Inspection 2 done. Skipped the Inspection 1. I wanted to know for sure everything was mechanically sound, fresh, and functioning as it should.
Mods done previously
-Parrot bluetooth installed.
-DLR's fitted.
My mods in order
-E46 car mats installed. Don't fit perfectly but cover the fabric ones and give some added protection.
-16" Spare 104 Runflat Alloy Set (bought with the idea of running at winter).
-iCarly Coding adapter and iOS app
-Carbon wrapped my windshield pillars
-18" Spare 108 Split Rim Alloy Set (with excellent rubber - non runflat).
-Hardtop
-Ali foot pedals.
-Custom E46 Strut
THE to-do list
-Airbag issue. Need a new Airbag Control Module.
-DLR's could do with updating.
-Wheel spacers (15mm front and 20mm back).
-Replace/Refurbish headlights.
-De-ginge / remove hockey sticks from headlights.
-Additional USB port installation in rear centre console.
-Rear lights and bumper update (to quad and facelift).
-Quad pipes.
-Clear side lights/indicators/repeaters
-Alpina rear spoiler
-Carbon Badges
-Black Grill Set
Extensive (imo) research done on oil. I'll also be servicing it myself at around 6k ish intervals so that it's kept fresh.
Removed the 107's that were on the car originally. As mentioned these where pretty much shot. Excessive wear internally, so that tread was starting to go balled. These were all runflats and replaced them with the 104's (also runflat). But what an improvement. Just one day and the car felt so much better. Sticks better and I'm not sketching all over the place on the motorway when you hit an uneven patch. I know there is still an issue with the alignment so this is the next thing on the list. I've had a quick pit-stop in Kwick Fit to have it adjusted so now it's better. But will book it in for a full 4-point laser alignment and sort out the uneven wear issue (as much as possible) by running on the Z4 M set up. The Zed does have a aggressive camber as it is, but I feel mine is out which isn't doing me any favours. So upon forum advise I'm going to take it down to Hounslow Tyres in Twickenham, when I sort out my wheels and where I'm heading with them.
As part of ongoing maintenance I checked oil, coolant and I do the windscreen too. I've used Rainex on the E46 and its worked wonders. If you haven't tried it I would honestly recommend it.
Around the beginning October '16 I experienced coolant loss issues. Would loose about a cup worth over a 50 mile journey (one-way to work). This ended up being the coolant expansion tank. Small crack (which is relatively common, fault wise) so would loose fluid once pressure builds up. So this was replaced and coolant flushed at the same time. No issues now.
Got the hardtop on the 2nd of Nov '16, not perfect colour but good enough for now.
Apologies it's taken so long to get here, I know Marlon asked me a while ago about pictures and so inspired me to sort out my own project thread. I've also read much of MachineMonkey and LukeMace's longstanding project threads, as well as LBZ4's newer thread... and many more threads (too many to list). All very inspiring and so now I've got my own
