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My First Zed Thread (2003 E85 3.0)

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

Post by JonLeeper » Sat Dec 01, 2018 10:05 pm

Timmyboybunter wrote: Sat Dec 01, 2018 7:40 pm Short answer - nothing :)
If you have a black head unit already, the X3 unit is basically identical. For pre face lift cars with a grey head unit like mine, they can't play MP3's, just standard audio discs. I only bought the X3 unit as it was a fair bit cheaper than any facelift e85/e86 units on Ebay at the time.

Grom seems to be a popular option for bluetooth, or later Dension models.I believe iphones will happily work with stock bluetooth modules - mine is Android, so connects fine and makes calls, but sends no audio :(

I also learned about 'Avin' Android units today - there is one available for e83 X3s which I wonder may fit to sat nav equipped Z4's, one to research. I have an aftermarket Android unit fitted to my Skoda and it's excellent.
I do have a black unit fitted. Only the basic one though so no satnav screen. I've been looking at getting a new head unit fitted so I can have bluetooth but they are all flat and the Zs dash curved.
My daily driver, and occasional track toy,
56 plate e86 3.0si sport.
Black
6 pot front brakes
B12 kit
Front and rear strut braces
Polly bushed
Short shift kit

90 miles and climbing, slowly.
:driving:

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Timmyboybunter
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My Z Thread

Post by Timmyboybunter » Fri Mar 01, 2019 1:31 am

Driver side M3 seat fitted as a test. Used for a week, concluded I'm too, err, muscly for it so removed and original seat returned.
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20190126_144409.jpg
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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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My Z Thread

Post by Timmyboybunter » Sun Mar 03, 2019 11:04 pm

Picked up a matching sterling grey hard top today.
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20190303_165618.jpg
20190303_165618.jpg (234.09 KiB) Viewed 1154 times
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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My Z Thread

Post by Mr Tidy » Sun Mar 03, 2019 11:20 pm

You did well finding a matching hardtop - that looks great fitted. :thumbsup:

Shame about the M3 seats though as they do look much better!
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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Timmyboybunter
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Post by Timmyboybunter » Tue Mar 05, 2019 6:44 pm

Ta - yes it looks better in real life than in photos, I'm pleasantly pleased with it. Plan is to use it over the truly miserable winter months, now I've done the whole 'top down for every journey' thing this year and got it out of my system :)

Very lucky with the hard top actually, especially given recent posts about one flying off. I was a bit annoyed when starting my journey home to find the rear screen not working - also a fair bit of wind noise (more so than the soft top) but as I haven't been in a hard top before just assumed it was normal.

10 minutes of investigation at home, found both of the rear locking pins had their little lever 'turned' around, but it is simply spinning around the metal bit without actually locking the pin down - essentially is threaded if that makes sense. Not an issue as they can be locked by using the hole present in each pin - which I did, and magically the rear screen spring into life (presumably proper electrical contact was not made until properly locked). The reason I think is that the mounting points need adjusting, as once I did lock them down (which took a fair bit of force!) the top is sitting very nearly flush with the rear bodywork rather than the 5mm gap I see mentioned. The fit at the front is now a lot better, so I assume I'll find a much quieter journey when I've adjusted everything and had another try.

Unfortunately it seems some rain managed to penetrate on my first journey home, which has washed some road salt into the lining and made some white streaks - hopefully it will clean up ok though.

So, not the best of starts and possibly a bit lucky (though the front was definitely locked down) but things can only get better! I do love the way it looks on the car though. Little bit E89 from the back view.

It is a shame the M3 seats were no good for me as they do look far nicer - I'm consoling myself by trying some cream leather ones instead to see how they look.
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 » Sat Mar 09, 2019 5:45 pm

Tweaked the roof today following the '5mm gap at the rear' advice, and all seems fine - quick test drive is noticeably quieter than when collected (you think?) but there is still a small gap on the left front which I inagine will let in water as before.

Pretty sure this is just the seal being squashed for 16 years of soft top use; I've seen people bring their seals back to life with various products so will do that over the summer ready for roof use next winter.

I have left marks on the back of the car where the hard top was fitted too tight :( but hopefully they'll polish out. Good lesson for newbie roof owners there, the locks should need very little force to engage.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1433&p=20314&hilit= ... ent#p20314
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Last edited by Timmyboybunter on Tue Aug 06, 2019 2:25 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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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My Z Thread

Post by Timmyboybunter » Sat Mar 09, 2019 5:49 pm

Fitted facelift center vents, so they now match the colour of my updated head unit. I'll now sleep easier at night.
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20190309_155939.jpg
20190309_155939.jpg (191.86 KiB) Viewed 1095 times
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 » 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.
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20190309_145128.jpg (218.97 KiB) Viewed 1095 times
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Last edited by Timmyboybunter on Sat Mar 09, 2019 6:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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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My Z Thread

Post by Timmyboybunter » Sat Mar 09, 2019 5:58 pm

Both velcro patches on the drivers floor were hanging off when I bought the car, so the floor mats would move with every journey - very annoying. They have clearly tried to be glued back down at some point.

Used a staple gun last week and they've not moved since. Not the most attractive repair, but they are both obviously out of sight.
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20190309_155143.jpg
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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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My Z Thread

Post by Timmyboybunter » Sun Mar 17, 2019 5:35 pm

Following the M3 seat disappointment, I now have an irrational dislike of the standard black seats. Recently picked up a pair of standard cream leather seats in good condition (thanks to Maxman), gave the driver side a clean, leather treatment and condition in the week and fitted to the car today.

The seats didn't come with seatbelts or the block yellow connector thingy under the seat, so I had to swap everything over from my existing seat - I've also kept the black control surround and seat back from my original seats - and I'm very pleased with the result :D

Passenger side to do.
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20190317_150517.jpg
20190317_150517.jpg (184.14 KiB) Viewed 1065 times
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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maxman
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My Z Thread

Post by maxman » Sun Mar 17, 2019 6:07 pm

You don't let the grass grow under your feet,the seat has come up a treat :thumbsup:

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Timmyboybunter
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Post by Timmyboybunter » Sun Mar 17, 2019 6:11 pm

I like to keep busy :)

Very pleased with the result - I think the contrast between cream seat and black everything else looks great.

Going to get my rear coil springs sorted out then it's time to tackle the headlights!
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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R60BBA
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My Z Thread

Post by R60BBA » Sun Mar 17, 2019 10:51 pm

Nice thread, subbed :thumbsup:
Current: 2002 E46 M3
Current: 2004 R53 Cooper S
Current: 2005 997 Carrera S
Gone: 1998 E31 840Ci Sport
Gone: 2007 Z4 E86 3.0Si Sport
Gone: 2001 Z3 E36/7 2.2i San Remo Individual
Gone: 2015 F21 116d M Sport
Gone: 2012 A3 Sportback 1.2TFSI

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Mr Tidy
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My Z Thread

Post by Mr Tidy » Sun Mar 17, 2019 11:39 pm

Those cream seats look so much better than the black! :thumbsup:

I'm not a fan of black seats - maybe because with some "lesser" manufacturers if you want leather, black is the only option (thinking of my Seat Leon Cupra). :(

Pearl Grey leather was part of the attraction for me on both my Z4s. Especially as Sport models have a black headlining. :roll:
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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Timmyboybunter
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Post by Timmyboybunter » Mon Mar 18, 2019 12:14 am

I was on the fence actually, until getting them in the car - cream/beige can sometimes be a bit 90's Volvo :)

My Dad has red seats in his black E85, another combo that works well.

Attached for amusement is the 'inverse' of this experiment on its way to the loft: black seats, cream seat backs and control surround. Barry's nose is there too as it is a good colour match to the cream!
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20190317_225830.jpg
20190317_225830.jpg (192.85 KiB) Viewed 1020 times
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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