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Axel's Coupé - Build LOG - 1.25 year

2003 - 2009, roadster, coupe, facelift
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Roberltd2
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Axel's Coupé - Build LOG - 2nd Week

Post by Roberltd2 » Sat Jan 01, 2022 1:26 am

I did some digging around on the interweb as well and a couple of googles suggested "Coils On Plugs" which kind of makes sense except I thought the coil on plugs was an integral part of the engine design rather than a customers package option. So Conformity of Production does make more sense for sure.
Thanks, and a Happy New Year to you.
Robert
2007 E85 2.5 si Sport in Montego Blue
1994 Eunos J2Ltd - now sold
1963 Triumph Thunderbird.

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axelleveau
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Axel's Coupé - Build LOG - 3rd month

Post by axelleveau » Sat Mar 12, 2022 10:44 pm

I am getting familiar with the car again after having her parked for a few weeks while doing pump, thermostat and expansion tank: And I'l still in love :driving:

Also done this week:
-Replaced the spring loaded hood bumpers
-Replaced one of the adjustable trunk bumpers, especially as it was letting water in as it acts as a plug in the water gutter than runs on each side of the trunk lid on E86s
-Took battery out and did a bit of a clean at the bottom of the box as an old battery had leaked
-Used NCS Expert + Dummy to code L/100km unit on consumption, automatic door lock when moving and mirror tilt in reverse: not happy about the door lock as I need to pull handles twices to get out and it does not reopen all doors at once. Also mirror tilt not working, will investigate more tomorrow
-Cleared all the tools and things stored under the trunk as I ordered a tyre repair kit and a compressor for peace of mind and will need storage space
Gone - Ford Ka MK2 Petrol - Black
Will hang around to carry materials/people and in emergency - Ford Fiesta MK7 1.0 Ecoboost - Black, white rally rims, white decals, remapped
Now - Z4 Coupe - Montego Blue: Here

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axelleveau
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Axel's Coupé - Build LOG - 3rd month

Post by axelleveau » Sun Mar 27, 2022 7:59 pm

Mixed feelings...

Painted my foglights black as they had the dreaded condensation issue and it feels like the cheapest and cleanest option right now as new ones would fail eventually and I am never using them.
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Then noticed a front wheel did not like its encounter with a pot hole last week... Luckily I cannot feel any vibration or steering movement so I'll wait until it is convenient for me to get it fixed :thumbsdown:
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Last edited by axelleveau on Sun Mar 27, 2022 9:55 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Gone - Ford Ka MK2 Petrol - Black
Will hang around to carry materials/people and in emergency - Ford Fiesta MK7 1.0 Ecoboost - Black, white rally rims, white decals, remapped
Now - Z4 Coupe - Montego Blue: Here

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Mr Tidy
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Axel's Coupé - Build LOG - 3rd month

Post by Mr Tidy » Sun Mar 27, 2022 8:06 pm

axelleveau wrote: Sun Mar 27, 2022 7:59 pm Mixed feelings...

Painted my foglights black as they had the dreaded condensation issue and it feels like the cheapest and cleanest option right now as new ones would fail eventually and I am never using them.
Those foglights are one of the less successful features of the facelift. :thumbsdown:

I think you can buy blanking plates for them - but thankfully the M doesn't have them!

That's a b*mmer about your wheel - I hope you can get it straightened. :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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Barty
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Axel's Coupé - Build LOG - 3rd month

Post by Barty » Sun Mar 27, 2022 9:30 pm

Blanking plates should fix that, though the black works nicely too. Have them painted to match and you’ll never have to look at those failed foglights again :thumbsup:
Four Alfa's and a Ducati later, I've turned to the dark side...
"Drive German, wear Italian, kiss French"

Z4: Tiefgrüen Metallic E86 3.0Si / Insta @bartsbuilds

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Axel's Coupé - Build LOG - 3rd month

Post by axelleveau » Fri Apr 15, 2022 4:24 pm

After weeks of staring at the roll of vinyl I got round to doing the interior carbon covering. I took me four days without rushing and working on it full time. As a summary I would say that taking appart the interior is pretty easy excepted for some parts that drive you mad because you do not know if you are doing things right or going to break something (yes, I am thinking of the knee pads...) but luckily there is a useful Pelican guide which only lacks details specific to the Coupe rear storage compartment but I figured it out. I had a bit of a fight to clear an airbag error light (I had to reconnect the battery to move the seats while the steering wheel was off) and realised I had not connected the airbag properly :headbang:

Anyway, here are some pictures, I am in love with the result! It tidies up the interior and gives it a more modern look :wub:
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I am now wondering about sending the wheel to Royal for some perforated leather with a white stripe :roll:
Gone - Ford Ka MK2 Petrol - Black
Will hang around to carry materials/people and in emergency - Ford Fiesta MK7 1.0 Ecoboost - Black, white rally rims, white decals, remapped
Now - Z4 Coupe - Montego Blue: Here

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Axel's Coupé - Build LOG - 3rd month

Post by Barty » Fri Apr 15, 2022 4:28 pm

Very nice, love that result! The trim on the buttons especially, well done :thumbsup:
Four Alfa's and a Ducati later, I've turned to the dark side...
"Drive German, wear Italian, kiss French"

Z4: Tiefgrüen Metallic E86 3.0Si / Insta @bartsbuilds

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Axel's Coupé - Build LOG - 3rd month

Post by axelleveau » Fri Apr 15, 2022 4:34 pm

Barty wrote: Fri Apr 15, 2022 4:28 pm Very nice, love that result! The trim on the buttons especially, well done :thumbsup:
Thanks! I am not sure of which of the buttons you are talking about, but in anycase every part which hosts buttons has been a pain: steering wheel has rounded parts which forces you to play around with stretching and cutting excess, the windows buttons required to use small pieces in the hole around the buttons and the piece around the heated seat/traction control also required small pieces in the corners as that was too much strech for the vinyl.

I am patiently waiting for updates on your interior swap as I expect that will be lovely as well 8)
Gone - Ford Ka MK2 Petrol - Black
Will hang around to carry materials/people and in emergency - Ford Fiesta MK7 1.0 Ecoboost - Black, white rally rims, white decals, remapped
Now - Z4 Coupe - Montego Blue: Here

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Axel's Coupé - Build LOG - 3rd month

Post by Barty » Fri Apr 15, 2022 5:24 pm

axelleveau, I meant the ones on the steering wheel. Can imagine they’re quite tricky. Top job by the looks of it :thumbsup:

As for your anticipation on my interior: won’t be much longer! I’ve taken next week off to put it all together. Stage one will be complete by Thursday, with stage two (different seats, custom parts, small items) to be completed somewhere this summer.
Four Alfa's and a Ducati later, I've turned to the dark side...
"Drive German, wear Italian, kiss French"

Z4: Tiefgrüen Metallic E86 3.0Si / Insta @bartsbuilds

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Axel's Coupé - Build LOG - 3rd month

Post by Mr Tidy » Fri Apr 15, 2022 8:48 pm

axelleveau wrote: Fri Apr 15, 2022 4:24 pm Anyway, here are some pictures, I am in love with the result! It tidies up the interior and gives it a more modern look
That's a real quality job. :thumbsup:

Did you manage to get your wheel repaired?
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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Axel's Coupé - Build LOG - 3rd month

Post by axelleveau » Fri Apr 15, 2022 10:32 pm

Mr Tidy wrote: Fri Apr 15, 2022 8:48 pm That's a real quality job. :thumbsup:

Did you manage to get your wheel repaired?
Cheers :D

I have not even looked into getting the wheel repaired... The car drives fine and has no vibration so I am worried of taking the risk of having the wheel totaled. If I find a reliable shop I'll try to get it straigthened and refurbed as it is the wheel I curbed on my first day of ownership so I have 4 perfect wheels. Fun fact, the pot hole has since been repaired :?
Gone - Ford Ka MK2 Petrol - Black
Will hang around to carry materials/people and in emergency - Ford Fiesta MK7 1.0 Ecoboost - Black, white rally rims, white decals, remapped
Now - Z4 Coupe - Montego Blue: Here

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Axel's Coupé - Build LOG - 3rd month

Post by Mr Tidy » Fri Apr 15, 2022 10:39 pm

axelleveau wrote: Fri Apr 15, 2022 10:32 pm Fun fact, the pot hole has since been repaired
I know it doesn't help you, but at least it may have saved others from having similar problems.
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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Axel's Coupé - Build LOG - 3rd month

Post by axelleveau » Fri Jun 03, 2022 4:56 pm

It's been a while since I last updated this thread but I did a bunch of small job not worth mentionnig individually:
  • Put some cheap covers on my keys to cover the not so good looking marks from a battery replacement. I even replaced the thread and put a white one ot match the car interior.
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  • Replaced all interior lighting with LEDs, makes it smart, welcoming and it is handy to have more light especially in the boot. It made me realised the storage compartment light was always on as the switch lever was gone. I managed to make a new mechanism out of plastic strips that I glued on the switch.
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  • Carried on and replaced all external lighting with LEDs, including some of the sketchy ones like the angel eyes that require some cutting. It was a bit of a treasure hunt to get specific formats/colors but I managed to get everything done. I did also replace the xenon bulbs while at it as the 15 year old ones where starting to discolor and loose brightness, this has been a great improvement. Here again it makes the car look more modern with a blue tint to the angel eyes nicely matching the paintwork. I also benefit from having brighter reverse lights and a tiny improvement in fuel economy (not measurable though :P ) :driving:
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  • While working on front headlamp I tried to improve the situation with some rubbing, wheel liner and panels holding and the front bumper alignment. Basically front tire is rubbing a bit (235/35R19) and the bumper brackets are not doing their job well so I tried to give all of that some help with some zip ties... futur will tell if it holds and I might try to source new brackets whenever I have to take the bumper off.
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    Right side liner had split so I did a drifter fix with ties and then added a ties as on left side (not on this picture, see below).
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    Left side just needed an additional zip tie to keep the liner further away from the tire, help the trap door stay tight and it also has the benefit of making the liner pull the bumper up a bit.
Gone - Ford Ka MK2 Petrol - Black
Will hang around to carry materials/people and in emergency - Ford Fiesta MK7 1.0 Ecoboost - Black, white rally rims, white decals, remapped
Now - Z4 Coupe - Montego Blue: Here

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Axel's Coupé - Build LOG - 6th month

Post by 1536Z4 » Fri Jun 03, 2022 10:25 pm

axelleveau wrote: Sat Mar 12, 2022 10:44 pm Also mirror tilt not working, will investigate more tomorrow
Were you able to get this sorted ?
Montego Blue E86 . MILV`s . Simpson Custom Manifold Race Exhaust . xHP transmission stage 3 . VT engine mounts . BC RA coilovers . H&R arbs . Adjustable rear camber arms . Ultra Racing front strut brace . Drexler LSD .

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Axel's Coupé - Build LOG - 6th month

Post by axelleveau » Sat Jun 04, 2022 10:43 am

1536Z4 wrote: Fri Jun 03, 2022 10:25 pmmirror
Yes and No, I thought the Z4 had rmirror tilt in reverse but realised after some research that they do not have the required memory modules to do it.
Gone - Ford Ka MK2 Petrol - Black
Will hang around to carry materials/people and in emergency - Ford Fiesta MK7 1.0 Ecoboost - Black, white rally rims, white decals, remapped
Now - Z4 Coupe - Montego Blue: Here

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