Inkey$ Z4 3.0 project diary

[inkey$]

A classic Sunday of speccing the car to my needs.
First job, replace the broken centre vent with a replacement unit (which turned out not to be broken!), plus two cupholder side vents, kindly supplied by bigwinn.

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While the centre vent was out, I added the Bluetooth harness I bought from eBay, complete with microphone. Paired, tested and reinstalled.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/384262753191 ... media=COPY

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Found a neat little place for the microphone too…

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.

[inkey$]

Then it was time to wire up my MagSafe holder for my iPhone. All cables tidied and hidden behind the steering wheel, with the charge cable popped through the right hand vent. Cut a small notch in the lower panel to enable access to the USB end. Cable can also ‘retract’ when not in use.

In retrospect, I may make another notch at the bottom of the lower panel, so that when retracted the cable isn't seen at all.

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[inkey$]

Finally I replaced the OEM rubber clutchstop with another eBay special.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/254974452955 ... media=COPY

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[TOMGREEN413]

Stunning progress Sir, ........I haven't got past cleaning and detailing yet

[inkey$]

Stunning progress Sir, ........I haven't got past cleaning and detailing yet

All jobs for you to look forward to

[T_J_G]

Good work!

[inkey$]

Just bought a second hand MFSW from Nash3vans (thanks!), and it's in need of a little renovation. Usual dirty leather and slightly shiny button plastics - although these are nowhere near as bad as some I've seen - but the top of the wheel has micro cracks in the leather.

I could go to Royal Wheels of course, but I'm going to try and refurbish this myself using two ingredients I have in spades; Ignorance and Determination.

Started by cleaning down with 70% alcohol, then used a leather cleaner on the entire wheel. Didn't do a lot other than clean it up, so tried a magic eraser and water. This helped a bit, but I amped things up with some 320 grit sandpaper followed by 1200 grit. Then applied some Furniture Clinic Oregon Black dye before leaving to dry.

The picture below is mid-stage in all of that, and basically it hasn't worked, but it looks a lot better and the cracks are reduced.

Next steps will be for me to clean down again, sand the whole thing with 320 grit, followed by a degrease and clean down. Then 1200 grit all over again, before cleaning again and trying the Furniture Clinic colourant on the entire wheel.

Anyone thats done similar before and has any tips, do let me know.

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[Beedub]

ok..... basically this car is going to look like a new one when OP is done. lol! LOVE work going into this! i bet this project snow balls way further than it was ever meant to! keep us updated!

[enuff_zed]

Then it was time to wire up my MagSafe holder for my iPhone. All cables tidied and hidden behind the steering wheel, with the charge cable popped through the right hand vent. Cut a small notch in the lower panel to enable access to the USB end. Cable can also ‘retract’ when not in use.

In retrospect, I may make another notch at the bottom of the lower panel, so that when retracted the cable isn't seen at all.

2D310419-C0E1-4C9B-B55E-009537400549.jpegB92B7C6B-A1FA-4F76-ACEA-410B8AEA7F7E.jpegECD2D87A-0DF8-47F6-A9F6-D4E537BBEFC5.jpeg10A6FA0F-6AD2-4EB0-9326-66FB40AAB15A.jpegE4AC5A53-B74B-405E-B73C-C063D2D6E3A4.jpegDA1E1B88-E238-4D39-B28E-1A9D17F9299D.jpeg

Just a thought. Given that you are using the lighter socket for power, is it not possible to get an aftermarket socket behind the dash, wired to an ignition live fuse? Then you'd have nothing on show.

[enuff_zed]

Just bought a second hand MFSW from Nash3vans (thanks!), and it's in need of a little renovation. Usual dirty leather and slightly shiny button plastics - although these are nowhere near as bad as some I've seen - but the top of the wheel has micro cracks in the leather.

I could go to Royal Wheels of course, but I'm going to try and refurbish this myself using two ingredients I have in spades; Ignorance and Determination.

Started by cleaning down with 70% alcohol, then used a leather cleaner on the entire wheel. Didn't do a lot other than clean it up, so tried a magic eraser and water. This helped a bit, but I amped things up with some 320 grit sandpaper followed by 1200 grit. Then applied some Furniture Clinic Oregon Black dye before leaving to dry.

The picture below is mid-stage in all of that, and basically it hasn't worked, but it looks a lot better and the cracks are reduced.

Next steps will be for me to clean down again, sand the whole thing with 320 grit, followed by a degrease and clean down. Then 1200 grit all over again, before cleaning again and trying the Furniture Clinic colourant on the entire wheel.

Anyone thats done similar before and has any tips, do let me know.

IMG_7991.JPG

Mewant faux leather covers are £35 and with a couple of hours patience look pretty good, to the extent that an untrained eye asked me how much Royals had charged me.

[inkey$]

Then it was time to wire up my MagSafe holder for my iPhone. All cables tidied and hidden behind the steering wheel, with the charge cable popped through the right hand vent. Cut a small notch in the lower panel to enable access to the USB end. Cable can also ‘retract’ when not in use.

In retrospect, I may make another notch at the bottom of the lower panel, so that when retracted the cable isn't seen at all.

2D310419-C0E1-4C9B-B55E-009537400549.jpegB92B7C6B-A1FA-4F76-ACEA-410B8AEA7F7E.jpegECD2D87A-0DF8-47F6-A9F6-D4E537BBEFC5.jpeg10A6FA0F-6AD2-4EB0-9326-66FB40AAB15A.jpegE4AC5A53-B74B-405E-B73C-C063D2D6E3A4.jpegDA1E1B88-E238-4D39-B28E-1A9D17F9299D.jpeg

Just a thought. Given that you are using the lighter socket for power, is it not possible to get an aftermarket socket behind the dash, wired to an ignition live fuse? Then you'd have nothing on show.

You're ahead of me, Martin! I plan to tap into one of the fuses thats powered on ignition and hardwire a USB port somewhere covert - probably in the glove box for the charger to be plugged into. Have all the kit - just haven't had the time yet!

Which fuse would you recommend?

[inkey$]

Mewant faux leather covers are £35 and with a couple of hours patience look pretty good, to the extent that an untrained eye asked me how much Royals had charged me.

Unfortunately patience is of the ingredients I'm sadly lacking in

[enuff_zed]

Then it was time to wire up my MagSafe holder for my iPhone. All cables tidied and hidden behind the steering wheel, with the charge cable popped through the right hand vent. Cut a small notch in the lower panel to enable access to the USB end. Cable can also ‘retract’ when not in use.

In retrospect, I may make another notch at the bottom of the lower panel, so that when retracted the cable isn't seen at all.

2D310419-C0E1-4C9B-B55E-009537400549.jpegB92B7C6B-A1FA-4F76-ACEA-410B8AEA7F7E.jpegECD2D87A-0DF8-47F6-A9F6-D4E537BBEFC5.jpeg10A6FA0F-6AD2-4EB0-9326-66FB40AAB15A.jpegE4AC5A53-B74B-405E-B73C-C063D2D6E3A4.jpegDA1E1B88-E238-4D39-B28E-1A9D17F9299D.jpeg

Just a thought. Given that you are using the lighter socket for power, is it not possible to get an aftermarket socket behind the dash, wired to an ignition live fuse? Then you'd have nothing on show.

You're ahead of me, Martin! I plan to tap into one of the fuses thats powered on ignition and hardwire a USB port somewhere covert - probably in the glove box for the charger to be plugged into. Have all the kit - just haven't had the time yet!

Which fuse would you recommend?

Somewhere on here is a diagram of the fuses but I can't find it again now dammit!
I'd suggest find one the same rating as the cigarette lighter, as you know that works, but ignition live. Then piggyback onto it.

[inkey$]

Found it...

2004 BMW Z4 (E85) Color Fuse Diagram.png (967.32 KiB) Viewed 501 times

[Usel]

Then it was time to wire up my MagSafe holder for my iPhone. All cables tidied and hidden behind the steering wheel, with the charge cable popped through the right hand vent. Cut a small notch in the lower panel to enable access to the USB end. Cable can also ‘retract’ when not in use.

In retrospect, I may make another notch at the bottom of the lower panel, so that when retracted the cable isn't seen at all.

2D310419-C0E1-4C9B-B55E-009537400549.jpegB92B7C6B-A1FA-4F76-ACEA-410B8AEA7F7E.jpegECD2D87A-0DF8-47F6-A9F6-D4E537BBEFC5.jpeg10A6FA0F-6AD2-4EB0-9326-66FB40AAB15A.jpegE4AC5A53-B74B-405E-B73C-C063D2D6E3A4.jpegDA1E1B88-E238-4D39-B28E-1A9D17F9299D.jpeg

Just a thought. Given that you are using the lighter socket for power, is it not possible to get an aftermarket socket behind the dash, wired to an ignition live fuse? Then you'd have nothing on show.

I did this. Dropped the glove box out. Found an ignition live fuse and spurred off it. Drilled a hole through to area under stereo and now have a lighter socket under there.
With the glove box back in you wouldn't even know.