108 Refurbishment and Customisation
- Thread starter cj10jeeper
- Start date
Hey Herminator - for sure they will be on for the meet. I only have the one set. My other set are already on their way to a new home.
Colour is a lot more mirror/chrome than today's grey snowy weather shows, but the fitters commented on the complement with the grey.
rich-v Depends where you are based but the Lichfield company that did the centres would be delighted to do some more 108's. He's currently working on a show version of what he did to my centres as he likes it a lot.
Colour is a lot more mirror/chrome than today's grey snowy weather shows, but the fitters commented on the complement with the grey.
rich-v Depends where you are based but the Lichfield company that did the centres would be delighted to do some more 108's. He's currently working on a show version of what he did to my centres as he likes it a lot.
CJ, let me be the PITA and point out that whoever installed the tires didn't do a PERFECT job... I'm a perfectionist, so forgive me: the yellow dot (or the red one, not sure which one) is supposed to be aligned with the stem valve to minimize weight addition on the tire when balancing... If you look on your tires they are mis-aligned...
If you take a look here toward the end you'll see what I'm talking about...
I love the hard top!!!
If you take a look here toward the end you'll see what I'm talking about...
I love the hard top!!!
ZetaTre said:
Well it's a good observation and one that was taken into account. As you note the general rule is to align the yellow dot to the valve stem, however if there is a red too it is aligned to the weigh mark on the rim, thus putting the heavy and light spot of each together. On the inside of the rims we found a punched mark That is what my fitters have worked to. Looking at your reference article it does say the same if you read futher down:
What if both dots are present?
Generally speaking, if you get a tyre with both a red and a yellow dot on it, it should be mounted according to the red dot - ie. the uniformity mark should line up with the dimple on the wheel rim, and the yellow mark should be ignored.
OK so I have refurbished the rims too, stripped lacquer and removed the centres. They too have multiple layers of powder coat and paint, etc. so any original weighting would have been lost, but we tried. As a final point the tyre fitter I use removes and remounts any tyres that the system shows to be out of balance and see if he can get a better 'natural' balance. (Although local he is actually the specilaist tyre fitter for all exotic makes for a 50 mile radius and was at the time about to fit a set of Ferarri tyres and had a set of 22" Brabus 4x4 to do - no doubt a local drug Barons car..lol)
I too am a perfectionist :wink:
Thanks for the comment on the hardtop. I love it too and very practical given the current weather
CJ,
Did you experience many difficulties removing the bolts and separating the rims?
I've got 108s in need of a refurb, and after speaking to my local powdercoating guy he'll powdercoat the rims and centre bits - but only if I get them to him already separated. He's done similar Merc wheels before and says never again would he agree to separate wheels. Somewhat puts me off and make me wonder if it could become a PITA is I try it myself.
Bearing in mind my wheels/car are 4 years and 19k miles old.
I've got the luxury of time to do this as I can make do with using my van so I can take the Zed off the road to do this.
Cheers
Ally
P.S. I've decided I'd prefer powdercoating them rather than polish and relaquer - easier to look after to avoid a repeat of the corrosion, although not so quite a nice finish.
Did you experience many difficulties removing the bolts and separating the rims?
I've got 108s in need of a refurb, and after speaking to my local powdercoating guy he'll powdercoat the rims and centre bits - but only if I get them to him already separated. He's done similar Merc wheels before and says never again would he agree to separate wheels. Somewhat puts me off and make me wonder if it could become a PITA is I try it myself.
Bearing in mind my wheels/car are 4 years and 19k miles old.
I've got the luxury of time to do this as I can make do with using my van so I can take the Zed off the road to do this.
Cheers
Ally
P.S. I've decided I'd prefer powdercoating them rather than polish and relaquer - easier to look after to avoid a repeat of the corrosion, although not so quite a nice finish.
a11y said:
Zero problems at all, but I purchased a brand new 12 point spline drive set with 2 8mm bits in. All 80 out
I am very careful how I undo bolts so 'feel' them rather than just hoping of the best (too many hourse spent fixing broken studs, sheared bolts etc.) Having cracked them loose I used the 2nd spline to spin them aout at speed. Once unbolted they are no more than a hnd tight fit. I think you have to plan being off road a while if you have to remove tyres, strip down take to refurb, collect back and refit tyres and allow for a few delays.
Thanks
I've got the luxury that I barely need the car for work - I cycle in most days, and have my VW T5 as a back up too - so I could easily do without the car for a few weeks at a time. Obviously miss driving it though
but would be worth it.
The guy can remove/fit tyres too so I make take the opportunity and combine this job with fitting of Falkens...
I've got the luxury that I barely need the car for work - I cycle in most days, and have my VW T5 as a back up too - so I could easily do without the car for a few weeks at a time. Obviously miss driving it though
but would be worth it.The guy can remove/fit tyres too so I make take the opportunity and combine this job with fitting of Falkens...
cj10jeeper said:a11y said:
Zero problems at all, but I purchased a brand new 12 point spline drive set with 2 8mm bits in. All 80 out
I think you have to plan being off road a while if you have to remove tyres, strip down take to refurb, collect back and refit tyres and allow for a few delays.
when i did mine i took them out with an air gun
cj10jeeper they look great
Thanks for the compliment - I still owe some decent pictures once I see the sun.
Lol - I left the air tools alone, but I should have made clear that once 'cracked' I did use a power driver to spin them out
Lol - I left the air tools alone, but I should have made clear that once 'cracked' I did use a power driver to spin them out
Yup, I'm interested to see more pics before I go ahead with my choice of colourscj10jeeper said:
I'm tempted by grey centres with silver rims (all powedercoated), or vice-versa. But I'll probably wuss out and take the safe option of silver all over! Part of me thinks a darker wheel can look great on a silver car though, but the 108s look great as is...
a11y said:Yup, I'm interested to see more pics before I go ahead with my choice of colourscj10jeeper said:
I'm tempted by grey centres with silver rims (all powedercoated), or vice-versa. But I'll probably wuss out and take the safe option of silver all over! Part of me thinks a darker wheel can look great on a silver car though, but the 108s look great as is...
I think this is a mod that you really have to 'tune' to the cars colour and perhaps what you are doing as the overall theme for the car. I too loved the 108's 'as is' but Herminator's photoshop work gave me enough confidence to give it a try for this smoked chrome look.
OK so I owe a few photos of the customised rims once the snow went for those who have posted and PM'd me. I apologise for the Zed not being clean - not easy in the middle of Winter, UK and don't be fooled by the 30 minute 'sun' window of today 
I think these show better the reflective and smoked chrome aspect of the 'stars'
I think these show better the reflective and smoked chrome aspect of the 'stars'
Nice pics.
Looks like the darker center makes the brake discs stand out even more, especially with those red callipers. Your planned brake upgrade will be shown off even more :wink:
Unless you trade cars for another Z4 in black, with manual gearbox.... :|
Looks like the darker center makes the brake discs stand out even more, especially with those red callipers. Your planned brake upgrade will be shown off even more :wink:
Unless you trade cars for another Z4 in black, with manual gearbox.... :|
Herminator said:Nice pics.
Looks like the darker center makes the brake discs stand out even more, especially with those red callipers. Your planned brake upgrade will be shown off even more :wink:
Unless you trade cars for another Z4 in black, with manual gearbox.... :|
Yep - my E46 330 calipers and carriers are on the bench and a set of 4 EBS Ultimax discs end EBC Greenstuff pads are in the post
Nice, how much are they?
Certainly a different pattern on them, looks a bit like morse code
Certainly a different pattern on them, looks a bit like morse code
Most sites seemed to come out at around £400 for the rotors and then £60 for each set of pads plus £20 p&P, so around £500 to £550. Managed a deal of £380 'all in' by going direct to a wholesaler, but can't post where :wink: PM if you need to know
EBC actually do various styles inc turbo rotors, but they tend to be noisy (so suppliers tell me), so I've opted for these. Less aggressive braking and presumably pad wear, top UK manufacturer and coupled to low dust pads. Would have gone Brembo but hard to find Z4 rears to match and wanted to steer clear of Ebay specials.
EBC actually do various styles inc turbo rotors, but they tend to be noisy (so suppliers tell me), so I've opted for these. Less aggressive braking and presumably pad wear, top UK manufacturer and coupled to low dust pads. Would have gone Brembo but hard to find Z4 rears to match and wanted to steer clear of Ebay specials.