Build Thread: ///M Coupe Z3 Breadvan
- Thread starter inkey$
- Start date
By the seaside...
I used to find that the, somewhat pathetic, headlights on my E36 were absolutely fine in country lanes with no street lights - possibly because my eyes were dark-adapted - they were also fine in situations with lots of street lighting (in and around towns etc), they were frightingly inadequate, however, in situations where you moved from a well-lit area to one with little or no lighting due to the time it takes for the eyes to adjust to the lower ambient light levelsexdos said:I live in the sticks where there are no street lights and the MC's OEM lights are not a problem. Inkey$ will be fine.PerryGunn said:
IMO, if there's a cheap and easy way to improve the performance of headlights (whilst remaining legal), it's worthwhile on safety grounds alone
Modding the suspension and fitting AC Schnitzer front splitters and rear roof wing transform the MC. My modded MC handles better than my modded Z4MC (which handles considerably better than OEM) and the difference is the aero parts on the MC.BMWZ4MC said:Me too. I witnessed one swap ends, hit a truck then roll on the A3 at Guildford in 2006. It was frightening how taking a corner slightly too fast in the wet led to such complete disaster. It doesn't stop me wanting one though
I'm not dead!
So after my short blast back to Suffolk I still can't wipe the smile off my own stupid face and happy to report I'm okay! This car is mental - in all good ways. I drove in severe rain yesterday and took things easy. Didn't seem to have a problem and on the back roads Saturday the Conti's did their job and stuck to the road very nicely. It's like anything isn't it. You get used to traction control, you have to get used to not having traction control. Doesn't bother me as I've bought this car for weekend fun and will ALWAYS be showing it respect.
That said and reading where this build thread has ended up, I reckon my list of subtle mods may well be topped with a suspension upgrade! Not sure I'll go for HID lights as it again, it doesn't really both me and I can adjust my driving back to 1998 mode to suit (might stop me putting it in a ditch with that added light confidence!).
So, build wise the list is looking like this:
TO-DO
- Passenger door actuator
- New throttle cable and lube springs
- Check minor oil leak. CPV seal?
- Replace outside temp sensor unit
- Replace main key (knackered) and also get spare
- Investigate erratic clock!
- Check rear washer one-way valve
- Lube window motors
- Get it in somewhere for paint correction and protection
- Replace locking petrol cap
MODS PLANNED
- H&R coilover suspension kit
- Storm knob
- Anti-roll bar
- 10mm/15mm spacers
- S2000 aerial
REFURBISH
- Passenger wing mirror base
- Rear calipers and paint
- Engine bay cleanup
So after my short blast back to Suffolk I still can't wipe the smile off my own stupid face and happy to report I'm okay! This car is mental - in all good ways. I drove in severe rain yesterday and took things easy. Didn't seem to have a problem and on the back roads Saturday the Conti's did their job and stuck to the road very nicely. It's like anything isn't it. You get used to traction control, you have to get used to not having traction control. Doesn't bother me as I've bought this car for weekend fun and will ALWAYS be showing it respect.
That said and reading where this build thread has ended up, I reckon my list of subtle mods may well be topped with a suspension upgrade! Not sure I'll go for HID lights as it again, it doesn't really both me and I can adjust my driving back to 1998 mode to suit (might stop me putting it in a ditch with that added light confidence!).
So, build wise the list is looking like this:
TO-DO
- Passenger door actuator
- New throttle cable and lube springs
- Check minor oil leak. CPV seal?
- Replace outside temp sensor unit
- Replace main key (knackered) and also get spare
- Investigate erratic clock!
- Check rear washer one-way valve
- Lube window motors
- Get it in somewhere for paint correction and protection
- Replace locking petrol cap
MODS PLANNED
- H&R coilover suspension kit
- Storm knob
- Anti-roll bar
- 10mm/15mm spacers
- S2000 aerial
REFURBISH
- Passenger wing mirror base
- Rear calipers and paint
- Engine bay cleanup
Build update. First enquiries on mods/upgrades sent out.
- Looking into H&R ARB's
- Replacement passenger door actuator ordered
- New ambient temperature sensor ordered
- Replacement remote key casing ordered
Ordered a shed load of detailing products and plan to get busy with the silicone spray this weekend. Also looking at KDS Keltec paint correction packages once I've had some of the remedial work completed.
- Looking into H&R ARB's
- Replacement passenger door actuator ordered
- New ambient temperature sensor ordered
- Replacement remote key casing ordered
Ordered a shed load of detailing products and plan to get busy with the silicone spray this weekend. Also looking at KDS Keltec paint correction packages once I've had some of the remedial work completed.
PerryGunn said:
Roads around Stowmarket can be pretty good. Recommend the back roads out of Stowmarket town that if you like, could take you all the way up to Norwich via Finningham/Gislingham etc. Also around where I grew up near RAF Wattisham has some pretty good C roads. I'd definitely take #320 and go exploring.
PerryGunn said:That's why we've never taken you up on your offer of 'drop in for a coffee'...pvr said:I feel for them ... You know when they say "do come around some day" that they don't really mean it, don't you ...PerryGunn said:
We? That was just for Cindy
if you'd offered her vodka...