Gedo's progress thread

gedo said:
Well I've had the car for 2 weeks now and thought I'd better start a progress thread. Not planning to make radical changes but any I do I'll update here.

I've bought a pair of facelift headlights from maxman so the 1st job will be to get these fitted as part of my de-tango work. Hope to get this done one evening next week weather permitting.

Gave the car it's 1st clean (by my hand) and it came up very well, a testament to the condition I received it in from it's previous owner - benmuir.
Loving the lines of the Z4 after 3 years with my previous toy, a widebody 2.8 Z3.

z4-washed.jpg
Click to expand...

I like that bumper lip! Where did you get it?
 
It's from a Seat Cupra - more info here, http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=35231#p480382
 
Finally dry enough to get the headlights fitted. Took longer that it should have, I should never have underestimated working on an 11 yr old car...7 bolts along the top edge of the bumper were a PITA to remove and I rounded both outer headlight bolts getting them off ! Here are before, during and after pics.

Ready to start.
lights-1.jpg


Removal of 7 bottom bumper bolts was slightly complicated by the splitter which was fitted with no less that 18 self-tappers !
lights-2.jpg


New lights finally in place and tested before putting the bumper back on.
lights-3.jpg


Job done but my 11yr old boxer Tia was more interested in what was going on in the street rather than daddy's handiwork :x
lights-4.jpg


Need to update my signature image now and I've now got 2 x ginger headlights and side repeaters to sell.
 
Thanks, I'm chuffed to bits with them. Now I just need to sort out the rears...
Not sure whether to go to the bother of new back bumper/lights or wait for a pair of non-ginger pre-facelift lights to appear. I'm in no great hurry so will probably hold off to see what pops up.

maxman said:
The new facelift headlights with the dark inners look brilliant on your Z :thumbsup:
Click to expand...
 
Loving the lights :D pleasing to see the car is in safe hands :thumbsup: apologies for the amount of self tappers ! I'm in a TT 3.2 now, it's good however I do miss the Z4 :(
 
Benmuir said:
Loving the lights :D pleasing to see the car is in safe hands :thumbsup: apologies for the amount of self tappers ! I'm in a TT 3.2 now, it's good however I do miss the Z4 :(
Click to expand...

Got a soft spot for the big engined TTs, I'm sure you'll be having fun !
 
Finally got around to getting the plate transferred from the Z3 to the Z4, stuck in the garage mind you as the weather ain't so nice...

z4-number.jpg


Washed the daily driver too. Estoril Blue always looks good after a wash

m135-washed.jpg
 
Not much going on in here.

Car is tucked away for the Winter and will need 2 x rear tyres for the MOT in March.

Been toying with the idea of changing the wheels for 19" CSL Reps but these are becoming quite common round here which is making me wonder if I should just stick with the 18" Cades Tyrus wheels. These seem to suit the car and are less common...Hmm decisions, decisions.
 
Well, car finally saw the light of day today...Going back on the road on Friday so it was MOT time. Sailed through with a couple of advisories: slight bind on nearside front brake (probably due to not turning a wheel for the past 6 months) and a note that the tyres will need looked at soon.

87771 miles 21/02/14 and now 92179 today so 4408 miles in 14 months. Euro trip in the summer will take me well on the way to the magic 100K figure :)

Got 8 ltrs of Castrol Edge 0/30w from Costco and a filter from Euro Car Parts so an oil change is on the cards. Once she's been out a few times I'll check the binding brake and hopefully it will have sorted itself out. A quick check of the cars extensive history shows that the plugs were last changed in 2009 @ 48372 miles so maybe a plug change is in order to mimic Inspection 2.

All in all a good day.
 
Brake bind after MOT just got worse (smoking wheels are not good !!) so with the Euro road trip looming I took the plunge and bought new front discs, calipers, pads & wear sensor (All Pagid from EuroCarParts)
DSC_1523%20%28Small%29.JPG


After much faffing around got both sides of the car up so I could strip off the old kit. These cars are really too low, especially for my XL axles stands from Costco (obviously designed with US trucks in mind)
DSC_1526%20%28Small%29.JPG


Everything came loose fairly easily with the aid of the trusty WD40 and rubber mallet :D
DSC_1527%20%28Small%29.JPG


Plenty of rust from the old discs and everything needed a good clean.
DSC_1528%20%28Small%29.JPG


New kit installed and looking good. I never had time to re-paint the caliper mounting bracket so it will have to stay red for the time being.
DSC_1529%20%28Small%29.JPG


With the wheel re-mounted.
DSC_1530%20%28Small%29.JPG


Heading off for a tentative test drive.
DSC_1531%20%28Small%29.JPG


Overall the process was fairly painless and relatively cheap so all-in-all a useful afternoon's work. The main thing is that I can now head off to Europe knowing that the brakes are in good shape.
 
maxman said:
You look to have an excellent workshop to do the brakes.Did you put the old pads back.
Click to expand...

No, new pads installed on both sides. The reason the new ones look a bit 'rusty' is that I've coated the rear of the pads with Copaslip (an old habit...)

I'm lucky that I can use the warehouse at the office, perfect when the weather isn't playing ball.
 
Been busy since getting the car back on the road. Previous owner covered the dash panels with a silver carbon-effect vinyl and I was never a fan of this. I like a dark interior so decided to redo these parts using a dark carbon-effect vinyl.

Here is the car stripped of all the parts
17908237675_b201601dce_z.jpg


Sizing up the panels
17881839656_384c3ab44c_z.jpg


Ready to start the covering process
17285654144_161d451b67_z.jpg


and after much messing around & burnt fingers the final result
17908233405_874faf1aea_z.jpg


and finally installed in the car (excuse the messy carpet)
17720647140_a178d65f29_z.jpg


Very happy with the end result.
 
maxman said:
You look to have ended up with a perfect finish,looks good.How come you burnt your fingers?
Click to expand...

Manipulating the vinyl requires the use of a heat gun but it cools quickly and if your timing is off your fingers end up a bit too close for comfort.
I'm sure experts in wrapping can do it much quicker and safer, but for us Amateurs :fuelfire:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom