Help with my 'To do' list

[Watson1911]

Good afternoon everyone.

As of Sunday I am now a Z4 Coupe owner
Some of you assisted with some thoughts on the car before I purchased so thanks to those that gave some input/advice.

Here is a photo of the car

I have pulled together a 'to do' list of things I want to work through. Initially it would be great for some input and help with the following please (note: I am not mechanically minded and haven't grown up around anyone who is so very new to hunting down parts and understanding this kind of thing so please give it to me in layman's terms :roll :-

1. Seat colour restorer. See below interior photo. VIN decoder says the interior is "New England"/estoril-blue, now having seen a lot of estoril blue cars on the road, the interior doesn't look that bright. Does anyone have any experience of this blue and colour restoring so I order the right colour?

2. Original grill with chrome surround and graphite slats. I don't like the black grill it came with and want to swap it out for a OEM factory appearance. Where is best to get one please? (or does anyone fancy a swap?)

3. Fog light replacement. One has been swapped and looks fine. One is heavily corroded. Where is best for a replacement please?

4. Drivers window is quite heavily scratched from presumably a corroded/dirty window seal. Other than a second hand window from e-bay any other options? Also, where would I get replacement window seals? I would look to do both sides.

5. Water pump replacement. There are no records that this has been done to the car and the mileage is 89k so I will be looking to swap out sooner rather than later. From things I have read Pierburg seems to be the one to get? and seemingly I should be doing the thermostat and coolant at the same time?) Links to those items would be appreciated.

6. Handbrake not holding. I will get a mechanic to take a look at this (loose cable / ratchet gone)

7. Preventative maintenance. Anything else I should be prioritising/carrying out?
- rocker gasket cover?
- oil cooler gasket cover?
- gearbox oil (do people do this or leave alone?)
- vanos solenoid?
- drive belt?

8. I am ordering new tyres all round and going non-run flats. Is there anything else suspension set up wise worth doing to really improve the ride and feel?

Thanks in advance.
Matt

 

[enuff_zed]

Here's the water pump kit.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/256096088609

 

[Zedebee]

1. Seat colour restorer. See below interior photo. VIN decoder says the interior is "New England"/estoril-blue, now having seen a lot of estoril blue cars on the road, the interior doesn't look that bright. Does anyone have any experience of this blue and colour restoring so I order the right colour?

Furniture Clinic do an excellent leather repair paint which is available in a range of BMW colours. I cannot see Estoril Blue on the options list, but they do offer a colour matching service. I have used the Syrah Blue on mine although it’s a lot darker than yours.

 

[enuff_zed]

With regard to gaskets, if they ain't leaking, leave them alone.
However, I would suggest popping the engine plastic cover off, then checking the plug bores for signs of oil, around the valvetronic motor seal for leaks, and the plug sticking up at the front for the eccentric cam sensor. If its seal is leaking oil will get into the plug and mess it up.
If there is oil in the plug wells then you need the top cover off to replace those gaskets and obviously makes sense to do them all while you're there.

 

[Mr Tidy]

If the last 3 digits of your VIN are 387 it looks like your car did have New England Bi-Colour Estoril Blue seats. You can get repair kits to match the colour from a few places.

OE grilles on the 3.0Si were chrome surround with grey slats, but every other E85/86 model had chrome surround with black slats. I much preferred those so I bought a pair on here and sold my orignal grey ones - also on here.

The fog lights are a PITA - I'd be tempted to just get the blanking plates as I don't remember ever using them!

Are you certain your window glass is scratched? Mine often get stripes on them but it has always cleaned of so far.

OE water pumps were Pierburg so definitely the best option for replacement. Just don't buy from BMW as they charge over £500 for them.

I did have my gearbox oil replaced on my 2nd 3.0Si at 82,000 miles as BMWs Sealed For Life claims seemed a bit unrealistic, but as enuff_zed said I would leave gaskets alone if they aren't leaking.

You should be able to tell from a visual inspection whether the auxiliary drive belt is getting brittle. Worth changing if in doubt as a failed one flapping about has the potential to cause some damage.

 

[Watson1911]

Morning all. Thanks for the comments.

With regards the fog lights, as one is in really good condition I would like to change the other. Car will be garaged throughout the year and driven on selective days so should help them last longer than average. That said, where is best to get one please? Is it BMW direct or are there some good quality, good fit after market ones?

Brilliant link for the water pump, thank you.

I'm still getting used to navigating my way around the Forum so thanks for the heads up on the 'Wanted' section.

Is anyone familiar with previous threads on 'best tyre' chats they could direct me to?

 

[Usel]

As you're in Leeds, for the 1hr+ trip I would contact [ref]Bigwinn[/ref] whose in Lincoln for items 5,6 and 7. If you have replacement glass by then he would likely fit that too.

 

[Watson1911]

Bigwinn

Ok thanks. Assume he is a mechanic who has plenty Z4 experience?

Also, Usel I am told you are the man to speak to re: seat repairs/re-colouring? (as per my post my VIN says the blue parts are estoril which needs some TLC)

 

[Usel]

Unfortunately as others have said regarding 'furniture clinic they don't have the colour mixed ready. You will have to cut a piece from the seat and send it to them.

This will prove difficult because your seats are half blue/black. If they were all blue there is a place you can reasonably easily get to and snip a piece off.

When you have the door card off to fix the window. Look on the back and you may be able to snip a small piece from there.

 

[Watson1911]

Unfortunately as others have said regarding 'furniture clinic they don't have the colour mixed ready. You will have to cut a piece from the seat and send it to them.

This will prove difficult because your seats are half blue/black. If they were all blue there is a place you can reasonably easily get to and snip a piece off.

When you have the door card off to fix the window. Look on the back and you may be able to snip a small piece from there.

that is a good idea, appreciate it. I will try some other companies other than furniture clinic as well

 

[bigwinn]

Bigwinn

Ok thanks. Assume he is a mechanic who has plenty Z4 experience?

Also, Usel I am told you are the man to speak to re: seat repairs/re-colouring? (as per my post my VIN says the blue parts are estoril which needs some TLC)

Drop me a line/pm