My Z4C Journey

I

idej_z4

Senior member
Saw this done by somebody else and thought what a great idea!

I'm always making little (and sometimes large) mods to my car so I'm going to share them on this forum. People might not be that interested, but it'll be good to look back in a few years time and see all the work that has gone into my Z4C - plus its a good way to show pics! I might also use this thread to discuss / show some of the detailing stuff I've been doing as I'm always trying new products and techniques.

So, very quickly, a little bit of background...57 plate Z4C 3.0Si - bought with 26k miles on the clock, I wanted a low milage one as I plan to have this car for a good few years. Paid just over £14k and its my first Z, but not my first BWW (previously owned a 120D M-Sport Coupe).

Got the full spec (I think) apart from the CD multi changer. I wanted the silver / grey colour as it when I first saw it, it reminded me of a James Bond car.

This first post will be a bit of a long one as I've had the car 7 months and already been busy!

Here is my Z the day I bought it...





First mod done as soon as I got it home - de-badged:



After that it was onto the grilles. On my old BMW I went full black but this time opted for the black with the silver trim as it compliments the wheels. I also got my private plate added and whipped off the whippy:





Next I went onto the wheels and tyres - I had to get rid of those damn run-flats. 19" Riva DTM's in Atomic Silver. Its a bit common to have CSL reps on a Z4 but if something works then why change it. Plus I think they look stunning. Since joining this forum I've learnt a lot about tyre sizes and regret getting the Falken 235s on the front as I'm getting a bit or arch rub. I probably wouldn't have got such low profile (30 & 35) had I known what I know now. I also painted my calipers before I put the new wheels on (don't have any pics but they're now dark silver).



I then found some polished chrome radio buttons that allowed me to get rid of the scuffed rubber ones - I'm a stickler for not having a single mark on my car so the radio buttons really annoyed me:



Then it was the full window tint...I've even done the front ones and made them a little darker that the legal limit so running the risk of having to remove them...but 4 months in and nothing so far:



Lowered on Eibach's was next - my birthday present from Mrs J. I noticed the handling difference immediately when slinging it around corners, plus it looks sweeeeeeeet:



Started on the badges next. Found a supplier in this country that did the pre-cut vinyls for the BMW logo. Last time I did these on my old BMW I ordered them from America and it cost a fortune:



Should have done this on day one, but next I removed the sound generator foam.



The tatty steering wheel trim was really grinding my goat. I was going to plasti-dip the old ones but then found a wheel on eBay with some on that were in great condition. What I didn't realise was that the M wheel is different shape at the bottom and had to do some modifications to get them to fit - managed to do it though without removing the wheel and airbag...although it was a really pain staking job:



Full wheel alignment done next - probably the best £40 I've spent. Stopped about 90% of the tracking issues I'd had since day one:



I then bought a Long Life Stainless Steel back box from a member on this forum. It looks and sounds fantastic but it was a nightmare trying to get the clips to fasten it on. I also bought a new drivers side cupholder from the same guy and replaced the broken one in mine.



Finally I recently wrapped my door handles in carbon fibre vinyl. I tried to do the dash and centre console but it was a much bigger job than I thought. I'm going to have another crack at it when I get the time.



Thats where I up to so far. I'll do a better write up for each mod as and when I do them going forward.
 
Nice mods OP. :thumbsup:

Especially the CSL reps - they just look so good on a Coupe!
 
Made a couple of small updates today. Replaced all the internal bulbs with some white light LED ones - it took three different types of bulbs to replace them all. Looks loads better now:





And because I got the new lights, I had to add some silver racing pedals. £30 from eBay. Easy to install..apart from the bottom bolts on the accelerator pedal. Had to glue them on eventually:

 
Finally got my hands on some B Pillar Trims thanks to the forum member Rassi. They've come all the way from Belgium.

Unfortunately they're too light for my Z (which I knew before I bought them) so I'm going to try and dye them...wish me luck!

Here is the before shot:

IMG_2994.JPG
 
idej_jedi said:
Finally got my hands on some B Pillar Trims thanks to the forum member Rassi. They've come all the way from Belgium.

Unfortunately they're too light for my Z (which I knew before I bought them) so I'm going to try and dye them...wish me luck!

Here is the before shot:

IMG_2994.JPG
Click to expand...

Are you going to use spray fabric dye?
 
srhutch said:
idej_jedi said:
Finally got my hands on some B Pillar Trims thanks to the forum member Rassi. They've come all the way from Belgium.

Unfortunately they're too light for my Z (which I knew before I bought them) so I'm going to try and dye them...wish me luck!

Here is the before shot:

IMG_2994.JPG
Click to expand...

Are you going to use spray fabric dye?
Click to expand...

Here is what I've ordered. Shooting in the dark with this, but its a pour on rather than a wash dye so hopefully should be okay. Just depends how dark the dark grey is!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/282318011756?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&var=581415850124&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
 
Really impressive set of mods. Can I ask what the three types of LED lights used in the interior where? And where you got them from? Thanks
 
broomst said:
Really impressive set of mods. Can I ask what the three types of LED lights used in the interior where? And where you got them from? Thanks
Click to expand...

So..it took three different types of bulbs to do everything. Here is what I ordered and where I used them...hope it helps!

Boot only bulbs: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/252291353195?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

These bulbs do the drivers and passengers well. I also use them for my rear number plate, but I've had issues with them never turning off fully so I've ordered some full light bracket replacements instead. They work fine for the interior: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/201667474740?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

These ones I used for the interior roof lights. Its a bit of a faff to do them, but if you put them in reverse they just about fit (you'll get what I mean when you do it). I'd get the 6 LED rather than the 10 as they are the ones that fit (just): http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/301907694390?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&var=600715468895&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
 
bmwaddict said:
I like the mods you've done, car is looking good!
Can I ask the csl reps spec? Offset etc
Click to expand...

I'm not expert in this area...here are the alloys I've got, they are 19 x 8.0 on the front and 19 x 9.0 on the rear. Tyre sizes are as follows.

Front - 235/35..although you should get 225 if you don't want arch rub - found this out from a forum member after I'd bought them.

Rear - 255/30 - they're a bit to low on the profile. Should have gone 40 all round.

Hope that helps!
 
Had some trouble with the rear number plate LED bulbs I bought...they were alway on slightly even when the engine was off and so died really quickly. I've replaced them with the full units for £20 from eBay. They look loads better than just the bulb swap.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161666758840?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

IMG_2997.JPG
 
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