New Member, restoring my Z4M

[Ludachris86]

Hi Group, new to the forum. Recently brought my Z4M out of storage as its been off the road for a few years. Car requires full repainting due to my own mishap in the rain. Bought new front and rear wings, genuine from BMW, and fitted these as the damage wasn't major. Unable to see in the photo as its the drivers side, these are still in primer.

Using my X5M to tow the Z4M here, just went into M3 Motor co in West Lothian to begin the mechanical part of the restoration then onto full window out respray at BM Autodesign. Currently bought a full supersprint race exhaust which I'm waiting on coming from Italy. This includes the stepped headers, sports cats, X pipe and race rear silencers. Big plans for this car as will be adding all the upgrades I originally had in mind for the car when I bought it back in 2013.

Cheers

 

[buzyg]

Welcome to the forum from. Sunny Cornwall.

 

[GT Spec]

Hi Group, new to the forum. Recently brought my Z4M out of storage as its been off the road for a few years. Car requires full repainting due to my own mishap in the rain. Bought new front and rear wings, genuine from BMW, and fitted these as the damage wasn't major. Unable to see in the photo as its the drivers side, these are still in primer.

Using my X5M to tow the Z4M here, just went into M3 Motor co in West Lothian to begin the mechanical part of the restoration then onto full window out respray at BM Autodesign. Currently bought a full supersprint race exhaust which I'm waiting on coming from Italy. This includes the stepped headers, sports cats, X pipe and race rear silencers. Big plans for this car as will be adding all the upgrades I originally had in mind for the car when I bought it back in 2013.

Cheers
Z4M.jpg

Welcome

Regarding the Supersprint 'stepped headers' if your car is a UK RHD model then they won't fit. I did a lot of research on this when I was scoping it out. Also, how did a rain mishap result in the need for a respray?

 

[Ludachris86]

Hi GT Spec,

Heard from other owners is you use the stepped headers part no 044931, which is a S54 manifold for an E36 conversion that they will clear the steering column. I did some research on this but time will tell once they arrive.

It was raining and i lost the rear of the car and touched an armco barrier. My own fault, expensive lesson. Wont be using it much in the rain when I get it back. ha ha.

 

[pvr]

X5M and Z4M combo, getting common now :lol:

 

[DMike]

X5M and Z4M combo, getting common now :lol:

Just need to add one dark blue M car to complete the M-colour triad. :lol: Welcome to the forum!

 

[Mr Tidy]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

I hope you keep us updated with progress - Imola Red is my favourite colour for an MC!

 

[GJ1]

Looks like a toy car on that trailer next to the X5!

 

[Ludachris86]

Ha ha DMike, I never thought of that, but your right. Better not mention this to the misses. I do have a black R53 Mini JCW 210 thats pretty nice also. I Like to think I now have one of the best NA engines, a twin turbo V8 and a Supercharged go kart. The holy trinity. :lol:

Thanks Mr Tidy, I will put build pics up and updates of how this is going, and maybe how much its cost me.

Just bought the carbon dash parts from Simon M3.2, very nice guy and pleasure to deal with. Top bloke

Still looking for some other parts like new door cards with the red leather insert, I was trying to sort mines with a heat gun and melted the arm rest slightly, raging at myself about it as it will only do my head in now, so will need to be replaced. I think you can get an extended leather option for these. Probably a needle in a haystack my I am an optimist!! Also looking for a genuine strut brace too. Dont like an easy task me!

GJ1, I was thinking that when it came out of storage, I took it off the trailer to put the CSL style wheels I have back on it, I didn't want to flat spot the pilot super sport tyres with it being in storage, and was standing next to it thinking I don't remember it being so small.

 

[GT Spec]

Hi GT Spec,

Heard from other owners is you use the stepped headers part no 044931, which is a S54 manifold for an E36 conversion that they will clear the steering column. I did some research on this but time will tell once they arrive.

It was raining and i lost the rear of the car and touched an armco barrier. My own fault, expensive lesson. Wont be using it much in the rain when I get it back. ha ha.

Hey,

Yeah let us know how you get on with the headers. Oh! Makes sense now. I thought the car was eaten by acid rain or something

 

[Wassup]

Hi and welcome to Z4M ownership
If you need and help sourcing parts for your Z4M restoration project, let me know as I've done a coupe of restorations on my Z4MC last year, and more recently on my Z4MR last month.

 

[Dean26390]

Welcome to the forum mate, I’ve just started the process of restoring my M too, 2 kids and a dog in the space of 3 years meant the car took a back seat and has barely moved!

If you don’t mind me asking how much were you quoted for the respray as my car could do with one, I’ve owned the car for 12 years now and it’s always been outside so it’s lost a bit of its shine (looks great when wet )

 

[Ludachris86]

Hi Dean,
Its going to BM Autodesign for the respray and was quoted approx 7K for this. Its going to be a full windows out respray with window rubbers and bumper clips etc renewed with genuine parts.
To be fair when I was asking about the quote he was in the middle of sorting a front bumper on a Porsche GT3 RS for the Edinburgh Porsche dealership, so his work is top notch. Long waiting list for him as well. I suppose its who you want to do it and the level you want to go to.

You could maybe speak to a detailer and see if it could be brought back up without a respray though, if the paint work isn't damaged I think this would be the best option to keep the original paint. A good machine polish might fully restore this unless the lacquer is damaged.

 

[Ludachris86]

OK, sorry for the long wait. I have finally taken to starting the fitting of the supersprint manifolds. Good news is that they do fit and they do indeed clear the steering column, but just barely. The plastic cover of the steering column was rubbing at certain points when rotating the steering wheel. I then marked the point where at was close to the column with a marker and removed the headers. Took them out the back and massaged then slightly with a hammer. I done this a few times taking them on and off to make sure I was finessing them in the correct place. Made some slight indentations to the pipes, Nothing that I would think would cause any issues. Sure Ive seen something online about this not really effecting it too much. But this is all an experiment anyways to see if it can be done easily, and it can be with some gentle massaging, Taking your time to go slowly and checking in the car again and again. I will add some pictures below. I have ordered all new o2 sensors, gaskets, manifold copper nuts, etc that should be here in the next week or so, that I will need to proceed with the final install. But having test fit the headers only so but it looks to be like they will fit up to the rest of the system no issues. I will update when I have all the other parts to finish it.

 

[D.Bryce]

Welcome @Ludachris86

Im just along the road from you in Falkirk, Blair at BMautodesign done my Imola Z4M coupe when i first got it, great guy and proper good work.
ive done a fair bit work with mine so if you need anything more than welcome to drop me a pm