Project 2006 Z4 - restoration (Enjoy!)

[andyfanshawe]

Messing about with the car inbetween other jobs today and these bolts are really ugly!




So, off they come and media blasted, etch primed and painted satin black


And looking better



Andy.

 

[andyfanshawe]

Seeing your other work though, im sure they will look like new when you are done.

Thank you Certainly not gonna stop till they do look good!

Andy.

 

[andyfanshawe]

Here we go again my Wife says...................all the problems the world has got and you are worried about a bloody rusty driveshaft...



I said...not one rusty shaft, but 2


So, ignoring the planets problems for a short while, here we are stripped back to bare metal




And masked off with newspaper from May 2015, and etch primed and shiney black we go



Another problem solved. World famine next...................

 

[andyfanshawe]

Im just editing some videos to put on youtube, but here's a taster........
This is a screenshot of a relative compression test done at the battery when cranking, on my oscilloscope



Here is a running cylinder balance test with the same scope. Looking good


Now here's an interesting waveform
This is the current going though number 1 ignition coil with engine cold

This shows 6 sparks per cylinder at idle when cold

Now look at it when engine is warm

3 sparks per cylinder....................Interesting.

More to come when I link to the videos

Andy.

 

[andyfanshawe]

Simple task today.....change these exhaust bolts to brass before they corrode out to nothingness



So, heat em up, one by one, and replace. Simple eh?......Errr......no

Here you can see why

Yep, last one sheared off. Bugger.

So, exhaust system down and drill it out and order another from BMW. No drilling through with a nut and bolt.





After a bit of drilling, finally got to here


Ill photograph the remains that came out tomorrow, but they are splined like wheel nuts.

Phoned BMW and they want £45 + VAT for the 4 studs and 4 nuts! Lucky I only want one then!

At this point I thought I may as well change the clutch because Im halfway there. Few phone calls later to Andrew Paige, Minorfern, Euro car parts etc, and nobody has one or can even get one. WHAT!!!

Loads on ebay though. Would rather have an LUK one. Will keep looking. Hoping my dual mass flywheel will be okay. Its quiet, so fingers crossed, otherwise its £344 for all the components.

Andy.

 

[andyfanshawe]

Oh, have a look at this exhaust nut. How far was this away from rattling like crazy!!


Doesn't even resemble a nut anymore!

 

[andyfanshawe]

Went to BMW and got my "splined" bolt. Well, actually, for £9.65 I got this

A bloody bolt :x

When I questioned it, he said that what they supplied. Jeez. So I spent 2 hours drilling it out carefully to preserve the splines, and I didn't need to. Was bloody furious. I've got loads of bolts like that in my workshop (M10) that i could have used. Grrrr.

Anyway, here's what i wanted to achieve yesterday morning before it turned into a marathon.


This exhaust clamp here


now looks like this


At least i got to clean up everything underneath.
Seats, a dent and wheels refurb next. Oh, might attempt the roof motor relocation also.
Andy

 

[andyfanshawe]

Just took it for a run in our tropical weather (with the top down of course0 and its running beautifully. No squeaks, misfires, noises of any kind!! Awesome 8)

Wont stop me taking it apart again next week though...hahahaha.

Andy.

 

[andyfanshawe]

Oh, price of a clutch at BMW? For the 2 litre....£264 with trade discount! Not including the DMF (Dual Mass Flywheel). And I'm betting the original equipment make is LUK. And LUK clutches are on ebay at £117 ish.

Andy.

 

[JINGLE]

You make everything look and sound so easy lol! I'm getting mine up on a friends ramps this weekend as my exhaust squeaks, pretty sure it's from a hanger as mine has a custom quad so I'm hoping a quick wiggle and I can locate the squeak and sort it, it's driving me mad!

Enjoyable reading as always!

 

[stevo///m3]

Yup, you do make it look easy. Oh for access to a lift and a whole load of tools!!
Keep up the good work
Stevo

 

[andyfanshawe]

Does make it easier with the lift At a big price though! Rent and tools and lift itself and installation and maintenance.
Think I paid £1600 for the lift (4 ton cos i do a lot of american stuff) and another £300 for installation and insurance certificate. Servicing at the mo is about £100 a year so far, but will undoubtedly increase as it gets older.

Lifts the Z4 up as if it was a fly!! Although Im too tall and i regularly smack my head on the arms and the underside of the car :x

Andy.

PS i was 53 when i got the lift and shop, so have dome my fair share outside on the road/pavement!!

 

[captain caveman]

When you finish your car and if your looking for something to keep you occupied over the winter........... when can you start on mine

 

[andyfanshawe]

When you finish your car and if your looking for something to keep you occupied over the winter........... when can you start on mine

Hahaha.......got a 450 hp camaro to complete (mine!)





Ha, this photo was taken in 2004 with my youngest standing by it. Hes now nearly 14 and 6 foot tall, but the camaro hasn't changed a bit! (but it will do this winter)................

and a full custom 1990 ford crown victoria station wagon that sits on the floor on 22" wheels to complete (mine!!).
This is my artists rendition of it when complete (getting close now)


But there's always a space for another z4

Andy.

 

[andyfanshawe]

Cant stand the filthy/sruffy looking seats anymore.
Drivers side removed and base and back separated


Here's the damaged area after as much as the old finish has been removed as I can,


The same area after repairs to the tears/rips/scuffs


And here's an interesting discovery...
Someones been here before.


This is the rear of the base where it is clear that the seats have had a colour change from grey to a creamy white. But its been done with the seat not dismantled and the untreated grey bit where the back was covering it is clear.

Here's the leather filler going on


and the first few coats of "Oregon Pearl Grey" sprayed on. Which is the colour it came with from the factory



I was working at home today so here's the base on top of our blue bin during spraying


and the back of the seat halfway up the garden on the things that go in the top of the blue bin (whatever they are called!)


And my airbrush that was used


Came out pretty well. Not perfect, but look a lot better that I thought "pearl grey" would.
Just got to put a clear seal on them now and I will then put the seat back together and put it back in the car, and get a photo of the 2 seats together (drivers sprayed and passenger not done yet. Will show the change in colour.

Oh, I sent a letter (old fashioned eh?) to the last owner with a SAE and also a message through facebook asking him about any history on the car he would like to tell me. Just to get a bigger picture, and to try to piece together the cars history........but.......NO REPLY. Damn. And this was weeks and weeks ago. Wouldn't have taken much effort on his part, but...apparently its too much. So I'll keep on searching for its past.

Andy.

 

[ggmiller]

Interesting to read through these posts Andy and good to see the car (finally) getting some TLC!

 

[JINGLE]

can you stop being so good at everything lol, ive said it before and ill say it again.... great work!!

looking forward to seeing the difference when finished drivers and untouched passengers!

 

[andyfanshawe]

can you stop being so good at everything lol, ive said it before and ill say it again.... great work!!

looking forward to seeing the difference when finished drivers and untouched passengers!

Nah, not good at everything, but give everything a try!

Here's a quick photo of the comparison between the restored drivers and the unrestored passengers



Trouble is, the door cards now look dull (and wrinkly) in comparison, so now need to do them :x



More comparison photos later.

Andy.

 

[srhutch]

Good work, but not a fan of pearl. Think I might have gone for Red

Not too late you know. :wink:

 

[andyfanshawe]

Good work, but not a fan of pearl. Think I might have gone for Red

Not too late you know. :wink:

Bloody thought you would!

Now, this was a dilemma. I build modified cars...BUT......for a change........I'm not gonna modify.....for the first time ever......I'm going to return this to factory. Not keen on Oregon pearl grey either, but got to be done for the purist/saddoes out there that like their cars as they were straight from the factory!!! I wanted white!