Project 2006 Z4 - restoration (Enjoy!)

[andyfanshawe]

Loving this thread - wish I had half your talent and patience
The list of what you can't turn your hand to must be very small indeed!

Thanks obewan! I can't do french!
Reminded me of many a conversation I used to have with the students I used to teach over the last 3 decades. Its no good being academic and then can't change a bulb! My Dad used to be exactly like this...very clever man, super clever, but no mechanical skills whatsoever. An amazing Dad. But lessons to be learnt.

So, I completed my special maths degree at Uni, then got a job teaching maths full time at a 11-18 comprehensive school, learnt how to fix cars, got a part time job as a mechanic working evenings and weekends, learnt to gas weld in my Nans back yard when i was 16, did an electronics degree in my 20's (correspondence course - no internet then), went to evening school to learn plastering, plumbing and fabrication. Self taught mains wiring, single and three phase.
Still do online engine management courses everyday.
Retired from teaching when I was 54 and a bit! Couldn't keep up with the effort required by the academies. 18 hours a day, everyday is ok when you are young, but I'm not anymore. So, plan B, fix cars for a living instead!

If you don't know how to do something, learn how to do it!!
Andy.

 

[andyfanshawe]

Exactly why I do my own work when I can

Can't beat it! If you want a job doing well, do it yourself.

Andy.

 

[andyfanshawe]

Are you using someone local for refurb , an if I pm a list of jobs for mine would you give me a estimate, as I'm liking your work ethic

Company is called "Just Alloys". Boss is called Brian. Will report back when wheels are done. I'll ask him if he will take pictures during the process.

Andy.

 

[MarcBMWZ4]

You've got the same level of perfectionism as me eh? really? Lol
I build show cars and this is the standard of engine bays I build. Hard work, but very rewarding.

Andy.

I did say perfectionism, not skills :wink:

Thanks for the feedback!

 

[andyfanshawe]

My poor little car now suspended in mid air awaiting the wheels to return with its new coats of paint/powdercoat. He said he would use the original silver but put some sparkly bits in it!



So, while its there, front end alignment time. lets have a look why the gaps are not even

This is the front right


and this is the front left


Not even close. And the extreme left edge of the LH headlight wobbles.

Off with the front end and the headlights, This is the back of the LH headlight.


Somebody has trapped a tie wrap under the headlight bulb cover and secured the headlamp to the front bumper, because.......(apart from the fact that its completely crap and uneccessary)



The mounting lug has snapped off. Photos shows comparison between the 2.

Unfortunately some of the broken plastic is missing, but I've got the lug!



Here's a good view of the lower drivers shield I plastic welded a while ago!



Still got a bit missing though! Will weld in a section later.



Poor thing........

 

[andyfanshawe]

And what about the famous foglights/swimming pools.


Have to do something about them then. And, no, I'm not replacing them. Going to get creative!

And have a look at this sad thing


Ordered 4 off ebay



They are cheap! Cheap enough to replace every year if they are cheap crap!

Andy.

 

[paddy wright]

BMW sell lugs that screw in and are a perfect fit for only a few pounds

 

[andyfanshawe]

BMW sell lugs that screw in and are a perfect fit for only a few pounds

Hi Paddy. Can you be a bit more specific here? Which lugs?

Andy.

 

[paddy wright]

BMW sell lugs that screw in and are a perfect fit for only a few pounds

Hi Paddy. Can you be a bit more specific here? Which lugs?

Andy.

The broken tab that holds the headlight in- if you look where the broken off one is you will see the small holes the new one can be screwed into.

 

[andyfanshawe]

Oh wow! Thats amazing! Save me a bit of fabrication.
Thank you for that. I'll pop into BMW tomorrow.
Fantastic advice

Andy.

 

[paddy wright]

Oh wow! Thats amazing! Save me a bit of fabrication.
Thank you for that. I'll pop into BMW tomorrow.
Fantastic advice

Andy.

No problem- I'll look and see if I can find part number for you

Found them
63126932823 left
63126932824 Right

 

[andyfanshawe]

Thank you very much! Ill give them those numbers tomorrow and see what happens.
You're a star.

Makes me think, if it is that easy, why it wasn't repaired properly in the first place.
Andy.

 

[enzed4]

Thank you very much! Ill give them those numbers tomorrow and see what happens.
You're a star.

Makes me think, if it is that easy, why it wasn't repaired properly in the first place.
Andy.

Possibly the previous owner didn't know they were available, and didn't participate in the knowledge sharing environment of a forum like this.
I only found out about them when I bought some angel eye headlights that had the same lug broken as yours. Fortunately the place that sold them to me were happy to fabricate a new lug and plastic weld it on, so I didn't need to go the BMW route.
Still enjoying your work-in-progress Andy

 

[Tony Cluedo]

Hello Andy,

Loving all the work so far. The leather restoration on the seats particularly stands out for me. I have just had my drivers seat foam restored on the bottom of the seat which has brought back the original shape. Was wondering if this is something you might consider yourself now they are looking good again?

 

[paddy wright]

Thank you very much! Ill give them those numbers tomorrow and see what happens.
You're a star.

Makes me think, if it is that easy, why it wasn't repaired properly in the first place.
Andy.

More than welcome- enjoying following your work

 

[andyfanshawe]

Thank you very much! Ill give them those numbers tomorrow and see what happens.
You're a star.

Makes me think, if it is that easy, why it wasn't repaired properly in the first place.
Andy.

Possibly the previous owner didn't know they were available, and didn't participate in the knowledge sharing environment of a forum like this.
I only found out about them when I bought some angel eye headlights that had the same lug broken as yours. Fortunately the place that sold them to me were happy to fabricate a new lug and plastic weld it on, so I didn't need to go the BMW route.
Still enjoying your work-in-progress Andy

Could be. I'm a bit more cynical. I think they were selling it and couldn't care a toss. Cheap fix, ship it out.

 

[andyfanshawe]

Hello Andy,

Loving all the work so far. The leather restoration on the seats particularly stands out for me. I have just had my drivers seat foam restored on the bottom of the seat which has brought back the original shape. Was wondering if this is something you might consider yourself now they are looking good again?

Hi Tony.
Definitely something that needs doing. Every time I sprayed the seats I wished I would have done the foam first. Mot likely last job. Got bigger fish to fry. And because I'm quite tall its actually good I'm sitting lower. Otherwise I would look like jez clarkson in a ford GT40!

I need to keep this car mobile cos I've got 2 HUGE projects to complete, and it will be moved around a lot inside the workshop.

Andy.

 

[andyfanshawe]

Thank you very much! Ill give them those numbers tomorrow and see what happens.
You're a star.

Makes me think, if it is that easy, why it wasn't repaired properly in the first place.
Andy.

More than welcome- enjoying following your work

Thank you.
Went into BMW today, and guess what..............part number perfect! Absoloutely spot on. Picking the lug up tomorrow morning. About £13.

And my new centre caps arrived today. Only ordered them yesterday!



Wheels coming back tomorrow (with sparkly bits ) also! Super exciting.

Photos to come.

Andy.

 

[andyfanshawe]

Picked up the headlight mounting lug repair kit from BMW. With my trade discount it came to £11.80



Here's the broken lug being repaired with one of the lugs.







So, finally got the front end back together with nice panel gaps. Photos tomorrow.

Oh, wheel nuts.............cleaned back to bare metal (apart from 2!) and etch primed here





Painted black since then, but forgot to photograph Photos tomorrow.

Oh, here's a stupid trick that could have caused problems. Someone has failed to secure the wiring loom back behind the headlight and it has been rubbing where it goes over the top of a sharp edge



Needless to say, that was fixed straightaway.

And then some news that my wheels will be delayed until tomorrow morning But at least now I can fit them with shiny wheel nuts and new centre caps!

Andy.

 

[andyfanshawe]

Going to be a few photos tomorrow