Winter Projects - A Newbie's Tale
I wasn't sure if or how much winter driving in the Z I'd do, seeing as I only got into one in September. But I visited Tire Rack and purchased a set of Modas and Michelins just in case.
Next up, I discovered that replacing the wheels at the garage was complicated seeing as the roadster can only transport 2 at a time.
No problem as despite some health issues, I can take my time and enjoy the garage !
That's when I recalled there isn't an included jack ...
So that was an excuse to visit Canadian Tire and acquire some tools. Always a good excuse.
So with a floor jack, axle stands and an electric impact gun in place, my research discovered that the lug nuts are lug bolts, and there exists some sort of erected lug bolt that helps support and align the wheel to the hub.
Well that looked simple to construct. Another visit to Canadian Tire to acquire a regular lug bolt with a side trip to my old high school where I taught. The Welding Teacher cooperated and got one of his stellar students to fabricate the part. So nice to have skilled friends.
Winter Rims installed. Bring it on.
Next up - Ive never had a convertible and Im figuring there must be some sort of preventative maintenance required. Youtube later Ive seen the RaggTopp video so Im off to locate a supplier. Damn you've gotta love the Internets ..I locate one in Canada and order it. Next up I follow the directions and treat the top. Following that I do a detail of the body and park the Z in the garage where I visit it more than I would like to admit.
Crap weather follows, but not much snow and my town responds by salting every time like they are working for McDonalds ...
Car looks so awesome and shiny. Outside looks like a saline backwash ...Clean car ..winter rims ...
Damn I can't bring myself to mix those two ... So Im sacrificing the Malibu. At least that is what's happening so far.
Next up a visit to Palantirion and Scatha. Actually his site has been an ongoing inspiration and I can't thank him enough. I follow their lead and that journey ...
First off with the visor decals
Next comes some winter mats BMW parts via Kijiji
Then a TomTom via Best Buy
The jury is out on the mounting location.
Forgive me, the disc is currently stuck to the stainless dash (gulp)
Leather Z for an arm rest and storage. International shipping costs do suck)
Those starburst stock rims with the Bridgestone RF Tires ...
Don't look all that great. Maybe a respray darker ? Two Tone ?
Nah Im stuck with lots of tread and my sensibilities tell me to wear them out first then replace them ...
But hey ...Im almost 60 and my perspective on how much time I have left has changed by every visit to the local obituary pages ,,,
So another visit to Tire Rack and with Rudy's help Im looking at a set of staggered Lorenzo 21's with Michelins.
Another scan of Ebay and Ive got some BMW Rondell stick ons to complete the wheels.
At this point Im looking at a basement with 12 tire / rim combinations covering a corner that I don't have to dust yet.
But why not wax the rims and treat the sidewalls ...
That's another winter day gone.
Suddenly I discover how ugly the fender indicators are and how gorgeous Scathia looks with trimmed lenses ...
I can do that ...With a hack saw and masking tape as a cut guide ...
Careful cutting ..chip out the remaining lens' with wire cutters, true the base with sand paper on the table, some JB Weld carefully applied ...
Damn just too easy and does it ever look great. Works just as good too. Thanks again Palantirion !!!!
While Im at that ..Im drawn to those other badges that Palantirion removed ..mmm...
A mild day, borrowed dental floss and hair dryer ...Some WD40 to remove the adhesive..followed by some Turtle wax ...Damn ..Too Easy !!!!
Then I see the stubby antenna pics ....
Being half balding I never care about what I don't have to look at, but ...
Now that Im aware of that suddenly ugly antenna ...
I start to think again ...mmmmm...
More perfectly good Z castoff parts in the basement ? ..
How long can I expect to hide all that from SWMBO ...
I am living a risky lifestyle here you know ...
So I remove the antenna and examine it ..mmm...
Well the thicker base kind of looks like a stubby ..
Actually there are several stubbies that look just like it ..
So I get out the hack saw ,,,
A few swipes and I have my stubby...Or sort of ..
Not sure if it can still function as an antenna anymore ...
Plus I think it's missing something ,,,,
First I try the original cap on the top ..
Not bad but ...
It would look better with some sort of a ball on the end ...
I search my acorn nut tray and discover a brass threaded ball bearing that looks perfect ...
And when threaded on sealed with silicon ..
It actually works (so far)
So Im happy but not so sure about the brass ...
Not to worry ..
I contain my inspiration and wait ...
The pepper grinder is topped with a larger ball bearing ...
And it's chrome !!!!
Perfect ...
Justa discrete swap and ...
Better than perfect !!!!
A win win and so far SWMBO hasn't noticed !!!
Im living on borrowed time here ..
Fearful of the mailman bearing credit card invoices ..
But satisfied that so far the Z has provided all the therapy I need to last out the winter ..
Im sure my Tale isn't all that different than any of yours, but the most fun is discovering what is next and enjoying the quality time in achieving it.
Next up ..
Two paint chips that somehow happened on the passenger side mirror casing.
Im hoping to locate a paint pen or something costing less than $20
Never having had leather seats before, Im open for cleaning and conditioning advice
Then there is the silver roll bars that would look oh so much better in satin black
Plus that Z4M front bumper is calling out to me ....
And how come a sport muffler costs like $1200 bucks !
Spring is close.
I hope you all finish your winter projects in time ...
Cheers
John in Whitby Ontario Canada
ps
I forgot the personalized License Plate
In a moment of weakness ..
After a recent Parks and Rec TV Episode ..
It was the one where several cast members had a Treat Yourself Day ..
mmmm...
Like that's what my Z4 is all about !
So if you see an 08 Z4 white with red leather interior ..
carrying the plate
TRTYOSLF
Well that would be me ...
I wasn't sure if or how much winter driving in the Z I'd do, seeing as I only got into one in September. But I visited Tire Rack and purchased a set of Modas and Michelins just in case.
Next up, I discovered that replacing the wheels at the garage was complicated seeing as the roadster can only transport 2 at a time.
No problem as despite some health issues, I can take my time and enjoy the garage !
That's when I recalled there isn't an included jack ...
So that was an excuse to visit Canadian Tire and acquire some tools. Always a good excuse.
So with a floor jack, axle stands and an electric impact gun in place, my research discovered that the lug nuts are lug bolts, and there exists some sort of erected lug bolt that helps support and align the wheel to the hub.
Well that looked simple to construct. Another visit to Canadian Tire to acquire a regular lug bolt with a side trip to my old high school where I taught. The Welding Teacher cooperated and got one of his stellar students to fabricate the part. So nice to have skilled friends.
Winter Rims installed. Bring it on.
Next up - Ive never had a convertible and Im figuring there must be some sort of preventative maintenance required. Youtube later Ive seen the RaggTopp video so Im off to locate a supplier. Damn you've gotta love the Internets ..I locate one in Canada and order it. Next up I follow the directions and treat the top. Following that I do a detail of the body and park the Z in the garage where I visit it more than I would like to admit.
Crap weather follows, but not much snow and my town responds by salting every time like they are working for McDonalds ...
Car looks so awesome and shiny. Outside looks like a saline backwash ...Clean car ..winter rims ...
Damn I can't bring myself to mix those two ... So Im sacrificing the Malibu. At least that is what's happening so far.
Next up a visit to Palantirion and Scatha. Actually his site has been an ongoing inspiration and I can't thank him enough. I follow their lead and that journey ...
First off with the visor decals
Next comes some winter mats BMW parts via Kijiji
Then a TomTom via Best Buy
The jury is out on the mounting location.
Forgive me, the disc is currently stuck to the stainless dash (gulp)
Leather Z for an arm rest and storage. International shipping costs do suck)
Those starburst stock rims with the Bridgestone RF Tires ...
Don't look all that great. Maybe a respray darker ? Two Tone ?
Nah Im stuck with lots of tread and my sensibilities tell me to wear them out first then replace them ...
But hey ...Im almost 60 and my perspective on how much time I have left has changed by every visit to the local obituary pages ,,,
So another visit to Tire Rack and with Rudy's help Im looking at a set of staggered Lorenzo 21's with Michelins.
Another scan of Ebay and Ive got some BMW Rondell stick ons to complete the wheels.
At this point Im looking at a basement with 12 tire / rim combinations covering a corner that I don't have to dust yet.
But why not wax the rims and treat the sidewalls ...
That's another winter day gone.
Suddenly I discover how ugly the fender indicators are and how gorgeous Scathia looks with trimmed lenses ...
I can do that ...With a hack saw and masking tape as a cut guide ...
Careful cutting ..chip out the remaining lens' with wire cutters, true the base with sand paper on the table, some JB Weld carefully applied ...
Damn just too easy and does it ever look great. Works just as good too. Thanks again Palantirion !!!!
While Im at that ..Im drawn to those other badges that Palantirion removed ..mmm...
A mild day, borrowed dental floss and hair dryer ...Some WD40 to remove the adhesive..followed by some Turtle wax ...Damn ..Too Easy !!!!
Then I see the stubby antenna pics ....
Being half balding I never care about what I don't have to look at, but ...
Now that Im aware of that suddenly ugly antenna ...
I start to think again ...mmmmm...
More perfectly good Z castoff parts in the basement ? ..
How long can I expect to hide all that from SWMBO ...
I am living a risky lifestyle here you know ...
So I remove the antenna and examine it ..mmm...
Well the thicker base kind of looks like a stubby ..
Actually there are several stubbies that look just like it ..
So I get out the hack saw ,,,
A few swipes and I have my stubby...Or sort of ..
Not sure if it can still function as an antenna anymore ...
Plus I think it's missing something ,,,,
First I try the original cap on the top ..
Not bad but ...
It would look better with some sort of a ball on the end ...
I search my acorn nut tray and discover a brass threaded ball bearing that looks perfect ...
And when threaded on sealed with silicon ..
It actually works (so far)
So Im happy but not so sure about the brass ...
Not to worry ..
I contain my inspiration and wait ...
The pepper grinder is topped with a larger ball bearing ...
And it's chrome !!!!
Perfect ...
Justa discrete swap and ...
Better than perfect !!!!
A win win and so far SWMBO hasn't noticed !!!
Im living on borrowed time here ..
Fearful of the mailman bearing credit card invoices ..
But satisfied that so far the Z has provided all the therapy I need to last out the winter ..
Im sure my Tale isn't all that different than any of yours, but the most fun is discovering what is next and enjoying the quality time in achieving it.
Next up ..
Two paint chips that somehow happened on the passenger side mirror casing.
Im hoping to locate a paint pen or something costing less than $20
Never having had leather seats before, Im open for cleaning and conditioning advice
Then there is the silver roll bars that would look oh so much better in satin black
Plus that Z4M front bumper is calling out to me ....
And how come a sport muffler costs like $1200 bucks !
Spring is close.
I hope you all finish your winter projects in time ...
Cheers
John in Whitby Ontario Canada
ps
I forgot the personalized License Plate
In a moment of weakness ..
After a recent Parks and Rec TV Episode ..
It was the one where several cast members had a Treat Yourself Day ..
mmmm...
Like that's what my Z4 is all about !
So if you see an 08 Z4 white with red leather interior ..
carrying the plate
TRTYOSLF
Well that would be me ...
. Can hardly wait for the pictures...
