Z3 project...no going back now!

[BMWZ4MC]

Kudos to you for all the hours, late nights etc and the perseverance to get this project nearing its completion.

It is still nowhere near finished. I had a list of a million things to do yesterday. It's now down to 999,998.

Then stop wasting time here and get back to work you lazy git! oke:

 

[Pondrew]

Then stop wasting time here and get back to work you lazy git!

Even I need a little 'down time'.
Tomorrow is start of the (coarse) fishing season, so that takes priority over the car for the next few weeks.

I've been sorting out my tackle today. Wife says it is still in order!

 

[MikeyH]

Looks amazing er, the car not your tackle :wink:

 

[BMWZ4MC]

…Tomorrow is start of the (coarse) fishing season, so that takes priority over the car for the next few weeks…

I’d rather be fighting with the body shop…

I've been sorting out my tackle today. Wife says it is still in order!

That’s quite enough about your fishy tackle!

 

[Pondrew]

Upholsterer booked for Tuesday.
All bits to be covered have been fine tuned and are ready to go. Seats are outside drying as I painted the frames!

 

[caius]

Walking through Witham earlier I clocked what looked a Z3 roof/rear window tucked away on someone's drive, walked further to see the front and was surprised to see it had a prancing horse looking badge on the front. DVLA has it down as a 2002 Tribute Kalifornia, and a 3 litre at that.

 

[BMWZ4MC]

Upholsterer booked for Tuesday.
All bits to be covered have been fine tuned and are ready to go. Seats are outside drying as I painted the frames!
20250620_120012.jpg20250620_120157.jpg20250620_120403.jpg

You have to squint really hard to see anything that remains identifiable as Z3 in those photographs. You must be pleased, given your disdain for BMW
I like the side windows - presumably the entire panel descends into the door, including the quarter light?

 

[Pondrew]

I like the side windows - presumably the entire panel descends into the door, including the quarter light?

I don't! The quarter lights are fixed. One sure giveaway it is a fake. The original Fezzas didn't have quarter lights.

I will tell you if I am pleased tomorrow if my seats fit with the Z3 electric seat adjustment attached. It's touch and go! I can't reduce them anymore as the rear of the seat switches are hard up against the metal seat frames. I know others have used the same (MGB) seat frames, but my measuring stick tells me they ain't gonna fit!

 

[BMWZ4MC]

Then why have quarter lights? Can’t you you use a single piece of glass, or is the runner between the quarter light and side window essential for the frameless top?
I assumed the original had quarter lights and this was a clever way of reproducing that whilst using the Z3 mechanism.

 

[Pondrew]

Many people don't bother changing the interior, or certainly the dashboard, on these when building them.
I can now see why! What a PITA it is. There is zero room for all the wiring to fit behind and altering the electrics to suit the new gauges is a complete nightmare. Then you have the new heater controls (flexible wires); like trying to wrestle an angry snake in a shoebox.

But it's done and all working! I now have to dismantle the whole lot to finish the dashboard, before doing it all again.

I have probably mentioned this many times on this thread...but for anybody thinking about building a car.........JUST DON'T!

 

[MikeyH]

It will be worth the extra effort Pondrew This car is going to be amazing

 

[john-e89]

Many people don't bother changing the interior, or certainly the dashboard, on these when building them.
I can now see why! What a PITA it is. There is zero room for all the wiring to fit behind and altering the electrics to suit the new gauges is a complete nightmare. Then you have the new heater controls (flexible wires); like trying to wrestle an angry snake in a shoebox.

But it's done and all working! I now have to dismantle the whole lot to finish the dashboard, before doing it all again.

I have probably mentioned this many times on this thread...but for anybody thinking about building a car.........JUST DON'T! 20250701_124953.jpg20250701_124932.jpg

Quit whining and get it built…we need to see it…. oke: oke: :evil:

 

[Zed Baron]

What did you expect, you can't have an Italian car without a little spaghetti. As Enzo would say 'what's behind you doesn't matter' :rofl:

 

[Mr Tidy]

Many people don't bother changing the interior, or certainly the dashboard, on these when building them.
I can now see why! What a PITA it is. There is zero room for all the wiring to fit behind and altering the electrics to suit the new gauges is a complete nightmare. Then you have the new heater controls (flexible wires); like trying to wrestle an angry snake in a shoebox.

But it will be worth all the pain for it to look so much more authentic.

If you need a bit of inspiration (and a good laugh at the price) have a look here:- https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506193671091 :lol:

 

[BMWZ4MC]

I presume that linked by Mr Tidy is a Z3 underneath too? It looks beautiful, but they careful avoid showing the engine bay where the BMW roots would be difficult to disguise.

 

[Pondrew]

I presume that linked by Mr Tidy is a Z3 underneath too? It looks beautiful, but they careful avoid showing the engine bay where the BMW roots would be difficult to disguise.

Yes it's a Z3.
That Luddis Currus lot never made a thing (except money). They were a dodgy couple of Croydon car dealers who commissioned a chap called Michael Parker to build a few cars for them back in the early days (2018 ish), just after the original company (DNA Automotive) were shut down by the Italians.
Apparently they were selling these commissioned cars for £125k, which cost them around £30k to be built by Michael. The early cars by Michael were a bit 'rough around the edges' and the car dealers supplied him with the Z3s to convert. Needless to say, they were not the cream of the Z3s available, just the cheapest.

I know Michael Parker as I have bought a few bits from him.

The second to last picture shows the bootlid sitting massively high on the (Z3) hinges too.

That £100k car is not going to be a good one underneath and looks rather 'used' to me. These average conversions are selling for around £40-50k at present so it is massively overpriced.

Edit: I have now read the utter bollox on the advert and am so incensed by the lies that I am going to phone Targa Florio tomorrow and have a word. "Ludis Currus, a renowned coachbuilder". What utter rubbish. And the 'upgraded' foglights, which cost £1,295.00 are Wipac (I know I have the same) and around £40 a pair from any eBay seller.

 

[BMWZ4MC]

I presume that linked by Mr Tidy is a Z3 underneath too? It looks beautiful, but they careful avoid showing the engine bay where the BMW roots would be difficult to disguise.

Yes it's a Z3.
That Luddis Currus lot never made a thing (except money). They were a dodgy couple of Croydon car dealers who commissioned a chap called Michael Parker to build a few cars for them back in the early days (2018 ish), just after the original company (DNA Automotive) were shut down by the Italians.
Apparently they were selling these commissioned cars for £125k, which cost them around £30k to be built by Michael. The early cars by Michael were a bit 'rough around the edges' and the car dealers supplied him with the Z3s to convert. Needless to say, they were not the cream of the Z3s available, just the cheapest.

I know Michael Parker as I have bought a few bits from him.

The second to last picture shows the bootlid sitting massively high on the (Z3) hinges too.

That £100k car is not going to be a good one underneath and looks rather 'used' to me. These average conversions are selling for around £40-50k at present so it is massively overpriced.

Interesting to read - you’ve obviously spent a great deal of time researching around building your car.

Edit: I have now read the utter bollox on the advert and am so incensed by the lies that I am going to phone Targa Florio tomorrow and have a word. "Ludis Currus, a renowned coachbuilder". What utter rubbish. And the 'upgraded' foglights, which cost £1,295.00 are Wipac (I know I have the same) and around £40 a pair from any eBay seller.

Perhaps copy trading standards… :evil:

 

[caius]

I presume that linked by Mr Tidy is a Z3 underneath too? It looks beautiful, but they careful avoid showing the engine bay where the BMW roots would be difficult to disguise.

Throttle pedal looks very BMW

 

[BMWZ4MC]

I presume that linked by Mr Tidy is a Z3 underneath too? It looks beautiful, but they careful avoid showing the engine bay where the BMW roots would be difficult to disguise.

Throttle pedal looks very BMW

Indeed, as do the switches in the Ferrari cigarette case mounted behind the gear stick.

 

[ed80]

Ludis Currus sounds like a character from Life of Brian