AlexGSi2000
Dedicated Member
Thought I would create a thread for my dads recent purchase.
My dad had been after a car for the weekend / occasional use for a few years, but never actually pulled the trigger.
He had been looking at everything from the likes of older Triumphs to more modern BMWs, mostly at auctions.
I decided to recommend a Z3 after owning mine for a few months on the basis that they are starting to look like a modern classic, without some of the headaches of classic car ownership.
As my dad isn't particularly mechanically minded the Z3 fits the bill perfectly, not least because it will be reliable, but mostly as I will be doing all the work!
I was starting to get a little worried when he was looking at Triumphs, as I don't know my carburettor from my elbow. Feared he would be spending a lot of time on the hard shoulder of the M6.
For his first rodeo into the weekend / classic car scene, we also need to be budget conscious.
He told me to keep my eye out for anything that looks like it would be worth a punt - that chance came last month in the form of a fantastic Z3 advertised in the forum classifieds by Cabrioman.
A few messages were sent and a sale agreed, a few days later the car turned up on the back of a low loader, I don't think my dad could quite believe how much car he got for the money.
Cabrioman (John) had purchased the car a few years earlier, I believe it had seen fairly light use and was then stored in his garage as there were a few other interesting cars on the driveway.
Although the car had been stored for a few years, John had made a sterling effort of maintaining the car and had also begun recommissioning the car for the road.
John had set out fitting new brakes at the front, new tyres, replacement battery, washer bottle and a few other parts - all of which had 0 miles use, the brake discs still had the painted coating.
John had also gone one step further, in the fact that all parts fitted were premium items, brands such as Bosch, Goodyear.etc - you can tell an enthusiast a mile away!
Not only had the recommissioning work started, a care package was also sent with the car, in the form of Meyle HD wishbones, inner & outer tie-rods, droplinks and new power steering lines - all of which have now been fitted.
The car is a gem, its a late model 3.0 with a very nice spec - A/C, heated seats, headlight washers, OBC.etc
Its ideally suited for my dad being an auto.
The plan is to spend the winter months on the underside, the car doesn't want for much and I'm sure it would go through an MOT as it stands, but as it won't be used in winter months, now is a good time to get some work done.
Plan for the car over the next few months;
Should keep me fairly busy, since my Z3 is now tucked up in the garage.
Will get a few more photos over the next few days - only one I have at the moment is of the car when it arrived;
My dad had been after a car for the weekend / occasional use for a few years, but never actually pulled the trigger.
He had been looking at everything from the likes of older Triumphs to more modern BMWs, mostly at auctions.
I decided to recommend a Z3 after owning mine for a few months on the basis that they are starting to look like a modern classic, without some of the headaches of classic car ownership.
As my dad isn't particularly mechanically minded the Z3 fits the bill perfectly, not least because it will be reliable, but mostly as I will be doing all the work!
I was starting to get a little worried when he was looking at Triumphs, as I don't know my carburettor from my elbow. Feared he would be spending a lot of time on the hard shoulder of the M6.
For his first rodeo into the weekend / classic car scene, we also need to be budget conscious.
He told me to keep my eye out for anything that looks like it would be worth a punt - that chance came last month in the form of a fantastic Z3 advertised in the forum classifieds by Cabrioman.
A few messages were sent and a sale agreed, a few days later the car turned up on the back of a low loader, I don't think my dad could quite believe how much car he got for the money.
Cabrioman (John) had purchased the car a few years earlier, I believe it had seen fairly light use and was then stored in his garage as there were a few other interesting cars on the driveway.
Although the car had been stored for a few years, John had made a sterling effort of maintaining the car and had also begun recommissioning the car for the road.
John had set out fitting new brakes at the front, new tyres, replacement battery, washer bottle and a few other parts - all of which had 0 miles use, the brake discs still had the painted coating.
John had also gone one step further, in the fact that all parts fitted were premium items, brands such as Bosch, Goodyear.etc - you can tell an enthusiast a mile away!
Not only had the recommissioning work started, a care package was also sent with the car, in the form of Meyle HD wishbones, inner & outer tie-rods, droplinks and new power steering lines - all of which have now been fitted.
The car is a gem, its a late model 3.0 with a very nice spec - A/C, heated seats, headlight washers, OBC.etc
Its ideally suited for my dad being an auto.
The plan is to spend the winter months on the underside, the car doesn't want for much and I'm sure it would go through an MOT as it stands, but as it won't be used in winter months, now is a good time to get some work done.
Plan for the car over the next few months;
- Fit replacement wishbones, tie-rods, drop links, PAS lines & ARB bushes - Done.
- Renew hard brake lines & hoses.
- Remove rear subframe & trailing arms, blast & powder coat, refit with polyurethane bushes.
- Renew all fluids, gearbox, diff, engine oil, PAS, coolant.
- DISA rebuild.
- Wheel refurbish & rear tyres.
- Tank straps.
- Replace belts, alternator & waterpump
Should keep me fairly busy, since my Z3 is now tucked up in the garage.
Will get a few more photos over the next few days - only one I have at the moment is of the car when it arrived;
. Registered July 2002 is one of the last made as they stopped building in June. Why poly bushes over replacing the rubber at the rear? Appreciate it’s a slightly easier fit especially on the beam bushes