Today was a little different to usual, we had a Z3 booked in for some various issues and even we couldn't save it. Symptoms included dodgy handling, poor braking and a dashboard lit up like a Christmas tree (think that was an actual quote). What we found was rather shocking for it's owner, who is now on the lookout for a new Z3 as this one is going to the breakers. It's in no fit state to be on the road, and honestly we would be doing a complete disservice to the owner in trying to do anything with it. Of course we could replace everything underneath, but our suspicion is that it would never make a straight alignment afterwards.
We're not mentioning the owners name for obvious reasons, but he was happy for us to take pictures and explain what we found. So this has turned from a shed build thread in to a cautionary tale when buying a Z3.
The car in question was a 02 plate 2.2i, looks to be a factory Sport model going on the interior spec. Reasonable mileage at over 100k, in need of some bodywork here and there as well as the technical issues listed above. Luckily it was picked up cheap, as to whether that was shrewd negotiation or the current owner needing shot is an entirely different conversation. The lucky thing is that he didn't pay the going rate for it!
In summary, the car shouldn't be on the road. It looks to have been involved in a rear end accident at some stage in the near past (subjectively could be before the previous owner who said he'd had it three years). It looks like classic run out of talent and smack the drivers side rear wheel in to a kerb. Certainly none of the "repairs" looked like they were done in recent years.
It came with a valid MOT, which was due to run out in a couple of weeks. Looking at the condition of most of the key components I'm not sure the previous MOT inspector even saw the car. I don't think they would recognise the obvious accident damage on an MOT, but some of the braking and suspension components had issues some years back. Don't want to get in to the MOT situation, that's an argument for another time!
I'm going to post a list of what we found, then some pictures with items highlighted. There's likely more I've forgotten and I'm sure @Lee will chip in!
Diff hanger and delaminated bush.
Diff hanger and bush. The anti roll bar at the top is useful to show how far out the hanger and bush are from straight. You can also see where it's been hammered in to some kind of shape?
Drive shaft fixings. Probably fine, but never seen this style used before.
Swing arm damage - drew a straight line next to it for comparison. Also you can see the other side of this is perfectly straight.
Wheel carrier bracket damage. Green line added to show how out of shape it is on side closest in photo.
Driver side beam plate bent up.
Passenger side beam core has failed and is sitting on the plate.
Front differential "fixing". Useful to see from the corrosion that this was "fixed" some years back.
Hard brake line - yes there is one in the picture - it should be coming out at straighter angle and not with that bend in. Look closely and you can see the nut against the fixing is bent upwards. Would also need some Mazza tank straps!
Pinched hard brake line, couldn't get a decent picture of the other side which was worse.
Hmmmmm... it works... lol
Front discs...
Rear disc
Front shocks are factory, spiders are aftermarket. Also one of the rear shocks is also factory, the damaged side some cheapy eBay special.
We're not mentioning the owners name for obvious reasons, but he was happy for us to take pictures and explain what we found. So this has turned from a shed build thread in to a cautionary tale when buying a Z3.
The car in question was a 02 plate 2.2i, looks to be a factory Sport model going on the interior spec. Reasonable mileage at over 100k, in need of some bodywork here and there as well as the technical issues listed above. Luckily it was picked up cheap, as to whether that was shrewd negotiation or the current owner needing shot is an entirely different conversation. The lucky thing is that he didn't pay the going rate for it!
In summary, the car shouldn't be on the road. It looks to have been involved in a rear end accident at some stage in the near past (subjectively could be before the previous owner who said he'd had it three years). It looks like classic run out of talent and smack the drivers side rear wheel in to a kerb. Certainly none of the "repairs" looked like they were done in recent years.
It came with a valid MOT, which was due to run out in a couple of weeks. Looking at the condition of most of the key components I'm not sure the previous MOT inspector even saw the car. I don't think they would recognise the obvious accident damage on an MOT, but some of the braking and suspension components had issues some years back. Don't want to get in to the MOT situation, that's an argument for another time!
I'm going to post a list of what we found, then some pictures with items highlighted. There's likely more I've forgotten and I'm sure @Lee will chip in!
- Diff hanger bent and peeling off the boot floor. There are what looks to be hammer marks on the hanger we are guessing was to try and get the diff to align in to it for fitting.
- Boot floor bowed upwards in 2 locations maybe 10-15mm at worst point. Almost impossible to photograph, but visible to the eye. Obscured by the boot carpet and tool kit.
- Diff bush had almost completely delaminated and was hanging out. This probably made worse by the diff hanger being bent and partially ripping off.
- Diff held in place with incorrect bolts in front 2 fixings. Had narrower diameter bolt and 2 nuts (either using one as a spacer or for locking them both together?). Different types of nuts on either fixing - probably using whatever they had access to. Guessing this was because they were not able to line the diff up with the correct bolts due to the damage?
- One beam bush core had collapsed and was sat on the plate.
- The other beam bush was failing, and the plate underneath it had been bent up and was touching the bottom of the plate.
- Swing arm had damage which we could only think be caused by hammering. Perhaps trying to straighten something. Either way it's odd to get damage in that location as it's tucked up out of the way (see photo).
- Looks to have had a replacement drive shaft on drivers side, fitted with different style of bolts to OEM (these being cap heads with internal allen head).
- Chunk taken out of the fuel tank by something, maybe the initial accident?
- Rear hanger for the wheel carrier bent about 15-20mm out of true. The wheel carrier itself was bent, and snapped in one location.
- Spacer on the drivers rear shock absorber bottom bolt fitted to wrong side.
- Exhaust shield down centre of car hanging down 3 inches off road, this has inevitably hit something and crumpled back. Obvious rattles when driving reported.
- Drivers rear - ABS/Brake pad sensor wires cable tied in random locations, no OEM fixings or clips for them in place.
- Drivers rear hard brake line pinched and looking to be severely restricting flow to the caliper.
- 3 of the 4 discs were barely touching the pads. Both fronts probably having around 50% pad contact.
- Most, if not all rubber bushes had significant visual cracking on them (drop links and ball joints, already mentioned the failed diff bush).
Diff hanger and delaminated bush.
Diff hanger and bush. The anti roll bar at the top is useful to show how far out the hanger and bush are from straight. You can also see where it's been hammered in to some kind of shape?
Drive shaft fixings. Probably fine, but never seen this style used before.
Swing arm damage - drew a straight line next to it for comparison. Also you can see the other side of this is perfectly straight.
Wheel carrier bracket damage. Green line added to show how out of shape it is on side closest in photo.
Driver side beam plate bent up.
Passenger side beam core has failed and is sitting on the plate.
Front differential "fixing". Useful to see from the corrosion that this was "fixed" some years back.
Hard brake line - yes there is one in the picture - it should be coming out at straighter angle and not with that bend in. Look closely and you can see the nut against the fixing is bent upwards. Would also need some Mazza tank straps!
Pinched hard brake line, couldn't get a decent picture of the other side which was worse.
Hmmmmm... it works... lol
Front discs...
Rear disc
Front shocks are factory, spiders are aftermarket. Also one of the rear shocks is also factory, the damaged side some cheapy eBay special.
