Common wear and tear on Z3?

[theurbanspectacle]

Currently having the common problems of:

- Door handle on the driver side car door is coming off
- Glove box is coming off
- Seats are starting to rock

8000% not a handy person at ALL so I can't really repair these myself.

Anybody else know some common wear and tear things that will come up eventually that I can look out for as well as care for to prevent/prolong it from happening? Also some resources that could aid for these problems?

 

[Richardrix]

Currently having the common problems of:

- Door handle on the driver side car door is coming off
- Glove box is coming off
- Seats are starting to rock

8000% not a handy person at ALL so I can't really repair these myself.

Anybody else know some common wear and tear things that will come up eventually that I can look out for as well as care for to prevent/prolong it from happening? Also some resources that could aid for these problems?

Hey, I was like you, thinking I wasn't handy and couldn't do these things but a bit of searching and reading on here and you tube videos and I've found I've managed to do lots of things like this myself and it's given me great confidence to tackle other jobs.

 

[theurbanspectacle]

Hey, I was like you, thinking I wasn't handy and couldn't do these things but a bit of searching and reading on here and you tube videos and I've found I've managed to do lots of things like this myself and it's given me great confidence to tackle other jobs.

really?! this gives me some hope. this is my first car and im just scared to mess with anything in fear of breaking something.

im not ashamed to say that I’m DEFINITELY not a masculine/manly man/handy man that’s into cars and sports and all of that. i grew up on music, art, designing, etc I’ll give it a try for the center console! it seems easy enough. Thanks!

 

[Richardrix]

Where are you based? If you're close by me I'm always up for helping out. I'm in Sheffield.

 

[Paul Rice]

Z3's are one of the easier cars to work on from the 90's. Like Richard not a mechanic but with the help from You tube and more so members on here managed to do lots of jobs on my Z3 and with new found confidence work on my Z4. Start with the rocking seats follow the You tube videos also watch Wheeler dealers ZM Coupe he shows you doing the seat bushes. More importantly don't be afraid of asking on here lots of help available.

 

[Richardrix]

With the seat bushes I lost count on one side, you don't really need to count, just measure how far the road stick out before you start.

 

[137699]

Whereabouts are you located? I took mine to a guy in Watford who re-bushed the seats for me in just over an hour and didn't charge the earth for the privilege. He might be able to sort your other issues too....

 

[Philpatton]

The profile says he is in Southern California. I wonder if mike brewer could pop down and sort it with ant!

 

[theurbanspectacle]

Where are you based? If you're close by me I'm always up for helping out. I'm in Sheffield.

I appreciate that a lot, but unfortunately I am in the US. In another post a member mentioned a vast majority are in the UK apparently? Did not know that signing up here.

 

[Philpatton]

There are a good number of US based Z3 owners on the forum, but the solutions to solving issues on the Z3 are the same no matter where you live.

Rocking seats are simple to fix. Check out YouTube and there are a significant number of videos. I did my rocking seats using a kit from x8r.co.uk which would be worth a look. They ship to the US. Biggest challenge was lifting the seats out of car.

If in doubt, use the search function in the forum as many issues have been indentified and solved.

Good luck and welcome to Z'ing!
P

 

[Stevo7682]

While it is true a fair number of the forum members are in the UK problems with z3 ( eg seat bushes are a global issue) and the fixes are the same.
There are a number of regular contributions from members in the USA and further afield @NZ00Z3 is in New Zealand and regularly helps with solutions to problems.
There are a number of 'how to guides ' on here showing variety of tasks.
If not just ask someone on here will have done the job before and be happy to talk you through it.
You'll be surprised at what you can achieve.
Tools wise a basic spanner ,socket and screwdriver sets will get you a long way on repairing a z3 .

Stephen.

 

[Nodzed]

really?! this gives me some hope. this is my first car and im just scared to mess with anything in fear of breaking something.

im not ashamed to say that I’m DEFINITELY not a masculine/manly man/handy man that’s into cars and sports and all of that. i grew up on music, art, designing, etc I’ll give it a try for the center console! it seems easy enough. Thanks!

If you dont try then you've already failed. Have a go.

 

[mrscalex]

The glove box issue seems to be common on US cars only. Strange. As is the cracked roof sealing strip on the rear bulkhead. You won’t know about that until your car leaks and/or the roof covering is changed.

The glovebox is easy to work with though.

When you say door handle loose you may mean surrounding trim rather than the handle itself?

 

[the Nefyn cat]

Tools wise a basic spanner ,socket and screwdriver sets will get you a long way on repairing a z3

And a hammer. A big hammer. No messing with a girly one, just get a big one.

 

[Stevo7682]

And a hammer. A big hammer. No messing with a girly one, just get a big one.

 

[t-tony]

And a hammer. A big hammer. No messing with a girly one, just get a big one.

As a new apprentice buying my first tools I was advised to "Get a big hammer first. You can hit gently with a big hammer - but you can't hit hard with a small one!" BTW I was an apprentice Agricultural Engineer.

Tony.

 

[the Nefyn cat]

BTW I was an apprentice Agricultural Engineer

Girly stuff. Did mine on these, amongst other smaller stuff.

 

[t-tony]

Yeah, but at least your Boss wasn't pleading poverty when you used an extra split pin .............

Tony.

 

[the Nefyn cat]

Did have the opportunity to send tank drivers off to the stores for 24v split pins. And we've all heard of the long weight/record stand type things. Sent a driver with the 17/21 lancers off for a Chieftain starting handle once, and the b'stards actually made one and sent it back with him.Had to find somewhere to stick it, he were a big lad and we didn't want to cause any upset.

 

[t-tony]

Bet you had some laughs mate. My late Father-in-law was in the REME and he told some great stories.

Tony.