Fettling Cinders

[Wookee]

I have been doing a progress thread elsewhere, but thought I'd put it here too.

This is a love story really.... . I'm not a car person as I much prefer riding motorbikes, but I have no interest in old bikes. Being middle-aged and working in the vehicle business (sort of) I thought it was about time I owned a classic car to bring back to life. So, I bought a 1973 Beetle that hadn't been on the road this millennium. Just the one small problem with it..... the wife hated it with a passion which kinda meant I was going to be in it alone a lot. So I welded it all back together and sorted out a shedload of rust and broken things then took it for an MOT. It passed first time with no advisories and I put it up for sale as soon as I got back with the ink still wet on the certificate. I drove it a grand total of 12 miles! I would have made a small profit on it, but I had to buy 4 tyres for the MOT and they weren't cheap (the ones on it were from the early nineties).

I needed a classic car that wasn't....errr..... old enough to be a classic, as my wife likes the thought of a classic car, but doesn't 'do' old. I also wanted something I could work on that didn't need a computer for everything and was good fun. I did zero research, and then browsing one day for a new car for her I found a dealer that had an ideal car for her and also happened to have a Z3 for sale. It was very unloved and a Cat C, but it was a few days before Christmas and both cars were convertibles....the ideal situation for a deal....so we drove away both cars for the price of hers.

This is what I got for 'free'

IMG_20151211_114749640

 

[Wookee]

From the test drive I knew the engine was in good nick as were the majority of panels, but I could also see there were a few 'issues'. When I picked it up I drove it straight to a garage to have the two front tyres swapped for some legal ones and the alignment sorted out. To date this is the second most expensive thing I have done to Cinders. I got the mechanic to put it up in the air for me so I could see the underneath.....errmmm...... I did know that the previous owner had got peed off because he bought it not knowing the Cat C status and had left it standing for a while. From the looks of things he had left it standing in the sea. Cinders has rust issues....lots of rust issues....

Here's a sample crustacean

IMG_20151214_094543270

It's all forgiven though as every time I get behind the wheel I laugh, a lot, and I know I'll have a Z3 for many years to come

 

[Low Rider]

That old bad boy needs replacing but I'm sure you know that. Looks a lovely car for the money

 

[BMBabe]

Congratulations on your free Zed now that's awesome and it looks far from a Cat C!! Why was it a Cat C? It looks in awesome shape

 

[Wookee]

Anyway...onto the progress from the past three months. After the wheel alignment and tyres, and I no particular order, this is what I have sorted on Cinders-

6, yes 6 leaky points (A pillar, mis-aligned window, aerial grommet, rear window, hood to body seal and overflow tray)
2 oil leaks (rocker cover and oil filter housing)
2 broken exhaust supports
Leaky exhaust
Auxiliary belt
Door card refurb and replacement
CCV and hose replacement
Mis-fire traced to a damaged spark plug lead
MAF boot/hose
Sticky accelerator pedal
Plugs, oil and air filters
Fuel filter replacement including a rusty fuel pipe repair
Gearbox and Diff oil changes
Dashboard lights
Replaced the 'removed' ABS and ASC warning lamp bulbs*
Replaced the rear calipers and pads*
Made the handbrake actually work*
Replaced both rear wheel speed sensors*
Broken sidelights replaced
Replaced the small vacuum hoses
New wind deflector
New rear shocks and top mounts
Replaced the rear ARB bushes with poly bushes and the drop links with standard ones

*- No part of the rear brakes was actually working and it had done 400 miles since it's last MOT

The final, and most expensive, job on it was to replace a power steering pipe that burst on me due to rust

 

[Wookee]

Congratulations on your free Zed now that's awesome and it looks far from a Cat C!! Why was it a Cat C? It looks in awesome shape

It was at C'd in 2013, and the dealer told me it was for "vandalism". However, when I was looking it over I could see that there was a scuff on the front offside corner, the door didn't fit quite right, the door car was missing from the offside door and the offside rear quarter panel bolts were not 'right'. All helps to get a good deal. Subsequently, MIAFTR have confirmed it was written off for heavy offside damage following a collision. It's not a problem as the strength bits are all good and it would have had a VIC anyway.

 

[Wookee]

That old bad boy needs replacing but I'm sure you know that. Looks a lovely car for the money

Ta, the wife and I did enter into some fierce negotiations after the purchase and I ended up giving her some money (the amount she told me to, not that I'm under the thumb you understand....)

 

[Low Rider]

They not miss a trick do they but you gotta love em

 

[BMBabe]

@Wookee you defo have a BARGIN @DirtyDog was given his Zed as well
Wow what a list you have been busy can't wait to meet you and your rescued Zed
I am over Aylesbury and hope to try to get a small meet together for the Hertfordshire/Buckinghamshire area

 

[Wookee]

The plan has always been to take Cinders on a track, as I think cars (and bikes) should be driven/ridden not hidden away in garages getting polished. I was trying to get it on a track day last month but the power steering hose went (did I mention how expensive it was??) and I couldn't get it sorted in time.

There is still a to-do list of things:

My central locking only works if I use the key in the boot lock, my remote doesn't work (I'm open to suggestions on this one if anyone has experience of this?)
I need to re-visit my handbrake situation.
My rear backing plates are in a shocking state which isn't helping the handbrake situation and I note that BMW quote 7 hours labour to replace them. Anyone here done theirs? My wheel bearings don't need doing, if they did I might get more serious about doing them. At the minute I'm thinking of ways to 'cut and shut' some new plates on......
My rear window has a temporary fix to it, but I now have some proper window material that I intend to make the repair more...errr...pretty.
My nearside wing mirror is held together with a self tapper, though it does work and move.
I need to fit a new head unit with a USB input and DAB, and probably rear speakers.
My ASC button needs to work. I now have some traction control, but I can't turn it off, if I go on a track I'll just unplug one of the wheel speed sensors, but that's not ideal.
I've got some scabby metal on my roof frame by the handles that needs a tidy up.

Oh, and I need to drive it a bit more

 

[Wookee]

@Wookee you defo have a BARGIN @DirtyDog was given his Zed as well
Wow what a list you have been busy can't wait to meet you and your rescued Zed
I am over Aylesbury and hope to try to get a small meet together for the Hertfordshire/Buckinghamshire area

When I bought the car I also got some breakdown cover so I should be able to make a meet

 

[BMBabe]

When I bought the car I also got some breakdown cover so I should be able to make a meet

This is an awesome read!!
Nah you don't need breakdown cover
@DirtyDog @Mnbrennan @Rha @Tracy Dee @Anthony Cherry are all usually up for a meet up and drive plus I am sure more will want to join in

 

[Low Rider]

My car wouldn't lock or unlock remotely.
The interior light never worked.
The petrol filler lid didn't lock.
The solution was.
I changed the driver door hasp on the body and hey presto it all works fine now and just a fiver to fix.

 

[t-tony]

The plan has always been to take Cinders on a track, as I think cars (and bikes) should be driven/ridden not hidden away in garages getting polished. I was trying to get it on a track day last month but the power steering hose went (did I mention how expensive it was??) and I couldn't get it sorted in time.

There is still a to-do list of things:

My central locking only works if I use the key in the boot lock, my remote doesn't work (I'm open to suggestions on this one if anyone has experience of this?)
I need to re-visit my handbrake situation.
My rear backing plates are in a shocking state which isn't helping the handbrake situation and I note that BMW quote 7 hours labour to replace them. Anyone here done theirs? My wheel bearings don't need doing, if they did I might get more serious about doing them. At the minute I'm thinking of ways to 'cut and shut' some new plates on......
My rear window has a temporary fix to it, but I now have some proper window material that I intend to make the repair more...errr...pretty.
My nearside wing mirror is held together with a self tapper, though it does work and move.
I need to fit a new head unit with a USB input and DAB, and probably rear speakers.
My ASC button needs to work. I now have some traction control, but I can't turn it off, if I go on a track I'll just unplug one of the wheel speed sensors, but that's not ideal.
I've got some scabby metal on my roof frame by the handles that needs a tidy up.

Oh, and I need to drive it a bit more

You can fit the back plates by cutting them in one spot and fitting them over and round the hub flange. Then you can either just bolt it into the suspension arm or weld the cut back together (again best done when bolted to the arm) Not a job for the purist but it's a way none the less.

Tony.

 

[bertiejaffa]

My rear backing plates are in a shocking state which isn't helping the handbrake situation and I note that BMW quote 7 hours labour to replace them. Anyone here done theirs? My wheel bearings don't need doing, if they did I might get more serious about doing them. At the minute I'm thinking of ways to 'cut and shut' some new plates on......

This guy does as Tony suggests in this video

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBV6SRusvcM

 

[Low Rider]

Interesting video enjoyed watching it.
But I'm thinking if this is a quick fix for older cars which I'm not knocking why don't the manufacturers of non genuine parts make them already split.
Could i be on to something to make my millions!

 

[Althulas]

BMW way, my mate phoned up his local stealer for a quote for the ring abs/speed sensors on his 1 series quoted him for a new axle cough, indie did it by just replacing the rings easy job but not so on the newer models as they weld them to the axel

 

[FRANKIE]

I have been doing a progress thread elsewhere, but thought I'd put it here too.

This is a love story really.... . I'm not a car person as I much prefer riding motorbikes, but I have no interest in old bikes. Being middle-aged and working in the vehicle business (sort of) I thought it was about time I owned a classic car to bring back to life. So, I bought a 1973 Beetle that hadn't been on the road this millennium. Just the one small problem with it..... the wife hated it with a passion which kinda meant I was going to be in it alone a lot. So I welded it all back together and sorted out a shedload of rust and broken things then took it for an MOT. It passed first time with no advisories and I put it up for sale as soon as I got back with the ink still wet on the certificate. I drove it a grand total of 12 miles! I would have made a small profit on it, but I had to buy 4 tyres for the MOT and they weren't cheap (the ones on it were from the early nineties).

I needed a classic car that wasn't....errr..... old enough to be a classic, as my wife likes the thought of a classic car, but doesn't 'do' old. I also wanted something I could work on that didn't need a computer for everything and was good fun. I did zero research, and then browsing one day for a new car for her I found a dealer that had an ideal car for her and also happened to have a Z3 for sale. It was very unloved and a Cat C, but it was a few days before Christmas and both cars were convertibles....the ideal situation for a deal....so we drove away both cars for the price of hers.

This is what I got for 'free'

IMG_20151211_114749640

Good read and great story and, of course, Welcome to the forum from Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey............. Frankie

 

[Shelly]

How interesting
Lots of work to do but it will be worth it for all the joy your Z will bring you
Good luck

 

[Wookee]

My car wouldn't lock or unlock remotely.
The interior light never worked.
The petrol filler lid didn't lock.
The solution was.
I changed the driver door hasp on the body and hey presto it all works fine now and just a fiver to fix.

Hmmm... that sounds interesting. My interior light works but my petrol filler doesn't lock. Can you tell me the part number you used or post a photograph of it please? I've had a look on RealOEM and can't see anything that says door hasp.