New Z3 owner from Virginia

raftel

Newbie
Joined
Apr 3, 2025
Points
1
I just picked up a Hellrot 97 1.9 last week. The car has 73k miles, and has been barely used for 13 years, only seeing 1,000 miles of use over that time.

I'm triaging the car now to see what it needs. I own several older bmws, including a couple of e39s (525 & 528), an e90 (335i) and a Z3 M Coupe, so I'm a bit familiar with what I'm up against.

So far I've found:

1. The temperature gauge stays cold, but I do have heat (suspect the temp sensor or associated wiring?)
2. Cruise control does not work.
3. Hazard light switch missing, ground wire to receptacle cut (short in harness?)
4. Water incursion! Passenger seat is frozen in place. Need to find the source of the leak(s) and clean up things.
5. Top fit to side windows is poor, with visible gaps and a lot of wind noise. I see that a repair kit has been applied, but it doesn't appear to apply enough tension to keep the sides of the top snug against the side windows.
6. Third brake light in trunk is probably leaking.

Otherwise, the hellrot repaint is really nice, the panels are straight, it has fresh Falken tires and seems otherwise solid. I'll post pictures later.
 

Smudgemanuk

Dedicated Member
British Zeds
Joined
Dec 1, 2024
Points
38
Location
Bicester, Oxford
Model of Z
2.8l
Welcome!! from Oxfordshire, England

I would count yourself lucky having cruise control on a 97 1.9, from my understanding it was quite a rare option for those
 
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