Project Ideas - Looking for Satisfying Mechanical Projects on a Z3

[fynbos]

I’m not in a rush to buy a Z3, so I’d like to be deliberate about finding the right one. My goal isn’t a turnkey car, but a project I can really rehab. I’m open to spending time and money on parts, but I want a car where the work itself—taking it apart, fixing, and reassembling—is the rewarding part.

I’d love your advice on what to look for. What kinds of mechanical issues make for a satisfying project on these cars? Conversely, what problems are best avoided because they’re money pits, unresolvable, or not much of a learning experience?

I’d rather avoid paint and finish that requires precision. Wrenching is fine. I’m interested in the kind of mechanical rehab that makes a Z3 go from limping (or even not running) to healthy again. If you were in my shoes, what would you be looking for in a project car?

 

[Trevor /chedder]

I've really enjoyed my 1.9 m44. It's my first project car and it's an easy car to work on. I'm happy with the performance and had fun tinkering with suspension, intakes fixing and driving it. And it's all fairly cheap parts and bits.

 

[fynbos]

I've really enjoyed my 1.9 m44. It's my first project car and it's an easy car to work on. I'm happy with the performance and had fun tinkering with suspension, intakes fixing and driving it. And it's all fairly cheap parts and bits.

Any examples of bigger things you've tackled on it? Thanks!

 

[ChrisD]

Any Z3 will give you plenty of opportunity to spend time and money, disassembling and fitting new parts. You don’t need to find a wreck to keep you busy - these cars are old, parts are wearing out and failing all the time. I’d look for as clean an example as can be found with minimal rust, decent paint, and then work through the list of standard maintenance items e.g. cooling system, suspension and brake refresh, seat bushes, replacing all deteriorated rubber components, running diagnostic checks, oil/fluid changes and general servicing, fixing soft top leaks and much more. Part of the fun of owning an old car is spending weekends fixing it and working to get it as good as it can be

 

[fynbos]

Any Z3 will give you plenty of opportunity to spend time and money, disassembling and fitting new parts. You don’t need to find a wreck to keep you busy - these cars are old, parts are wearing out and failing all the time. I’d look for as clean an example as can be found with minimal rust, decent paint, and then work through the list of standard maintenance items e.g. cooling system, suspension and brake refresh, seat bushes, replacing all deteriorated rubber components, running diagnostic checks, oil/fluid changes and general servicing, fixing soft top leaks and much more. Part of the fun of owning an old car is spending weekends fixing it and working to get it as good as it can be

love that!

 

[Smudgemanuk]

to the forum from Oxfordshire

I replaced every single coolant/ vaccum pipe on mine when I first got it, that was quite satisfying. That includes intake manifold off, and a good memory of how it goes back together.

But as said previously these cars are getting old now so pretty much any z you buy will benefit from some tinkering

Chris

 

[Zephyr]

I would go for a facelift 2.5 (in the US) six cylinder or the 3.0
Easier to diagnose with a scan tool, enough power to start with and great potential (again in the US) with all these supercharger kits that are availlable there and finally lots and lots of interchangeable engine parts with what you have over there. M54 and in the case of 2.8 M52 engines are a dime a dozen and no need to fix a broken one. You just slap a better kept engine and move on.
Some come with the sport pack (better handling, different wheels, bucket seats and some more bits and bobs) and I would search for such an example.
Do not start with a junkyard project, prices these days do not justify a ground up restoration.
And..... finally..... trrrrrrrrrr boom..... you can always do a rebody to a Cobra or a Ferrari and enjoy your divorce when it finishes....
Cheers

 

[Pond]

And..... finally..... trrrrrrrrrr boom..... you can always do a rebody to a Cobra or a Ferrari and enjoy your divorce when it finishes....

Many a true word spoken in jest!

 

[Hwk-I-St8]

I would go for a facelift 2.5 (in the US) six cylinder or the 3.0
Easier to diagnose with a scan tool, enough power to start with and great potential (again in the US) with all these supercharger kits that are availlable there and finally lots and lots of interchangeable engine parts with what you have over there. M54 and in the case of 2.8 M52 engines are a dime a dozen and no need to fix a broken one. You just slap a better kept engine and move on.
Some come with the sport pack (better handling, different wheels, bucket seats and some more bits and bobs) and I would search for such an example.
Do not start with a junkyard project, prices these days do not justify a ground up restoration.
And..... finally..... trrrrrrrrrr boom..... you can always do a rebody to a Cobra or a Ferrari and enjoy your divorce when it finishes....
Cheers

Supercharger kits?

 

[Zephyr]

Supercharger kits?

VF engineering still makes them.
And pretty sure Craigslist or Marketplace have quite a lot of them from e36/e46/e39 models that have the M52/M54 engines.
For the four cylinder ones only Downing Atlanta had a full kit but they are long gone now.