S168 TCV - Arctic Silver M44

[RickyBobby]

Thought it was about time I got a progress / ownership thread up for my latest acquisition - it's my 17th Zed and 7th Z3 so the fact I still own it after 6 weeks is an achievement in itself

Having never quite gelled with the 2002 3.0i Sport I was on the hunt for something else and came to the conclusion that I should revisit the M44 model. For the type of driving I predominantly do around the Peak District it seemed like the ideal option.
Fortunately shortly after I reached this conclusion what appeared to be the perfect car (low miles and mint bodywork) came up on one of the Z3 Facebook groups.

So the following day (24/03/23) I drove over to Crewe to view the car and left an hour later really pleased that I'd secured it with a deposit ahead of collection when we returned from our family holiday to Malta in a couple of weeks. In addition to confirming the wheels were genuine ACS Type II's I was also pleasantly suprised to find the car was fitted with the ACS short shift gear mechanism

So collection day came (10/04/23) and we were back over to Crewe - unfortunately it rained all the way back so I didn't get any photo's but at least confirmed the roof doesn't leak.

 

[RickyBobby]

So the first job was to keep the ///M Police happy

The next job found me repurposing the CD43 from my previous Z3 but this time with a Bluemusic bluetooth adapter so I could stream music from my phone - love this option as it negates the need for any additional devices or wires.

Next job was the spare wheel and tool box - I've had need of the spare before in one of my previous Z3's so this was never going to be a delete job more a clean and refresh exercise to ensure all was is good order.

 

[RickyBobby]

Having previously had issues with the locking wheel bolts that was next on the agenda - removed and replaced with standard bolts but left the locking nut in the tool box tray because my OCD needed a full house

Next up was a big job for me having never done it before but the seat bushes were well and truly shot so needed replacing. That did suprise me with the car having done just over 50k and being the lowest mielage one I've owned by far - maybe the bushes had been done on the others before I aquired them. Anyway with the how to guide available on the forum it turned out to be a relatively easy job which afforded me the opportunity to give the interior of the car a good clean. I did do both seats but forgot to take photo's of the other

 

[RickyBobby]

I'm a big fan of the Gummi Pfledge so after giving the car it's first proper wash I went round treating all the rubber seals. I've also had great results from the Swissvax Rubber Seal Fluid but it is bloody expensive so I don't use it as often as the Gummi Pfledge. That said I've had great results using it to restore some of the harder plastics and this time was no exception - it really revived the storage bin plastics, light surrounds and fog light blanks. It even worked a treat on the rear screen, rear stop light and indicator & wiper stalk.

 

[RickyBobby]

A couple of final updates to cover my period of ownership so far were completed this week.

The first was a job I've done on a number of my previous Z3's so I completed without any hassle in under 10 minutes but it was still very satisfying - a new aerial grommet courtesy of Sytner Sheffield.

The second job was the washer jets and return valves - I'd noticed one was blocked and none of the other 3 were particularly powerful. Again I'd seen this issue before so thought it best to replace everything with new from Sytner Sheffield. I also took the opportunity to replace a couple of the securing screws that hold the insulation cover under the bonnet.

 

[AleNod]

Good to see you back in a Zed Gary - I've got to try some of this Gummi Pfledge . . .

You do clean your cars up nicely for their new owners you know . . .

 

[Mus Musculus]

Can I claim first dibs on, when you sell the car?

 

[RickyBobby]

Can I claim first dibs on, when you sell the car?

Just make me an offer - remember everything is always for sale

 

[Scooblitz]

See if you can get to a progress thread longer than 2 pages this time around.

Looking good.

 

[RickyBobby]

See if you can get to a progress thread longer than 2 pages this time around.

Looking good.

Even if I keep this one I doubt I'd achieve that as it really is immaculate but I'll give it my best shot - the door handle gaskets are next on the list

 

[andyglym]

Nice that mate. It's got to be cheaper than fostering children too

 

[RickyBobby]

Managed to aquire an ACS handbrake handle off the Z4 forum in the hope it would fit S168 TCV and compliment the short shift gear knob and Type II wheels.
Received and fitted today - very pleased

 

[RickyBobby]

Fitted new door handles gaskets today - to be fair the existing ones weren't too bad but you know what it's like when you can't unsee something and I knew it was only a 10 minute job from having done it before.

Old gaskets.

New gaskets.

The only advice I would offer relates to the rubber stopper on the inside of the door frame - don't try and remove it all at once, take the middle out first. Last time I was at it for nearly an hour before I realised that

 

[RickyBobby]

Removed the European flag plates last week.

Forgot to take a photo of the replacements so resolved that on my run out this morning.

 

[RickyBobby]

When I replaced the aerial grommet the other week I convinced myself I needed to remove the rear lights and treat all the rubber seals with Swissvax seal fluid - so I just did.

 

[RickyBobby]

I wasn't getting a warning light on the dash but the code reader had highlighted the common camshaft position sensor fault along with some other, what I hoped, were associated codes.

Fitted the new Delphi Technologies sensor today and took the car for a good run out.

Reattached the code reader to confirm the previous codes had been cleared

 

[RickyBobby]

Finally back home after going in to get the seized calliper sorted - unfortunately by the time I took it down it had eaten the pads so the red brake pad warning light had come on

Anyway with the MOT due early November it made sense to have it fully serviced. So it's now back home having had a full oil and filter change including the brake fluid. In addition to the new calliper it's also had 2 new front discs and a set of break pads

 

[RickyBobby]

Forgot to mention when i picked the car up the mechanic told me that it was the cleanest 'S' reg car he had ever seen or worked on. My response was I bet you say that to all the classic car owners But he genuinely said it was the best he'd ever seen. Always nice when the mechanic provides you with that feedback - especially when the last time I went down with the 3.0i he told me it was like a seive underneath

 

[Stevo7682]

Well you've always said that it was a nice one Garrie always good to have someone else validate it.
Hope to see it in the flesh one day but you need to be quick off the mark to make that happen with you

So is this a keeper for a bit yet then ?
Stephen.

 

[RickyBobby]

Well you've always said that it was a nice one Garrie always good to have someone else validate it.
Hope to see it in the flesh one day but you need to be quick off the mark to make that happen with you

So is this a keeper for a bit yet then ?
Stephen.

Exactly the same question that my mechanic posed but I was just thinking yesterday I've not had a 35i - now I must go and stand in the corner and hit myself