Ships Log - SV02 ZZH

[Bloo Toon Davie]

Let's just say the weather presented me with an opportunity to spend an additional night in Aberdeen

Great stuff,not many Zeds In this part of the country.which is a pity for arranging some meets.

 

[Jam03]

Week 5: W/C Jan 2nd
Not much progress due to festive duties but managed to get the paperwork and keys all sorted and finally get the first wash on the car this week.
Like the spare wheel another little thing I like about this era of Z3 is the ignition key. Fortunately in addition to the original approved used paperwork and receipt from John Clark Aberdeen I also received 2 very good condition keys and all the original manuals. Unfortunately only one key worked on collection but that was easily resolved this week with the addition of a new battery.
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With this being my 15th Zed I've come to realise that the initial wash is always a fairly lengthy process but often a rewarding one. No different this time despite only finding 20p under the seats and a pair of small binoculars behind the aftermarket wind deflector which had been fitted. I always use Gummi Pfledge on the cars for ongoing treatment because I love the smell but for the first wash I have lately defaulted to using the Swissvax Seal Feed - I can't remember who first put me on to it but my god its effective. In addition to treating all rubber seals I also use it on any hard plastics - it always amazes me how little you use which is just as well because its bloody expensive. I've tried to show a couple of before and after pictures so you can see how effective it is - like the Gummi Pfledge it's easily applied with just you fingers to rub it in.
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The only job I didn't manage to get done was the glass but body, wheels, interior plastics and all leather got the once over and the aftermarket wind deflector was removed. Happy enough with the results but as suspected the wheels are in desperate need of a refurb and there are a few areas of surface rust which need sorting and the cills are tatty - although it's done under 75k the cars spent its entire life in Aberdeen so despite being garaged none of this came as a suprise. I keep telling myself this is the keeper but ideally before I start addressing the cosmetics I want to ensure the car is sound mechanically - to that end I'm hoping to get it in ASAP for a full inspection II.
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Love this car.

 

[Dxbolton]

Week 6: W/C Jan 9th
When I bought the car one of the windscreen washers didn't sit correctly on the bonnet and certainly did not provide fluid to wash the window.
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Turned out the retaining plastic was snapped so I ordered 2 new washer jets from Sytner (£22). On closer investigation the valves under the bonnet insulation had also been leaking - so 2 replacements were also ordered from Sytner (£11).
Now all back together and working fine and I even managed to replace a couple of the retaing screws that hold the insulation to the underside of the bonnet which were missing.View attachment 246433
There were 2 things that suprised me during the process:
1 - how blue the underside of the bonnet is, the car is Black Sapphire
2 - how long it took me to align the washer jets

Do you think it’s a replacement bonnet? I’d expect it to match the exterior colour similar to the rest of the engine bay. Nice to see a car with sim the ACS parts still on it

 

[RickyBobby]

Do you think it’s a replacement bonnet? I’d expect it to match the exterior colour similar to the rest of the engine bay. Nice to see a car with sim the ACS parts still on it

Doubt it - I've had a few of these now along with a number of E85’s and it's not unusual to see a different colour finish on the interior panels.
In terms of the ACS parts the previous owner aquired the car for his wife 15 years ago and they were already fitted.
Speaking to ACS when the car was supplied back in 2002 they didn't have offices in the UK so everything ACS related was imported via the main dealers. Apparently one of the biggest importers were John Clark BMW in Aberdeen who originally supplied the car to it's 1st owner and then sold it to it's 2nd as approved used. Unfortunately John Clark were unable to confirm if they supplied it like this from new because their sales records don't go back that far which is a shame.

 

[RickyBobby]

Week 7: W/C Jan 16th
Still no news from my mechanic (he's a very busy boy that lad) so I've decided to take the big jobs on myself this week - like replacing the caps on the cylinder head cover

A job right up my street and the pair of replacements have to be worth £5 of anyone's money with the M54

Hopefully I manage to get it in next week - fingers crossed.

 

[RickyBobby]

Week 9: W/C Jan 30th
Out with the new and in with the old - took out the Pioneer CD player and replaced it with the original CD43 unit that was fitted to the car from new.
Couldn't believe how much crap had been shoved in behind the dash to accommodate the new unit now all removed. Also took the opportunity to give the centre console a bloody good clean - clearly some areas hadn't been touched for 21 years

 

[AleNod]

That looks MUCH better - that whole interior is much more classy !

 

[RB2]

Looks like a great car and came from about 10 mins from me. Pity we didn't know, I could have had a preview for you. They speak another language in Turra and that's coming from me who is Aberdeen born and bred.

 

[RickyBobby]

They speak another language in Turra and that's coming from me who is Aberdeen born and bred.

Love it up there so never need much of an excuse to travel up and always enjoy a long post-purchase drive home

 

[RickyBobby]

In a similar vain to the retro stereo change I've managed to get the car back on its original registration - I fitted the new number plates today which I'd ordered from the original supplying dealer.

With the vanity plate starting S23 I thought I might get some interest from an E89 owner so listed it on the Z4Forum for £140 to cover the £80 transfer fee and assumed cost of £60 for new plates. To my suprise it sold in under 30 minutes - even better when I called John Clark in Aberdeen to order the new plates they only charged me £25 including postage

 

[RickyBobby]

Given up on trying to source an ACS gear knob so ordered one from Zedonist and it arrived today - previously had one on the Z4MC so I know its the business, very heavy.

Couldn't wait to get it fitted and remove the original one which was looking a bit shabby - when I fitted the stereo earlier in the week I found what must be the wiring for an illuminated gear knob so I'm guessing they were either standard or an option on the 3.0i. It didn't work anyway because the wiring in the gear knob, as is usually the case, had been cut.

Anyway the new one fits lovey and looks well against the aluminium dash - thanks to my daughter I even have a heat / cold resistant cover. Not my first colour choice but beggars can't be choosers

Still not managed to get it booked in with the mechanic but hoping that changes next week - really need to get it out in the Peaks missed some lovely days this week

 

[RickyBobby]

Week 12: W/C Feb 20th
Finally got it in with the mechanic and timing wise it worked out from an MOT renewal perspective so now it has just over 12 months.
It failed at the first attempt as expected but he managed to sort all the issues apart from the sill covers - so I guess that's the next job for the list

 

[Scooblitz]

Is the corrosion just the outer sill covers?

 

[AntStark]

The sills aren’t vehicle chassis or structure, they are covers. Unless they took the outer sills off to look I would suggest that advisory is probably incorrect

 

[t-tony]

They’re guessing that the structural inner sill behind the cover is corroded, which it will be, but, unless there are holes to see through they cannot assess the structural inner sill.

Tony.

 

[RickyBobby]

I've had the front wings off so I know its solid underneath and explained it to the mechanic before he took it for the MOT knowing there keen on pulling them up for the sill covers. So annoyed they mentioned it as an advisory especially when the didn't pick it up on the initial failed test. Anyway I don't pick it up until tomorrow and have seen a pair of new sills on ebay for £360 from Douglas Park BMW - just need to co.pare the price with the local Sytner dealership

 

[t-tony]

Most testers don’t realise, and, most don’t even care about the effect none required advisories have on a cars value and saleability.

Tony.

 

[Scooblitz]

Most testers don’t realise, and, most don’t even care about the effect none required advisories have on a cars value and saleability.

Tony.

Chasing this 'no advisories' for mine. Its a battle.

 

[Scooblitz]

@RickyBobby Douglas Park are very close to me in Glasgow. I have a decent relationship with another Bmw dealership parts department where I sometimes get 10% discount. They often price match as well against other BMW parts departments locally.

It's worth getting face familiar with them and hoping they support they same football team that you do.

Could be worth pressing synter with a price match too.

 

[RickyBobby]

Think we need to create a list of approved Z3 MOT test stations