Z3M Coupe: Ruby

[Mnbrennan]

This is a copy from another thread but follows by journey with the Coupe so far...

So, after owning a 2.0 Z3 roadster for the best part of a year


I decided to make the upgrade to a Z3M coupe. This is Indy and Rag's old car, and as such has a book full of invoices, and is equipped with a Racelogic traction control system. The Vanos was done in 2011 and the boot floor has also been repaired. It's not the prettiest, but that gives me something to work on.

Anyway, I took it for a drive at the weekend up to Tan Hill




I love the noise, the speed. It hasn't come unstuck yet, but that's probably because I have the TC on wet setting!!

Plans:

• Full detail. I have a DA polisher so need a dry weekend
• Replace bonnet badge (lacquer peeling)
• Replace faded M badges
• Sort the grill out (they are loose for some reason)

Cheers for reading! Hope to hold onto this for a long time

 

[Mnbrennan]

The first job at hand was to get the DA polisher out to give the paintwork some much needed attention, mainly to get rid of some swirl marks and to try and get the bonnet into shape. Unfortunately the bonnet has no lacquer so polishing is just taking the paint away (it does improve it temporarily, however). There is nothing for it but a respray.

Before:


After:

 

[Mnbrennan]

I also replaced the aging ///M badges around the car, as they were fading

Before:


After:


And replaced the bonnet badge as the lacquer had been peeling:

Before:


After:


For the interior, I had a go at the driver’s seat bolster with some Scuffmaster. It is better than before, but I still need to give it some more attention

The car had been converted to HID, however as that is not in keeping with the age of the car I reverted it back to standard.

For some reason the car also had different headlights; one chrome ringed and the other black ringed. I soured some chrome ringed headlights from eBay and fitted them with some new fixings

Before:



After:

 

[M666BMG]

The first job at hand was to get the DA polisher out to give the paintwork some much needed attention, mainly to get rid of some swirl marks and to try and get the bonnet into shape. Unfortunately the bonnet has no lacquer so polishing is just taking the paint away (it does improve it temporarily, however). There is nothing for it but a respray.

Before:


After:

Magnificent, I love it.

Wheels look great too.

Well done

 

[Mnbrennan]

The kidney grills were not secure and not in great condition so managed to source replacements from a competitor website

Ordered a Stormwerks gear knob and it really improves the shift.

Had a trip to the Nurburgring for 4 laps which was great fun

View: http://youtu.be/x_Zmmxwin-o


It struggled to get through the MOT due to the lambda reading (too much o2 in exhaust). After changing the lambda sensors and having it fail again, I changed all of the vacuum hoses. Needless to say they were shot – they couldn’t hold treacle never mind air!

The headunit was not standard so I sourced a cassette player from another forum member along with a CD changer and cover for the boot. I haven’t fitted the changer yet as I thought the loom would already be there, but I was wrong. Not sure what to do with it yet…

The rear wiper wasn’t working so decided to remove it and put a colour coded blanking grommet in

I also managed to source a full stainless Powerflow exhaust system from eBay and had it fitted. Whilst it sound great at full power, between 1k and 3k RPM it booms inside the cabin. I’m still considering what to do about it…

Before:


After:


Brief video:

 

[Mnbrennan]

So what is left to do?
• Sort out the booming exhaust
• Repair and respray the front bumper.
• Respray the bonnet
• Upgrade the suspension (ARBs, springs and dampers)
• Get some OEM floating front brake discs (currently solid from being replaced)
• Order some spare keys

This is an ongoing project – it is in good condition to be fair, but would like to make it extra good!

 

[M666BMG]

I love Imola, I had an M Roadster in Imola years ago.

 

[Mnbrennan]

Here is a video of the exhaust from the inside. It is louder than in the video.

View: http://youtu.be/eT_wK3QUm-w


After speaking to Jess R, I'm thinking of having a couple of mid-silencers fitted to kill the drone at cruising speed. That said, it does sound good when in the upper reaches of the rev range!

 

[Mnbrennan]

Just a quick update on this. I had the mid silencers which calmed the drone down and has eliminated the rasp.

View: https://youtu.be/dZgqegt-G6E


I've also just got the car back after a bumper repair, and front bumper, bonnet, sill and a touch up on the rear hatch. Prestige paintworx in Darlington did the job, and I have to say it looks fantastic. They stripped the bonnet right back to bare metal. Good job. Gives the car a fresh lease of life

Before ( and see image of bonnet in the post) :


After:


More pictures to follow after a good wash!

 

[Mnbrennan]

I've just spent about 5 hours cleaning and waxing the car. Needless to say it looks fantastic!



Bonnet after respray



Bumper after respray









But, we must progress. To do:

Replace front discs with 2 piece ATE (have parts)
Replace front calipers with refurbed units (have parts)
Refurb caliper carriers
Replace door handles
Replace cigarette lighter
Perhaps a wheel refurb

Needless to say

I STILL LOVE THIS CAR

 

[Mnbrennan]

I'll be getting one of those, hopefully sort them next weekend. You can see the problem in the picture below

 

[Mnbrennan]

Had a good day on Friday sorting the brakes out.

Before (single piece discs)


New discs


Finished (new 2 piece discs, refurbished calipers and caliper carriers)



Also replaced the brake fluid. The old stuff was brown!!!

 

[Mnbrennan]

Full set of keys

 

[Mnbrennan]

I got a good couple of jobs done tonight

Door handle gaskets replaced:

Before (something has been using my car as target practice)


After:


Also had a go at the drivers seat bolster with the magic eraser and then using scuffmaster :

Before :


Now:


A bit more to do on it but getting there

 

[Mnbrennan]

Refurbished wheel fitted from Royal Steering Wheels

 

[Mnbrennan]

Jobs for next week is to fit new suspension components:

BC Racing Coilovers: http://www.bc-racing.co.uk/br-series-coilovers
with spring pads: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/360733486047?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
and rear top mounts: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111702344955?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

[M666BMG]

It gets better and better

 

[Jack Ratt]

That's some nice work you've done there, very nice

I don't agree with the "ugly" tag either, she's a stunner now she's fixed up

 

[GazHyde]

Nice write up Martin, it was probably interesting for you to recompile your posts here so you admire what you have done so far to make it look stunning again

 

[Mnbrennan]

Nice write up Martin, it was probably interesting for you to recompile your posts here so you admire what you have done so far to make it look stunning again

Thanks Gaz, it's scary the amount of effort that's gone in to it!