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Thread: New Z3 owner, attempting to restore to former glory

  1. #26
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    oh the handle is a separate piece? that's good to know thanks.
    13 Grand Cherokee Limited V8 - Daily Driver - Wife
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  2. #27
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    bummer about the handle. I got some new to me door panels in my M and I went ahead and put some extra epoxy on the back where the handle is attached to make sure it stays in place!

  3. #28
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    So uh...local places want upwards of $1200 labor to replace my top. Guess i'm tackling it myself.

    In other news, i grabbed the style 73s off my drift car and mounted them on the Z3. Unfortunately I forgot i had painted them bright af fluorescent green to help stand out in the grid and for pictures. So i'll figure out what to do with them later

    style73.jpg
    13 Grand Cherokee Limited V8 - Daily Driver - Wife
    97 Z3 2.8 Roadster
    95 325i Sedan - Project #ebayE36
    90 BMW 535i/5 - i should probably work on this again...

  4. #29
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    Tuesday July 12, 2017

    Despite it being 20000 degrees outside, i got a second wind after getting home from work and decided to rip the top off the car. Everything went pretty smoothly except for me drilling two rivets that didn't need to come out. Not a huge deal. Lost a couple screws too but eh. I'll make it work.

    Everything came off great and the insane heat actually made pulling the top and sealing frame mostly hassle free. The sealing frame came out in one piece with only a single crack down the center. I was going to reuse it and just carefully seal that crack until I noticed the weather strip along the top was starting to pull off the frame. You can see light through some areas of it which tells me its probably not the best idea to reuse it. As a result, i guess i'll be ponying up the ridiculous cost for one. If anyone knows the cheapest source of these things it'd be much appreciated.

    IMG_20170711_181832.jpg

    IMG_20170711_181835.jpg

    IMG_20170711_181843.jpg

    IMG_20170711_181853.jpg

    IMG_20170711_183757.jpg

    Also, I've got some slightly used Billy Sports en route now and ordered my H&R Sport springs. I was going to go with the ti H&R race set, but after some reading i decided if i need to i can move to that setup later. I had H&R sports on my E34 before going to Vogtlands and the only reason i switched to Vogtlands was for a little more low. I'm not too concerned with the low right now on the Z3 so much as me wanting a nice stiff ride. I also read of people with the H&R Race set having issues on the 6cyl cars up front because of the added weight compared to the 4cyl hatch. I didn't want to deal with mixing and matching sets so I'm sticking with the sports. I'll do the suspension with the top removed because it looks like it'll be much easier to access everything. Once the suspension is on, i'll install the new top and all should be well.
    13 Grand Cherokee Limited V8 - Daily Driver - Wife
    97 Z3 2.8 Roadster
    95 325i Sedan - Project #ebayE36
    90 BMW 535i/5 - i should probably work on this again...

  5. #30
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    Tuesday July 18, 2017

    Started on the suspension. Removed the rear shocks and front struts. Took them to my shop to remove the hats and assemble the Bilstein Sports. Got them ready to go and hoping to finish the job tonight. The shocks were severely blown out, to the point where they just sink into the housing. This is going to feel like night and day when I'm finished. I can't wait.

    20170718_190205.jpg

    20170719_063607.jpg

    20170719_063632.jpg
    13 Grand Cherokee Limited V8 - Daily Driver - Wife
    97 Z3 2.8 Roadster
    95 325i Sedan - Project #ebayE36
    90 BMW 535i/5 - i should probably work on this again...

  6. #31
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    Wednesday July 20, 2017

    It's so beautiful!



    2017.07.19 - Lowered by George Fayad on 500px.com


    a quick test drive made me aware of some vicious shaking in the steering while turning. I'm going to get an alignment tomorrow hopefully and we'll see how that goes.
    Last edited by JesterMX6; 07-24-2017 at 08:48 AM.
    13 Grand Cherokee Limited V8 - Daily Driver - Wife
    97 Z3 2.8 Roadster
    95 325i Sedan - Project #ebayE36
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  7. #32
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    Great work... pic no worky!
    2001 Z3 3.0i -Oxford Green/Sandbeige
    2016 428xi -Estoril Blue II/Black
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    2018 330it - Melbourne Red/Venetian Beige/Black

  8. #33
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    i tried linking it from my google photos. i'll try another method. should be working now.

    Also, got my steering wheel in and installed this weekend. Needs another 1 - 2" towards the driver and it'll be perfect. Its just a tad too far now and I can't see the top of the cluster anymore



    2017.07.22 - NRG Steering Wheel by George Fayad on 500px.com
    13 Grand Cherokee Limited V8 - Daily Driver - Wife
    97 Z3 2.8 Roadster
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  9. #34
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    Tuesday July 25, 2017

    Started the wheels. First time using plasti-dip and there's definitely a learning curve. They didn't turn out horrible, but its definitely a 10ft paint job. Still, better than the mis-matched green and alloy combo



    2017.07.25 - Green to White by George Fayad on 500px.com




    2017.07.25 - White Plasti Dip by George Fayad on 500px.com


    DEFINITELY going to need some low dust ceramics for these. They're going to be a huge PTIA to clean unless i clear coat with actual spray paint.
    13 Grand Cherokee Limited V8 - Daily Driver - Wife
    97 Z3 2.8 Roadster
    95 325i Sedan - Project #ebayE36
    90 BMW 535i/5 - i should probably work on this again...

  10. #35
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    plasti-dip is a great temporary solution. It will hold up for a couple years and is decently easy to touch up. I have it on my wheels to cover up the poor finish on the stock wheel coating.

  11. #36
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    Quote Originally Posted by Venom13132 View Post
    plasti-dip is a great temporary solution. It will hold up for a couple years and is decently easy to touch up. I have it on my wheels to cover up the poor finish on the stock wheel coating.
    that's kind of the idea here. See how i like the color, easy to remove if i don't like it. Once i decide on a color then i'll probably have the wheels stripped and powder coated.
    13 Grand Cherokee Limited V8 - Daily Driver - Wife
    97 Z3 2.8 Roadster
    95 325i Sedan - Project #ebayE36
    90 BMW 535i/5 - i should probably work on this again...

  12. #37
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    Quote Originally Posted by JesterMX6 View Post
    that's kind of the idea here. See how i like the color, easy to remove if i don't like it. Once i decide on a color then i'll probably have the wheels stripped and powder coated.
    yeah good plan. I am going to eventually have my wheels refinished, or get some larger wheels so I can go bigger brakes. So just to make them not look like total crap for now this was a good solution.
    IMG_1267.JPGbefore after shot.

  13. #38
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    that looks good. what color is that?
    13 Grand Cherokee Limited V8 - Daily Driver - Wife
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    90 BMW 535i/5 - i should probably work on this again...

  14. #39
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    Quote Originally Posted by JesterMX6 View Post
    that looks good. what color is that?
    https://www.dipyourcar.com/collectio...izer-wheel-kit

    Thanks! graphite. Black base coat with Metalizer top coat

  15. #40
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    thought that might be. thinking of doing that on my wife's jeep.
    13 Grand Cherokee Limited V8 - Daily Driver - Wife
    97 Z3 2.8 Roadster
    95 325i Sedan - Project #ebayE36
    90 BMW 535i/5 - i should probably work on this again...

  16. #41
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    my paint is in pretty shit condition on my whole car. I have some pretty large vacations coming up in the next 18months so Painting the car isn't in the budget currently. I am actually going to dip the whole car in as close to the same color as I could get. There was a 22% off sale last week so I ordered the whole kit. My buddy has the spray gun. So probably late September/early October will be doing the whole car. I will try and make a thread about it documenting the process but I am not very good about doing that. haha.

    What's next on your car?

  17. #42
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    I plan to do my whole car as well at some point until i have the money for a proper respray (in the range of $4000 probably).

    next i'm hoping to finish the top replacement this week/weekend. then some odds and ends like lower temp thermostat and fan switch, upgraded radio, left side hood emblem, blower resistor, etc. just random stuff that needs to be taken care of.

    the next big thing will hopefully be a 3.91 differential and M50 manifold swap. gotta get that acceleration to match my drift car lol

    one side of the car is done. it was downpouring yesterday though so i couldn't do the other side.



    2017.07.26 - Left Side White by George Fayad on 500px.com
    13 Grand Cherokee Limited V8 - Daily Driver - Wife
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  18. #43
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    Quote Originally Posted by JesterMX6 View Post
    I think I'm going to go with the style 73s. I like the multispoke look better with the curves of the Z.
    Attachment 604225

    Also, when shutting the door this happened...
    Attachment 604226

    So now I get to locate a drivers door panel.
    I love the wheels! One recommendation, get low dust brake pads. Those wheels will be a pain to clean. Love them though.


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  19. #44
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    Saturday August 7, 2017

    It's finally done. Hindsight being what it is, I do wish I'd have spent more on a proper top with the plastic mounting channels and everything. But for what it is (and being just a smidge over $200) I can't say too many negative things about this top. The next time I do it, I'll spend more money (and still be, in total, cheaper than the BMW OE top) and get one of the models with the factory crap pre-sewn in. For what i needed though, which was a top to keep rain out if i happen to be out when the weather changes, this will do the job.



    2017.08.05 - new top DS by George Fayad on 500px.com




    2017.08.05 - new top PS by George Fayad on 500px.com


    I also replaced the old Alpine UTE-42BT that was in there when I bought it with the updated UTE-62BT and am very happy with it. I'll likely build a small enclosure for the 42BT and, along with a converter, run it as a garage stereo until I finish the garage and add a home receiver.



    2017.08.05 - Alpine UTE-62BT by George Fayad on 500px.com


    Now that it has a top on it, i was able to move it yesterday and back it into the garage so i can paint the passenger wheels next. I'm digging the white though so I think long term I'll be getting these wheels powdercoated eventually. Low dust pads are being ordered the next chance i get.



    2017.08.06 - His and hers by George Fayad on 500px.com
    13 Grand Cherokee Limited V8 - Daily Driver - Wife
    97 Z3 2.8 Roadster
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  20. #45
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    Looking good!
    - 2000 540iT Dinan S2 -2000 Z3 -

  21. #46
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    Wheels are now covered in brake dust and the plasti dip is too rubbery to clean properly. So pretty much what I expected

    But I picked up new shift/ebrake boots
    IMG_20170823_155828.jpg

    And also picked up an exhaust tip to finish the muffler delete.
    IMG_20170823_153833.jpg
    13 Grand Cherokee Limited V8 - Daily Driver - Wife
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  22. #47
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    The white wheels were a huge improvement...

    Going into my TENTH YEAR of providing high quality reproduction BMW fabrics!

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  23. #48
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    Quote Originally Posted by BimmerBreaker View Post
    The white wheels were a huge improvement...
    Lol. I'll get them painted proper or powder coat them and then I'll be able to wash em as needed. For $30 in supplies and some time, I was able to decide if I wanted white or not so i'm calling it a win.
    13 Grand Cherokee Limited V8 - Daily Driver - Wife
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  24. #49
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    Can you tell more about the muffler delete? Did you literally just remove the rear muffler, but kept the resonator/cat in the mid pipe? How's it sound?

  25. #50
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    yes. I think it sounds pretty good. Its literally just cut off under the car (right behind the seats) so its a bit loud and obnoxious with the top up. Once the exit is behind the car properly I imagine it'll fix a lot of that. With the top down it sounds heavenly. it's not quite a "refined" sound per se, but it sounds good enough that I'm happy with the results considering the price.
    13 Grand Cherokee Limited V8 - Daily Driver - Wife
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