Im the big winner!... hopefully. 98 Z3 with a Dinan Supercharger

**2mAn** · 10-06-2022, 12:56 PM

Hey everyone. I've been around for a minute but havent had much of a reason to post here, until yesterday. Like many of us nowadays, I spend half my day behind the computer and that typically means that I have a few forums open, several Bring A Trailer auctions and then the other thing... (work)

Well, I've been back in the office and it keeps me busy but yesterday I had to work from home and that meant I had more BaT time. Had my usual dozen windows open and one was on a Z3. I didnt get a chance to look closely at it, but it was a Z3 with my favorite motor. The 97/98 Z3 with the Aluminum block M52. Not only that but it had a Dinan Supercharger. No Reserve and was only at $4800 with a few hours to go. I was fully expecting it to get over $10k so I was just in a passive 'watch' mode.

Fast forward and theres about 10 minutes left and its been sitting at $6,200. I know Bring a Trailer and I know No-Reserve means that the last "two minutes" are when all the action comes in.

I looked at a few things and thought, a $6,367 would be a fun bid because 36/7. Fired that off... and then.... the clock ran out! No more bids!!...

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1998-bmw-z3-67/

what have I done!? I guess I better look closer. Eh, not too bad. Some cosmetic issues... LOW miles (~62k)... oh but whats that? the dreaded trunk floor issue. Oh and its on the other side of the country...

Well, I guess I bought myself a Z3. I have a plan ( I always do!) ... stay tuned.

**khammack** · 10-06-2022, 01:06 PM

Congratulations! Hope your plan works out.

**s8ilver** · 10-06-2022, 01:23 PM

Even if the car is a heap (I don't think it is), you've got a supercharger! Sort that sub frame and you'll have a very nice $10k supercharged 2.8. Ok, maybe add a couple $k for cosmetics, but I think you did fine.

Sent from my SM-G975F using Tapatalk

**2mAn** · 10-07-2022, 03:09 PM

Got ahold of Randy Forbes and have my eyes on a few other pieces to get done at the same time. Also spoke with a company to get the car shipped from Mass to Omaha, NE where my buddy and his shop will handle it. Slices the shipping cost in half and much cheaper labor bill VS keeping it local or shipping it here and having it fixed. Road Trip from Omaha to Los Angeles?... sure why not lol

**2mAn** · 10-10-2022, 08:21 PM

Well, PayPals and reservations have been made.

Randy Forbes’ Kit has been paid for, and got some RevShift Subframe mounts from the classifieds here. Also working on a larger order from Bluntech to get a few other items. Diff Mount, CSB, Giubo, soft brake lines are the main items on the list. Want to make sure the old rubber items that can cause some problems in the long drive are addressed.

Looks like the car will be picked up at the end of the week!...

**khammack** · 10-10-2022, 08:54 PM

You may also want to make sure your AAA membership is paid up. The spare tire may not be able to hold air at its age. I would also carry a plug kit and compressor.

**2mAn** · 10-10-2022, 11:29 PM

Originally Posted by khammack

You may also want to make sure your AAA membership is paid up. The spare tire may not be able to hold air at its age. I would also carry a plug kit and compressor.

AAA plus is ready, and I can probably sneak in an additional call through my Hagerty Drivers Club just in case I am stuck in BFE.

**khammack** · 10-11-2022, 09:13 AM

Hope you don't need to use either and have a very fun trip.

**Randy Forbes** · 10-13-2022, 12:17 AM

Ahh, the rest of the story

Kit shipped out today, thanks!

**2mAn** · 10-13-2022, 02:35 PM

Originally Posted by Randy Forbes

Ahh, the rest of the story

Kit shipped out today, thanks!

Car shipped out today also!

**KeysCoupe** · 10-13-2022, 09:51 PM

Not that it matters, but your car isn’t Boston Green as it was advertised. Boston Green is a turquoise metallic color. I have a Coupe this color. BaT usually vets these things better. Your car is DunkleGrun (dark green).
I hope your impulse buy pans out to be a good solid car! At least now, you can quit your surfing for a Z3 to buy. Welcome to Z ownership.
-Donny

**2mAn** · 10-14-2022, 12:46 AM

Yes the Boston Green “issue” was brought up in the auction. I don’t really care one way or another.

Bring A Trailer and their vetting process is a joke so the color issue didn’t surprise me at all... and they never even bother to fix their mistake

**ragged325** · 10-14-2022, 09:08 AM

Congratulations on the car, it looks like a fun time!!!

**2mAn** · 10-19-2022, 12:23 PM

Car arrived in Omaha yesterday!! (at the Golden hour nonetheless!)

Several packages have also arrived. Thank you to Randy Forbes, Bluntech and @scenturion for the parts. Looks like I might still need a few more after Brandons initial drive, but we will deal with everything accordingly!

First drive impressions (from Brandon) were as follows:

(1) Clutch is super light, probably a big change from his M30-Turbo E30
(2) Really needs some shifter bushings (On the list for the next order now)
(3) Rear End tram lines (Hoping the work he does and stuff he replaces fixes this)
(4) Thermostat? Car was running for a while and even on the drive it never budged past 1/4. Heat was warm though so it could be sensor or a gauge. Needs further investigating.
(5) Driver seat back seems a "a bit meh" Hopefully the added goodie that scenturion included will take care of that.

**dantheman7913** · 10-22-2022, 11:27 PM

i noticed my car hasn’t been getting up to temp lately as well, i found some people over on the e46 forums saying that most of the thermostats being made nowadays are soft failing aka they open too early, preventing the car from getting up to temp. I ordered a replacement from fcpeuro a few days ago, i’ll let you know if it solves my issue

**2mAn** · 10-25-2022, 05:41 PM

Originally Posted by dantheman7913

i noticed my car hasn’t been getting up to temp lately as well, i found some people over on the e46 forums saying that most of the thermostats being made nowadays are soft failing aka they open too early, preventing the car from getting up to temp. I ordered a replacement from fcpeuro a few days ago, i’ll let you know if it solves my issue

To be fair, it was ~30* out so that might be a factor... but its definitely something my buddy is going to be keeping an eye on.

In other (GOOD) news, my buddy has slowly begun tearing the car down. Exhaust came off easy which was a good sign as the car has lived its entire life in Mass and we were concerned about rusty bolts. So far so good!...

In other (BAD) news, the trunk appears to have the scent of a stinky gym bag. A search for taillight seals found that they arent really cheap (~$80 each) and I still will need a trunk seal as well... Luckily the car wont see lots of rain in SoCal so they are low priority!

**rasmuw** · 10-25-2022, 09:17 PM

Are you sure your third brake light gasket is good? That, and the plastic sealing frame/butyl sealant/tack strip for the convertible top are common areas for trunk leaks.

**2mAn** · 10-26-2022, 01:09 AM

Originally Posted by rasmuw

Are you sure your third brake light gasket is good? That, and the plastic sealing frame/butyl sealant/tack strip for the convertible top are common areas for trunk leaks.

No idea, but I will add those two spots on the check list. Thanks

**dantheman7913** · 11-04-2022, 11:10 AM

Originally Posted by 2mAn

To be fair, it was ~30* out so that might be a factor... but its definitely something my buddy is going to be keeping an eye on.

Hey I just finished my test drive w my new thermostat, it was 100% the problem. I changed it out last thanksgiving for a cheap aftermarket one when mine unexpectedly popped, so this time around I went with OE from FCP Euro. Now the car gets up to temp just fine and stays there.

BTW, the temp gauge isn’t a good reference for coolant temp. Top dead center is actually a range from 75C to 120C (might be wrong on the upper range), so if it’s not even reaching TDC then you’re definitely not up to temp. It should be around ~95 plus or minus five. You can check the live coolant temp thru the hidden tests on the instrument cluster, there’s a couple videos and forum posts detailing how to access them - it’s very easy. Test 7.0 is the one you want for coolant temp

**BimmerBreaker** · 11-05-2022, 02:07 PM

Originally Posted by 2mAn

To be fair, it was ~30* out so that might be a factor... but its definitely something my buddy is going to be keeping an eye on.

Ambient temperature doesn't really matter, especially given that on our cars the TDC of the coolant gauge represents a wide range of temperatures as it is a "dummy gauge". TDC represents the entire normal operating range of the engine. If at any time it fails to reach TDC during normal driving, the thermostat is most likely faulty.

**2mAn** · 11-05-2022, 05:06 PM

Thanks everyone. I will definitely have my buddy double check that piece before I try to drive it halfway across the country.

In other news, today was the SoCal Vintage BMW show and while the Z3s are now allowed, the majority there were stock models other than one that had a bunch of Hamann pieces and I can say that 19” are simply too big. I’ve been exploring some lightweight 17” or 18” wheels, and while I wasn’t planning on getting one, the $120 for the OBD1 intake meant I bought a piece for the car before it arrives home lol

**KeysCoupe** · 11-08-2022, 11:02 PM

Do you mean to say you paid $120 for the manifold pictured? Those are like $20-$25 in the U-pull yards. That, and I’m not convinced that is really a performance upgrade. Maybe at the top of the rpm range under boost, at the expense of lower rpm response.
-Donny

**dantheman7913** · 11-09-2022, 10:34 AM

Originally Posted by KeysCoupe

Do you mean to say you paid $120 for the manifold pictured? Those are like $20-$25 in the U-pull yards. That, and I’m not convinced that is really a performance upgrade. Maybe at the top of the rpm range under boost, at the expense of lower rpm response.
-Donny

I have zero experience w this but I think since the car is boosted it should benefit from the larger intake runners right? I mean it'll def need a tune for the intake vanos to get all the potential out of it, but idk it makes sense to me.

Sorry to say 2mAn but you really did overpay for it, the intake manifold I got from the junk yard was $30

**PhilPhil** · 11-10-2022, 07:20 AM

A search for taillight seals found that they arent really cheap (~$80 each)

For NLA parts? Yes, that is.

**zellamay** · 11-10-2022, 09:57 AM

Originally Posted by dantheman7913

I have zero experience w this but I think since the car is boosted it should benefit from the larger intake runners right? I mean it'll def need a tune for the intake vanos to get all the potential out of it, but idk it makes sense to me.

Sorry to say 2mAn but you really did overpay for it, the intake manifold I got from the junk yard was $30

I have no experience either (so what are we doing here?), but I've read enough to add my 2 cents worth: I bought an M50 manifold years ago, but have never installed it, because you are right: one trades mid-range power for top-end power. One can get a tune and a few other parts to bring the mid-range power back, but then it starts looking like significant money/hp. ..... But, from what I read, none of this applies to FI engines. They will benefit from the larger manifold.

I paid under $100 for mine years ago, and I see them recently for $100 or more, so it doesn't seem you over-paid. (The most recent one for sale on this site is $180!) Maybe some are $30 because you pull it yourself? Maybe those numbers are old?