My midlife crisis purchase; E86 BMW Z4 Coupe
Discussion
Jhonno said:
Drove a Z4M Coupe at the time of my ex deciding between an E89 28is and the Z4M.. Sadly she went E89, the Z4M was mega. For her though the auto/convertible top swayed it.
I liked the E89 I had a go in albeit a mapped 35i. The 28is wouldn't hold a candle to the Z4M for me personally.The V778 finally arrived from the DVLA, so I’ve got my old plates back (I tried to take them off the 335i but the DVLA said I couldn’t do it electronically, so they were left on the car but the guy who bought it transferred them back to me).
I also debadged the front wings last night for a slightly cleaner look.
Both front wings have been polished too (I’m having to do it in stages due to time constraints which is annoying).
I also debadged the front wings last night for a slightly cleaner look.
Both front wings have been polished too (I’m having to do it in stages due to time constraints which is annoying).
I got stuck into the front end today. It is so on a bit longer than I’d hoped it would because some of the bits were bigger than the online stuff I watched / read so I had to go to Halfords for a 22mm spanner and Sod’s Law they didn’t have it in the Tamworth branch so I had to leg it over to Lichfield.
So, I fitted the following today;
The old wishbone bushes didn’t look too bad to my unprofessional eye.
One of the nuts on the new wishbone caused me some issues and wouldn’t do up. Upon looking at it in more detail, the hole was oval. I reused the old 22mm nut and it was fine.
I did discover a few things today.
I might had a wee look at the front end alignment because there is a lot of toe in (I just counted hell the exposed threads on the old tie rods but it looks like the new ones are a bit shorter).
So, I fitted the following today;
- Moog front wishbones
- Moog front drop links
- Mood tow rod assemblies with new boots
- Poweflex front ARB bushes
The old wishbone bushes didn’t look too bad to my unprofessional eye.
One of the nuts on the new wishbone caused me some issues and wouldn’t do up. Upon looking at it in more detail, the hole was oval. I reused the old 22mm nut and it was fine.
I did discover a few things today.
- the sump has a slight weep by the looks of it
- the cover to access the drain plug in the sump is missing so I’ll get one ordered
- the retaining screw for the passenger side disc is missing and it turns out that the thread is shagged / very rusty. I’ll try and run a tap through it but it looks like the long term need is to replace the carrier.
- the fan has been out and whoever refitted it missed various slots so it was flapping about a bit. This was sorted whilst the front end was up in the air.
I might had a wee look at the front end alignment because there is a lot of toe in (I just counted hell the exposed threads on the old tie rods but it looks like the new ones are a bit shorter).
Some cracking work there Sam 
I bought loads of tools over Christmas taking advantage of various % discounts on Amazon and eBau UK and bought a load of BGS stuff that Sreten uses on his channel. No way I'm paying for Hazet stuff
Like you though; I was still missing a few sized spanners I obviously needed when doing some work. Always the bloomin' case!
I bought loads of tools over Christmas taking advantage of various % discounts on Amazon and eBau UK and bought a load of BGS stuff that Sreten uses on his channel. No way I'm paying for Hazet stuff
Like you though; I was still missing a few sized spanners I obviously needed when doing some work. Always the bloomin' case!
d_a_n1979 said:
Some cracking work there Sam
I bought loads of tools over Christmas taking advantage of various % discounts on Amazon and eBau UK and bought a load of BGS stuff that Sreten uses on his channel. No way I'm paying for Hazet stuff
Like you though; I was still missing a few sized spanners I obviously needed when doing some work. Always the bloomin' case!
Cheers Dan. I’m getting too old to roll around under cars on the drive now though….I’m knackered and very sore now! I bought loads of tools over Christmas taking advantage of various % discounts on Amazon and eBau UK and bought a load of BGS stuff that Sreten uses on his channel. No way I'm paying for Hazet stuff
Like you though; I was still missing a few sized spanners I obviously needed when doing some work. Always the bloomin' case!
Sod’s Law re a few sizes / tools though.
Court_S said:
d_a_n1979 said:
Some cracking work there Sam
I bought loads of tools over Christmas taking advantage of various % discounts on Amazon and eBau UK and bought a load of BGS stuff that Sreten uses on his channel. No way I'm paying for Hazet stuff
Like you though; I was still missing a few sized spanners I obviously needed when doing some work. Always the bloomin' case!
Cheers Dan. I’m getting too old to roll around under cars on the drive now though….I’m knackered and very sore now! I bought loads of tools over Christmas taking advantage of various % discounts on Amazon and eBau UK and bought a load of BGS stuff that Sreten uses on his channel. No way I'm paying for Hazet stuff
Like you though; I was still missing a few sized spanners I obviously needed when doing some work. Always the bloomin' case!
Sod’s Law re a few sizes / tools though.
I'll do simple bits but when it comes to suspension now, ramps can't be beaten... Neither can their skills and set ups etc...
Today I cracked on with getting the Z4 ready for an alignment on Monday.
First up was to address the crazy amount of front toe in. It looked like this on both sides this morning with the wheel straight.
I then got broadly distracted fitting some of the finest Chineseium exhaust tips. They’re a little big than the stock ones, which had seen better days.
Then it was time to tackle the RTAB. After unclipping cables from the trailing arm and removing the brackets holding the brake lines in place I undid three very rusty bolts that held the passenger side mount in place. It was crusty, but not as bad as the alignment place made out.
The bush looked a bit tired.
Out with the finest tool, purchased from eBay. And before long the bush was out….well, it took a bit of time and required the trailing arm to be braced against the car and then the jack out underneath it. A 19mm spanner was then wedged against the arm whilst I swung on my breaker bar.
I had intended to use Powerflex Herirage bushes which are a bit softer, but I couldn’t get the trailing arm carrier to fit over them so I gave up and used standard Powerflex jobbies. These weren’t quite as easy to fit as some videos make out. The outer side popped in without issue, but the inner side was a turd and had to be fitted with a G clamp. Once in though, the carrier slipped over with relative easy. The new carrier was refitted with new bolts.
I then moved onto the drivers side, where the carrier did look a bit worse for wear.
The bolts this side were super crusty but I did get them (I had to use the jack to force the socket bit sand extension bar onto a couple).
The bush looked much worse on this side.
Again, the arm was braced with a piece of wood against the car and my jack whilst I hung off the breaker bar. I really wished I headed a ratcheting breaker bar today.
Some shaggged carrier and bolts.
I was supposed to change the rear drop links as well, but the bolts were really really crusty so I decided to quit whilst I was ahead. They’re quite far inboard so not that easy to access. They’ll keep for now.
The alignment s booked in for first thing Monday morning and I’m hoping that I’ll see the end of the tram lining.
First up was to address the crazy amount of front toe in. It looked like this on both sides this morning with the wheel straight.
I then got broadly distracted fitting some of the finest Chineseium exhaust tips. They’re a little big than the stock ones, which had seen better days.
Then it was time to tackle the RTAB. After unclipping cables from the trailing arm and removing the brackets holding the brake lines in place I undid three very rusty bolts that held the passenger side mount in place. It was crusty, but not as bad as the alignment place made out.
The bush looked a bit tired.
Out with the finest tool, purchased from eBay. And before long the bush was out….well, it took a bit of time and required the trailing arm to be braced against the car and then the jack out underneath it. A 19mm spanner was then wedged against the arm whilst I swung on my breaker bar.
I had intended to use Powerflex Herirage bushes which are a bit softer, but I couldn’t get the trailing arm carrier to fit over them so I gave up and used standard Powerflex jobbies. These weren’t quite as easy to fit as some videos make out. The outer side popped in without issue, but the inner side was a turd and had to be fitted with a G clamp. Once in though, the carrier slipped over with relative easy. The new carrier was refitted with new bolts.
I then moved onto the drivers side, where the carrier did look a bit worse for wear.
The bolts this side were super crusty but I did get them (I had to use the jack to force the socket bit sand extension bar onto a couple).
The bush looked much worse on this side.
Again, the arm was braced with a piece of wood against the car and my jack whilst I hung off the breaker bar. I really wished I headed a ratcheting breaker bar today.
Some shaggged carrier and bolts.
I was supposed to change the rear drop links as well, but the bolts were really really crusty so I decided to quit whilst I was ahead. They’re quite far inboard so not that easy to access. They’ll keep for now.
The alignment s booked in for first thing Monday morning and I’m hoping that I’ll see the end of the tram lining.
Court_S said:
d_a_n1979 said:
Feck! I'm still in my long sleeve t-shirts and jumpers currently; shorts come out when the sun is warmer and stays out longer...
Perfect weather for us to have the kitchen ripped out and stored on the driveway
I've been in meetings all day with the San Fran lot; so I'll be doing wet/soggy 25 year old kitchen tip runs tomorrow by the looks of it 
Ticked off a few little jobs today replacing missing / damaged fixings and covers which required another trip to my local Sytner to grab more parts (it’s no wonder I’m on first name terms with the parts desk).
First up, I tackled the missing fixings from the plastic trim that sits above the rad.
Whilst the trim was off, I treated the surface rust with Jenolite. I was hoping that it’s be easy to remove, but it’s not so I’ll paint it with some Hammerite to make it look smarter.
Next up I fitted a new access flap to the sump plug and cleaned up oil spills (it was golden rather than black).
It was then treated to a quick and wash.
Whilst I was fiddling today, the list of jobs got a bit longer. Firstly I want to paint some rusty metal in the engine bay but I also noticed that some of the bolts from the engine cover were missing, so I’ll get some new new ordered.
I’ve ordered a new front passenger side wheel bearing due to the stripped disc retaining screw thread. That side has a new calliper but the wheel gets much dustier than the drivers side. I just need Autodoc to pull their fingers out and dispatch it. I can then fit my new ATE discs and ceramic pads.
First up, I tackled the missing fixings from the plastic trim that sits above the rad.
Whilst the trim was off, I treated the surface rust with Jenolite. I was hoping that it’s be easy to remove, but it’s not so I’ll paint it with some Hammerite to make it look smarter.
Next up I fitted a new access flap to the sump plug and cleaned up oil spills (it was golden rather than black).
It was then treated to a quick and wash.
Whilst I was fiddling today, the list of jobs got a bit longer. Firstly I want to paint some rusty metal in the engine bay but I also noticed that some of the bolts from the engine cover were missing, so I’ll get some new new ordered.
I’ve ordered a new front passenger side wheel bearing due to the stripped disc retaining screw thread. That side has a new calliper but the wheel gets much dustier than the drivers side. I just need Autodoc to pull their fingers out and dispatch it. I can then fit my new ATE discs and ceramic pads.
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