My 1998 BMW Z3 2.8 Roadster

[al1991]

Wow that looks great, the wheels are spot on.

Very nice car.

[pangsterz3]

atlex said:

I like it. the steering wheel in particular where'd you get it redone ?

Thanks!! - the steering wheel was done by Royal Steering Wheels (ebay id: royalsteeringwheelsjack)

al1991 said:

Wow that looks great, the wheels are spot on.

Very nice car.

Thanks - they took long enough to get here!! (12 weeks from the US!)

[pangsterz3]

Been playing with my new camera so decided to take some pics of the car as it was look relatively clean today and the weather wasn't bad either!:

[pangsterz3]

Just got back in and decided to try the camera out in some lower light conditions - plus the roof was down and for a convertible - I've just realised there is a lack of top down pictures in this thread!! LOL! - you can also see the rear shocks/coilovers in some of the pictures which I thought was pretty cool!:

[pangsterz3]

INTERIOR MAKEOVER CONTINUED 2:
My Windblox lexan windscreen arrived from the US today so got round to fitting it - think it looks pretty good and can remain in place all the time (regardless of whether the hood is up or down as it doesn't limit visibility through the rear window). Tested it with the wife in the car up to motorway speeds and it makes a remarkable difference!! - a lot better than some of the similar options available from UK vendors IMHO:











More images below:



BRAKE OVERHAUL AND EARLS BRAIDED CLUTCH LINE:
The brakes were completely overhauled on Tuesday:

• Goodridge stainless brake lines fitted
• EBC Yellow Stuff Pads (front and rear) fitted
• Brembo HC discs (front and rear) fitted
• Castrol Super Response DOT 4 brake fluid

In addition - I also fitted the Earls Performance braided clutch line! - although there is 2 version of this and it would appear as though I have the wrong one - as there is very little clearance between the clutch hose union/hose and the bulkhead. I've now ordered (and since received) the version with the hard pipe 40 degree bend in it (so it's going back in on Tuesday to have this one swapped in).




SERVICE:
The car also had a full service on Wednesday - all fluids, spark plugs etc. In addition I also had the following jobs carried out:

• New power steering cooling line fitted
• New thermostat, thermostat housing and gaskets
• New water-pump with metal impeller fitted

[pangsterz3]

EARLS BRAIDED CLUTCH LINE (part 2):
As you might have read above - the original Earls Braided Clutch Line I bought was a little tight in fitting (in regards to clearance with the bulkhead) - so I decided to order the variant with the 45 degree hard pipe bend in it:







My car is going back in on Tuesday to have it swapped over..

If I'm being honest I wasn't expecting too much from this mod.. suffice to say that this has been a pleasant and welcome surprise as it is effectively one of the best mods (pound for pound) you can do to the car. Changing gear has now been transformed - and it seems to be a good partner for my weighted and shortened Storm Motorwerks V1 as gear changes now happen extremely quickly - so fast that the revs don't get a chance to drop much if it all between gear changes!! takes a little bit to get used to at first - but when you are used to it you can slot up and down through the gears effortlessly!.. it is an awesome mod IMHO!!.. I'm very impressed with it and thoroughly recommend it to anyone else considering ways to improve their shift.

[pangsterz3]

INTERIOR MAKEOVER 3: Doug Whalen black anodised hood release handle:

Got home from work today to find my Doug Whalen black anodised hood release handle had arrived safe and well from the States - overall impressions are very good!! - it's a quality piece of craftsmanship and certainly feels a lot more purposeful than the flimsy plastic stock item that was on there:









And it took all of 5 minutes and a Phillips screwdriver to fit:

[wackojacko]

Quite like the Z3 would be opting for an 'M' though .....

[pangsterz3]

wackojacko said:

Quite like the Z3 would be opting for an 'M' though .....

The M52B28 is actually a pretty good match for the Z3 chassis - and performs better than the equivalent E36 328 Coupe - by the sounds of it, you've never driven one, so I guess you wouldn't know - you're obviously one of these peeps that can't see past an ///M badge. still at 17 I was probably the same..

[Disco You]

I think that the wind breaker looks sills strapped on, it looks slightly better with black straps, but still untidy. I don't like the wheels, they are too big and don't really suit. The new side vents are nice, except for the ///M badge, there isn't anything ///M about your car. Hard tops which don't match the car look silly, you need to paint it the same colour as the car in my opinion or it just looks like you've cheaped out.

On the plus side, I like the colour, and the interior colour combo is excellent. The gearknob and handbrake look good (bet the knob gets a bit cold though!)

What's the advantage to Brembo discs over OEM ones?

[pangsterz3]

Disco You said:

I think that the wind breaker looks sills strapped on, it looks slightly better with black straps, but still untidy. I don't like the wheels, they are too big and don't really suit. The new side vents are nice, except for the ///M badge, there isn't anything ///M about your car. Hard tops which don't match the car look silly, you need to paint it the same colour as the car in my opinion or it just looks like you've cheaped out.

On the plus side, I like the colour, and the interior colour combo is excellent. The gearknob and handbrake look good (bet the knob gets a bit cold though!)

What's the advantage to Brembo discs over OEM ones?

good job you don't need to drive it then! ;) no offence but I'll take styling tips from someone who drives a polo with a pinch of salt.. and my car has the ///M steering wheel straight from the factoryso you're also wrong there ;) - not that it matters as the reason I've kept them on is that if I revert back anytime in the future then they'll be easier to sell on.. I think I made reference to this in an earlier post - you've obviously missed it though.

Regarding the hardtop being a different colour - point taken... IF it was silver, green, yellow etc - but the factory soft top is black - so doesn't really look too out of place. Undecided on whether I will paint it this year or not or keep it black. I also don't think shelling out £1k on a mod could ever be described as cheaping out?..

I've you do a Google for Brembo HC discs or look on their website then that will also answer your other question.

Edited by pangsterz3 on Saturday 7th May 16:15

[TheInternet]

pangsterz3 said:

Looks like quite a bit of rear camber in that pic, did you do anything to correct it when you lowered it?

pangsterz3 said:

no offence but I'll take styling tips from someone who drives a polo with a pinch of salt..

Well that's odd, because it looks exactly as if you've taken styling tips from someone with a Polo. Questionable wheels, dashboard, handbrake, gearknob, wing mirrors etc. are all the sort of modifications I'd expect to see on someone's small, thrashed, first car.

[Mattt]

pangsterz3 said:

The M52B28 is actually a pretty good match for the Z3 chassis - and performs better than the equivalent E36 328 Coupe - by the sounds of it, you've never driven one, so I guess you wouldn't know - you're obviously one of these peeps that can't see past an ///M badge. still at 17 I was probably the same..

pangsterz3 said:

good job you don't need to drive it then! ;) no offence but I'll take styling tips from someone who drives a polo with a pinch of salt..

I see this going well for you...

[pangsterz3]

TheInternet said:

Looks like quite a bit of rear camber in that pic, did you do anything to correct it when you lowered it?

I think you've answered your own question there - if I had done anything to correct it then there wouldn't be any negative/little negative rear camber?? FYI the car shares the same semi-trailing arm design as the E30 (including M3) so naturally when you lower it you increase negative camber. The only way to combat this it to weld in camber adjustment plates - couldn't see the point in this to be honest. My car was also set up by John at ProGrip in Falkirk (who has one of the best reps up here for setting cars up for fast road/track applications) so I've not done what most people have when the lower a car and just dropped it on its arse - I actually invested some money in getting it setup properly..

TheInternet said:

Well that's odd, because it looks exactly as if you've taken styling tips from someone with a Polo. Questionable wheels, dashboard, handbrake, gearknob, wing mirrors etc. are all the sort of modifications I'd expect to see on someone's small, thrashed, first car.

Seriously.. How old are you? Is World of Warcraft or the PSN down again?? Run along now and make sure your homework is done in time for Monday.

No wonder PH has such a bad rep these days.. It seems to be over run with pre-pubescent trolls.. who have nothing constructive to add to threads.

Edited by pangsterz3 on Saturday 7th May 16:25

[pangsterz3]

Mattt said:

I see this going well for you...

I'm not really feeling the love...

[pangsterz3]

DJC said:

Neither of the previous posters said anything overly harsh and were merely expressing their opinion.

Your replies were a bit ttish, though.

Thanks for the feedback - I'll bear that in mind for future replies...

FWIW I don't really care if people like, hate or feel indifferent about my car. I posted the pics and details for information and to maybe help others. I like it and I guess that's all that matters - no one else drives it at the end of the day.

[Mastodon2]

DJC said:

Neither of the previous posters said anything overly harsh and were merely expressing their opinion.

Your replies were a bit ttish, though.

I think people have been rude to him in complete honesty. "I'd have gone for the ///M" etc for a start, that's like someone saying "Hey guys, here is my Impreza WRX that I'm really proud of" and then someone trying to rain on their parade by saying "Nice, but I'd have bought an STi personally" - there will always be a higher trim level or a faster car to suggest. Why can't people just be appreciative or pass their opinion without being snide or insulting?

And then to say that mods are "like something someone would do to a first, thrashed car" is a bit much too. A metal gear knob, some better dials, some bigger wheels some roll hoops are hardly Max Power style modding. No wonder he got a bit shirty, I know it's going to be to everyone's taste but there is no need to be slagging it off!

[c0ldpl4ya]

All of his replies attacked the ages of the people concerned though? which I dont really understand....what does age have to do with somebodys opinion?
Anyway, really like the car...Z3's are starting to become very attractively priced and have aged well over time!

[pangsterz3]

c0ldpl4ya said:

All of his replies attacked the ages of the people concerned though? which I dont really understand....what does age have to do with somebodys opinion?

Because they're the type of replies I would expect from some keyboard kiddies.. they added nothing constructive to this thread and most probably haven't even read the spec history or details/reasons for the mods before jumping in with pretty lame comments. I've said before - I've no problem with people not liking the car - if you really feel the need to try and shoot it down then at least try and be constructive about it and justify your comments why... or just don't post at all??

c0ldpl4ya said:

Anyway, really like the car...Z3's are starting to become very attractively priced and have aged well over time!

/\ agreed! although they're not exactly liked on here too much! LOL!..

[pangsterz3]

Mastodon2 said:

I think people have been rude to him in complete honesty. "I'd have gone for the ///M" etc for a start, that's like someone saying "Hey guys, here is my Impreza WRX that I'm really proud of" and then someone trying to rain on their parade by saying "Nice, but I'd have bought an STi personally" - there will always be a higher trim level or a faster car to suggest. Why can't people just be appreciative or pass their opinion without being snide or insulting?

And then to say that mods are "like something someone would do to a first, thrashed car" is a bit much too. A metal gear knob, some better dials, some bigger wheels some roll hoops are hardly Max Power style modding. No wonder he got a bit shirty, I know it's going to be to everyone's taste but there is no need to be slagging it off!

First sensible reply on here in a while!