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My E85 Project/Progress Thread

Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2017 11:17 am
by kis
The Z4 story. MK2.

I'm "new" to the forum as a member but old hands to the Z4 scene. I remember back in the day when Phil (cj10jeeper) was modding his rear bumper to integrate the carbon diffuser. Something which I was following with great interest at the time. Anyway had to get shot of the car, moved onto a little MX5, then a cheap practical E46 coupe and now I'm back here. And it feels right. So after lots of searching, a close call with almost settling for a TT 3.2 DSG...

I purchased this beauty back in July '16.
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What really won me over was the low mileage and spec.
2003 e85 3.0
Just over 58k on the clock
SMG
Sat Nav
Cruise
Heated/Electric Seats
Electric Mirrors (by this I mean powerfold)

Few issues as usual (it's 13years old), but overall very happy and proud owner!

-tyres are all mixed. Different brands and different treads. Rear right was balled.
-alloys could do with a refurb. Corrosion visible through paintwork. Also some curbing.
-airbad light issue. Covered this separately but it's the Airbag ECU.
-headlights require restoration.
-right side (drivers) fog light glass has a crack.

First things first, prior to purchase it was washed, inside and out. Now I'm not sure about anyone on here, but they can never do a job as good as you. On principle I don't get my car washed by any 3rd parties. They can't and won't be able to do as good a job as you can. They also won't treat the car with respect, which it rightfully deserves!

So once it got home it was hoovered and polished the inside. Still not perfect, will need one or two more heavy sessions but after that it'll be more of a light clean required than a heavy purge. I guess I'm a bit of a perfectionist.
Washed the car by hand, thoroughly. Still need to clay it, that's on my to-do list. Went over panel by panel and got all the green crap out of the roof. I washed it 4 times and still not perfectly happy with it. So will continue to wash it once or twice with every wash. After I'm done and happy I'll apply the fabric protector.

It wasn't due but had a full Inspection 2 done. Skipped the Inspection 1. I wanted to know for sure everything was mechanically sound, fresh, and functioning as it should.

Mods done previously
-Parrot bluetooth installed.
-DLR's fitted.

My mods in order
-E46 car mats installed. Don't fit perfectly but cover the fabric ones and give some added protection.
-16" Spare 104 Runflat Alloy Set (bought with the idea of running at winter).
-iCarly Coding adapter and iOS app
-Carbon wrapped my windshield pillars
-18" Spare 108 Split Rim Alloy Set (with excellent rubber - non runflat).
-Hardtop
-Ali foot pedals.
-Custom E46 Strut

THE to-do list
-Airbag issue. Need a new Airbag Control Module.
-DLR's could do with updating.
-Wheel spacers (15mm front and 20mm back).
-Replace/Refurbish headlights.
-De-ginge / remove hockey sticks from headlights.
-Additional USB port installation in rear centre console.
-Rear lights and bumper update (to quad and facelift).
-Quad pipes.
-Clear side lights/indicators/repeaters
-Alpina rear spoiler
-Carbon Badges
-Black Grill Set

Extensive (imo) research done on oil. I'll also be servicing it myself at around 6k ish intervals so that it's kept fresh.

Removed the 107's that were on the car originally. As mentioned these where pretty much shot. Excessive wear internally, so that tread was starting to go balled. These were all runflats and replaced them with the 104's (also runflat). But what an improvement. Just one day and the car felt so much better. Sticks better and I'm not sketching all over the place on the motorway when you hit an uneven patch. I know there is still an issue with the alignment so this is the next thing on the list. I've had a quick pit-stop in Kwick Fit to have it adjusted so now it's better. But will book it in for a full 4-point laser alignment and sort out the uneven wear issue (as much as possible) by running on the Z4 M set up. The Zed does have a aggressive camber as it is, but I feel mine is out which isn't doing me any favours. So upon forum advise I'm going to take it down to Hounslow Tyres in Twickenham, when I sort out my wheels and where I'm heading with them.

As part of ongoing maintenance I checked oil, coolant and I do the windscreen too. I've used Rainex on the E46 and its worked wonders. If you haven't tried it I would honestly recommend it.

Around the beginning October '16 I experienced coolant loss issues. Would loose about a cup worth over a 50 mile journey (one-way to work). This ended up being the coolant expansion tank. Small crack (which is relatively common, fault wise) so would loose fluid once pressure builds up. So this was replaced and coolant flushed at the same time. No issues now.

Got the hardtop on the 2nd of Nov '16, not perfect colour but good enough for now.



Apologies it's taken so long to get here, I know Marlon asked me a while ago about pictures and so inspired me to sort out my own project thread. I've also read much of MachineMonkey and LukeMace's longstanding project threads, as well as LBZ4's newer thread... and many more threads (too many to list). All very inspiring and so now I've got my own :)

My E85 Project Thread

Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2017 11:47 am
by Marius
...Just over 58k on the clock ...Due to my high mileage ... :lol: :lol: :lol:

Love this forum :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:


p.s just removed my 108's and have 20mm and 15mm lying round

My E85 Project Thread

Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2017 1:27 pm
by jamie_z4
Marius I think kis does a lot of miles not that his car is high miles

Looks just like mine aside the fact mine is now about 3mm from the floor.

I have 12 and 20mm spacers on mine with no issues
Image

My E85 Project Thread

Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2017 1:52 pm
by kis
Marius wrote:...Just over 58k on the clock ...Due to my high mileage ... :lol: :lol: :lol:

Love this forum :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:


p.s just removed my 108's and have 20mm and 15mm lying round
Thanks Marius! Think you've got it slightly out of context. I consider 58k for a car which is over a decade old as low mileage.

I took this on Wednesday... I mean my passenger did. 70,707miles. 12k in approx. 6months? Nah thats not high mileage :roll:

Edit... with picture attached!
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My E85 Project Thread

Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2017 1:55 pm
by kis
jamie_z4 wrote:Marius I think kis does a lot of miles not that his car is high miles

Looks just like mine aside the fact mine is now about 3mm from the floor.

I have 12 and 20mm spacers on mine with no issues
Cheers jamie_z4!
I think I saw a post earlier where you literally lowered it right to the floor? Bar maybe a mm or two? :lol:

My E85 Project Thread

Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2017 2:15 pm
by Marlon
You've kicked off your project thread in style - certainly know what you want; looking forward to the updates - particularly the quad exhaust :evil: :thumbsup:

My E85 Project Thread

Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2017 2:25 pm
by Marius
jamie_z4 wrote:Marius I think kis does a lot of miles not that his car is high miles

Looks just like mine aside the fact mine is now about 3mm from the floor.

I have 12 and 20mm spacers on mine with no issues
Image
If those have same offset as 108`s, 25 rear and 20 front is doable :D im no on 18x10 et20 rear, and gonna try 18x8.5 et15 front on weeked became e30 look tucked

My E85 Project Thread

Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2017 5:59 pm
by kis
Marlon wrote:You've kicked off your project thread in style - certainly know what you want; looking forward to the updates - particularly the quad exhaust :evil: :thumbsup:
Thanks Marlon. Quads will be one of the last things! Once I sort out the bumper and facelift lights I think it can happily stay like that till I finish up on the 'little things'. Not to mention it's going to need quite a bit of backing financially!

My E85 Project Thread

Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2017 6:01 pm
by kis
Marius wrote:
If those have same offset as 108`s, 25 rear and 20 front is doable :D im no on 18x10 et20 rear, and gonna try 18x8.5 et15 front on weeked became e30 look tucked
I'm sure 107 and 108 have same offsets for front and rear respectively. I look forward to your updates this weekend! Do you have your own project thread? :)

My E85 Project Thread

Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2017 8:00 pm
by Marius
kis wrote:
Marius wrote:
If those have same offset as 108`s, 25 rear and 20 front is doable :D im no on 18x10 et20 rear, and gonna try 18x8.5 et15 front on weeked became e30 look tucked
I'm sure 107 and 108 have same offsets for front and rear respectively. I look forward to your updates this weekend! Do you have your own project thread? :)

All my progress can be seen on instagram.

My E85 Project Thread

Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2017 3:50 pm
by kis
Okay so I though I'd better add a few updates.

Firstly I forgot to add to my mod list that I've got a modified e46 strut. This was done so long ago that I can't remember! I noticed some rusting to the areas I modified near the alignment/camber pins. I didn't want to remove them so I worked the strut around them. I then painted it in a similar Ferrari red.
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My car stayed like this for quite some time. This was due to winter (put the 104's on). I also didn't install my hardtop lining due to tinting/sound proofing.
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My E85 Project Thread

Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2017 3:53 pm
by kis
Eventually I got round to the soundproofing which was relatively easy. Window tining is another story. I ordered some cheap tint that wouldn't shrink properly so this got bodged up and had to reinstall the hardtop half finished without the lining. New premium tint came, medium darkness tint 40% but think it's a tad on the light side. So going to re-order. But I went about installing this anyway. Was a real PITA TBH. Took an age to mould it to the curvature of the glass, then fitting produced some very small bubbles. Will see what happens with these as it should hopefully clear up? Took the 104's off and fitted my replacement 89's. How it looks now.
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My E85 Project Thread

Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2017 5:54 pm
by Rusky
where was the crack in the coolant tank? Had to top up about half a cup full in mine, had it pressure tested but no leak in the system.

My E85 Project Thread

Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2017 6:00 pm
by Machine monkey
Good read thus far buddy :thumbsup:

So when you say quad what are your plans? T off or splitting and going like Christmas did?

My E85 Project Thread

Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2017 12:51 pm
by kis
Rusky wrote:where was the crack in the coolant tank? Had to top up about half a cup full in mine, had it pressure tested but no leak in the system.
Can't remember mate, along the side near one of the outlets I think. My half a cup was a constant over just under 100 miles (going to and back from work). This is one of those small pesky disposable cups that hold next to nothing BTW. Crack was only like a "hairline fracture" but over time at full pressure coolant gradually escaped. Could probably have left it longer, as there wasn't actually any major problems but needed doing and was becoming a PITA to keep refilling, so got it done at my leisure as opposed to an urgent rectification. Glad it was just the expansion tank... new radiator would have been more complicated and more expensive!

Expansion tank is a common failure over time... I didn't know for sure it was the tank till I started to change it. It was a common fault and everything pointed to the tank. So ordered and went about with the intention of updating the tank and hoping that was the cause, which it was - good research is the key IMO! :thumbsup: