Z3 project...no going back now!

[pvr]

Strip the interior so you have room to lay down, line it with silk, add wood panelling on the outside and finish with some nice brass fittings.
By the time you finish it you’ll only need it for one thing

But if the £2 handles break off, it could become a bumpy ride

[MikeyH]

Strip the interior so you have room to lay down, line it with silk, add wood panelling on the outside and finish with some nice brass fittings.
By the time you finish it you’ll only need it for one thing

Cruel but very funny I nearly choked on my cheese and chutney bread roll

[MikeyH]

A little update....
For anybody with half a brain and thinking of building a 'kit car', or 'replica'.....DON'T!

It's a (very expensive) world of bodging and 'that will do'. I am not wired like that...I like things to be perfect (as far as is humanly possible) or not at all.
I have quickly come to the realisation this world is not for me.

But I am so heavily invested financially that I have no choice but to power on, so it is now becoming a chore, already. Oh great!

I have an issue with paying hundreds of pounds for some cheap Chinese badly casted door handles which are, at best, shite and actuate on the BMW door locks with 1mm braided steel cable!

I cannot wait to see the quality of my Vietnamese £2,000 bumpers when they arrive next week!

I could have bought everything from Temu and saved myself £20k!

Don’t give up we are all behind you, well most of us.

[Ole gits rule]

Come on Pondy, it will be worth the effort - that coupe one that was on bangers and cash looked bloody superb.

[The.Analyst]

Welcome to reality

These kit cars require massive amounts of time and cost to do a hand decent job

Even seasoned DIY folks often sub contract a specialist body specialist to do the initial fit and fettle

I looked at a few kit conversions most just ended up looking tatty and unfinished

I’d look at bailing out

The pain will only get worse if you are OCD and looking for both visible and unseen perfection

[The.Analyst]

Welcome to reality

These kit cars require massive amounts of time and cost to do a half decent job

Even seasoned DIY folks often sub contract a specialist body specialist to do the initial fit and fettle

I looked at a few kit conversions most just ended up looking tatty and unfinished

I’d look at bailing out

The pain will only get worse if you are OCD and looking for both visible and unseen perfection

[Pondrew]

In the words of 'The Fast show'.......This week I have mostly been sanding and filling.

Next week will be more of the same.

[ronk]

Are you keeping a photographic diary of the buildi?

If or when you sell it will be an asset

[Pondrew]

Are you keeping a photographic diary of the buildi?

Yes Ron, but only when something actually looks different. I could post pictures of my internal door mechanism adaptations, but it really isn't very interesting to anyone else.

[ronk]

I am thinking more of a historical document when the car is completed - it would be an added value item if you sell it or a “look at what your old Grandfather built when he was young”!

[Pondrew]

I am thinking more of a historical document when the car is completed - it would be an added value item if you sell it or a “look at what your old Grandfather built when he was young”!

I am documenting everything when I remember. I'm not good at that. I need to for the re-registration, anyway, as the DVLA will want pictures. I also have a terrible memory, so forget stuff easily. Pictures help!

I have around 50 pictures so far, but most are of things that are only useful for reference. The pretty ones will hopefully start soon (if the bloody awful weather ever improves).

[ronk]

Put a wanted ad for a digi camera and charger keep it in the garage with the project!

[Pondrew]

Bit of progress...
Front of body all cut, trimmed, filled and sanded. I trial fitted the brightwork and lights to the front. Bonnet fits OK. Fog/ driving lights will be changed for larger (and prettier) ones.
Rear is in progress but lots of work needed, especially to the bootlid which doesn't fit at all.

I spent yesterday in the garage getting the new wires to fit. As they are 15", the fronts didn't fit over the Z3 calipers. I knew this but didn't know how much they would be out. I was concerned about grinding brake calipers down, from a safety point of view.
It turned out not to be as bad as I thought (that's a first). I only needed to take a few mm off a small part of each caliper. I am confident it will not affect the integrity of the calipers.
I took this one as a small victory and another job to taken off the (massively long) list.
Piccies...

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[bigwinn]

Andy that looks superb mate- well done

I know it’s a long way to go but that’s great progress

[MikeyH]

Looking really good, love those wheels. Nice to see progress keep the pics coming please