JOURNAL: 1998 BMW Z3 2.8 Roadster [UPDATED: 6th May 2011]

[pangster]

Nice pics - looks like you're getting to grips with the new camera and enjoying it

yep! - very impressed with it so far.. just reading and learning as much as I can just now.. I'm currently reading my way through Digital Photography Masterclass by Tom Ang which is a very good book.. pitched at the right level anyway!! LOL!!

[pangster]

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

[pangster]

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.

[pangster]

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:

[pangster]

That's my car now officially sold and on it's way to it's new home! (in sunny Kent!!) - so this will probably be my last update on this thread...

The new owner turned up today to collect it . Seems like a really nice and genuine bloke and very enthusiastic about the car so at least I know it's going to a good home. :buttrock

He seemed to like/appreciate everything I'd done to the car as well and could understand the thought process behind why I changed things the way I did. I guess the good news for the car is that it's going to be heading to it's new residence in sunny Kent so will be escaping the dull and miserable existence it became accustomed to over the last 2 and a half years in dull and drizzly Scotland!..

It is a weird feeling seeing someone else drive off in your car.. (the first time I'd heard the SuperSprint exhaust from the outside and I have to say that it sounds amazing.. cool)

It wasn't the newest or most expensive car I've ever owned - but it was the most fun - just a good honest, trusty reliable car - which I liked the looks of (eventually!!) and was happy with the performance of!

[NeRo]

Thought you were a bit quiet?

Have you replaced it with something interesting?

[pangster]

Thought you were a bit quiet?

Have you replaced it with something interesting?

Hi Neil,

nothing yet.. we got the wife a Merc C-Class C200K Avantgarde SE (W203) which is pretty nice and overall a decent drive (albeit a little boring and uneventful!):









We still have the Compact (although that's on borrowed time) and I'm looking to get something a bit more family focused as well.. although nothing really floating my boat so far... doesn't really matter what I get as I doubt there will be the same sense of occasion as there was driving the Zed!..