VO18i - #34

After having two E89s with the over-complicated roof, imagine my pleasure when I bought a Z3 with just a single hydraulic ram operated off one AA battery and a piece of string! :)
 
Pond said:
After having two E89s with the over-complicated roof, imagine my pleasure when I bought a Z3 with just a single hydraulic ram operated off one AA battery and a piece of string! :)
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My Z3 has a manual roof which I think is perfectly suited to the car on the basis its better to be on the outside when you retract the roof to ensure the plastic screen folds correctly.

That said the E89 folding metal roof creates for a much more year round useable car and despite the complexity of the mechanism most of the issues are well know common failures that can be avoided with prevenative maintenance.

However, if the worse does happen there is a wealth of independent support available via the forum or from local specialists 👍
 
Found someone on eBay selling 2 replacement fob badges for £2.50 so thought I might as well - they arrived yesterday so replaced the one that was knackered today.

Yes I know but in my defence it is still persisting it down here 😉

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Here we go - it finally feels like we've broken the back of winter so here's to wall to wall sunshine and end parking spaces until November 🤣

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Still on the loan wheels but hoping to get a call from the wheel refurbishes anytime soon 👍
 
Did nip out in the Zed but only to the Specsavers at Fox Valley today. Out is out . . .

Is that the pub just past Ladybower ? Always wondered about popping in but always seems rammed on a weekend when I'm driving past . . .
 
AleNod said:
Did nip out in the Zed but only to the Specsavers at Fox Valley today. Out is out . . .

Is that the pub just past Ladybower ? Always wondered about popping in but always seems rammed on a weekend when I'm driving past . . .
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Yes its the Yorkshire Bridge - I wouldn't dream of going there at the weekend but then again I tend to stay away from the Peak District all together at the weekend, too busy.
 
A roadside cafe, an empty car park and a vacant toilet - what more can you hope for on a Friday morning? Just don't mention the weather 🙈

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Having done it numerous times on the other E89's I've owned taking on the rubber seals is always a daunting task - simply down to how many rubber seals there are.

Anyway I bit the bullet today and cracked on with it.

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Becuase this is the first time I've treated the rubber on this car I used the SWISSVAX. In between applications of this I use the Gummi Pfledge.

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Definately one of those jobs that feels good once completed with the added benefit that it tends to quiten things down in the cabin and also smells great.
 
AntStark said:
Still no wheels ? 🫤
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They called me on Friday to say they were running a bit behind so hopefully they'll be ready in the next few days.

The last set they did me were done in the day but I did have to leave the car with them - not sure what difference that makes though.
 
I'd noticed the windscreen washers weren't providing the usual amount of coverage when I bought the car but the pathetic amount of dribble they did provide was sufficient to wash the screen and confirm the motors weren't defective.

Meaning it could only be one thing and something I've seen on a few of the previous Zeds - the washer bottle and / or filters were clogged up with gunk.

So today I removed the washer bottle and gave it a good clean along with both filters.

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Suffice to say there was plenty of gunk to be removed and having replaced the bottle I'm pleased to confirm normal coverage is now resumed 👍
 
Got a call earlier this week from RS Alloys who are doing my wheel refurb to say one of the alloys had reacted with the paint - didn't bother asking what that meant but the wheels wouldn't be ready until tomorrow at the earliest.

There was no way I was missing another sunny morning and after treating all the rubber seals I was keen to get out and assess the effect.

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Pleased to report that all the creaks and groans have now abated and I gave it a good test having to pull out over the cats eyes in the middle of the road to avoid all the cyclists which seemed to be out in numbers - as did motorcyclists, runners in extremely tight shorts and walkers with very small dogs.

I guess Spring has finally arrived 🌼

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Got the call last week that the wheels were finally ready so it was booked in this morning to have the loan wheels replaced - I know the 290's are only 17" but they looked even smaller aside the Land Rover rims.

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Got talking to the lad behind me who was in for some new tyres for his Ferrari after having his wheels done last week - apparently they are not that easy to get hold of so he'd had to wait for them to come in stock.

I asked him what the size was and he said the rears are 335 / 25 - I just said they sound very painful and not only from a price perspective 🤣

I should have got a photo of his car but once he'd fired up the V12 I forgot all about getting my phone out - even at 5mph the ground was shaking 🫨
 
Gave all the wheels a coating of the Gtechniq C5 Wheel Armour today - done in the hope that all future washes are that bit easier 👍

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More wheel faffery today.

Last week I'd soaked the original bolts in white wine vinegar for a couple of days before washing all the debris off with Coca Cola. But once refitted I thougt they still looked crap against the silver wheels.

So today I fitted some black wheel nut covers which are the same as the ones on the Z3. Also at the risk of being diagnosed with OCD I removed the grey plastic dust caps that the wheels came back from the refurbishers with and replaced them with standard black ones.

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I know nobody other than me will notice but once you know Baader-Meinhof phenomenon is real it just has to be done 🤣
 
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