zroadster.net

Del

Here's the link I mentioned http://zroadster.org/wiki/general-maint ... -fishwick/

Del

I became an anorak when I decided to change my gearbox and diff oil recently! The recommendation for the diff (on this forum and elsewhere) without a LSD, is fully synthetic 75W/90. My 1.9 fits this category and I used 1 litre of the Carlube brand from GSF. However, I noticed that on the container i...

Del

For a problem that "cuts in like a switch" when the engine in warmed up and exists both at idle AND running, I would guess at the O2 sensors - but this is an internet forum guess - please don't spend a lot of money based on my guess - get it checked on a code reader. Vacuum leaks can be a ...

Del

From a production viewpoint it makes sense that it is based on the 1 series platform. I find that new shape BMWs grow on me over time and become beautiful. Not sure about an all electric version though as mentioned in the article. Do the sensible/prudent people who want an electric car also want the...

Del

Hi John Always diffilcult to guess these problems in an internet forum. I would start with the basics ie make sure your plugs and air filter are good. Then check the rubber boot from the MAF to the throttle - if yours is the original, then it is now 12-years old and could well be perished. Any sign ...

Del

Could do with a little less exposure to water down here in the west country at present.

Del

Sounds like a possible inlet cam position sensor but ideally you need to plug it into a diagnostic tool before spending good money on parts. My undertsanding is that Lambda/O2 sensors don't start to "kick in" until the engine warms up.

Del

I agree that this is an area where BMW have been less than helpful and appear to confuse everyone to such an extent that they feel inclined to take their Z3 to a main dealer so that “mysterious special BMW oil” can be put in. My local BMW dealer in Bristol told me that I needed to examine the label ...

Del

Have just joined the growing number who purchased one of these. I am impressed with this tough, heavy-duty, waterproof cover. The weight of the material, magnetic edge and Velcro strap under the wing mirrors, all stop it flapping around in the winds. Just the job for the wettest June drought for 100...

Del

I would be genuinely dubious about using it in a car with an electronic management system. Their web site is vague about what the canister contains and provides a description merely talking about “surrounding the petrol molecules with oxygen” which one could conclude sounds as if it just allows more...

Del

If it's synchronised with you revving (as opposed to the car moving) then a common little issue, causing a metalic tinkling rattle, is the lower shackle on the gearbox exhaust mount, rusting away. Specific BMW part (£5 approx) - not immediately fixable at your high street exhaust centre with stock g...

Del

I am genuinely interested in this posting as I plan some brake work and I don’t claim to be an expert on brake bleeding methods. My E36 (including some Z3 info) Haynes Manual says that BMW specifies pressure bleeding as the only acceptable method for bleeding the brake system. They go on to describe...

Del

Hi Wildeboy How did you stop the brake fluid pouring out whilst you disconnected the caliper? Did you clamp the rubber hose? Does anybody have a view on whether the brake hoses should be renewed just for preventative maintenance. I'd be interested to get an expert view. I've inspected mine and they ...

Del

MAF cleaning - need to be careful as it is an expensive/delicate sensor - see link attached http://www.zroadster.net/forum/viewtopi ... f+cleaning

Del

It sounds quite slight and could be a lot of things. The coil pack on the 4 cylinder engines is away from the engine and so would not be affected by engine heat in the same way as individual coils above each plug – my guess therefore is that it is not the coil pack. I’ve also been told that the orig...

Del

When does this occur? On the first cold start of the day, only when warmed up or all the time? What happens to the revs, are they very erratic?

Del

As you have a running problem which is proving diffilcult to diagnose plus the added problem of your diagnostic port not "talking" to your ECU - why not try Clayton Cars Bristol http://www.claytoncars.co.uk/index.html

Del

Aside from diagnostic tools not "talking" to your ECU, what are your bad running symptoms?

Del

Any early feedback on how these tops perform in the recent wet weather? I tried two cheaper outside covers over the past year - one was like a large bin liner and allowed no air in/out and a second was made from grey nylon type material that was not waterproof at all. I've spotted this item which cl...

Del

Buyers must be chasing high MPG, low insurance and low car tax. Top new sellers by far in May were Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Corsa. New engines seem to be getting smaller with fewer cylinders.

Del

On a 1998 model (like mine) the round OBD socket is under the bonnet. Simple things like a poor battery earth or poor fuse connection can sometimes cause the ECU to act strangely i.e. a problem with a code reader “talking” to your ECU. Just to eliminate such simple things first, I would check and cl...

Del

It looks really good. Some of these smaller mobile firms, who come to your home, seem very good – keen to do a good job and gain a good reputation for possible new business. I used Chips Away last year for a nasty scrape on the corner of my front bumper (Z3) – I was very impressed with the result an...

Del

Assuming you mean the original BMW black netting type that slips over the standard roll hoops, I would suggest Ebay. They seem like gold dust this time of year. I bought mine on ebay at the end of last summer and paid around £80. I reckon if you get one below £75 you can count yourself lucky.

Del

You will need to investigate by removing the door card - it could well be failure of one (or both) the regulator/slider clips - see link attached.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-BMW-W ... 2eac889174

Del

I changed mine recently. I’ve seen a lot of postings mentioning an oil capacity of 1.25 – 1.75 litres, I assume this must be for the larger engine models and/or with a LSD. Mine is a 1.9 (S reg.) manufacture date May 1998, without a LSD. The car was absolutely level (checked with spirit level) and I...

Del

It’s boring buying a perfect car and having nothing to tinker with. Much more fun and sense of achievement to buy a bargain a bit rough around the edges and slowly improve it into a nice original spec. car. Keep the progress threads coming I’m interested and I’m sure many others will be to.

Del

As Mike says the NGK BKR6EQUP was widely fitted by BMW garages. It has four J electrodes and was referred to by BMW on the service receipt as a "high power plug". Will you notice any difference over the standard old two J electrode plug (BKR6EK for 2.8s up to 8/1999) - probably not. Howeve...

Del

I also replaced my broken passenger side seatbelt guide yesterday afternoon. Bit fiddly but eventually did it after following Fender2004’s guide (thank you number 1). Touched up the scratches, caused by the broken one, with a bit of black leather dye and finished off with a good rub down with lanoli...

Del

A firm called Renovo do the colour reviver and re-proofer. Autoglym do a re-proofer product as does a firm called Grangers in the form of Fabsil Gold. I have used both the last two and both are very good. The Fabsil Gold is the most economical as you paint it on with a paint brush and so get less on...

Del

Glad to hear you’re making progress. Sounds like the air filter was due for a change. Not sure about the WD40. Personally I always give the air filter box a good vacuum out before fitting a new filter – to remove, as you say, bits of straw, gravel, feathers and dead bees. Possibly this indicates the...

Del

I appreciate that they are rare and that the fixed roof probably improves both handling and aerodynamics but personally I don’t like the two-seater estate look. Given the choice of two identical Z3ms one coupe and one roadster – I’d pick the roadster every time. If I wanted the “hard top look” I thi...

Del

Hi and welcome. As mentioned above by Mike I would definitely start by having a good inspection of the rubber boot/bellows immediately downstream from the MAF sensor. These perish and split with age, engine heat and a constant flow of dry/warm air. They can cause an array of idling, starting/stallin...

Del

From what I have read the M44 engine is renowned for having a slightly uneven idle. I have found my particular M44 very fussy with the oil used. I assume some of the oil-ways around the valve lifters must be quite narrow and get bunged up with gunge. After a fresh change with Mobil 0W40 the situatio...

Del

I've heard several glowing (trade) reports about Cataclean

Del

I had a casual weekend job in a garage when I was a teenager as a garage forecourt attendant. This was before self-service and I had to wear a blue FINA jacket and rush out of the forecourt kiosk to serve petrol etc. This was in the days of 2, 3, 4 & 5 star petrol. I can still remember the price...

Del

When I first acquired my Z3 I had rain pouring in the two rear window bottom corners and like you the roof fabric had come away from the sealing strip around the window. I had moss growing inside! After waiting for a dry spell I cleaned the area and squirted in a line of Bostik Soft Plastics glue wh...

Del

Are you sure that all the speakers on the right are not working or is it just the large, dominant one in the footwell. My left footwell speaker packed-up and that tended to make the whole left side sound muted. I've replaced both and everything is now good. I think the footwell ones take a bit of we...

Del

I haven’t driven in France for a few years but when I last did, I was struck with the good quality of the roads and the smooth tarmac – great for motoring in a Z3. Also, they generally seemed a lot less crowded than roads in England. I’m glad to read from Mike that pedestrians now have “an absolute ...

Del

I agree, give it a good oil change. Somebody been driving on a beach? On your video some of that sand/grit looked uncomfortably close to the oil filler cap and you don't want any grit/sand getting into your oil. I would vacuum away as much as possible and they carefuilly wash away any that's left.

Del

These starting problem issues can be caused by many things. However, I tend to agree with Heath. If you are geting no codes and this "rough start problem" only happens on a cold start (first start of the day) I would first check the rubber vacuum hose, down stream from the MAF, for holes a...

Del

Almost seems a shame for somebody to now buy and use a car in that mint condition. It should go to something like a BMW collection/museum.

Del

Bosch probably make the one you saw for £200 +. Bosch MAFs have a strong reputation for quality, the one for my M44 costs significantly more than £200. MAFs are one of the more expensive sensors in the car. In my view, a secondhand one from a decent maker is better than a cheap unbranded one made so...

Del

Appreciate that this is only a forum with brief exchanges, but did your garage actually remove the head or just apply a chemical test to the coolant? My understanding is that the only way to be 100% sure the head is cracked (as opposed to a blown head gasket) is to actually remove and inspect it.

Del

Ferrari 458 Spider and Austin Healey Frogeye Sprite

Del

The Haynes manual shown above is even cheaper on this link http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/BMW-3-s ... 1563923760

Del

I agree with gookah, I'd keep an eye on that battery. The bootlight is switched on and off by a tiny switch which is recessed inside a hole next to the boot-lid catch. I agree that when you try to look inside the boot whilst closing the lid, you can't see the light go off. However, it does go off, b...

Del

I’ve experimented with different plugs in the past and never really noticed any difference. In my opinion save some money and buy the normal/standard ones for your car from a good manufacturer like NGK/Bosch. I believe a lot of the posh plugs around are really designed for longevity rather than a no...

Del

I agree with paulb1976. Cutting out upon slowing and dropping revs sounds like a typical cam sensor issue.

Del

yep I agree. Textbook recommendation from the oil manufacturers would be 5W40 fully synthetic. Anything like 10W40 might be a bit thick when cold. I had quite a noticeable misfire and valve ticking/sticking (on cold starts) when something like 10W/40 was used at a Kwikfit change. I used Mobil (1) 0W...

Del

Nice car with a nice engine. The wheels look in good condition and so an old-timer like me would probably keep them original. However, the "spoke-effect" wheels like Pete59 look good against the dark green sports car type colours. I'd highly recommend a wind deflector, I'd probably fit a c...

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