Modifying and taking things off.
Modifying and taking things off.
Most cars seem to have parts that people claim you are "better off without"
On the Z3 it's the CDV.
On my Land Rover there are a few "take off" items....the CAT, the EGR valve, the centre pipe. On my Honda Hornet 900 it was the flap valve in the air intake.
On my Transit Connect the advice was remove the DPF.
And so on.
l have never had any success with this. Removing the Z3 CDV made the clutch more abrupt which was harder to drive smoothly, taking off the EGR made no difference on my Landy and removing the CAT caused a slight improvement in pickup but the trade off was an annoying drone at 65 mph.
Removing the centre pipe made it sound like a Lancaster Bomber and got me a VRN from the rozzers.
I took the flap valve out of my Honda and it only caused the exhaust to backfire on the over run.
Removing my Transit DPF generated more smoke and a pungent smell that was not there before.
l think manufacturers fit these parts for a reason and spend millions developing the technology, only for people to bin it because the vehicle will be "better".
Maybe somebody on here has found a benefit from ditching some part, if so please describe how the vehicle was improved.
On the Z3 it's the CDV.
On my Land Rover there are a few "take off" items....the CAT, the EGR valve, the centre pipe. On my Honda Hornet 900 it was the flap valve in the air intake.
On my Transit Connect the advice was remove the DPF.
And so on.
l have never had any success with this. Removing the Z3 CDV made the clutch more abrupt which was harder to drive smoothly, taking off the EGR made no difference on my Landy and removing the CAT caused a slight improvement in pickup but the trade off was an annoying drone at 65 mph.
Removing the centre pipe made it sound like a Lancaster Bomber and got me a VRN from the rozzers.
I took the flap valve out of my Honda and it only caused the exhaust to backfire on the over run.
Removing my Transit DPF generated more smoke and a pungent smell that was not there before.
l think manufacturers fit these parts for a reason and spend millions developing the technology, only for people to bin it because the vehicle will be "better".
Maybe somebody on here has found a benefit from ditching some part, if so please describe how the vehicle was improved.
- BladeRunner919
- Joined: Fri 17 Feb, 2012 20:18
- Posts: 2225
Re: Modifying and taking things off.
Viscous fan. I took one off my Range Rover diesel, and many people remove them from BMWs (mine never had one). Avoids the fan exploding and destroying everything in it's path, plus puits less pressure on the water pump bearing. Z3s have an aux fan that is more than capable of doing the job.
Re: Modifying and taking things off.
Yes another Land Rover "take off" which l was tempted to do.
But the jury is still out over whether it's a good idea on the TD5 (as fitted to Discovery/Defender from 1999-2006)
But the jury is still out over whether it's a good idea on the TD5 (as fitted to Discovery/Defender from 1999-2006)
Re: Modifying and taking things off.
only on air con models?BladeRunner919 wrote:Viscous fan. I took one off my Range Rover diesel, and many people remove them from BMWs (mine never had one). Avoids the fan exploding and destroying everything in it's path, plus puits less pressure on the water pump bearing. Z3s have an aux fan that is more than capable of doing the job.
Z3 2.8 Progress Journal (Mine)
Z3 1.9 Sport Progress Journal (Wifey's)
I have an element of 'M-styling' on my car, If that's a good enough reason for the manufacturers to adorn a 320 with the M badge, then its certainly a good enough reason for me..
Re: Modifying and taking things off.
Removed the CDV valve on my 2.0 and fitted a braided hose which made quite a difference. Just removed the standard hose on my 2.8 and fitted a braided hose (there was no CDV, don't know if it had been removed or came like that as standard) and not really found any noticeable difference.
One thing that should be taken off that is simply not needed is the secondary air pump. On both my zeds they have become noisy on start up, we blanked the one off on the 2.0 and left it in place but on the 2.8 I have blanked it off and removed the whole system. Both have been fine without.
Another decent mod to do is the 'golf tee' mod to blank of the valve that opens in the exhaust to give it more noise, making it sound throaty all the time.
And get rid of the spare wheel and carrier, for those that have fitted bigger wheels it is useless as there is nowhere to put the bigger wheel you have taken of in the event of a flat to swap for the spare wheel. Most are that rusted anyway you wouldn't really be safe to use it.
One thing that should be taken off that is simply not needed is the secondary air pump. On both my zeds they have become noisy on start up, we blanked the one off on the 2.0 and left it in place but on the 2.8 I have blanked it off and removed the whole system. Both have been fine without.
Another decent mod to do is the 'golf tee' mod to blank of the valve that opens in the exhaust to give it more noise, making it sound throaty all the time.
And get rid of the spare wheel and carrier, for those that have fitted bigger wheels it is useless as there is nowhere to put the bigger wheel you have taken of in the event of a flat to swap for the spare wheel. Most are that rusted anyway you wouldn't really be safe to use it.
2000 BMW Z3 2.8 Titanium Silver Roadster with too many mods to list
Click For 2.0 Progress Journal
Click For 2.8 Progress Journal
Click For 2.0 Progress Journal
Click For 2.8 Progress Journal
Re: Modifying and taking things off.
Yes l found the spare wheel in my 2.8 was shockingly rusted. But the one in my 3.0 still looked new. The underside parts generally on the 3.0 are free from surface rust so it's clearly been a Summer car.
But l did realise you'd nowhere to put the full size wheel that you took off!
So l've packed a compressor with puncture sealant. But l left the spare wheel in place under the boot floor as there seemed no advantage in removing it.
But l did realise you'd nowhere to put the full size wheel that you took off!
So l've packed a compressor with puncture sealant. But l left the spare wheel in place under the boot floor as there seemed no advantage in removing it.
Re: Modifying and taking things off.
Removing weight is the cheapest and one of the best mods that you can do to anything that you want to go faster, or handle better.
The amount of weight that you want to remove will depend on how much luxury you want to retain.
The following is free to remove...
Minimum fuel. A full tank is around 39kg.
CD unit in boot.
Radio.
Electric seat motors.
Roof motor and pump.
Spare wheel.
Carpets.
Unused sections of the wiring loom.
Unused brackets for components that aren't fitted to your car.
Unused (or unnecessary) parts of your car (e.g. front fog lights and all the associated wiring and switches)
Valve caps .
There's a 1% improvement in the power-to-weight ratio for every 12-14kg that you remove.
There's a lot of improvement to be made if you start lightening components, but you need to know what you are doing as you will be weakening them as well.
The amount of weight that you want to remove will depend on how much luxury you want to retain.
The following is free to remove...
Minimum fuel. A full tank is around 39kg.
CD unit in boot.
Radio.
Electric seat motors.
Roof motor and pump.
Spare wheel.
Carpets.
Unused sections of the wiring loom.
Unused brackets for components that aren't fitted to your car.
Unused (or unnecessary) parts of your car (e.g. front fog lights and all the associated wiring and switches)
Valve caps .
There's a 1% improvement in the power-to-weight ratio for every 12-14kg that you remove.
There's a lot of improvement to be made if you start lightening components, but you need to know what you are doing as you will be weakening them as well.
Pingu
Re: Modifying and taking things off.
I'm sure that in some cases it's the driver who should slim down! I, for one, am no longer the 9st skinny blighter I was as a teenager.
Re: Modifying and taking things off.
My Ferrari had a space saver spare wheel in the front, which was a waste of time as there was again nowhere to put the wheel that you took off.
But the extra weight from the spare wheel improved handling due to it being over the front wheels.
l would suggest that on a Z3 3.0 or M you need all the weight over the back wheels that you can get, within reason.
But the extra weight from the spare wheel improved handling due to it being over the front wheels.
l would suggest that on a Z3 3.0 or M you need all the weight over the back wheels that you can get, within reason.
Re: Modifying and taking things off.
You get the "weight" over the back wheels by applying the powerlightning wrote:My Ferrari had a space saver spare wheel in the front, which was a waste of time as there was again nowhere to put the wheel that you took off.
But the extra weight from the spare wheel improved handling due to it being over the front wheels.
l would suggest that on a Z3 3.0 or M you need all the weight over the back wheels that you can get, within reason.
Pingu
Re: Modifying and taking things off.
Doesn't help going into a corner on a trailing throttle though
Re: Modifying and taking things off.
pingu wrote:Removing weight is the cheapest and one of the best mods that you can do to anything that you want to go faster, or handle better.
The amount of weight that you want to remove will depend on how much luxury you want to retain.
The following is free to remove...
Minimum fuel. A full tank is around 39kg.
CD unit in boot.
Radio.
Electric seat motors.
Roof motor and pump.
Spare wheel.
Carpets.
Unused sections of the wiring loom.
Unused brackets for components that aren't fitted to your car.
Unused (or unnecessary) parts of your car (e.g. front fog lights and all the associated wiring and switches)
Valve caps .
There's a 1% improvement in the power-to-weight ratio for every 12-14kg that you remove.
There's a lot of improvement to be made if you start lightening components, but you need to know what you are doing as you will be weakening them as well.
or just go on a diet....
Z3 2.8 Progress Journal (Mine)
Z3 1.9 Sport Progress Journal (Wifey's)
I have an element of 'M-styling' on my car, If that's a good enough reason for the manufacturers to adorn a 320 with the M badge, then its certainly a good enough reason for me..
Re: Modifying and taking things off.
If removing weight, you should start with lighter wheels - that's rotating mass which will be 2x as efficient as removing weight everywhere else.
Re: Modifying and taking things off.
AFAIK for 2.8 CDV is part of the hose, not separate part.g8jka wrote:Just removed the standard hose on my 2.8 and fitted a braided hose (there was no CDV, don't know if it had been removed or came like that as standard) and not really found any noticeable difference.
Part 21521159714 (PRESSURE HOSE ASSY.CLUTCH — restricted) was found on the following Z3 vehicles:
Z3 1.9 Roadster, M44 (CH73) : CLUTCH CONTROL
Z3 2.5 Roadster, M52 (CH93) : CLUTCH CONTROL
Z3 2.8 Coupe, M52 (CK53) : CLUTCH CONTROL
Z3 2.8 Roadster, M52 (CJ33) : CLUTCH CONTROL
Z3 2.8 Roadster, M52 (CH33) : CLUTCH CONTROL
Z3 M Roadster, S52 (CK93) : CLUTCH CONTROL
Part 21526753766 (PRESSURE HOSE ASSY.CLUTCH — non-restricted) was found on the following Z3 vehicles:
Z3 2.5i Roadster, M54 (CN33) : CLUTCH CONTROL
Z3 3.0i Coupe, M54 (CK73) : CLUTCH CONTROL
Z3 3.0i Roadster, M54 (CN53) : CLUTCH CONTROL
Part 21521163910 (LOCK VALVE) was found on the following Z3 vehicles:
Z3 2.5i Roadster, M54 (CN33) : CLUTCH CONTROL
Z3 3.0i Coupe, M54 (CK73) : CLUTCH CONTROL
Z3 3.0i Roadster, M54 (CN53) : CLUTCH CONTROL
Re: Modifying and taking things off.
If it's fitted to the hose I couldn't see anything that resembled it, just looked like a standard hose to me. If it was in the hose and has now been removed to fit the braided hose in it's place, I have noticed no difference at all hence the reason I thought there is not one fitted on the standard hose.
2000 BMW Z3 2.8 Titanium Silver Roadster with too many mods to list
Click For 2.0 Progress Journal
Click For 2.8 Progress Journal
Click For 2.0 Progress Journal
Click For 2.8 Progress Journal