26 Apr 2019, 12:08am
Is it possible to reshape the originals? Grind to new shape and chrome plate maybe?
Tribute Z3gato (?!!)
26 Apr 2019, 4:23am
Is it possible to reshape the originals? Grind to new shape and chrome plate maybe?
Chrome plating / replacing the existing handles is a good idea, and was likely to be the default option. It would be much simpler.
28 Apr 2019, 7:33am
BEWARE OF TOUCHING Z3DOOR LOCKS!
Have been working on 2 Z3's and both have deadlocked. Both have the roof down so I can get inside them, however even with the key in the ignition the doors cannot be opened from the inside. Do not confuse locking with deadlocking. As the doors have skins attached to them the outer door lock is unaccessible so the cars simply cannot be unlocked. I have had to drill a hole in doth cars door skins so that the door lock can be accesed, as soon as the key is inserted the car will unlock.
It is a design feature, if you lock the car with the roof down a potential thief cannot simply lean inside the car and unlock it, a sendible precaution but a PITA if you fit door skins over the lock.
I have cut a door up to see clearly how the door handle/lock works and to say it is over complicated is an understatement.
If you are going to fit door skins you should have a dummy key hole under the door handle on the skin so it can be removed to gain access to the original lock. If you start messing around with different door handle options you will end up with problems. For instance, not only does the key operate the locking mechanism, it also includes a microswitch that operates the door actuators, these are virtually inaccessible and overly complicated, not like a normal door solenoid.
Have been working on 2 Z3's and both have deadlocked. Both have the roof down so I can get inside them, however even with the key in the ignition the doors cannot be opened from the inside. Do not confuse locking with deadlocking. As the doors have skins attached to them the outer door lock is unaccessible so the cars simply cannot be unlocked. I have had to drill a hole in doth cars door skins so that the door lock can be accesed, as soon as the key is inserted the car will unlock.
It is a design feature, if you lock the car with the roof down a potential thief cannot simply lean inside the car and unlock it, a sendible precaution but a PITA if you fit door skins over the lock.
I have cut a door up to see clearly how the door handle/lock works and to say it is over complicated is an understatement.
If you are going to fit door skins you should have a dummy key hole under the door handle on the skin so it can be removed to gain access to the original lock. If you start messing around with different door handle options you will end up with problems. For instance, not only does the key operate the locking mechanism, it also includes a microswitch that operates the door actuators, these are virtually inaccessible and overly complicated, not like a normal door solenoid.
28 Apr 2019, 12:58pm
You have got me worried now. Is it an option to remove the lock and secure it on the inside of the door so that it accessible by removing the door card. I suppose though that doesn’t help if the roof is down��
28 Apr 2019, 2:49pm
The door card can be removed with the door closed but if the door has deadlocked you can only open it using the key in the door lock which is hidden by the 250 door skin.
Found this on the web
[COLOR="RoyalBlue"][I]BMW's fatal flaw?
Having owned BMW's for over 30years and a current owner of an X1, 5 series and a Z3 I will never buy another BMW until they fix this flaw.
Why?
Having had a nice Sunday lunch with our neighbours my wife pops into a garage to pick up some milk. Unbeknown to her she locks the car of my 5series as she put the keys in her bag.
One of my passages was feeling a bit sick and said she could not open the window so I said I would try but it was dead and would not work.
No problem I said, I need to press the unlock button on the dash board but again no luck.
Then I tried to open the door in the back seat but no joy, so I jumped into the driver seat to open the door. It looked promising as the button that locks the car lifted up but again no luck.
So there we were completely locked in with no way out and we all stated to panic.
I tried to phone my wife but kept dialling the wrong number and the tension started to build as we all realised we were trapped inside.
It was a terrible feeling something I never want to experience again totally trapped inside my BMW with no way out.
Eventually my wife returned to see us banging on the door and she opened the car to our relief.
This can't be right I thought so when I got home I tried locking the Z3 with the key and again I was locked and the only way out was using the key. Luckily in a Z3 I could manually take the roof down.
So I then tried the X1 same thing no way out unless you have the key. And the my son's Mini, just the same.
So I then called the dealer that I have bought all my cars from over the years and told them the problem.
“No sir this can't happen you just need to pull on the handle twice and you will be fine.” Was the reply.
“No I said, go and lock the door when you are inside and try getting out of the car without the key.”
“But why would you do that sir?” Implying that I am a bit stupid.
“Well you go and try it.” And with that the conversation ended.
5 minutes later my BMW sales rep calls me.
“Nick it's a security feature so that once the car is locked from the outside everything is switched off and disabled.”
“But what happens if I have a crash or an electrical failure” I argued.
“Nick this can't happen if the key is in the ignition the doors would open automatically, trust me” and “Now you know about the dead lock you won't do that again” he continues “It's the same for all German cars.”
I said thanks put the phone down and thought what would I prefer? A car that is difficult to steal or a car that lets me out of if I get locked in. Plus I have to trust technology in an accident and hope the doors will open.
Just imagine if the car caught fire and you could not get out! Here is an article about when your battery dies and you can't get in http://www.bmwe34.net/E34main/Trouble/Locked.htm well what happenes if the battery dies when you are inside the car? And here is one more link about being locked in a BMW http://www.bimmerwerkz.com/forum/5-series-e12-e28-e34-e39/locked-car-lol-uugh-61470.html
Here is one more http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?1607077-Locked-inside-my-car
So I then searched YouTube and quickly found a tragic story of a young 14 year old girl that had suffocated. Her brother had a lecture an hour before her so he left her in the car as she slept and locked it.
[/COLOR][/I]
Found this on the web
[COLOR="RoyalBlue"][I]BMW's fatal flaw?
Having owned BMW's for over 30years and a current owner of an X1, 5 series and a Z3 I will never buy another BMW until they fix this flaw.
Why?
Having had a nice Sunday lunch with our neighbours my wife pops into a garage to pick up some milk. Unbeknown to her she locks the car of my 5series as she put the keys in her bag.
One of my passages was feeling a bit sick and said she could not open the window so I said I would try but it was dead and would not work.
No problem I said, I need to press the unlock button on the dash board but again no luck.
Then I tried to open the door in the back seat but no joy, so I jumped into the driver seat to open the door. It looked promising as the button that locks the car lifted up but again no luck.
So there we were completely locked in with no way out and we all stated to panic.
I tried to phone my wife but kept dialling the wrong number and the tension started to build as we all realised we were trapped inside.
It was a terrible feeling something I never want to experience again totally trapped inside my BMW with no way out.
Eventually my wife returned to see us banging on the door and she opened the car to our relief.
This can't be right I thought so when I got home I tried locking the Z3 with the key and again I was locked and the only way out was using the key. Luckily in a Z3 I could manually take the roof down.
So I then tried the X1 same thing no way out unless you have the key. And the my son's Mini, just the same.
So I then called the dealer that I have bought all my cars from over the years and told them the problem.
“No sir this can't happen you just need to pull on the handle twice and you will be fine.” Was the reply.
“No I said, go and lock the door when you are inside and try getting out of the car without the key.”
“But why would you do that sir?” Implying that I am a bit stupid.
“Well you go and try it.” And with that the conversation ended.
5 minutes later my BMW sales rep calls me.
“Nick it's a security feature so that once the car is locked from the outside everything is switched off and disabled.”
“But what happens if I have a crash or an electrical failure” I argued.
“Nick this can't happen if the key is in the ignition the doors would open automatically, trust me” and “Now you know about the dead lock you won't do that again” he continues “It's the same for all German cars.”
I said thanks put the phone down and thought what would I prefer? A car that is difficult to steal or a car that lets me out of if I get locked in. Plus I have to trust technology in an accident and hope the doors will open.
Just imagine if the car caught fire and you could not get out! Here is an article about when your battery dies and you can't get in http://www.bmwe34.net/E34main/Trouble/Locked.htm well what happenes if the battery dies when you are inside the car? And here is one more link about being locked in a BMW http://www.bimmerwerkz.com/forum/5-series-e12-e28-e34-e39/locked-car-lol-uugh-61470.html
Here is one more http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?1607077-Locked-inside-my-car
So I then searched YouTube and quickly found a tragic story of a young 14 year old girl that had suffocated. Her brother had a lecture an hour before her so he left her in the car as she slept and locked it.
[/COLOR][/I]
28 Apr 2019, 5:42pm
BEWARE OF TOUCHING Z3DOOR LOCKS!
Have been working on 2 Z3's and both have deadlocked. Both have the roof down so I can get inside them, however even with the key in the ignition the doors cannot be opened from the inside. Do not confuse locking with deadlocking. As the doors have skins attached to them the outer door lock is unaccessible so the cars simply cannot be unlocked. I have had to drill a hole in doth cars door skins so that the door lock can be accesed, as soon as the key is inserted the car will unlock.
It is a design feature, if you lock the car with the roof down a potential thief cannot simply lean inside the car and unlock it, a sendible precaution but a PITA if you fit door skins over the lock.
I have cut a door up to see clearly how the door handle/lock works and to say it is over complicated is an understatement.
If you are going to fit door skins you should have a dummy key hole under the door handle on the skin so it can be removed to gain access to the original lock. If you start messing around with different door handle options you will end up with problems. For instance, not only does the key operate the locking mechanism, it also includes a microswitch that operates the door actuators, these are virtually inaccessible and overly complicated, not like a normal door solenoid.
Have been working on 2 Z3's and both have deadlocked. Both have the roof down so I can get inside them, however even with the key in the ignition the doors cannot be opened from the inside. Do not confuse locking with deadlocking. As the doors have skins attached to them the outer door lock is unaccessible so the cars simply cannot be unlocked. I have had to drill a hole in doth cars door skins so that the door lock can be accesed, as soon as the key is inserted the car will unlock.
It is a design feature, if you lock the car with the roof down a potential thief cannot simply lean inside the car and unlock it, a sendible precaution but a PITA if you fit door skins over the lock.
I have cut a door up to see clearly how the door handle/lock works and to say it is over complicated is an understatement.
If you are going to fit door skins you should have a dummy key hole under the door handle on the skin so it can be removed to gain access to the original lock. If you start messing around with different door handle options you will end up with problems. For instance, not only does the key operate the locking mechanism, it also includes a microswitch that operates the door actuators, these are virtually inaccessible and overly complicated, not like a normal door solenoid.
Good points. As the Z3gato does not have door skins, presumably I'd have to move the key lock mechanism across to the new handle panel. Bot not the radical problem when using door skins. Cutting your doorskin doesn't do it for me.
28 Apr 2019, 6:13pm
So what we could do is turn the lock round so you can put the key in from the inside and set it in the door card rather than hiding it behind the new door skin
28 Apr 2019, 6:22pm
You would still need to smash a window to get into the car.
Unless you are a genius there is no way to re-engineer the door locking mechanism.
I bought an extra door to cut up and see what could be changed but everything would have been too big a compromise.
Small fake door lock on the outside skin that can be removed and a BMW long bladed key to open.
Simplest solution is often best.
Unless you are a genius there is no way to re-engineer the door locking mechanism.
I bought an extra door to cut up and see what could be changed but everything would have been too big a compromise.
Small fake door lock on the outside skin that can be removed and a BMW long bladed key to open.
Simplest solution is often best.
28 Apr 2019, 6:26pm
That does sound like the easiest solution
Thanks
Thanks
30 Apr 2019, 3:55pm
Quite easy. Drill al hole in the new doorskin under the handle, weld the nut from the fake lock to a small plate en glue this insite of the new doorskin. You screw the fake lock in and out the new door skin
30 Apr 2019, 4:05pm
30 Apr 2019, 7:03pm
Perfect solution but I would try and source a car lock. A Chinese cabinet lock will probably rust solid as they are not intended for outdoor use.
30 Apr 2019, 9:48pm
1 May 2019, 7:49am
Perfect
1 May 2019, 9:48pm
How about one of these... and a long key!
https://www.angclassiccarparts.co.uk/products/triumph-5981/tr2-tr3-tr3a/body-parts-fittings/boot-lid-lock-chrome-escutcheon-tr2-tr3
https://www.angclassiccarparts.co.uk/products/triumph-5981/tr2-tr3-tr3a/body-parts-fittings/boot-lid-lock-chrome-escutcheon-tr2-tr3
2 May 2019, 12:30pm
I see Aston Martin have responded to the interest that you have created by putting the DB4 GTS Zagato back into production.
https://www.motoringresearch.com/car-news/aston-martin-db4-zagato-production/
https://www.motoringresearch.com/car-news/aston-martin-db4-zagato-production/
2 May 2019, 1:39pm
I see Aston Martin have responded to the interest that you have created by putting the DB4 GTS Zagato back into production.
https://www.motoringresearch.com/car-news/aston-martin-db4-zagato-production/
https://www.motoringresearch.com/car-news/aston-martin-db4-zagato-production/
Well, the Sanction II ones fetch over £1.5m a pop, so they can afford to dilute the after market a little. Of course, mine is NOT a DB4 Zagato, or any other kind of AM if it comes to that, but they sure as hell are lovely looking cars.
2 May 2019, 4:50pm
There is a lovely one in the back page of Classic & Sports Car magazine this month. Very nice ! I can see this concept working really well in convertible form too, like the 250 SWB.
2 May 2019, 9:07pm
There is a lovely one in the back page of Classic & Sports Car magazine this month. Very nice ! I can see this concept working really well in convertible form too, like the 250 SWB.
There are many beautiful cars from the 1960s, but for me, the Zagatos of all marques have something special. That is probably personal taste. However, the AM DB4 Zagato has been voted the most beautiful car more than once. It's influence on the highly protected DB5 is clear. Luckily, the Zagato influence spans many marques, and in the 1960s, many of the design features between Zagato and Pininfarina are very similar. So far as i know, the Old No 7 275 has never made it to a convertible, and it remains to be seen if Chris will take the Z3gato there. But you are right, it would work well as a soft top.
23 May 2019, 1:23am
Is it really 20 days, almost three weeks since we heard anything about this fantastic project?
It feels longer to me (I check pretty much every day, just in case my subscribe function doesn’t work...)
It feels longer to me (I check pretty much every day, just in case my subscribe function doesn’t work...)
23 May 2019, 5:19am
Slow and steady, the other side is getting there. I did not post photos as they are pretty much a mirror of the ones already posted. I'll put some up next time I visit.
23 May 2019, 8:21pm
Thank you ��
24 May 2019, 9:55am
If you are looking at Barchetta door handles, this is what they look like fitted.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/gju9XCRXfihe2iiZ8
https://photos.app.goo.gl/gju9XCRXfihe2iiZ8
24 May 2019, 4:35pm
If you are looking at Barchetta door handles, this is what they look like fitted.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/gju9XCRXfihe2iiZ8
https://photos.app.goo.gl/gju9XCRXfihe2iiZ8
Thanks.
30 May 2019, 8:31pm
Had a brief visit and look around this place today down in Cobham, Wow !!
http://www.rswilliams.co.uk/
http://www.rswilliams.co.uk/