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Last week a good friend of mine bought the 250 convertible that Tribute sold. The multitude of questions he's been asking me have, I'm glad to say, renewed my enthusiasm for mine.
So in the last week I've sorted the wiring that had been cut through when the car was painted, refitted some of the plastic trims inside by the doors and rear of the seats and finished off the rear parcel shelf area although I still have one more waffle alloy tops to make where the seatbelt comes through
It all looks a bit bare at the minute but most won't be seen anyway when the seats go back in.
I made the alloy sill kick trims from scrap MGB ones which I cut down. They loose a little of the plastic look of that area.
Next is the alterations to the centre console and gear lever surrounds including hiding the hazard switch in the ash tray.
The more major issue that I'll deal with later is the stress cracking on the front wings. I'll let it develop a bit more then see what the painter thinks is the best way to deal with it.
The carpet that you are using looks to be a pretty good match to the original boot carpet. Where did you get it from?
Thanks
Just above / to the front of the air vents. I'm guessing it's a result of the mods to nip and tuck the lines.
First thought was cover them with racing stripes but as I can feel them now, I'd be able to feel them through any vinyl stripes so I'll let them finish growing and decide then.
I suspected that could be a problem, when I was slicing my wings they felt a bit too stressed which is why I cut two slots to try and relieve the stress.
Could you re slice the cut to relieve some of the stress, maybe cutting two finer slots? You could always cover the inside of the bonnet with some flow coat.
I have had some flow coat mixed as close as possible to the paint, I intend to flow coat the inside of the bonnet and boot so you don't see the raw GRP or the slice cuts.
OK, interior details.
First problem is I'm making it up as I go along so some bits appear and then get changed.
The door trims and dash/console, I've shown the making/altering of earlier. Front kick panels and the side trims around the doors are stock BMW (apart from the XJS chrome grilles over the BMW kick panel speakers.
On top of the rear speaker housings would have been a lot of BMW plastic but this was all beige so was sold a long while ago. I've now made caps on them from some pressed aluminium scrap that I found in the shed.
The headlining, roll cage and rear shelf are all covered in van lining type carpet. There's a cover in the headlining over the high level brake light which is from a Citroen Saxo (possibly) and is also covered in the carpet.
the 2 black strips on the parcel shelf are black painted UPVC house window trim used to cover the carpet joins.
The gap between the rear speaker pods is a piece of wood covered with the patterned vinyl I used on the doors. Along the front of it to cover the edge of the carpet is a piece of angle alloy from a suspended ceiling, painted black.
I've now started on the centre console again as the first version did away with the factory ashtray. This will go back in now for the hazard switch to go in and the alloy ashtray has been moved to the little cubby area further back on the angle. That's from a Matra Bagheera and holds the control for the exhaust.
Have you got a pic of the headlining please ? and was it a pig to work around the roll bar assembly ?
I'll take a couple of photos for you.
Fitting is wasn't too bad once I'd fitted the parcel shelf and rear window surround covering with the rear window in place. Now that was a bugger.
The roll bar actually made it easier to fit as it divided the area into sections.
My main mistake was using spray glue. It made fitting it much easier but when the weather got hot it sagged down so it rested on my head. If just added a load more spray glue but know I'll eventually have to do it again properly.
My main mistake was using spray glue. It made fitting it much easier but when the weather got hot it sagged down so it rested on my head. If just added a load more spray glue but know I'll eventually have to do it again properly.
I used high temp contact adhesive (just brushed on) which Quantum Sports Cars supplied for my Quantum and (dare I say) It's been good. A fellow kit - builder has also had good results with evo stick (Surprised me) and that one they used to sell (name escapes me) that you could 'move' ie it didn't bond unless you pressed hard. Neither have melted in the heat of his car.
Here's a few pictures.
The tops to the speaker pods I'm making from a piece of alloy.
The centre console I've covered this morning
The headlining…
I'm sure a professional trimmer would have made a lovely cloth headliner for it, but I enjoy the fiddling about with interior stuff using what I have lying around or can blag from friends.
Centre console fitted now. The hazard switch works well in the ashtray with holes cut for wires and depth.
Plug for sat nav etc fitted on the side of the front console. It should be ok as it's not in the way of the gear lever or my legs when anything is plugged in.
Making the gear lever surround now. A piece of carpet underlay first to build it up, then a plywood plate.
This will have a bit more suspended ceiling angle bonded to the sides. Will finish this tomorrow if time.
Plug for sat nav etc fitted on the side of the front console. It should be ok as it's not in the way of the gear lever or my legs when anything is plugged in.
I wish the 'designers' of our Fiat Grande Punto has paid attention to such detail - the aux socket is just behind the gear lever gaiter so any time we use the sat nav the wire is constantly it the way
Well that's the interior as far as I'm doing for now. There's always a few more bits for the future, but that's enough for now as I really should do some non car jobs for a while.
Pleased to see that you got a second wind for this. I have just read the whole thread right through (for the second time), and it reflects well on your effort to make the car your own.
Pleased to see that you got a second wind for this. I have just read the whole thread right through (for the second time), and it reflects well on your effort to make the car your own.
Thanks for that Barber, I'm going to see it through to the end now.
To do list…
Rubber round from window.
Repro stickers on top of screen (bought over a year ago and waiting for the rubber)
Trim inside boot.
Sort front wing cracks.
Put in working radio.
Might do list…
Connect a large horn to the 'rocket launcher' switch.
Reshape column switch knobs for older appearance.
Put chrome rings around heater knobs.
Fit sill stainless mouldings which I already have.
Fit racing stripes of some sort.
I would suggest a nice round alloy gear knob and a pair of chrome or black bars either side of the gear lever. Fitted just in front of the ashtray going to the upper, lower edge of the forward centre console. Would just take the edge of the square edges that always look a little homemade.
Surely some nice forum member with access to a CNC machine will start offering a nice polished H gate for the Z3 rather than the material gator.
When making up these sort of modifications, I have found the plastic Estate agent signs very useful, easy to cut,drill and glue. Best acquired on the way back from the pub late at night after a few sharpeners.
