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Struggled working out how the second wire disconnected (the one the seems to disappear into the chair), realised eventually it was attached to the seatbelt buckle.
You will never be able to fit a new carpet that looks as good as the original so I would strongly suggest you keep it. A good shampoo and hoover is a good idea at this point.
I'm on the fence on the interior upgrades, I drove my car over to my painter (finally) and had the door cards removed, there is no way I could live with a car that didn't have arm rests on the doors. I even made up a "Henley's" centre arm rest for my MK2 Jag as I found it so uncomfortable to drive without the centre armrest, it was a period accessory at the time.
I do however like the retro dash and dials but would it work with the more modern interior?
I have bought a pair of MGB seats that I intend to fix to the existing seat bases. I will probably fit them with the worn and many covers to see how I get on with them, if they are uncomfortable I will just remove them and refit the originals.
And finally, sacrilege I know, but I would really like to fit a hidden pop up sat nav system in the centre of the retro dash, just behind where the fresh air vents would have been. I use mine all the time as I always have the safety camera feature turned on, as I do like to drive safely!
I have found that it is the cameras that you go past on a regular basis are the buggers that normally catch you out.
Tynoprime was doing a great job on his interior upgrades on his MX5 kit. He has been a bit quiet but hopefully now the weather is improving he might start up again.
You will never be able to fit a new carpet that looks as good as the original so I would strongly suggest you keep it. A good shampoo and hoover is a good idea at this point.
I think you are right. There's always an option to spray dye the carpet if I'm really unhappy with it but at the moment cream interior is a go!
Jaguartvr wrote:
I'm on the fence on the interior upgrades, I drove my car over to my painter (finally) and had the door cards removed, there is no way I could live with a car that didn't have arm rests on the doors. I even made up a "Henley's" centre arm rest for my MK2 Jag as I found it so uncomfortable to drive without the centre armrest, it was a period accessory at the time.
I do however like the retro dash and dials but would it work with the more modern interior?
Ive ordered the dashboard from Nubodi so am heading down that route now. I wonder how hard it would be to make an arm rest for the door? More for me to think about. Centre console is a must though I agree.
Jaguartvr wrote:
I have bought a pair of MGB seats that I intend to fix to the existing seat bases. I will probably fit them with the worn and many covers to see how I get on with them, if they are uncomfortable I will just remove them and refit the originals.
I'm undecided - still. I've looked at the MGB ones and the new MGF ones but think I'm going for the same ones Hilltop used (BB2's). I'm used to an upright enough position as all my cars are 2 seaters and once I adjust for legs I've no room to recline.
Jaguartvr wrote:
And finally, sacrilege I know, but I would really like to fit a hidden pop up sat nav system in the centre of the retro dash, just behind where the fresh air vents would have been. I use mine all the time as I always have the safety camera feature turned on, as I do like to drive safely!
I have found that it is the cameras that you go past on a regular basis are the buggers that normally catch you out.
No, I think its a must too - once the new dashboard is in theres a big gap underneath that most have filled with a piece of folded alloy. I don't think it's too big a job (famous last words) to put some kind of frame behind that to hold a single or ideally a double din unit. Cover over the top held in place with velcro...
Jaguartvr wrote:
Tynoprime was doing a great job on his interior upgrades on his MX5 kit. He has been a bit quiet but hopefully now the weather is improving he might start up again.
Love the details in his build, so much so that last night I put a bid in on a sewing machine and am now planning on doing a similar looking centre console and doorcards!
Good afternoon Couerdelion i don`t agree with Jaguartvr with regard to not re-carpeting the Z3 , probably because i did it on mine! I bought a roll of Good quality Dark Blue carpet specifically for auto use from a company in Wigan , made up templates (this was after removing all the BMW plastic interior parts) the first template was made using wallpaper then onto cardboard and finally underlay , it was the underlay templates that i had a specialist in replacement car carpets use which after cutting out he bound the edges , if you have seen some of the interior pictures from my build you will see i installed a rear parcel shelf (using ply) and then covered this with the same bound carpet . A big bonus is the interior looks less standard but also there is less of the unpleasant noise but the exhaust note is still there , thanks Geoff .
Good afternoon Couerdelion i don`t agree with Jaguartvr with regard to not re-carpeting the Z3 , probably because i did it on mine! I bought a roll of Good quality Dark Blue carpet specifically for auto use from a company in Wigan , made up templates (this was after removing all the BMW plastic interior parts) the first template was made using wallpaper then onto cardboard and finally underlay , it was the underlay templates that i had a specialist in replacement car carpets use which after cutting out he bound the edges , if you have seen some of the interior pictures from my build you will see i installed a rear parcel shelf (using ply) and then covered this with the same bound carpet . A big bonus is the interior looks less standard but also there is less of the unpleasant noise but the exhaust note is still there , thanks Geoff .
Now I'm even more unsure. Your blue carpet looks great. To be honest though I think I've already convinced myself to go with black dash and chairs, and then Cream/Beige Carpet and Door panels.
Saw a video on how to make your own door panels on the Practical Classics "Skills Shack" - got 3 months membership for £1. So once I buy a sewing machine I'll give that a go.
Todays job was to see how well my chinese steering wheel boss fitted. Not very well is the answer. Will need a good belt from the rubber mallet I reckon, but didnt want to try tonight as once on I might not get it back off.
As well as building the car I'm also trying to fit in training for a triathlon in October. It's sometimes quite difficult balancing the training with finding time for the car.
This morning I was up early as a mate came by to borrow my van, I was then out to the other side of the city to pick up a 1934 Singer electric sewing machine which is a magnificent piece of engineering. Once that was done I was home, changed into my Lycra and a 2 hour cycle. I then grabbed a sandwich in the garage on my way up to the unit, had 3 hours on the car and then came home changed and headed to the gym...
Todays work was removing the centre console, dials and some of the dash.
Couldn't get the stereo out for love nor money. Ended up smashing it. Only as I removed it did i realise it had been secured from the rear... Argghhh
Thinking more about the interior and colours again today. Was in my SLK which has a black and cream interior and think it confirms that I'll stick with something similar for the 250 swb as it works well (I think so).
Car has been parked up in the dry unit for over a week now but noticed the carpet under where I've removed the seat is soaking (both sides). Will likeley need to remove to dry off properly. Worrying that i dont know where its leaking though.
It will have been gathering in the foot wells for months or even years. Bottom line is the roofs leak on these cars. Lift the carpet out and try and dry it out, hang it up outside in the sun for a few days.
Good morning Couerdelion , my car was exactly the same the carpets were soaked both sides , the sooner the better they are removed to reduce the chance of damage to the electrical connectors that are under there , Geoff .
It will have been gathering in the foot wells for months or even years. Bottom line is the roofs leak on these cars. Lift the carpet out and try and dry it out, hang it up outside in the sun for a few days.
casamolino wrote:
Good morning Couerdelion , my car was exactly the same the carpets were soaked both sides , the sooner the better they are removed to reduce the chance of damage to the electrical connectors that are under there , Geoff .
Got the rest of the dash out and the rear plastics behind where the seats go. First removed the rear most carpet. It weighed a ton as it was saturated with water. Put that outside to start on the drying and went back in to remove the front one. That too was soaked and started to rip on me. I've got what I can out and I'll be shopping for new carpet now.
Got the rest of the carpet removed and the floor is now dried out.
[IMG]IMAG0706 by couerdelion2013, on Flickr[/IMG]
Then took the seats out of my mates Z3 to check the condition of his carpet. Wasn't brilliant - passenger side was slightly damp but drivers side dry. Whilst we had the seats out we replaced the bushings (recommended if you're keeping the originals). OEM are rubber but had just disintegrated. You will know they need replacing if your seat moves slightly backwards and forward when you rock.
I think I'm going to put the original carpet back in and then look for a thin carpet to go on top of that. I'm a bit worried about filling all the voids if I go with a new carpet that doesnt have the thick foam on the back.
Great choice on the seats. They look to be 914 or 911 style?
I think they're more just a general nod to the era. I got a great deal on them and decided if I didn't like them when they turned up at least I have a frame to get recovered.
Yeah, I like the look of the car in general - no fogs either. But I think I will be more the colour scheme I'm copying than anything else
Paul L wrote:
Couerdelion – Your seats look good, as does your “current inspiration” colour choice.
I take it you’ve seen ericholm’s recent photo shoot of old vs. new?
Good luck, Paul.
Yeah, they both look class. The grey and the blue look great and if it hadnt already been done I might have headed in that direction.
Hoping now I get my kit and finish it before someone else goes that way!
This is from Richard at Nubodi as an idea of what can be achieved on the dash swap.
When I was originally looking at black for the car it was the way I was going to go - body coloured top, grey front. Now thinking I might end up all black inside... I really wish I could just decide and stick to it!
Make sure you disconnect the battery and leave for 5 unites before unplugging the air bag.
When you remove the steering wheel you will see the "clock spring", this allows the cables to rotate when the steering wheel is turned. Do not unplug at the clock spring but follow the wires into the steering column and unplug them here.
I'm in the process of swapping the steering wheel. I used the same boss as Casamolino but the clock spring won't fit on it no matter how much I butcher the boss. It's on for now but not happy with it.
Has anyone fitted a boss that takes the clock spring?
