Thanks gents.
Andy, I'll take some pictures of the bonnet grille for you. It's been on a while but being black it doesn't show up much. It's made for a piece of mesh from some sort of Mitsubishi which I folded up and glassed in from behind. It also has grilles over the wing vents (made from the perforated metal on the back of an old heater) but again as they are black they don't show up much.
Cheers, Bob.
Thanks again everyone.
I had a go at the rear window trims but will be having a word with a guy who's done some before to see if he'll do it for. It's bound to be cheaper than having to replace the rubber I'm bound to rip and redo the paint I'm certain to scratch.
Outside now just needs the sill trims then it's get on with the interior and boot trimming.
Outside may get period race stickers later, I'll see what I think when I've lived with it.
Also need to sort some some of rubber round the windscreen and possibly a sun strip as the top of the glass accidentally got sanded/scratched.
The exhaust will be done in stainless before Stoneleigh.
Cheers, Bob.
Thanks Geoff,
I think your wheels look great but if you did want a change, I'm sure someone on here who's planning/building a Z3 based kit would want them.
ANDY--
Here's a couple of pictures of the bonnet mesh for you. Also one with the bonnet up to show that I'm not much into fancy paint and chrome under there as I tend to leave it closed at events.
Today I'm starting on the door trims, but only until lunch as this afternoon is ice cream eating at the seaside.
Better get back to it, I only came in to check on Nubodi's thread to make sure I don't miss anything obvious.
Bob.
Made the wooden bases for the door panels. The top doesn't line up from the door to the window frame as it got nearer the front so I made a wooden spacer which is fitted to the back.
The van lining material is just the padding as I had plenty but didn't have any foam. Diamond pattern vinyl I bought a while ago will go on later. The handles are auto jumble stock and the chrome strip is from a scrap XJS Jaguar door trim.
I've also started on the rear parcel shelf. It's a boot carpet from something or other. It's thick so is being used a a base to cover the many lumps and bumps in a Z3.
As usual, lots of started jobs. If they go well and I reach a good point to stop, I do something else. That way I always look forward to getting back out there again. Odd way of doing things perhaps, but it works for me.
The car is at the workshop today as the drivers side now won't lock/unlock from inside or outside. Once Mike's sorted that, he'll put some sort of emergency release in in case it happens again.
I had a little time today so decided to make surrounds for the inner door handles. A cut out some scrap alloy plate and thought I'd add the badges as there's only one Italia badge on the grille, so not too much to spoil the simple appearance.
Just need to drill some mounting holes for the plate and vinyl the door trims and it's another job ticked off.
Bob.
Hi, I've been trying to get more details from the paint supplier about the colour mix. I took a while for them to say they would let us have the formula as it was going abroad, but when they found out you were in the USA they said there was no point as the type of paint they use is illegal where you are.
Oh well, we tried.
Hope you find something similar as I'm very pleased with it and all who've seen the car say it looks right on the period of car.
All the best, Bob.
Cheers, Bob.
Mikey has managed to sort mine now, although he has said that if it plays up agin, it's scrap the BMW stuff and build a new locking mechanism.
I spent some time on the first door trim. It's not far off finished now.
Thanks Smash, I'm very pleased.
Nothing will happen with the car now for a couple of weeks, then it's all go to be ready(ish) for Stoneleigh.
Cheers, Bob.
Back from holiday yesterday evening so lots to do before Stoneleigh.
Discovered the door panel doesn't fit as I'd used too much padding at the top. Will dismantle and make the top section again.
Rear screen chrome trim fitted professionally today, still a sod to do and required some cutting at the bottom. Car looks better for it now.
Made the headlining today. Just the fluffy van lining material but still took a long while. Roll cage covered in it as well. Jet lag didn't help speed or accuracy, but it looks ok.
Stripped the drivers seat so put the spacers in the sliders. Found I'd lost them since I did the passengers side. A job for another day now.
Bob.
Today I tidied up the front corners of the screen where the cage bolts in.
Fitted the under dash parts.
Moved the air (outside/recirculating) switches to the vacant headlight adjustor space.
Nearly finished the downwards part of the centre console.
As I refit parts they are all given a good clean and polish up. When the console was back in I thought I'd better make sure things worked. The heater fan certainly does as I dumped a tin full of filler dust through the vents and all over everything I'd cleaned. Oh well, better down than on the way out somewhere.
Couldn't find the seat spacers so ordered some more. Hopefully they arrive tomorrow as in the afternoon the car is going for it's new exhaust.
Had some time this morning so I started sorting out the rear parcel shelf. I want to keep as much usable space as possible but get around all the lumps and bolts on there.
Moved some other things in the garage and found the seat spacers and got them fitted . An hour later the new ones arrived. I have a spare set now.
Want to fit the accessory plug into the console and found I'd lost the adapter bits. You can guess the next bit. I bought a new one so I expect to find the lost parts shortly.
Bought more glue and van lining fabric so when the car comes back tomorrow from having the exhaust made. I can hopefully finish the rear shelf.
This afternoon I collected the car from good friend Mark at Power and Performance.
The standard (and very nice) choice for a 250swb exhaust is 2 twin tailpipes but I'm a hot rodder so had to do something different. Mine has stainless twin pipes down one side as the standard Z3 does, but with a difference. Mark fitted a remote control cut out flap so that although the gases exit through the pipe ends, the silencer can be bypassed. I've had some fun with that already.
I've had to accept that the interior isn't going to be finished in time as I need to get the battery checked out by the suppliers tomorrow. This means the only free time I have left is some of Saturday and the car is very grubby so will need that time for a decent clean up.
The good part is that I now have more thinking time to sort out the little items that finish the car off, and an excuse to add more to the thread through the summer.
Hope to see some of you on Monday.
Cheers, Bob.
The flat battery problem turned out to be a faulty battery which as it had a 3 year warranty was replaced. The jump leads have lived in the boot for a while now so I think they can stay a little longer.
This afternoon's plans were cancelled so I finished the left door panel and made the right one. The car looks better now they're on.
Tomorrow will be a good clean of the car all round. Especially inside as the filler dust kept blowing through the vents. I'd better put the passenger seat in as well as a mate is coming with me to Stoneleigh.
Any spare time and I'll start on the centre tunnel. Not sure what to do yet but I may adapt the original console where it's between the seats and use some diamond vinyl around the gear lever, with an MGB surround I have. Or not.
Photos of progress once it's clean.
Bob.
Thanks Paul,
the 250swb is a great looking car however it's built, I just wanted to add a few of my own ideas.
Cheers, Bob.
This is where the car is up to. Lots more bits to do but I'm out of time for a while now.
Hi guys, Last week I thought I'd fit a dash mounted interior mirror. All went well and a roof one I had, turned round, did the job fine and kept the dipping facility.
When it came to removing the old one it didn't go so well. I didn't know it twisted off the base so I ended up with a mirror in my hand with the inside of the screen fixed to it!
I'd been wondering what to do about the screen earlier as it had some scratches from a sander on it. This made my mind up.
I've just had a new top tint screen fitted. It comes with the mirror based already bonded on but I can get round that.
Next on the list is a rubber and trim stuck on to add some age and silver paint on the wipers.
Hope to get a few bits done on the car next week. Picked up these from my fairly local Z3 breaker. My original interior was beige with a horrid M type gear knob. These will be much better.
If you need any Z3 parts Les is in North Norfolk and can be reached on [email]yamsel1@aol.com[/email] It's not his main business so give him time to get back to you.
Cheers, Bob.
Just back from a great weekend at the NSRA Supernats hot rod event. The car is filthy and I'm increasingly finding that I don't like cleaning/polishing and prefer scruffy cars.
That and the need to buy a good van for work means I may consider selling it to someone who'll look after it better.
It still needs a few bits finishing off as I've done nothing since the last photos.
The headlining needs some stronger glue as the heat of the weekend wasn't good for the spray glue and I managed to snap off one of the window catches (Land Rover) on Thursday. I'll order a new one today.
If you're seriously interested and have read my thread so you've found the answers to most of your questions already, then give me a ring on 01603 408021. I'll be looking for near £18,000 and won't be advertising it elsewhere in the foreseeable future as I'm not that certain what I want to do.
Thanks, Bob.