JJ0063’s current steed - Life of an impulsive car owner -[Cant keep away from N47 + BARGAIN Z3 IS FIXED]

[JJ0063]

17 minutes ago, Matty said:

What?? (Too lazy to go to aforementioned thread. You've bought a Z3 JJ?)

So the story:

Last April-ish, chap at work who knows I’m a BM fanboy asked me to keep an eye out for a Z3 for his dad who wanted one. Found a little Oxford green 1.9 locally, sent him the link and a few hours later he’d bought it for £1800.

His dad is a complete non car person and also a worrier. It had an advisory for an oil leak so he put it in to a BMW specialist, I’m not sure what he had done until I see the paperwork but apparently nearly 2 grand later, he had it fixed along with a new radiator.

Fast forward to this week, matey at work mentions his dads gone back to a 5 seat car, the Z3 temp sensor has gone as it shoots to red with just the ignition on, and the ABS light has come on. I said to let me know how much he’d want and I’d ask about (thinking if he said £1200, I’d bang it on here for them) 

 Comes back to me that evening and said his dad doesn’t want to deal with the general public, if I give him £350 it’s mine. Now I can’t say no to that as a little project. So I’ve hired a trailer and am collecting it tomorrow. I’ve never seen it in person but for that money I quite honestly don’t care what it’s like 😂

 

The main info I know is it’s a 2000 W reg 1.9 with 123k on the clock, MOT May 26, big box of history including original bill of sale.. and it’s £350 and looks to have nearly a full tank of fuel 

 

these pics are from the advert when I found it for them last year 

 

 

These are a couple I got this week:

 

 

[High Jetter]

Guy near me as LJB as his business name, think he likes cars. Profit opportunity.

[JJ0063]

6 minutes ago, High Jetter said:

Guy near me as LJB as his business name, think he likes cars. Profit opportunity.

I’m hoping I don’t fall in love with it as in the back of my mind I have the idea of fixing it and somehow using it as a stepping stone to trade my way to an E39…

[High Jetter]

2 minutes ago, JJ0063 said:

I’m hoping I don’t fall in love with it as in the back of my mind I have the idea of fixing it and somehow using it as a stepping stone to trade my way to an E39…

Bangernomics rules

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Easy money to make on that one if it's just sensor issues. Interesting to see how well the Z4 has aged in contrast to the Z3 though. 

[JJ0063]

The rig is on the move!

[JJ0063]

[JJ0063]

It’s sat too far forward on the trailer but it’s towing absolutely fine so not going to worry about it for the sake of another 30 mins 

[bezzabsa]

you say its too far forward - have you seen how the Yanks tow 😮 usually with the huge boat anchor so far forward its a wonder its not in the boot trunk!!!

[JJ0063]

Well it didn’t fall off! Success. Well chuffed for £350!

[666jjp]

hang on, you haven't cleaned it yet 😁

[JJ0063]

42 minutes ago, 666jjp said:

hang on, you haven't cleaned it yet 😁

Maybe tomorrow… 😂

[bezzabsa]

1 hour ago, JJ0063 said:

Maybe tomorrow… 😂

after a private plate, tyres brakes and new wheels 🤣

[JJ0063]

4 minutes ago, bezzabsa said:

after a private plate, tyres brakes and new wheels 🤣

I think this one will get a clean, the problems fixed then either get sold, roffled, or I may clear the garage and tuck it away and try to forget about it until they hopefully* go up in value 😂

[Matty]

Just now, JJ0063 said:

I think this one will get a clean, the problems fixed then either get sold, roffled, or I may clear the garage and tuck it away and try to forget about it until they hopefully* go up in value 😂

Give it a clean, mend it a bit then drive it a bit. My dad had a cheap 2.8 for a few years recent that I drove a bit. They are really quite charming things that get under your skin. Perfect mix of old fashioned yet modern at the same time. Just don't approach it as a sports car. They really aren't.

[JJ0063]

Had a spare couple of hours today so gave it a hoover, found some mats in the garage from my old 3 series that fit, and gave it a wash. Came up pretty well! Needs a machine polish as the bonnet looks like someone has washed it and the soap has dried before they’ve washed it and it’s almost stained the paint with the marks 

ABS light came back on when I moved so I’ve got some more investigating to do there.

 

[JJ0063]

So far total spend £10.25 for a temp sensor 

Having difficulty with the ABS/ASC lights. Looks like it might be the module on the ABS pump - googling it, it seems like a common issue with dry solder joints, nothing I can do myself so I’ve taken pics of part numbers and will see how expensive a replacement is.  Can’t see what else it could be as the fuses are all good and all 4 sensors read correctly on live data. 

 

[Matty]

Is it as clean as it looks? Got to be a quid or 2 in that. Or indeed a nice car to keep and enjoy 😉 

[JJ0063]

3 minutes ago, Matty said:

Is it as clean as it looks? Got to be a quid or 2 in that. Or indeed a nice car to keep and enjoy 😉 

The engine is really nice. Paintwork really needs a good clay bar and machine polish, typically I roffled my polisher but will grab a cheap one from marketplace and do it.

Couple of scabs on the outer sills but I think it’s surface so being that low down it’s easy enough to rub down and rattle can when I get round to it!

[JJ0063]

All part numbers match so let’s see if this fixes it. If so I’ll have a full functioning car for £460 odd

[Matty]

2 hours ago, JJ0063 said:

The engine is really nice. Paintwork really needs a good clay bar and machine polish, typically I roffled my polisher but will grab a cheap one from marketplace and do it.

Couple of scabs on the outer sills but I think it’s surface so being that low down it’s easy enough to rub down and rattle can when I get round to it!

Weirdly Z3s (as far as I've seen) and defo Z4s (owned a coupe now for 5 years currently 18 old) seem massively rot resistant. Ours is like brand new yet used all year. I emptied a load of cavity wax into it when new to us and had all arch liners etc out and waxoiled, but aside from that never touched it.

[SiC]

2 hours ago, JJ0063 said:

All part numbers match so let’s see if this fixes it. If so I’ll have a full functioning car for £460 odd

Can usually replace just the electrical bit to save needing to touch the hydraulic circuits. 

[JJ0063]

1 minute ago, SiC said:

Can usually replace just the electrical bit to save needing to touch the hydraulic circuits. 

Yep that’s the plan, super handy. 4 screws and it should literally swap straight over to avoid having to bleed anything!

[JJ0063]

Ok so we have a delivery.. will try and get it swapped over tonight and see if the codes will clear. Mixed answers online about needing to be coded even with matching part numbers but I can do that if needed so not the end of the world!

[JJ0063]

Come on then! 
 

That was the easiest job ever, unplug the ABS pump, 4 bolts, pull the module off, same on the new pump, fit the replacement module.. 4 bolts back in, plug back in and it was fixed. Didn’t even have to clear the codes. 
 

Total spend:

 

Car £350

Trailer hire £50

ABS pump £49.99

Crank case breather hose £14.28

Coolant temp sensor £10.25

 

Total: £474.52

[Jazoli]

Excellent, I'll give you 500 quid for it as I'd prefer an auto!

[EyesWeldedShut]

Well done, I guess it's a keeper then.

[move on two weeks]
Two randoms please, mister

[SiC]

2 hours ago, JJ0063 said:

Didn’t even have to clear the codes. 

That's because the codes are stored inside the unit that is no longer attached to the car!

[JJ0063]

7 minutes ago, EyesWeldedShut said:

Well done, I guess it's a keeper then.

[move on two weeks]
Two randoms please, mister

See the for sale section. 😂

[JJ0063]

1 minute ago, SiC said:

That's because the codes are stored inside the unit that is no longer attached to the car!

That explains the historic brake light switch fault I cleared that wasn’t there before..