2000 Z3MC Breadvan

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e28525e

Original Poster:

497 posts

154 months

Friday 28th March
quotequote all
After the sad demise of my E24 635csi at Anglesey, I thought I'd try and find something a bit different that was slightly less of a project.

I considered a few different cars but ended up settling for one of these. Looking forward to doing a few bits on it and getting it set up right.

Current spec is B8s and Eibachs, front strut brace, and not a lot else. Boot floor has been seam-welded, vanos has been rebuilt, and sills have been replaced.

First job is to replace the downpipe gaskets and change the water pump and stat. GB and diff fluids also.

Lets see how we go. A couple of snaps from the services on way home.






Edited by e28525e on Saturday 29th March 20:53


Edited by e28525e on Saturday 29th March 20:54

Mad Maximus

600 posts

16 months

Friday 28th March
quotequote all
Nice. Great shade of blue.

breadvan

2,068 posts

181 months

Friday 28th March
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Well, of course I approve.

Great car, have fun.

Cupid-stunt

3,057 posts

69 months

Saturday 29th March
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Love these cars....

So does this chap...




Shooter McGavin

8,122 posts

157 months

Saturday 29th March
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Lovely, best colour!

daqinggregg

4,202 posts

142 months

Saturday 29th March
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“After the sad demise of my E24 635csi at Anglesey” don’t be shy, we'll not judge.

Lovely looking Z3MC in one of the best colours, how does it compare?

e28525e

Original Poster:

497 posts

154 months

Saturday 29th March
quotequote all
daqinggregg said:
“After the sad demise of my E24 635csi at Anglesey” don’t be shy, we'll not judge.

Lovely looking Z3MC in one of the best colours, how does it compare?
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=47&t=1717378&i=180

They are very different cars! The E24 was so far from standard, it would be hard to compare it with much else!

popegregory

1,720 posts

147 months

Saturday 29th March
quotequote all
Are we allowed to address the quarter century elephant in the room at some point and say that these are a dreadful, awful looking car, or is this something for the next generation to hammer out amongst themselves? I really like the Z3, I think it was a lovely design, but I remember them saying at the time how determined they were to not make a “Z3 with a roof” and it just smacks that they went wholly too far in the opposite direction.

That being said, the nostalgia and undeniable cool factor for me entirely outweighs everything else I’ve just said. Lovely car! And absolutely that beautiful colour too.

e28525e

Original Poster:

497 posts

154 months

Saturday 29th March
quotequote all
I had a go at sorting the exhaust blow today. I had already bought the gaskets and fixings, hoping it was just these that had failed.
I split the downpipes from the cats and replaced them, buttoned it all back up, but the blow was still there. Therefore, the whole exhaust had to come off in order to inspect the flanges.



Unfortunately, the flange had cracked where it is welded to the pipe:



Hopefully I can get it sorted tomorrow. K&N (fitted 03 and obviously never cleaned) replaced with a paper element.


A few more photos








danb79

11,263 posts

85 months

Saturday 29th March
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That is stunning.. I've always loved these. Love the shape and styling

One of my Dad's colleagues years back (senior driving instructor at Lancs Constab) had one in red and he took me out for a spin...

The sound of the engine at the top end of the revs was just pure grin material

jock mcsporran

5,064 posts

286 months

Saturday 29th March
quotequote all
Used to have a Black/Kyalami one and toyed with the idea of having another recently but went down a different rabbit hole to try something else as a weekend toy thumbup

e28525e

Original Poster:

497 posts

154 months

Sunday 30th March
quotequote all
popegregory said:
Are we allowed to address the quarter century elephant in the room at some point and say that these are a dreadful, awful looking car, or is this something for the next generation to hammer out amongst themselves? I really like the Z3, I think it was a lovely design, but I remember them saying at the time how determined they were to not make a “Z3 with a roof” and it just smacks that they went wholly too far in the opposite direction.

That being said, the nostalgia and undeniable cool factor for me entirely outweighs everything else I’ve just said. Lovely car! And absolutely that beautiful colour too.
Design/beauty, or whatever you want to call it is, of course, subjective. I don't think there is an elephant in the room - these cars are know to split opinion. I wouldn't use "marmite", maybe "mushroom" - I'd say 80% of people love them and 20% really don't. I, for one, have always thought they were a fabulous looking thing, and the design really does work better in the metal.

Bright Halo

3,487 posts

248 months

Sunday 30th March
quotequote all
e28525e said:
popegregory said:
Are we allowed to address the quarter century elephant in the room at some point and say that these are a dreadful, awful looking car, or is this something for the next generation to hammer out amongst themselves? I really like the Z3, I think it was a lovely design, but I remember them saying at the time how determined they were to not make a “Z3 with a roof” and it just smacks that they went wholly too far in the opposite direction.

That being said, the nostalgia and undeniable cool factor for me entirely outweighs everything else I’ve just said. Lovely car! And absolutely that beautiful colour too.
Design/beauty, or whatever you want to call it is, of course, subjective. I don't think there is an elephant in the room - these cars are know to split opinion. I wouldn't use "marmite", maybe "mushroom" - I'd say 80% of people love them and 20% really don't. I, for one, have always thought they were a fabulous looking thing, and the design really does work better in the metal.
I think they have aged into being a classic. Great looking thing.
https://youtu.be/l4TKlqxnA2A?si=mYxbEbltcQi9G28Z

John D.

19,090 posts

222 months

Sunday 30th March
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I think they are great looking car. Really cool.

CRA1G

6,974 posts

208 months

Sunday 30th March
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I've always referred to mine as the 'Clowns Shoe' hehe



keo

2,454 posts

183 months

Sunday 30th March
quotequote all
Special car

popegregory

1,720 posts

147 months

Sunday 30th March
quotequote all
e28525e said:
popegregory said:
Are we allowed to address the quarter century elephant in the room at some point and say that these are a dreadful, awful looking car, or is this something for the next generation to hammer out amongst themselves? I really like the Z3, I think it was a lovely design, but I remember them saying at the time how determined they were to not make a “Z3 with a roof” and it just smacks that they went wholly too far in the opposite direction.

That being said, the nostalgia and undeniable cool factor for me entirely outweighs everything else I’ve just said. Lovely car! And absolutely that beautiful colour too.
Design/beauty, or whatever you want to call it is, of course, subjective. I don't think there is an elephant in the room - these cars are know to split opinion. I wouldn't use "marmite", maybe "mushroom" - I'd say 80% of people love them and 20% really don't. I, for one, have always thought they were a fabulous looking thing, and the design really does work better in the metal.
I know what you mean, they certainly have a presence when you see one. Plus, it’s only fair to criticise if you’re going to suggest an alternative and I’ve never been able to look at one and think what I’d have done differently

brownspeed

936 posts

144 months

Sunday 30th March
quotequote all
Great purchase- what a lovely motor! Personally I like them more than the roadster, I agree about the mushroom styling- its like the guy who designed the back never met whoever did the front*. they look best from the back. (*to put this in context- I have a TVR Tamora!!)
Enjoy

Falcuono

47 posts

62 months

Sunday 30th March
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Great car with the best motor.
Here in Netherlands prices are sky rocketing.

Its Just Adz

16,010 posts

222 months

Sunday 30th March
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Lovely! I, like others, always loved the styling on these.