Ben G
Member
Registered: 12th Jan 07
Location: Essex
User status: Offline
|
bought this a few weeks ago. it's a 2003 3.0 manual in sterling grey with a greeny coloured roof (optional extra), ///M multi function steering wheel, ///M gearknob and powdercoated ellipsoid alloy wheels (another optional extra).
I was looking for a few months and this one popped up, so went and viewed it, then fell in love and picked it up a couple days later.
got it home, put some new plates on and gave it a wash, then took some pics:
nice ///M bits:
the grab handles on the doors were in a sorry state so i wrapped them in carbon fibre vinyl just to tidy the interior up a little:
since then i've been sorting a few bits that needed doing, as well as adding some modifications.
got a clear 3rd brake light to replace the broken standard one:
painted the kidney grilles all black to get rid of the chrome and because they were quite badly stonechipped:
fitted:
debadged the 'Z4' from the rear and a better picture of the clear 3rd brake light:
before:
after:
clear side repeater fitted (still need one for the other side):
before:
after:
i've also retrofitted cruise control (all it involved was buying the stalk and cutting a hole in the cowling).
i've also bought some rear lights so i can get rid of the orange bits, but require some tinting with red spray.
these ones:
will look like this once i've sprayed them:
here's a list of stuff i've done so far:
Number plates
O/S mirror glass
Black wheel nut covers
Stubby aerial
Flatblade wipers
Wheel arch fixings
Headlight bulbs
Locking wheel nuts
Cruise control stalk
Black kidney grilles
Clear 3rd brake light
Clear side repeaters
Things to do:
Paint calipers black
Carbon bmw badges
Spray and fit rear lights
Led side lights and no. plate lights
Sort out a worn patch on the drivers seat bolster
and for anyone who thinks these cars drink petrol, here was my fuel economy on a recent trip to manchester (was 40mpg for 100 miles, then 36.5mpg over 250 miles):
[Edited on 27-09-2015 by Ben G]
[Edited on 08-10-2015 by Ben G]
[Edited on 25-10-2015 by Ben G]
[Edited on 08-02-2016 by Ben G]
[Edited on 04-03-2016 by Ben G]
[Edited on 30-10-2016 by Ben G]
|
Ian W
Member
Registered: 8th Nov 03
Location: Wirral, Merseyside
User status: Offline
|
This is exactly what I'm after 
|
Jamie-C
Member
Registered: 3rd Jun 08
Location: Ballycastle
User status: Offline
|
Quite like these, not keen on them wheels in black though, maybe if they were gloss instead of matt they would look better? I think you should leave them lights clear too  , but I know you will disagree with that 
Nice car, quite a step up from the Puma
|
SetH
Member
Registered: 15th Jul 01
User status: Offline
|
Really like this Ben and nice to see you went for one with a proper engine.
Good solution with the rear lights the comments in general chat about the orange 'breaking it up' were ridiculous. The orange ruins the car IMHO.
What does the Sport button do? Is it a quick way of turning of DSC etc?
|
Ben G
Member
Registered: 12th Jan 07
Location: Essex
User status: Offline
|
i agree with the wheels. they would look much better in gloss black. they will probably be redone when i need new tyres.
i loved the puma and how i could chuck it around and not worry about it, it felt raw and quick after i stripped it out. strangely, the Z4 only feels quick when pulling away. it doesn't feel quick from 70mph+ even though it is. weird feeling really.
the sport button alters the throttle map so it doesn't need to be pressed as far down for powers. can't say i notice much difference tbh.
much prefer the DTC traction control button
|
whitter45
Member
Registered: 15th Nov 02
Location: Norton
User status: Offline
|
looking good - very nice motor
|
Graham88
Member
Registered: 16th Apr 07
Location: South East Kent Drives: E46 M3
User status: Offline
|
Sport button is awful Ben! When the arse end goes its sooo hard to catch or hold the slide as its ridiculously sensitive!
|
taylorboosh
Member
Registered: 3rd Apr 07
User status: Offline
|
i love the clear rears... DONT TINT THEM!!!
also would i fuck drive around with one clear and one orange indicater
|
Ben G
Member
Registered: 12th Jan 07
Location: Essex
User status: Offline
|
updated the first post now.
not sure whether i like the rear lights clear or not. they look great in the picture but might look a bit chavvy on mine.
and whats wrong with driving around with 1 clear/1 orange side repeater? it's not like someone can see both at the same time
|
taylorboosh
Member
Registered: 3rd Apr 07
User status: Offline
|
Your wheels may make them look chavvy... That's the wheels fault though...
|
Ben G
Member
Registered: 12th Jan 07
Location: Essex
User status: Offline
|
agreed, but i'm not going to spend 200 quid on powdercoating them until i need new tyres.
|
Jamie-C
Member
Registered: 3rd Jun 08
Location: Ballycastle
User status: Offline
|
Mask 'em up and spray them
|
taylorboosh
Member
Registered: 3rd Apr 07
User status: Offline
|
Why? They will remove and refit the tyres
|
Ben G
Member
Registered: 12th Jan 07
Location: Essex
User status: Offline
|
because they're fine as they are at the moment and i don't have 200 quid to spend. tax is due in 2 months aswell.
[Edited on 16-04-2012 by Ben G]
|
BeetleGav
Member
Registered: 27th Jun 10
Location: lancashire, nelson
User status: Offline
|
please when you do get them painted go for anthracite or silver 
|
Fro
Member
Registered: 20th Jun 06
Location: Rainham, Essex Drives: A3 2.0TDi Sport
User status: Offline
|
Looking lovely Ben, good mods so far and plans for the future 
|
Tomnova16
Premium Member
Registered: 21st Jan 06
Location: Gerrards Cross Drives: Porsche 911
User status: Offline
|
rear lights are a cracking idea, get em done
http://www.lemass.co.uk/ for all your automotive/bodyshop needs
Located in Chalfont st Peter
|
taylorboosh
Member
Registered: 3rd Apr 07
User status: Offline
|
Leave them clear untill wheels are painted.. Then tint of you dislike
|
Ben G
Member
Registered: 12th Jan 07
Location: Essex
User status: Offline
|
received my lights today from germany. so in true CS fashion i photographed the opening of the boxes 
they look better then i thought they would tbh. might fit them and if i don't like them, order some red vinyl for them.
|
Rich H
Member
Registered: 26th Oct 05
Location: West Sussex Drives: E46 M3
User status: Offline
|
I actually quite like them as they are tbh!
That aero rear bumper on the Yank one you posted looks good too.
|
Bmorgan1993
Member
Registered: 28th Sep 11
Location: Gloucester, Gloucestershire
User status: Offline
|
I think they look really good as they are!
|
Ben G
Member
Registered: 12th Jan 07
Location: Essex
User status: Offline
|
fitted one and quickly realised i had forgot the most basic of things - bulbs 
now need to buy some chrome rear light and indicator bulbs so will try again at the weekend. so annoyed with myself
anyway, here they are:
|
BeetleGav
Member
Registered: 27th Jun 10
Location: lancashire, nelson
User status: Offline
|
Look quite good but need a pic from further back to properly tell i think
|
Ben G
Member
Registered: 12th Jan 07
Location: Essex
User status: Offline
|
will get some at the weekend as i only fitted one whilst it was raining and my garage door and wheelie bins were right behind me in the pics
|
Ben G
Member
Registered: 12th Jan 07
Location: Essex
User status: Offline
|
got my vinyl through today so set about trying it on one of the lights:
not very happy with the finish though. first off theres lots of bubbles and the circular bit in the middle isn't cut perfectly.
looks better than the clear ones though imo.
|
