New owner

[Knowthebattle]

Alright I'm a new owner of a 1997 BMW Z3. Not sure if anyone remembers me talking about purchasing one off a friend of mine but I finally did. Pictures will come later it's night here now.

[QuestMCoupe]

Congrats! More details on the car?

[Knowthebattle]

1.9 roady 164K

[Tib]

Grats and Welcome!

Pics and update this: "My Cars Possible BMW"

I hope it will be easy getting your car sorted and the way you want it. The love of driving the rolling hills and sweeping corners in the sunny green pastures are now yours.

[Knowthebattle]

[Z3MROADY]

Nice Z! The seats look to be in very good shape for the mileage. In fact it all looks good. Nice buy...have fun!!

[Knowthebattle]

Yea I'm going to be getting some floormats ASAP and how do I hook up the net again on the passenger side? I am missing something. I have the net and metal frame but I don't know how to hook it up

- - - Updated - - -

Just realized it came with a K&N induction kit for the car unmounted.....guess I'm going to do this read quick

[Vintage42]

I bought a twin car a year ago, except mine still has the black vinyl tape covering the A-pillar and top of the windshield. I mean to remove it next summer when the sun will get the metal hot, reducing use of a heat gun.
My rear window trim was coming off as yours might be.
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...997BMWZ3Rr.jpg
I messed up installing two new windows and bought a new top.
I added a Supersprint exhaust for some good sounds:
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...intonZ319L.jpg
Added the storage net which you have, which attaches with special screws into the rigid carpet backing:
http://www.roadstersolutions.com/page4.html
Stopped the glove box lid from rattling by removing a 2-pound metal plate which non-US cars might not have:
http://s49.photobucket.com/user/vint...?sort=9&page=1
And added pads:
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psdbc5a818.jpg
Stopped the seat from rocking, and raised the front edge, with a kit:
http://www.bimmerdiffs.com/products/...mod-fix-kit-z3
http://www.waycoolinc.com/z3/02/100602/shish01.html
Added a ScanGauge:
http://s49.photobucket.com/user/vint...?sort=3&page=1
Put in a larger console and padded armrests:
http://leatherz.com/Merchant5/mercha...gory_Code=Sale
Added a strut bar:
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps992d7f62.jpg
And new struts and shocks, with new upper shock mounts.
http://www.uucmotorwerks.com/MEYLE_HD/

[Terry F.]

Congrats and welcome. That looks like a nice purchase. Enjoy!

Terry

[Tazmanian Devil]

Congrats on the new car and welcome to the forums.

Added a strut bar:
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps992d7f62.jpg

What tower brace is it and where did you get it. I have not found any for the m44 engine.

Sorry for the thread jack

[Vintage42]

... What tower brace is it and where did you get it. I have not found any for the m44 engine...

It is a Strong Strut. Previously I had tried UUC's E36 strut bar, before I was aware that E36 was a platform that could be either 4 or 6 cylinders. The bar was made for a 6 and did not clear my 4, so I returned it.
Then I tried a Cosmo:
http://www.cosmoracing.com/productin...d=241&pid=1276
The Cosmo required the rear of the coil pack to be shifted inward slightly, very close to the valve cover, and the coil pack's front mount to be bent down slightly. I returned it.
I did not even try the Sparco because it looked as weak and springy as an archery bow:
http://www.horsepowerfreaks.com/cart/227218

I then tried Strong Strut's bar, which was advertised for all Z3s, but it required a lot of shims, which they provided, to clear the 4-cyl engine. This in turn required raising the hood stops, which caused a noticeable gap. Their directions for fitting the bar were very complete, even including modeling clay to check the clearance under the hood before closing it. I complained about how the bar didn't properly clear the engine, and showed how the underside of the rear half of the bar could be milled to clear the engine. They said I could return the bar, or work with them to make it fit. With my engine as the mule for fitting, we shipped the bar back and forth between KY and AZ, with Strong milling the center and the ends to increase clearance over the engine and under the sides of the hood. The resulting bar clears my 4-cyl with one very thin shim plate and a normal looking hood position. It is the only bar for the 4-cyl that goes straight over the engine for the strongest bracing. They have put the 4-cyl design on their web page as a special order -- have to click around to find reference to it:
http://www.strong-strut.com/Z3products.html

Attachment 484141

[Knowthebattle]

Alright picked up some new shoes. Didn't know the offsets, but I think some different tires on the front will remedy that problem. Here's some pics. Sorry for the night shots.

[Vintage42]

I put on new OE-size tires -- P225/50R16. Compared to mine, yours look low-profile with less sidewall height, and also appear to project outward a bit further. What size tires did you get, and what do you mean by offsets?

[Knowthebattle]

they are 225-45-17 on 17x9 et20.

[Tazmanian Devil]

The resulting bar clears my 4-cyl with one very thin shim plate and a normal looking hood position. It is the only bar for the 4-cyl that goes straight over the engine for the strongest bracing. They have put the 4-cyl design on their web page as a special order -- have to click around to find reference to it:
http://www.strong-strut.com/Z3products.html

Thanks for the info.

[luciano136]

17s look good on the the roady; does look like the fronts poke out a bit though. Also need some fresh paint on the hood and maybe some suspension.

[Knowthebattle]

Yea again I think the change in tires would fix that