robyntan

I guess that's becuase you can buy SKIRTS for cars too? WHO came up with the feminine terminology??

Will post a pic once I get them and put them on. Am hoping they look as good as I THINK they will!

Gotta love heat shrink! Used in on my escrima sticks too!! If this was going to be a permanent fix I would stitch something over it, so that it looks like the repair on Roadster Solutions. This is the link to see that: http://www.roadstersolutions.com/page39.html All I am doing with the heat shrink is stabilizing the seat belt guide so that it doesn't flop around damaging the leather. And it HOLDS the seat belt in there. It looks a cheapo repair because it IS, and as I said, I'll do something prettier with it later. To be honest, I would put something on a new seat belt guide as well to STOP this breakage from happening in the first place. Prevention is cheaper than repair! Next job on seats is the bushings, then the electrics, and then I'll look at the seat belt guide...

New one from BMW ChCh: $83.28 I have actually bought the part, just have other things that need fixing ahead of this. Can anyone here post pics of how to install it? Info on the internet seems to indicate it is a tricky job? Who can show me how to unfasten the seat back? Pics please!!!

To be honest they are not actually leather, they just look like leather. Have a look at this link: http://www.roadstersolutions.com/page1.html It will be the bottom pic, but in black.

My seat belt guide was broken, but this fix seems to be holding it nice and secure.

I'll post back here once we have installed the new seat bushings. Oh, and just for interest..the drivers seat has the broken seat belt guide, so I took a hint from another site and put a length of black heat shrink tubing (3 cm width) on the guide and then put the hair dryer on it. The tubing holds the seat belt guide nice and secure. One day I may install a replacement seat belt guide...but for now it's not a priority. This is a fix, however, that I would recommend for ALL Z3 seats! There is a nice holding on Roadster Solutions that could also be used, but if someone doesn't want to pay the price, then black heat shrink tubing is a way to stop that seat belt guiding breaking in the first place.

You think maybe I should have hung out for an M Roadster??? Seriously, though, I use the M becuase I have a cousin who is Robyn G Speed, and she works as a naturopath in Tauranga, so to save us being confused with each other (which HAS happened) I use the M. M for Mother M for Maniac behind the wheel M for must have M for mmmmm a Z3

Sorry to create confusion, but have changed my log on name from my married name to my OWN name. Robyn Speed is the name I was born with, and the one I identify with more. Tan is my married name, and, for those who know others with the same surname, it's Chinese, and I don't want people to think I'm someone I'm not. Robyn M Speed is also the name I write under as a freelance writer.

We've ordered the bushings from Roadster Solutions in USA (cheaper) and are looking forward to installing them. I'm lucky my son is such a DIY guy, and it is so much more fun to work on the car WITH someone. Quite a mother-son bonding time!!! We also ordered a lexan windshield, because they are the nicest I have seen, plus two door protector strips....and just for the OVER THE TOP touch, I insisted on the black leather covers for the external mirrors!!! I think they kind of make a statement: "Car obsessed nutter!" I have got way past that "I don't want to break anything" stage, and am pretty much ready for anything, although I know you have to do thorough research and have all the steps in the process identified. I'm not a BMW snob or anything....the Z3 is just the most beautiful modern car I have ever seen....can't quite believe I now own one!

Kiwi, you are oh so right!

Base mechanisms seem to be all fine.

Yes, I am talking about the seat bushings. If you click on this link you will see what I mean http://www.roadstersolutions.com/page39.html

You just have SO much more control of the actual driving process with a manual, and you are FAR more likely be slip in to what I call Zen Driving, where you are the car operate as one. Getting to know how a car responds in all weathers and conditions, knowing how much brake or power to put on and when ... it just makes the driving such a joy. My husband says "a car is just a way of getting from A to B", but my theory is "a car is a way to have FUN getting from A to B!!"

You can get replacement seat bushings from BMW NZ and also from Roadster Solutions (on line -- USA). The ones that BMW made with the cars disintegrate over time and are a fairly common problem. We had the seat out on Saturday and had a look at the bushings, and have ordered the parts. It will save quite a lot of money to do the job ourselves. You Tube have videos of the entire process, and the seat bushings we have ordered come with full instructions.