NZ00Z3

Excellent result. Thank you for posting the instructions. This morning, I've been able to use them to get the remote locking working on the daughters E46 that also has the IR remote. It's never worked since we have owned the car.

Hi Nick I use INPA to scan the cars. It shows you a bit more information. Maybe we should spend an afternoon together to see what it can tell us? Regards Murray

Hi Nick Welcome to the forum from another TImaru BMW owner. The IR remotes are a pain. I have the same problem with the daughters E46. Do you have good diagnostic software/scanner to help with tracking the fault through the car? There is the option of changing it to the RF system, see the below link. While its for a E46, your car may be similar. http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=1047612 Edit: Just came across this aftermarket kit through another BMW forum https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006QH9C5A/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Regards Murray

Surprisingly well once you sort out a few minor items - Shocks don't last more than 140,000 km's, new ones are great. - Fit E36 M3 or poly LCAB's, fixes any tramlining issues you may have read about - Fit poly rear sub-frame bushes to really plant the ass of the car. You will get more diff whine. - Fit a front strut brace As for driving - 1.9L's are really chuckable around the corners, lighter engine than the 6's, lots of fun. Adequate power for around town and open road driving - 6 cylinder cars are really good fun too, Good choice of engine sizes. from 2.0L to 3.0L - Have a lead foot? Like lots of horse power? Get a 3.0L Z3, great power to weight ratio and spec 5.9 seconds 0-60 miles. Then there are the Z3M's (Roadsters and Coupes) in S50 or S54 flavour. Suggest you get out there and take one for a test drive, topless of course, and discover the fun of the Z3.

Thanks, Checked them as suggested, only thing found was a lot of slop in the cable at idle. Adjusted it out and the problem seems to be fixed.

Hi Car: E46 323Ci, manual, 160,000 km Problem: When changing gears, especially 1st to 2nd, the rev's hang at around 1,800 rpm for about a second then drop as they should. Work already done: replaced ICV and cleaned the throttle body Any suggestions on what to look at next? Regrads Murray

Some of the modern flare tools have quite a lot of curved lead in before the hex of the tool. This means that for some applications where the nut hex is up tight to a fitting, you only get to grip the top 1/2 of the nut with the flare tool. Yep prone to rounding it with a flare tool if you're not careful.

Been looking for the "Mark all content as read" button that lives in the top right of the browse screen. Finally found it though a mouse over, seems its now black writing on a black background so its disappeared but still functional. Does that make sense?

I installed one of these relay units when doing the trailer wiring for the E46. It was relatively easy. https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/trailers/trailer-parts-accessories/lights-cables-plugs/auction-1558757631.htm?rsqid=12bdeb367e944c55855633622e0201c9

Hi Paul Welcome aboard. The 3.0 L Z3 is a real blast to drive. I love my one. Regards Murray

After a lot of research on ATF for BMW E36 and E46, I found that Valvoline Max Life Multi Vehicle covers many of the BMW Lifetime ATF's. Here are a couple of links Spec https://attachments.priuschat.com/attachment-files/2017/08/131427_US_VAL_ML_ATF_EN.pdf N.Z. supplier https://www.partmaster.co.nz/valvoline-maxlife-multi-vehicle-atf-4l-413815 HTH

The cars I've worked on had gaskets of unknown condition, was they were replaced. It's up to you to decide on fitting an new gasket or not.

I have used the X8R kit on 3 cars now, its good quality and comes with everything you need including a new valve cover gasket. Always fit the anti rattle rings while you are in there. https://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-DOUBLE-TWIN-DUAL-VANOS-SEALS-REPAIR-SET-KIT-M52-M54-WITH-GASKETS/161937842122?hash=item25b43f5fca:g:FnoAAOSwGotWi0l8&vxp=mtr

Thank you for you replies, grade 10.9 where used and torqued to 115 Nm to provide a superior clamping connection

Hi Fitting a towbar to the E46. Its a secondhand Towbar and didn't come with any mounting bolts. What grade of bolt is required, 8.8 or 10.9? Regards Murray

Hi Brent, Shame to see a desireable manual 2.8 with such a small amount of damage getting parted out. There's another bent Z3 newly in on Trademe with rear 1/4 panel damage and a straight front end. Maybe you should get the bonnet, bumper headlights etc and put your Z3 back onto the road. I looked at doing it before the Turners auction, but the logistics were just too hard from the middle of the South Island.

As its an "out of service" car, is the new owner allowed to do work on all parts/systems to bring it up to standard before the WOF inspection? Was thinking about the brakes, Faded memory has it listed as something the owner/DIY'er can't work on when its an out of service car?

The E36 M3/Z3M rubber bushings (OEM# 31129069035) are a nice halfway spot between OEM and Poly. I use a large vice to press the bushing in and have a large tapered bearing race as a spacer to press the bushing through the housing the 5mm or so needed to set it up.

Thanks @gjm for the pointer on spare wheel well depth. The car has a space saver spare and a plastic packer on top of it. So, I would say the car has a standard spare wheel well. Post #1 has been edited. Regards Murray

Hi Looking for a tow bar with mounting hardware and trailer plug wiring kit to fit a E46 323i sedan. Car has the standard (full size) spare wheel well. To be shipped to Timaru. Regards Murray

Welcome aboard. The 3.0 L engine in a Z is a sweet combination. Enjoy.

If it is the original soft top with zip in rear window, a new window is about $150. Otherwise its a whole new soft top at around $600, assuming you fit it yourself.

Its a NZ$500,000 car before the flood damage. As long as it wasn't salt water, then it could well be returned to its former glory.

Z3 - E36/7 Pro's - Tops off driving - Lovely curved lines - Suspension can be made very nimble cheaply - Quickest steering rack ratio in any BMW - No room for the kids when out for a cruise - Easy to work on - Parts are easy to get new or used off E30 and E36 - Plug and play cruise control retrofit for M52TU and M54 models Con's - The plastic cooling Y connector at the back of the M44 block (1.9L models only) - All the M54 issues for the 6 cylinder models - Scuttle shake if you push it really really hard in the corners - Boot floor cross member/diff mount failure in high powered hard driven models (2.8L, 3.0L and M's) - Peeling leather on the dash if its an extended leather model.

Hi Looking for a rough Z3 to clean up as a project car: - 6 cylinder models only (no 1.9L cars) - Live rego Regards Murray