my Z3 coupe

[alexk]

Hi guys,

Wanted to share with you my new toy.
I wanted something that is bmw, it's lightweight and cheap to run.
I was considering E36's but finally got a Z3 coupe.
It's the 2.8 one, but you cannot say it's slow.
It has a limited slip diff as well as all of the comforts.

I am very happy with it. It's nice to drive and drifts everywhere !
Already I changed the brakes to EBC USR discs and EBC red pads.
This week I am changing the bushes to powerflex ones.
Suspension will follow and later on a roll cage and racing seats.

Furkapass this Saturday :

http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/1073/02102010547.jpg



http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/3011/img00558201009221735.jpg

[cslgirl]

Nice one! I do like the Z3's:thumbs:
and wow you have some lovely roads/scenery :smt055

[Dan]

Looks great, a nice cheap little alternative to a CSL, lots of fun I would think Alex!

[mattCSLnut]

Loving the "Brot Wagen" mate :thumbs:
Good to see you've got it registered and on the road so quickly :beer:
Furka Pass :drool: Hmmmmmmm :smt055 seems so long ago

[alexk]

So the Z3 is race ready now.

I have changed oil, oil filter, K&N air filter, fuel filter, wipers.
Also, powerflex front/rear anti-roll bar bushes.
M Coupe front control arm bushes.
EBC USR discs (front) and front/rear EBC redstuff brake pads.
Castrol brake fluid.
I also removed about 25 kilos of unnecessary weight.

I tested the car last monday in Anneau Du Rhin (a track close to Basel, in France).
It's quite capable and definitely fun to drive.
I embarrassed much 'faster' cars in the track, even though I am still running some rubbish 'Gremax' tyres.
I am really happy with the budget brake solution. The brakes performed very well (I was doing non-stop 30 minute sessions) without any brake fade.
The suspension is pretty standard (only lower springs) but I don't have a complaint at the moment.

I clocked a 997 GT3 doing 1.31 (dry).
With the CSL on slicks but wet (so I was backing off in 2 fast corners) I had done 1.32.
M Z3 Coupe with slicks, race suspension, roll cage, exhausts was doing 1.35.
I did with my Z3C 1.37. Not bad at all :-) Also the laptime of the CSL in the wet is fecking amazing (it's the driver after all ... who has skills :thumbs:)

A pic from the track
http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/8300/z3001.jpg

2 pics from a practise session today.
Note : I drift everywhere with the Z3C, it's mental !!!

http://img828.imageshack.us/img828/2348/z3004.jpg

http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/8448/z3003.jpg

As you can see, it's very practical having plenty of space in the trunk :whistle:

http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/148/z3002b.jpg

I have also bought an AC Schnitzer gear knob and waiting for it to arrive :drool:

Next in the list is a strut brace.
Maybe spring just before the Ring, I will put on a supercharger :whistle:

[Bounce]

Nice one mate,:thumbs:

[mattCSLnut]

Great pic Alex :thumbs: By your own admission, I didn't think U had it in you ;) :hahaha:
Photo Solutions :thumbs:

[daniel]

Looks like a cool project, but a supercharger? Sounds expensive!

If you are planning on a track toy I think you can find a cheaper ring toy for the price of a supercharger + mfk.

[alexk]

Great pic Alex :thumbs: By your own admission, I didn't think U had it in you ;) :hahaha:
Photo Solutions :thumbs:

I have a great teacher that's why mate
:thumbs:

I simply love the little car, I want to drive it all the time.

[shimmy]

Alex

Did i miss something!?

Have you sold the CSL?

[alexk]

Alex

Did i miss something!?

Have you sold the CSL?

Of course not !!!

Let's be serious mate, the CSL will stay with me forever.

[cantfind1]

I love these cars, very nice!

[DazBlackCSL]

Very nice Alex, I miss my little Z3 M coupe had an Imola Red one prior to the M3 early one so no DSC and raw, was a hoon, also did my very first ring visit in that bugger so holds even more memories :smt055

Making me think as there so cheap now too ... awesome pics tho ;)

[lawsy]

Very nice Alex, I miss my little Z3 M coupe had an Imola Red one prior to the M3 early one so no DSC and raw, was a hoon, also did my very first ring visit in that bugger so holds even more memories :smt055

Making me think as there so cheap now too ... awesome pics tho ;)


I remember spotting that on the vid, think I asked if it was you.

Daz you are fucking famous mate:hahaha::smokin:

[glendog74]

Very nice Alex, I miss my little Z3 M coupe had an Imola Red one

Z3 you say?

It quite clearly states Nurburgring (bread) Van on the telly screen shot :hahaha:

[alexk]

Very nice Alex, I miss my little Z3 M coupe had an Imola Red one prior to the M3 early one so no DSC and raw, was a hoon, also did my very first ring visit in that bugger so holds even more memories :smt055

Making me think as there so cheap now too ... awesome pics tho ;)

Thanks mate, I love the little car !

I can understand how you feel, especially when having owned a Z3 M coupe :thumbs:
I would love a Z3 M coupe but I wanted a budget car (also Z3 M here are expensive, as all M cars actually...).
Next year I will definitely take it to the Ring many times so if you want to live again some memories, you can drive it for some laps :beer:

[DazBlackCSL]

Z3 you say?

It quite clearly states Nurburgring (bread) Van on the telly screen shot :hahaha:

Twat !

[AlexGTT]

Z3 you say?

It quite clearly states Nurburgring (bread) Van on the telly screen shot :hahaha:

Sponsored by Kingsmill.:smokin:

[The Gorilla]

Hi,

Alexk- Is this with the M52 Alloy block dual vanos engine ?

If yes, get your self some North American E36 M3 Cams,
same engine, they drop straight in, very cheap to source,
larger MAF, which is plug and play, I think you can source one from a
something like a E38, combine both give gains of
about 20 / 25 BHP but gives much
better mid range power, and make the engine much
crisper.

Cams, MAF, some fitting if you do not like
dirty hands etc, and around 400/500.00 tops

If you do not mind loosing some top end speed, then
a 3.9 Diff with the above mods puts you at around
5.7 secs 0-60, but tops out at around 130 ish.

Do you have the E36 M3 3.0 Getrag dogleg box, some did
some did not, worthwhile swap as you can pick them
up for around 100-150.00, and its much better ratios,
and much better suited to the engine revs.

The front is very like the CSL the more overall Track width
you can gain the sharper the turn in. 10mm spacers or wider
front wheels / tyres ?

Also check that you have the quick ratio 2.7 lock to lock rack,
its same ratio 14.9 as a CSL, it was not fitted on all 2.8's but was fitted to
all the other Z3's except the Z3M Coupe which got the
slower E36 M3 Evo rack.

Quick look at the Rack and if the casing is alloy at one
end and plated [gold colour] steel the other, it is, if
the rack casing is all alloy from tie rod to tie rod, its not.

Regards,

The Gorilla.

[alexk]

Hi,

Alexk- Is this with the M52 Alloy block dual vanos engine ?

If yes, get your self some North American E36 M3 Cams,
same engine, they drop straight in, very cheap to source,
larger MAF, which is plug and play, I think you can source one from a
something like a E38, combine both give gains of
about 20 / 25 BHP but gives much
better mid range power, and make the engine much
crisper.

Cams, MAF, some fitting if you do not like
dirty hands etc, and around 400/500.00 tops

If you do not mind loosing some top end speed, then
a 3.9 Diff with the above mods puts you at around
5.7 secs 0-60, but tops out at around 130 ish.

Do you have the E36 M3 3.0 Getrag dogleg box, some did
some did not, worthwhile swap as you can pick them
up for around 100-150.00, and its much better ratios,
and much better suited to the engine revs.

The front is very like the CSL the more overall Track width
you can gain the sharper the turn in. 10mm spacers or wider
front wheels / tyres ?

Also check that you have the quick ratio 2.7 lock to lock rack,
its same ratio 14.9 as a CSL, it was not fitted on all 2.8's but was fitted to
all the other Z3's except the Z3M Coupe which got the
slower E36 M3 Evo rack.

Quick look at the Rack and if the casing is alloy at one
end and plated [gold colour] steel the other, it is, if
the rack casing is all alloy from tie rod to tie rod, its not.

Regards,

The Gorilla.

Gorilla, my friend you are the bmwpedia !
Yes it's the M52B28TU, aluminium block, detuned 2.8 with double vanos and the new intake (variable length which is also found in the M54B30 of the 330i E46).
20 HP sounds good, especially for this money.
I will install the cams and everything on my own. I have the skills and love to work on my cars/bikes. Check my next post and you will understand.

I have tried the 12mm spacers in the front on the 17x7J wheels but I had wheel-arch rubbing. It is lowered with standard shocks but it would rub very easily. I cannot say it has a lot of roll (for OEM shocks) but even 2cm of roll would rub everything.
The gearbox is the normal one and not the dogleg one.
My differential will blow up in a while so I might put the one you suggested.
The steering rack is fast. I don't remember right now if it is the one you say, but I will check next time I am underneath the car, which means very soon :whistle:

Many thanks for your help Gorilla !

[alexk]

An update from the mighty Z3 coupe.
Christmas time and I run into a small problem when the crankshaft sensor stopped to work and also the idle control valve complained.
The engine would not idle and it was working very bad.
I decided to take out the intake and check the bits underneath and replace the crankshaft sensor.
8 hours later... I managed to remove the fecking intake (I also checked sparkplugs etc). The limited space of the Z3 engine bay made everything so difficult and was swearing for about 5 hours.
There are so many cables, plugs, pipes etc underneath this intake.

Then I discovered more issues as the throttle butterfly hose had a crack/hole, some other ventilation pipes (there are many) were broken, a pressure regulator was broken etc.
I ordered the parts and in about a week they were delivered.
I put everything back together (took my another 3 hours) and turned on the engine.
Problem's solved !
The holes/cracks in the pipes and butterfly hose had affected the amound of air flowing in the intake / which was not the same tha the MAF was measuring.
Instant results : 1lt/100km less consumption and much better performance throughout the band

At the same time, I removed additional unnecessary weight from the boot and shaved of another 15 kilos.
I also weighted the car with full tank -> 1230 kilos.

I have spent about 15-18 hours drifting in the snow with 3rd-4th gear in some interesting places close to where I live.
I have to say it's more difficult to drift compared with the CSL as it's much shorter, but I have mastered it :smt023

Next test will be 14-03-2011 in a racetrack in France. I will go with the same shitty tyres but want to see the difference the spacers will make.
If it's raining, I will get some cheeky videos from the drift action :drool:

[alexk]

A small update from the Z3C.

I installed the turner camber bolt kit.
Cheap mod and with good results, I reckon the front camber is -2 to -2.5 now.

http://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-424-e36-z3-front-camber-bolt-kit.aspx

Look at the size of these rear wheel arches

http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/2347/img00640201011141453.jpg

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/2894/img00641201011141453.jpg

A picture from the winter action

http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/3016/img00697201012170839.jpg

In the meantime, I sourced a set of my favorite Yokohama ADVAN A048 for it

http://img840.imageshack.us/img840/687/img00769201102222030.jpg

Back to the summer tyres but not yet the Yokos
http://img857.imageshack.us/img857/7569/img00804201103141835.jpg

[Bounce]

Looking good Alex.:thumbs:

[alexk]

An update about the Z3.

Rear 20mm spacers and front 12mm.
A set of toyo R888s and the handling is transformed !

I also got an intake manifold of the M54B25 engine.
It is fully compliant apart from an adapter for the throttle butterfly and should boost the performance to 210hp (stock 193hp).

[alexk]

I sourced a bilstein PSS for the mighty Z3C and installed last Sunday.

http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/4217/img01234201110231733.jpg

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/3342/img01235201110231959.jpg


The car is really transformed and the trackday this tuesday in Anneau Du Rhin proved what I felt.
The combination of the suspension with the toyos, resulted in very very good traction.
The laptime proved the above @ 1.32.2

http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/5650/img01238201110251729.jpg


More pics to follow.

What's next ?
Installing the intake, front strut bar, seats and eventually a kompressor kit :whistle:

[glendog74]

Nice work Alex :beer:

[alexk]

And a picture from the last trackday @ AdR

http://www.clubcsl.com/Z3C/Z3C-AdR-10-2011.jpg

[alexk]

A small update.

I did some performance tests and I can see a consistent 50-130km/h in 8.9secs (3rd gear and full tank).

I got the adapter from Turner motorsport that is needed for installing the throttle butterfly on the M54 intake.
Soon I will install the M54 intake and then I will re-run the test.

In the meantime I came up with a plan for the supercharger project :thumbs:

[AlexGTT]

Nice Alex.:thumbs: