My First Z3 - and it's rotten

S

Scott Linich

Regular Member
Joined
Nov 21, 2018
Points
14
Hi all!

Just picked up my first Z3 as my new project and i'm sad to say that the sills and Front and rear wings are rotten through.....

I'm in 2 minds on what to do with the car - Break for parts or fix and keep it on the road??
It's a 1998 1.9 in Silver with the lovely red leather interior.

My question to you all is - How much is the interior worth?
 
Welcome from Ireland! I suppose my question is - why did you buy the car?
 
I was offered it for a price is couldnt say no to! I'm taking the panels off it over the next couple of days to see if the rot is as bad as i think it might be.
 
I looked at about 10 Z3 many in poor condition rusty tatty roofs bad rear Windows the list went on.
I ended up paying a bit more for a car with not a spot of rust fsh
No such thing as a bargain car in any model I have found.
If your interior is as you say is in lovely condition why not try finding another rust free example with a tatty interior.
 
Hi Scott, you're approaching this the best way mate. Get the outer panels off so you can see what the important bit is really like. You may well be pleasantly surprised and start searching for some good s/h panels. Which silver is it? There are 2 I believe so you need to know which it is. There are several breakers on here in no particular order, all good guys. @mrscalex @spurs fan in a coupe and @Synclare

Tony.
 
Tracy Dee said:
I looked at about 10 Z3 many in poor condition rusty tatty roofs bad rear Windows the list went on.
I ended up paying a bit more for a car with not a spot of rust fsh
No such thing as a bargain car in any model I have found.
If your interior is as you say is in lovely condition why not try finding another rust free example with a tatty interior.
Click to expand...

I've just finished my last project of 2 years and not shy of a little work to get something on the road. To ask again, as I cannot find any for sale other than on german ebay, how much does the red leather interior normally fetch?
 
Hi @Scott Linich its certainly not uncommon for the sills and wings to be rusted and the underneath be fine.

But seen many examples of zeds effectively written off by the same symptoms hiding a rusted chassis.

Where are you based? Someone local may be able to help advise

Welcome to the forum
 
t-tony said:
Hi Scott, you're approaching this the best way mate. Get the outer panels off so you can see what the important bit is really like. You may well be pleasantly surprised and start searching for some good s/h panels. Which silver is it? There are 2 I believe so you need to know which it is. There are several breakers on here in no particular order, all good guys. @mrscalex @spurs fan in a coupe and @Synclare

Tony.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure of the colour bud, but can have a check tonight. I've spoken to a breaker on ebay (before i found this forum!) that has an identical car that's getting broken so panels are ready to send as soon as i call him. After looking through the posts on here, it seems alot of people panic with a slight bit of surface rust on them....my screwdriver went through my passenger quarter panel like an arrow through a sheet of A4 paper haha =))
 
If you do decide to break. I hope you don’t by the way. The red interior is probably worth the same as all of the colours in theory. Depends very much on the quality and whether the electric elements are operational.

Good luck. There are lot s of spare panels out there if you look-ask.

Dave
 
Scott Linich said:
I've just finished my last project of 2 years and not shy of a little work to get something on the road. To ask again, as I cannot find any for sale other than on german ebay, how much does the red leather interior normally fetch?
Click to expand...
Unless they are sports seats they are only worth £100-£200
 
spurs fan in a coupe said:
Hi @Scott Linich its certainly not uncommon for the sills and wings to be rusted and the underneath be fine.

But seen many examples of zeds effectively written off by the same symptoms hiding a rusted chassis.

Where are you based? Someone local may be able to help advise

Welcome to the forum
Click to expand...

The rot does seem quite bad on the surface and that's what is making me question what to do with it if it turns out to be rotten through. I have a friend that is a fantastic welder so repairs wont break the bank and will be a quality job, just want to make sure its financially viable if i want to sell the car after (or a may just keep it :))
 
Good news if you can do work on cars saves Labour from garages unfortunately not in that position myself.
But if a cars to bad it will cost more to restore than the cars worth not unless it's something exotic.
Sorry don't know what a good interiors worth many on here will.
Good luck with what ever you decide.:)
 
Tracy Dee said:
Good news if you can do work on cars saves Labour from garages unfortunately not in that position myself.
But if a cars to bad it will cost more to restore than the cars worth not unless it's something exotic.
Sorry don't know what a good interiors worth many on here will.
Good luck with what ever you decide.:)
Click to expand...
I'm keen to save it from the car heaven so will start a thread of the work (and possibly a Youtube Channel too! TBC)
 
Scott Linich said:
I'm not sure of the colour bud, but can have a check tonight. I've spoken to a breaker on ebay (before i found this forum!) that has an identical car that's getting broken so panels are ready to send as soon as i call him. After looking through the posts on here, it seems alot of people panic with a slight bit of surface rust on them....my screwdriver went through my passenger quarter panel like an arrow through a sheet of A4 paper haha =))
Click to expand...

You're obviously smart enough to know what you're getting into mate. Hope it's sound under the "tin". Can't say I've seen red Z3 interior for sale so it's a bit of an unknown really.

Tony.

ps. Welcome on here from me near Lincoln.:)
 
Red seats would look nice in my Kobra #justsaying
 
Scott Linich said:
The rot does seem quite bad on the surface and that's what is making me question what to do with it if it turns out to be rotten through. I have a friend that is a fantastic welder so repairs wont break the bank and will be a quality job, just want to make sure its financially viable if i want to sell the car after (or a may just keep it :))
Click to expand...
I was in a sinilar position to you last March when I bought the 2.8 in my avatar, I'm now £4k in plus my labour as its what I do for a living
 
t-tony said:
You're obviously smart enough to know what you're getting into mate. Hope it's sound under the "tin". Can't say I've seen red Z3 interior for sale so it's a bit of an unknown really.

Tony.

ps. Welcome on here from me near Lincoln.:)
Click to expand...
Just a silly boy who bought a silly car lol. I will try and keep people up-to-date on what the plans are.

Cheers!
 
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