My Estoril S50, Chuffed to have an M Coupe

[Dave P]

Originally Posted by urquattrogus

I hope so dave, it's tempting to throw the parts at a dealer and say get it done, I don't like having cars off the road for long, really miss driving her!

I took over as MD of a company with 500 employees in January so this car has been a welcome distraction but also a source of occasional frustration on top of everything else that is happening this year!!

So much more rewarding doing work yourself if you have the skills and you know the work is done to a standard you are happy with.

[urquattrogus]

Non pictorial update for now.

I've got some new side skirts which are away being painted up.

I have to say it is great that they are only about £140 a side.

Seems only right to replace them after all of the work I've done on the back end and the work Reddish Motorsport did on re treating the sills and jacking points.

Also still in the process of putting boot trim back in. I've taken the plunge and ordered new sound deadening for both rear arches, I could have re used the old ones but they seem to go so brittle and have cracked a lot, no longer flexible.

Also ordereded some of those diddy small screw cap covers for putting the rear plastic bulkhead back in place.

Must really then crack on with the front!

Oh and on a whim I've ordered a private plate, on retention for now but may fit that too :)

Need to get some more work done before the weather gets colder and becomes like an icebox!

[4xhausts]

Are you based in Bristol? Or did you just use Redish as they are specialists?

Great work by the way, car looks great. If you need any more “distractions” I’ll happily hand you mine and you can have a second go! I’m sure the second time would be easier ��

[urquattrogus]

Originally Posted by 4xhausts

Are you based in Bristol? Or did you just use Redish as they are specialists?

Great work by the way, car looks great. If you need any more “distractions” I’ll happily hand you mine and you can have a second go! I’m sure the second time would be easier ��

Thanks, you are right, always easier the second or third time, at least you learn more with each car you own though :)

I'm Essex based but trekked all the way to Reddish as I'd seen their youtube videos etc.

This is actually my car in this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d99Ba7lictE

They did a nice job although in retrospect having done all the paint and prep on the back end myself maybe i should have also done the sills.

It cost me £2K to have the sills and jacking points done and they also fitted a braided clutch hose for me, so not cheap but it takes some time good quality of work.

You can see why I'm replacing the sill covers, the sills are now mint but the covers let the side down.

[urquattrogus]

Backend all back together now, but not MOT'd and need to start the front,

[urquattrogus]

On with the front suspension and stripping the old struts and control arms out.

It looks like the edge of the subframe is going to need a very mild touch up with some paint.

Thank God for an imp[act gun, although some of the ball joints did spin and needed some extra faffing.

Untitled by urquattro gus, on Flickr

Untitled by urquattro gus, on Flickr

Untitled by urquattro gus, on Flickr

Untitled by urquattro gus, on Flickr

To Go ON:

• Bilstein B6 Dampeners
• New Control Arms with Bushings
• New Top Mounts
• H&R Anti Roll Bar
• Eibach Pro Kit springs & new spring pads etc

And other bits and pieces.

The steering tie rods are new and were only done 2000 miles ago.

[urquattrogus]

Both side struts off now, one side control arm off.

The middle ball joint on the drivers side control arm is a bit of a bitch to get to!

I’m going to have another go tomorrow as it was seeming like a quarter turn by spanner job, have ordered a 21mm flex head long spanner with ratchet end, that or maybe use a crows foot??? Or remove the exhaust manifold heat shield and try to go from above?

Any tips??? I did the passenger side by using a long extension from above.

[Dave P]

Originally Posted by urquattrogus

Both side struts off now, one side control arm off.

The middle ball joint on the drivers side control arm is a bit of a bitch to get to!

I’m going to have another go tomorrow as it was seeming like a quarter turn by spanner job, have ordered a 21mm flex head long spanner with ratchet end, that or maybe use a crows foot??? Or remove the exhaust manifold heat shield and try to go from above?

Any tips??? I did the passenger side by using a long extension from above.

I didn't remove the wishbones myself in the end but did ask the forum at the time,


https://www.z3mcoupe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=20719

[urquattrogus]

Thanks Dave, it came off the next day. It was one of those come back tomorrow jobs and I must have been getting tired.

I just disconnected an earth strap, bend back a heat shield a little and there was enough space to get the spanner on more reliably.

All front suspension off now:

Untitled by urquattro gus, on Flickr

I have been prepping and painting the subframe and the crossmember.

Both were is good nick with just a few flakes of surface rust. It's the top parts of the side edges that take the brunt of road crap.

I did the three stage POR15 process. Degrese, Metal Prep and then POR 15.

Untitled by urquattro gus, on Flickr

Untitled by urquattro gus, on Flickr

Untitled by urquattro gus, on Flickr

Soon I get the fun bit of putting new shiny parts on!!

[jonnysideways]

Thats the best bit. Look good. Glad to see someone else messing in the cold weather.