SOUTHERNBOY

I have posted a pic of the black version of the seat belt guide fix after being asked for this...

.... If you read my write-up above, you will see that it is a simple transplant of your original black dial face and chrome bezel to bring it back to original appearance...

How many members here own Z3 M roadsters or Coupe cars fitted with the VDO analogue clock...and it has problems keeping time correctly or not working ? If anyone has this problem, has had a look for a replacement and been shocked at the price of a new VDO clock...I have found the answer to the problem... Fit a brand new VDO clock for around Eu.30.00. These are genuine VDO analogue clocks which are the identical units as fitted in the M cars... with 2 small differences... 1st. They have a white dial face... and 2nd. They have a black bezel.... The cure.... remove the chrome bezel and the black dial face from your original clock and transfer them to the brand new unit. Removing the chrome bezel is fairly easily done using a tea spoon with the tip sharpened to get access between the bezel and the plastic body of the clock. Work your way around levering the bezel away for about 1/3 of the circumference, then slip a thin blade uner it and the clock body and gently lever it off... once off, lift out the perspex glass and pull the 2 clock hands directly away off the thin shaft. Lift out the mechanism and remove the black face.... Do the same on the new unit and replace the face and chrome bezel to it... use the spoon to push the lifted area of the chrome bezel back down.... job done..... Now here is the link to buy the brand new VDO clocks ..... Those of you who have removed their clocks will recognise instantly the identical clock... with the exceptions I have described. I bought one of these and replaced my clock today... the bezel and dial face transplant took me about 10 minutes.. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161239981701?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

It's undoubtedly the most impressive Z3 in SA... nobody here has the degree of passion to bother much with looking after them and maintaining / improving them. The local guys are more the VW GTi types or the BMW M3 & 5 fanatics. The older e30's are more sought after by the "drifting" boys...

My Afrikaans is such that it would confuse rather than facilitate comprehension... However, I can keep it simple and say:- Goeie more almal. Ek is baie tevrede om op hierdie forum verwelkom... hopefully that makes as much sense to readers as I imagine it might... if I have messed up spelling etc or suggested anything untoward, it isn't intentional...

Below are some of the modifications and upgrades which I have designed and now supply specifically for the Z3 cars. All these items are made so that if you wish to restore your Z3 to OEM status in future, it will not involve the replacement of any original parts. All items come with a comprehensive guide to fitting and are posted "Registered Airmail / Signed for" Firstly, I have the Seat belt plastic guide application. This item will prevent the guide from being broken, and if it is already broken, will secure it solidly so that it functions as perfectly as if unbroken. ie. it doesn't require replacement. They are available in Black or Silver and are engraved with the "roadster" logo which matches the type style of the Z3. Cost incl of posting is Eu.33.00 for a set of 2. Next is a seat lift application which was designed in conjuntion with a technical designer at Land Rover. It's purpose is to lift the front mounting points of the seats so that the passengers tend not to slide forward and slouch in the seats. Sliding on the leather seats is a normal event, and is uncomfortable especially on long drives. The modification provides a fitting which is as secure as the OEM fastening system. They are designed to fit into the OEM recess design to ensure they cannot move once fitted. The "nipple" on the underside fits into a recess in the floor, and the nipple on the underside of the seat base fits into the machined recess of the spacer.The metals / steel used in these components were specified by Land Rover to ensure that they would meet or exceed OEM safety. So, no problems with insurances etc. They cost Eu. 48.00 per seat. Next are the headlight clear lenses to replace the orange plastic ones found on many Z3's of earlier manufacture. Later models were produced with the clear lenses. The ones I supply are identical in all respects as the OEM parts and their fitment is therefor identical. The cost is Eu. 62.00 per set of 2. Lastly, I have designed and developed a center armrest which can be fitted without the requirement of the OEM plastic cup holder. It will leave the existing storage in the center console intact and usable. It also provides a cup holder which swivelr in / out from under the leather upholstered armrest. They are available in black or silver annodised frame and the choice of leather colour is Black / Beige or Red. The red colour I can supply is very close to the Tanninrot of BMW, but may require some re-colouring to closely match your existing interior. The cost of these are Eu. 175.00 I can also supply the leather upholstered armrest only with suitable hinged fitting for application to the OEM plastic center cup holder. The cost of that is Eu.84.00 Please PM me if you have any questions about any of the above, or if you wish to order parts.....

Below are some of the modifications and upgrades which I have designed and now supply specifically for the Z3 cars. All these items are made so that if you wish to restore your Z3 to OEM status in future, it will not involve the replacement of any original parts. All items come with a comprehensive guide to fitting and are posted "Registered Airmail / Signed for" Firstly, I have the Seat belt plastic guide application. This item will prevent the guide from being broken, and if it is already broken, will secure it solidly so that it functions as perfectly as if unbroken. ie. it doesn't require replacement. They are available in Black or Silver and are engraved with the "roadster" logo which matches the type style of the Z3. Cost incl of posting is Eu.33.00 for a set of 2. Next is a seat lift application which was designed in conjuntion with a technical designer at Land Rover. It's purpose is to lift the front mounting points of the seats so that the passengers tend not to slide forward and slouch in the seats. Sliding on the leather seats is a normal event, and is uncomfortable especially on long drives. The modification provides a fitting which is as secure as the OEM fastening system. They are designed to fit into the OEM recess design to ensure they cannot move once fitted. The "nipple" on the underside fits into a recess in the floor, and the nipple on the underside of the seat base fits into the machined recess of the spacer.The metals / steel used in these components were specified by Land Rover to ensure that they would meet or exceed OEM safety. So, no problems with insurances etc. They cost Eu. 48.00 per seat. Next are the headlight clear lenses to replace the orange plastic ones found on many Z3's of earlier manufacture. Later models were produced with the clear lenses. The ones I supply are identical in all respects as the OEM parts and their fitment is therefor identical. The cost is Eu. 62.00 per set of 2. Lastly, I have designed and developed a center armrest which can be fitted without the requirement of the OEM plastic cup holder. It will leave the existing storage in the center console intact and usable. It also provides a cup holder which swivelr in / out from under the leather upholstered armrest. They are available in black or silver annodised frame and the choice of leather colour is Black / Beige or Red. The red colour I can supply is very close to the Tanninrot of BMW, but may require some re-colouring to closely match your existing interior. The cost of these are Eu. 175.00 I can also supply the leather upholstered armrest only with suitable hinged fitting for application to the OEM plastic center cup holder. The cost of that is Eu.84.00 Please PM me if you have any questions about any of the above, or if you wish to order parts.....

Thank you " Inspector Holmes"... as you will see, it's elementary...

Thankyou for the replies... appreciated !

Hello all. I'm new to this forum, but have been a long time member at roadster.net in the UK. Maybe one or two members here will know me from that forum? Anyhow, I have over the past years contributed to the Z3 in particular with some useful modifications which enhance the driving and appearance of these lovely cars. I have made a donation to the forum, and hopefully I will shortly be able to present these to the members here so that they too can enjoy the benefits of my efforts. I have owned and driven a Z3 as a daily driver for the past 12 years and my first Z3 was a 1997 2.8. I spent some effort on it's maintenance and sold it in Nov 2013 for just over £.10,000.00.... yes, it's possibly the most expensive Z3 in South Africa. I will do a separate post with some pictures so that anyone interested can see the transition of that car from a very ordinary OEM Z3 to a really attractive Z3 roadster. So far, I have designed an attractive solution to the breaking seat belt guide, a center armrest which doesn't require the plastic cupholder, a 100% safe seat lift modification which enhances the driving comfort and reduces the tendency to slide forward on the leather seats, and also most recently I make and supply clear headlight indicator lenses to replace the amber ones. All my items require no alterations to the OEM status of these cars, and are fully reversible. Anyhow, I am looking forward to being a valued contributor on this forum and anyone interested in my history on roadster.net can pop in there and look at my posts / contributions... also under the name "SOUTHERNBOY"