Would you want to own this car?
- Thread starter Pond
- Start date
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2016
- Points
- 144
- Location
- Spaldingski, Lincs
- Model of Z
- 3 litre Z3 pretending to be Italian exotica. Two previous E89 Z4s.
Exactly. That is why cost is irrelevant in this. If I had worded it differently the poll results would probably have been completely different and comments like "I wouldn't pay that for a plastic Z3" would be rife.
If you own a standard zed then you 'do' own a car made by somebody else.
Disagree @GZed , '..would you like to own..' etc?
As I said, the price/ cost/value is still the issue. For example, if someone gave it to me I'd probably sell it because it would achieve a good price. If I had loads of money and could just add it to a collection I'd probably buy something else. So I just don't see how anyone can answer yes or no without reference to money.
Now if I'd built it would I like to own it? Yes, but that's a different question.
As I said, the price/ cost/value is still the issue. For example, if someone gave it to me I'd probably sell it because it would achieve a good price. If I had loads of money and could just add it to a collection I'd probably buy something else. So I just don't see how anyone can answer yes or no without reference to money.
Now if I'd built it would I like to own it? Yes, but that's a different question.
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2016
- Points
- 144
- Location
- Spaldingski, Lincs
- Model of Z
- 3 litre Z3 pretending to be Italian exotica. Two previous E89 Z4s.
It did cost an awful lot of money to build, though, which comes back to the same issue.
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2016
- Points
- 144
- Location
- Spaldingski, Lincs
- Model of Z
- 3 litre Z3 pretending to be Italian exotica. Two previous E89 Z4s.
Your car (and all the other Z3 rebodies) are essentially the same as mine, though.
And the irony is that the new wiring was done from YOUR wiring specs, so you actually know my car better than I do!
When I was building mine and getting a little overwhelmed with it all another builder said to me "there are no real 'changes' to anything on these. You are basically changing the body panels and re-routing some of the wiring to do the same jobs. That is about it."
He was correct. I cannot think of one thing with my car that is any more complicated than a normal Z3 and many things that are now less.
- Joined
- Dec 8, 2011
- Points
- 145
One-offs are just that - a one-off. They come with all the problems of a one-off. I'm happy to live with my own one-offs, but not with somebody else's - unless it is just to look at, like a painting.
- Joined
- Dec 8, 2011
- Points
- 145
i've said yes because it's stunning looking, both inside and out 
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2016
- Points
- 144
- Location
- Spaldingski, Lincs
- Model of Z
- 3 litre Z3 pretending to be Italian exotica. Two previous E89 Z4s.
I am now interested to find out what these 'problems' are you speak of, cos I am struggling to think of any.
The ONLY one I can think of with mine is changing headlight bulbs as it has perspex covers over them. To fully weatherseal them I have put a bead of clear silicone around the edges of the stainless covers. That would need breaking and a new bead installing afterwards. I reckon about an hours work in total.
- Joined
- Dec 8, 2011
- Points
- 145
Bear in mind, I'm only thinking about my car as an example...
Most of my switches are home-made modules that replicate the BMW switch, but they would have to be re-sourced from suppliers who may not be there when the time comes.
One is common to many of these cars, and it sounds like the sort of thing Lady Bracknell would say. It's obviously not going to hit you in the face.
ANY modifications to the monocoque could mean the vehicle needs an IVA. It would take a VERY thorough inspection to confirm none have been made.
You have used spinners that are not just cosmetic. What tests have been done to confirm they are safe to use. In Germany, for instance, parts fitted need to conform to the relevant DIN standard. Taking the car to Germany may (I emphasise "may") cause problems. Taking it to Italy will definitely cause problems, unless all the "F" badges are removed. Even then, it is for you to prove that it doesn't infringe copyright. At the moment, these laws are domestic - they may become EU wide.
Servicing - I notice that you have a smaller bonnet. Does that cause any access issues, or does the front clam shell need to be removed to do any job that would be easily accessible with the Z3 bonnet raised? My bonnet raises, but not as high as a Z3, and it doesn't have a service position.
Tracking - as I mentioned in your thread, you may need to compensate for the different wheel arch height if it is different to the Z3 height. As a new owner, I would need to know this.
Accident damage - where would I obtain replacement panels if required? Tribute isn't going to be there for ever, and I imagine that when Chris goes, so do his moulds.
Glass - same problem, maybe.
Plexy glass headlight covers - same problem, maybe.
All fixtures and fittings were supplied from various sources without spares support in the contract, so if anything breaks, it may be a case of having to buy two, so they match on both sides of the car.
Paint matching - my car was originally painted Ferrari Rosso Rubino 308, and I was also supplied with a 250ml tin. The tin was scanned, and the best match was a Hyundai colour. The car was scanned, and it's best match is to a Peugeot colour. One extra drop of any of the paint colours used making the paint can change the colour. When cars are painted at the factory several cars (say six) are painted at the same time, so one drop may become 1/6th of a drop error in the paint colour.
As I said, I'm happy to live with these problems on my car, but the exam question was "Would you want to own this car?". My answer is "No"
Nice built but copies are not for me. M badge police would probably have a stroke.
I don't think Pond's car is Tribute. So, in this case, the original producer of his moulds has already gone (I think?)
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2016
- Points
- 144
- Location
- Spaldingski, Lincs
- Model of Z
- 3 litre Z3 pretending to be Italian exotica. Two previous E89 Z4s.
Not that it is relevant to this thread, but I know two people who have access to moulds for my body.
And NO it is not a Tribute Automotive body. They never made a 250 cali body.
Looking at the replies I'm not sure if Pond asked the right question.
I'm sure some of the Yes votes were by people who would like to own it - so they could sell it and buy an Z3M and trouser the change.
.. and some of the No votes likely by people who wouldn't mind owning it but couldn't afford to.
But just own it - as in wake up one morning and find it on my drive - and keep it. Sure. Its a very very nice car and I feel more than capable of keeping it on fhe road.
I'm sure some of the Yes votes were by people who would like to own it - so they could sell it and buy an Z3M and trouser the change.
.. and some of the No votes likely by people who wouldn't mind owning it but couldn't afford to.
But just own it - as in wake up one morning and find it on my drive - and keep it. Sure. Its a very very nice car and I feel more than capable of keeping it on fhe road.
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2016
- Points
- 144
- Location
- Spaldingski, Lincs
- Model of Z
- 3 litre Z3 pretending to be Italian exotica. Two previous E89 Z4s.
I think I asked the wrong question to the wrong audience TBH.
All I am trying to gauge is a realistic view from 'ordinary' people. Since completing the car I have had everyone 'blowing smoke up my arse' about it. Wherever I have taken the car it has had constant attention (all good BTW). Everyone who has seen it in the flesh have only had extremely good things to say about it. So it is easy to get a little 'over-invested' in what I have achieved.
It's not really important, as I love it and am not planning on selling it anyway.
The car is certainly a fantastic achievement that you should rightly be very proud of. I hope to see it in the flesh in the summer and will happily join the crowd of admirers blowing smoke your arse about it. Owning it is a strange prospect. I would never consider having it if I didn’t have a safe dry place to store it, and not unlike a Z3, it’s a bit of a fair weather car to drive too, so it’s probably something to sit within a larger collection of toys.
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2016
- Points
- 144
- Location
- Spaldingski, Lincs
- Model of Z
- 3 litre Z3 pretending to be Italian exotica. Two previous E89 Z4s.
Yes it's now just a toy. It's a thing to look at, that happens to be roadworthy. "Shows and showing off" are all it's good for really now.
I have spent 2 years and an awful lot of money turning a perfectly good German car into an ornament!
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2016
- Points
- 231
- Model of Z
- Z3M Imola and Z4 (e89)
You have done an amazing job and I tip my hat to you and all the others that have done a conversion I sure as hell could not do one, I'm too impatient. As amazing as it is its still a fake and personally I just don't see the point of it and would rather the Z3 its based on. Its a no from me.
Yep. Wrong audience. Members of a forum for BMW Zed enthusiasts being asked if they like the idea of destroying a perfectly good Z3 to make a kit car. But away from the forum I'm sure the majority of people in the street would agree your car is a beauty.
I must confess that, even though I'm well into a rebody myself, even I'd struggle with the idea of taking spanners to a perfectly good 3 Litre Z3 to make a ferrari look-a-like.
My excuse, for my car, is that it's a 1.9 nearing the end of its life. Even just replacing a few Z3 parts exceeds the value of the car. But bolting on a pile of GRP panels - which really isn't that far from sticking fibreglass sills on an old zed - just kinda makes sense to get another 20 years out of a car that I've already had for 20 years and grown attached to.