TimB2010`s "Gun Metal Grey" Build

[timb2010]

Here is my GMG project page.....

 

Purchased Aug 2013 - 2006 (55 Plate) Gun Metal Grey with 78k on the clocks. Not a GT but not the base package. (When I gave the dealers the VIN they said “its not base model, it is option 2â€)

 

My Zed was In a bit of a state when I purchased it, it had been stood for a year with the drivers seat air bag deployed. It was parked at the back of a garage ½ mile away. As it was under a fur tree for so long it was covered in green slime.

 

 

The mechanics tried to resolve the intermittent SRS light by cutting out the yellow plugs, at some point the drivers air bag was triggered (probably the mechanic testing with a multimeter). The garage had made no effort to sell it for over a year, it just sat there un-moved.

 

 

I was driving out looking at various Zeds and didn’t know this one was right near my house! Whilst the above seems pretty bad, I could see the potential in the car. It came with a spare set of seats and I found the yellow cut out airbag plugs in the back. It had Vredestein Ultrac Sessanta tyres with about 6-7mm, virtually brand new disks and pads all round. The wheels had all been completely stripped and refurbished. I seemed to have all the GT kit excluding the Rays. It was a 2006 model and built 2 weeks before the tax increase. FSH with dealers and I also had the address of the previous owner so I could chat with him about any problems it may have.

I didn’t get much of a deal as you would expect having no MOT etc, but being really close to me and without insurance, Tax and MOT I could easily get it home and work on it as a project. So instead of trying to drive around and get a slightly better deal I just bit the bullet and bought it. He wouldn’t budge much on the price as he claimed it owed him 9k last year. I got it for £6600 with a free MOT when it was ready.

After a weekend of cleaning and hard work, I refitted the airbag yellow plugs properly and changed the airbag in the drivers seat. It was ready for the MOT and passed with no advisors.

At last I got it on the road!

 

 

Current Modifications included:

• Quick shift unit fitted – No details on this apart from that it included more than just a shortened gear shift and was imported from the USA
  
• Front and Rear Parking sensors (Rear is mounted at the top of the boot so can be seen in mirror when reversing) Front was located on top of the dial.
  
• Parrot CK3100 Hands Free Kit (Not working)
  
• iPod dock in the cubby hole.
  
• Chrome edging was placed over grill fronts
  

 

The first things I wanted to do was to try and modernise the look a little.

1. The normal key I replaced with a Flip Key from ebay.
   

1. The wiper blades looked a little dated so I bought some “Aero†wipers from ebay.
   

1. When I swapped over the blades I noticed that the wiper arm bases were heavily oxidised/corroded – I removed these rubbed them down and sprayed them in Matt black.
   

1. Next I looked at the lighting.
   

I replaced the side lights with LEDs, and replaced the side repeaters with orange LEDs from ebay

Next I replaced the Interior bulbs with LEDs. Much brighter and whiter.

 

Rear number plate lights replaced with LEDs

 

1. The back of the car didn’t look symmetrical with that red fog light. After finding the oven trick on here I removed the rear fog light lens and replaced with a red LED. Vast improvement.
   

1. All four orange indicator lamps we replaced with silver/chrome bulbs
   

1. The wheels looked too far inset. While im currently sticking with these wheels I had to get spacers. Managed to get a set of month old spacers from XXX. Eibach 20/25mm Spacers fitted.
   

1. The silver covers on the grill had to go. I removed these and sprayed the front lower bumper and the grill in PlastiDip.
    
   
2. While I was sorting out the bumper, I removed the drooping lower lip. I sanded down the scratches and sprayed again with PlastiDip. Then reattached it correctly.
   

1. Next I needed to have some kind of phone kit. I had a look at the Parrot CK3100 kit which wasn’t working, completely dead. After a hour of lying upside down following wires and removing the radio / centre area found it was actually located behind passenger lower dash area. Found that the whole panel came out. I kept blowing fuses and the main brain unit smelt of burnt PCD so that came out and I took the stereo back to standard wiring. While I was there I removed the iPod Cradle Kit as I don’t have an iPod.
   

11) I moved the front parking sensor from the top of the dash to inside the cubby unit for now as it looked dreadful on top with the wire leading to the windscreen.

 

 

12) I managed to buy an OEM cradle and Bluetooth adaptor from XXX. Fitted that and working perfectly.

 

13) Next I looked at the Bose Hack. Instead of having a wire floating around I instead used a “Blackberry Bluetooth adapter and left this all tucked under the stereo.

NOTE: There appears to be a massive amount of interference with the Bluetooth adaptor. Not the case in my old car. Maybe it is an earth problem. I will look another time.

 

14) Removed the original Plate surround and got the front ready for my private plate to be moved over when the DVLA send everything through! Got a 3/4 size plate ready from fancyplates.co.uk

 

 

Possibly Next:

Rays, Carbon roof,

Edited September 1, 2013 by timb2010

[14N]

Excellent work Tim. And well done for saving your Zed from a life of green slime

[CrustyCrab]

Nice one, you have really turned that car around

[Stutopia]

Cool to see a Zed being rescued nice subtle mods you've been up to as well. I must do the flip key.

[KyleR]

You've got a UK GT there Rays were an option, not part of a pack until the 2006 facelift.

 

Good job bringing it back from the brink, even if you did pay too much for it. Now all you have to do it lower it and get some decent rims on there

[hensh65]

Very brave taking that on at that price ! !

 

But it looks like it has paid off so you wont be out of pocket too much come re-sale time

 

How hard was it removing the red part from the rear light cluster?

[timb2010]

Thanks all.

 

Yep price was a little steep, but timing, location and the potential I think outweighed it.

 

Rear cluster needed baking in the oven, not hard but scary !!!

 

[hensh65]

Thanks all.

 

Yep price was a little steep, but timing, location and the potential I think outweighed it.

 

Rear cluster needed baking in the oven, not hard but scary !!!

 

I think I will leave it as I know am the one who will make a rear end of it

 

Best part must be looking at it now, and remembering what it used to be like !

 

Whats future plans ?

[timb2010]

I've got the Zed off the road for 5 days starting next wed. Got loads to do!

 

1) install scorpion exhaust and cobra y pipe.

2) swap over shocks with eibach springs.

3) install pop charger and silver intake

4) new bleed nipples. Replace fluid

5) vinyl matt black the roof

6) remove the clocks and find that damn rattle

7) HEL brake lines.

8) LED Bumper sidelights to be installed

 

Should all be OK, its just the bleeding / hose change I'm a little concerned about.

Edited September 19, 2013 by timb2010

[Mopedmark]

Nice mate

[14N]

Well, that's the list for day one sorted, what you gonna do on the other four?

 

Good list of mods/upgrades Tim, keep us posted with developments

[Stutopia]

Strong list, take some pics!

[timb2010]

Thanks,

Ive hardly touched a spanner for four years since owning the BMW.

 

Could be interesting!!

[HollowPoint]

Looks like a cool project. We all know Gunmetal is the fastest colour

[bizz]

Looking really tidy now man. Good work!

[drginger]

Hi mate,

 

Really like the idea of that flip key.

Could you please let me know the details of the one you purchased?

Also has it worked as you expected?

 

Cheers,

Ian.

[timb2010]

Hey drginger.

You can get it the kit on eBay. Works perfectly. Think the key is listed as a Nissan Navera flip key.

Tim