2300lbs weight reduction

[ClassyCrusader]

So I was google searching and came across a conversation on bimmerforums

https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?1491125-Weight-Reduction-MZ3

In the 3rd to last comment the guy mentions his z3 weighs 2585lbs with a 4 liter fire extinguisher, roll cage, and him in it. If hes average weight and size that should be 150lbs (just taking an average) for him, 100 for the cage, and a 4 liter fire extinguisher is 22lbs (had to look it up). So thats roughly 272 lbs which if removed would put the car at 2313lbs, which is nuts.

My question is how'd he do it?

Wouldve messaged him but he hasnt been active since 2014. Looked at his profile (I am not a stalker! Just over actively curious, dont tell the girls profiles I look at though =x) and its a 6 cylinder, has the dash and door panels, looks like he just took out the floor mats 'cause its not bare metal on the floors.
And mentioned he took out the radio and ac.

So, howd he do it? When I look at what to do the most I can come up with is is about 280lbs without carbon fiber. (100/seats, 50/spare and tools, 40-50/ac, 20/battery, 30/dead weight in bumpers, 30/hardtop replacement for soft top).

So I guess we know it can be done, any thoughts how to recreate this? Running out of ideas =p

 

[smiffy]

It's under the bonnet (hood) you need to be working. 6cyl is already nose heavy compared to the 4 cylinder.
Strip it all from behind the bulkhead and what you gain in weight saving you lose in balance. No point getting to the corner first, if you can't get round it!

If it is a full blown racer,
Ditch the viscous fan
Light weight radiator
Air box
you can strip all the unnecessary wiring from the looms, copper is heavy!
You can acid dip the bare shell, respray with less coats..
Lighten flywheel, crankshaft and damper

The list is absolutely endless, limited only by class rules, budget and time!

 

[ClassyCrusader]

I did i little more (obsessive) snooping on his profile. Turns out the dude is loaded and smart. Had the car when it was new and engine swapped it (I think 2 or three times), completely overhauled the engines, stripped and re did the interior, and had a carbon fiber engine hood at one point (dont think with the weight listed because he mentioned he ditched it in the same sentence but who knows)

So guess the big weight losses came from:

-getting rid of everything in the doors
-getting rid of all extras at the front like you mentioned smiffy (heard the heater core weighs a pretty pound or two. Btw completely agree with you smiffy the whole reason I started this thread was to come up with ideas to lose something from the front so I can change out the seats and ditch the spare to keep it all balanced : )

The most valuable piece of information that I'm not sure is common knowledge (wasnt to me at least) was there was about 70lbs of weights under the passenger seat. I'm guessing since the weights and the battery on the passenger side weigh about the same as a person its was probably put there to balance the car out when a person isnt there. Which is probably most the time if your single like me...someone date me please. Maybe its the fact i obsess over profiles like this. Then again at this rate no matter how small she is it have her go on a diet to not mess up the weight distribution and wind up single again...i think I found my problem

 

[Stevo7682]

I'm curious about where the 70 lbs under the passengers seat is i have 2 zeds and i have had the entire interior out due to being soaking inside and the other has had the seats replaced never seen any weight under
Passengers seats????

Stephen

 

[the Nefyn cat]

I can't see how there would be 70 pounds under the passenger seat, found a couple of quid under there the first time I took it out. Maybe filling the tyres with helium would help.

 

[ClassyCrusader]

Huh weird maybe I read it wrong, too lazy to do more stalking. Guess the only thing to take away from this after all is nearly completely stripped the cars weighs a little over 2300lbs and that may or may not include a carbon fiber hood. Bummer wanted to supply more information but o well.

 

[Derendran]

Huh weird maybe I read it wrong, too lazy to do more stalking. Guess the only thing to take away from this after all is nearly completely stripped the cars weighs a little over 2300lbs and that may or may not include a carbon fiber hood. Bummer wanted to supply more information but o well.






Wow, dropping down to ~2300 lbs on an NA Z‑Roadster is no joke — that’s a serious commitment to peeling off weight. Between lightweight wheels, removing the AC, swapping to a lighter battery and minimal interior bits, you get that classic “less is more” feel that really wakes up these cars. It’s amazing how much a few thoughtful changes add up. Kind of like refining habits in life — small, consistent tweaks can make a big difference over time, something I’ve seen discussed positively on https://wellness-app.com/ free fasting tracker.

thanks for the information!

 

[Stevo7682]

I just looked up the weight conversion as in uk we weigh cars in kg not lbs
2300 lbs is 1043kg.
Now for a 6 cyl thats light .
My mot bay brake rolling road is weighted and have tested a few zeds 6cyls are usually pushing 1400 kg ( 3086 lbs ) so getting it anywhere near 2300 lbs would be an achievement.

Stephen.

 

[huskcummerbund]

Not sure there actually is 70lbs under the seat. There are two 15lb dead weights in the rear bumper though, but they are on each side rather than just the passenger side.

 

[Stevo7682]

The 2 weights in the rear bumper are to assist with the near 50/50 weight distribution that the Z3 has removed then the weight bias will shift to being nose heavy .

Stephen.

 

[Delk]

If you are just after stripping weight you can do it quite quickly but at the sacrifice of comfort etc. Engine covers, air box, heater core, power steering, seat bases and motors weigh a lot, air bags, window regulators and even the glass can be changed for plastic, carpet, spare, tools, smaller battery, rear weights and endless amounts of tirm. This all woud drop the weight quickly.

 

[Pingu]

If you are just after stripping weight you can do it quite quickly but at the sacrifice of comfort etc. Engine covers, air box, heater core, power steering, seat bases and motors weigh a lot, air bags, window regulators and even the glass can be changed for plastic, carpet, spare, tools, smaller battery, rear weights and endless amounts of tirm. This all woud drop the weight quickly.

Yes.

There was a discussion about this in a thread about a guy who was racing a Z3.

 

[Delk]

I personally would like to see what a stripped Z3 was like.

At a guess mine has added about 40 to 50 kg on the front with the turbo and parts. Turbo itself weights 11kg. I did make up a bit by loosing the rear weights. Never missed them handling wise.

 

[smiffy]

or did he mean the passenger seat weighs 70lbs, you'd pull that for racing.

@Delk hope you are not too near the beach!

 

[Delk]

or did he mean the passenger seat weighs 70lbs, you'd pull that for racing.

@Delk hope you are not too near the beach!

I can see the sea from my upstairs window. Far enough not to worry about beach front property before I retire and sell the house.