Man’s daughter wanted a BMW instead of her Tesla Model S so he bought a dead Z3 and restored it for her
- YouTuber bought his daughter a dead BMW Z3
- She wanted it over her Tesla Model S due to no local charging stations
- Her dad was thankfully able to restore the BMW
Published on Dec 11, 2024 at 8:56 PM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Last updated on Dec 11, 2024 at 8:56 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
Showing that being a dad can go hand in hand with being a car enthusiast, this New Hampshire, US, YouTuber bought his daughter a dead BMW Z3 instead of her Tesla Model S and restored it.
She wanted something sporty and convertible.
Despite lacking an engine the BMW was a great option.
Good job he had the mechanic skills to earn him maximum dad points.
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BMW Z3 vs Tesla Model S
Rich Benoit of Rich Rebuilds bought a non-running BMW Z3 for his daughter in an auction after she sought a sporty, convertible car.
The Z3 was chosen despite lacking an engine.
“She came to me one day and said she’s looking for something a little bit more sporty and/or feminine or boss girl as the kids like to call it nowadays,” Benoit explained.
“She also wants something convertible so she could drive with the top down.”
She should perhaps check out the new Mercedes-AMG PureSpeed that’s a roofless speedster inspired by Formula 1.
Her dad being the motoring mogul he is, he offered her an electric Honda Beat but she didn’t want two electric cars due to charging anxiety with her Tesla Model S.
Despite arguably being cheaper to run, the lack of charging infrastructure in the area she lives was problematic – and you can’t supercharge a Honda Beat.
How it was restored
Transparently listed as ‘non-running’ due to its inline six-cylinder engine being missing – an LS engine swap was required.
In its place, an LS V8 engine was installed with Summit Racing parts (heads, camshaft, and headers).
Adaptations like Siki Manufacturing motor mounts, shifter relocation, and ABS relocation were made to fit the LS engine into the Z3 chassis with minimal cutting.
While there were several clearance issues with headers and tight engine bay spaces, they were quickly resolved.
Benoit was then able to reassemble the car without AC for simplicity.
Benoit and his helpful friend, Terry, were aiming for 500 horsepower under the hood.
London-based Amelia cut her journalistic teeth covering all things lifestyle, wellness and luxury in the UK capital. Fast-forward a decade and the experienced content creator and editor has put pen to paper for glossy magazines, busy newsrooms and coveted brands. When her OOO is on you can find her spending quality time with her young family, in the gym or exploring the city she loves.
