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Writer's pictureVAD Admin
Jul 18, 20192 min read

BMW Z4 (E89) GT3 V8 road car

Updated: Sep 25, 2019


Our BMW Z4 GT3 V8 took another step towards completion with the guys over at Next Level Automotive laying down the paint this last weekend, they were extremely secretive and then decided to video call us for our reaction of the freshly painted car, and we can honest say it’s turned out better than we had ever anticipated, it really blew us away. Only last week we were discussing the fact the car was about to go to the next stage and how we had turned the corner after deciding to work with our European Partners Next Level as when we were building in the UK it just stagnated, a none starter for one reason or another, we have our theory and reasons why the build didn’t get started and the company in question have theirs, unfortunately we will never agree with what we were told, we have decided not to give the subject any further airtime, as it’s just not worth the effort, we were warned well before we decided to take the Z4 there by various people, but we decided to ignore, so we only have ourselves to blame, so we move on and it’s another lesson learned, the good thing is we don’t have to work with them again now or in the foreseeable future, so that’s a blessing.

So back to our Z4 GT3 V8 build and the fact we are not too far away from actually driving this beauty on the open UK roads, it’s been a lot longer than anticipated but looking at the build and where it is, the wait has been worth it.

We still have lots to do, like set up the bespoke coilover conversion that Bilstein supplied us, and set the ride height, as well as fit the huge rear diffuser and front and rear bumper mesh, which will finish off and tidy up the bumper openings. We also have to fit our authentic Z4 GT3 double blade rear wing assembly which we are really looking forward to as that really does complete the overall look of the car, and its well needed, and then its back to our good friends Dynotorque, our engine installers.

The last upgrade will be the wheels, the design we have chosen will be the RS5 from our wheel partner Litespeed racing, with a couple of decisions still need to be made, one being forged magnesium of forged aluminium and also the colour. We had chosen the matte and gloss black, but so many of you requesting we fit the bronze wheel set up on our white beauty, we are a little bit torn, do we play safe with black or go all out and go with the bronze.

We couldn’t have achieved this dream without a few people and at the end of the build they will all be thanked personally to include a decal on the cars launch, its not too much longer before our first of its kind hits the street.

BMW Z4 GT3 V8

GT3RR BMW Z4 GT3 V8

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Writer's pictureVAD Admin
Mar 29, 20193 min read

VAD goes Next Level

Updated: Sep 25, 2019


So finally it’s time to get back on to our BMW Z4 GT3 V8 project after being neglected for the last 18 months, due to various issues, time, finances and generally getting involved with the wrong companies to complete the work on the build, which all have stated could be done easily and have taken the job on to complete, I don’t want to turn this post sour as that’s not what im about personally, we live and we learn and unfortunately I still take people at face value, VAD is a pretty old school company with good old fashion values with good buisness eithics, but im a realist and know that people are not all the same, the fact the car has been in two company’s hands and both have been a complete disgrace as far as im concerned, but i would rather say no more on the subject and yet again put it down to experience and move on which is exactly what I have done.

VAD BMW Z4 GT3 LS3 V8 Under Construction

So the car is now residing at our European Partners, Next Level Automotive and what a difference already, to say they were excited is a real understaement and that then excits me, to see two guys with so much passion telling me its going to be an awesome build is just what i want to hear, and from the feedback so far the work is pretty straight forward, just as it should be when your a professional within your trade, within half a day of the car being there, they have a plan already in place for the build, i guess when you know what your doing its fairly straight forward, so many people in the industry living off media bullshit, I will never really understand why anyone would take on a job that they simply couldn’t do, or its out of their depth.

The first job has been to mock up the kit, the front end is already fitted but doed need a bit of work to make the fitment perfect, there is quite a lot to repair, as we have some damaged carbon parts, what cant be fixed will be remade, then its into paint, and this is another place where Jan can show his skill set.

VAD BMW Z4 GT3 LS3 V8 Residing at Next Level Automotive

when the car is returned we can turn our attention to the new GT3RR F1 forged wheel centres, we are so excited to get the new centres fitted, then we will have to fit the custom made Bilstein Coilover suspension we are having done for this particular conversion and then fit the authentic GT3 twin blade rear wing assembly along with meshing all of the grills in the front and rear bumpers, for the rear bumper we have managed to source a twin grill set from our friend Frank Capo from Modena Engineering Victoria, Melbourne Australia, luckily we have contacts from all over the world that are always ready to help and assist, a good healthy global network is worth its weight in gold as you get to work and collaborate with some wonderful company’s.

Summer cannot come any sooner for me as I finally get to have the VAD Z4 GT3 V8 Demo out on the road, hitting as many shows as I can possibly get to, 2019 just got a whole lot better, thanks to the Next Level Automotive crew.

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Writer's pictureVAD Admin
Jan 23, 20182 min read

BMW Z4 GT3 rear wing assembly


Its taken some time but we are happy to say we have the final piece to our Z4 GT3 Jigsaw puzzle, getting hold of a genuine rear wing assembly, the wing is the easiest part to get hold of as we can simply manufacture any width any length wing with various profiles, all we have to do for the Z4 is make sure we have the correct width. We already had the early type rear wing set up, but its chassis mounted uprights which was great if you had the race car with the fixed roof, but not so great if your converting road cars and you still have the steal electric hood, we will possibly look at changing our roof to the authentic GT3 at some point, as we have found a German supplier that produces the roof and the mirrors if we need them, but not everyone wants a fixed roof, they want the convertible option, and you cannot use the roof as the wing uprights are bolted strait to the boot floor and the rear wing will not let the roof work correctly, so we have been after the later style with the boot mounted assembly for a while now, and its great to finally source a pure race wing set up, with the twin blades.

BMW Z4 GT3 REAR WING ASSEMBLY

Lots of people have said we shouldn't fit the wing as we are building a road car, and to some extent we agree, but this conversion needs it, this is a really aggressive looking car, the authentic GT3 kit is super wide, so the GT3 rear wing set up is the cherry on the top, and one this wide body V8 needs, with the added bonus and advantage of advertising space, which is priceless.

We will be having the aluminium supports laser cut and manufacturing, the double wing set up will be manufactured in carbon fibre, email us for more details if you happen to be building a Z4 GT3 or you just fancy fitting the GT3 rear wing assembly on your BMW E89 Z4 Chassis.

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