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Master mechanic Franz Schaffer - A professional life for the BMW Z1

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Created on February 6, 2026

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Hinrich Groeneveld

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Hinrich Groeneveld

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Hinrich Groeneveld

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Specialist for BMW Z1 - A mechanic before the Lord: Franz Schaffer

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Specialist for BMW Z1 - Franz Schaffer lays hands on a dilapidated axle carrier

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Specialist for BMW Z1 - A door mechanism that often arrives in the workshop

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Specialist for BMW Z1 - The showroom

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Specialist for BMW Z1 - The rear silencer on the Z1 is designed like a diffuser. Here you can see how the air flow works

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Specialist for BMW Z1 - The workshop in the evening light

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Specialist for BMW Z1 - The warehouse for customer vehicles. In the foreground, Schaffer's private Z1 in a special pre-series paint job

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Specialist for BMW Z1 - Schaffer procured and fitted this bumper in a night-and-fog operation as a friendly service to the customer

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Specialist for BMW Z1 - You can also admire a Z1 body shell in the showroom

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Summary

The BMW Z1 sports car, which was produced in a small series of 8000 units between 1989 and 1991, is now getting on in years and one wonders who can actually professionally maintain and repair this exclusive piece with its technical finesse. In the tranquil Upper Bavarian town of Moosburg an der Isar, there is a company that has established itself worldwide as a specialist for the Z1. Who is behind this company?

This article contains the following chapters

Franz Schaffer
Special requests
New challenges
"The Z1 is actually 8,000 custom-made parts"
Brave new world

Estimated reading time: 13min

Preview (beginning of the article)

We have already reported on the BMW Z1 on "Zwischengas" before. Produced between 1989 and 1991 in a small series of 8000 units, the sports car is now getting on in years and one wonders who can actually professionally maintain and repair this exclusive piece with its technical finesse. In the tranquil Upper Bavarian town of Moosburg an der Isar, there is a company that has established itself worldwide as a specialist for the Z1. Who is behind this company? After his apprenticeship as a car mechanic, Franz Schaffer, born in 1966, worked at various stations, not all of which had anything to do with cars. However, they all belonged to the metal industry and were subject to the 38.5-hour working week. This left the enthusiastic mechanic plenty of time to take care of other things, such as engine support for a Porsche racing team. What he learned here in terms of careful and precise working methods would stand him in good stead for his entire professional career. In 1993, now 27 years old and having passed his master craftsman's examination, he set up his own business and bought a workshop in Moosburg, where his business is still based today.

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