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Automatic gearbox advise

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Leesey
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Automatic gearbox advise

Post by Leesey » Tue Aug 22, 2017 7:08 pm

Hi, I'm just about to buy a 2005/6 Z4 automatic in the coming weeks.

I've herd lots of bad things about the auto gearbox & it's putting me off from buying one so I thought I'd ask you guys for some advice.


It's an automatic or nothing....

Appreciate your time, lee...

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GuidoK
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Automatic gearbox advise

Post by GuidoK » Tue Aug 22, 2017 7:15 pm

bmw autoboxes are generally reliable.

Try to get a facelift z4, they have the more modern 6 speed auto gearboxes (pre facelift z4's have 5 speed auto. Helps in performance and fuel economy.
Z4 3.0i | ESS TS2+ | Quaife ATB LSD | Brembo/BMW performance BBK front/rear | Schrick FI cams | Schmiedmann headers+cats | fully polybushed | Vibra-technics engine mounts | H&R anti rollbars | KW V3 coilovers | Sachs Race Engineering clutch

jamie_z4
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Automatic gearbox advise

Post by jamie_z4 » Tue Aug 22, 2017 7:19 pm

Hardly seen anything that goes wrong with the normal auto box on the z4 it just that hideous smg one that always goes wrong :thumbsdown:
18 Z4s owned to date.

Current: 2.5i Titan silver

Daily driver: 480bhp M140i Shadow edition.

Leesey
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Automatic gearbox advise

Post by Leesey » Tue Aug 22, 2017 7:44 pm

Are the 2006 models the facelift ?

Leesey
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Automatic gearbox advise

Post by Leesey » Tue Aug 22, 2017 7:47 pm

How do I tell the difference between a facelift model & an earlier model ?

jamie_z4
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Automatic gearbox advise

Post by jamie_z4 » Tue Aug 22, 2017 8:12 pm

Usually indicators are orange all round for a quick visual check on a pre Face-lift.
18 Z4s owned to date.

Current: 2.5i Titan silver

Daily driver: 480bhp M140i Shadow edition.

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Ducklakeview
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Automatic gearbox advise

Post by Ducklakeview » Tue Aug 22, 2017 8:17 pm

jamie_z4 wrote: Tue Aug 22, 2017 7:19 pm Hardly seen anything that goes wrong with the normal auto box on the z4 it just that hideous smg one that always goes wrong :thumbsdown:
The pre-facelift ZF5HP boxes are pretty bulletproof, the later 6 speed GA6HP19 facelift boxes however do suffer with some problems.

Mike

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GuidoK
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Automatic gearbox advise

Post by GuidoK » Tue Aug 22, 2017 8:22 pm

jamie_z4 wrote: Tue Aug 22, 2017 8:12 pm Usually indicators are orange all round for a quick visual check on a pre Face-lift.
no, on the pre-fl 2005 model year also white indicators were (factory!) delivered! (but facelift z4's were always with white indicators delivered)

The proper way to check is what vin code it has.

Best visual check would be what bumpers it has:
facelift front bumper:
Image

pre-facelift front bumper (note the difference in foglights):
Image

Rear style tail lights is also different:

pre facelift rear lights:
Image

facelift rear lights:
Image
Z4 3.0i | ESS TS2+ | Quaife ATB LSD | Brembo/BMW performance BBK front/rear | Schrick FI cams | Schmiedmann headers+cats | fully polybushed | Vibra-technics engine mounts | H&R anti rollbars | KW V3 coilovers | Sachs Race Engineering clutch

jamie_z4
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Automatic gearbox advise

Post by jamie_z4 » Tue Aug 22, 2017 8:23 pm

GuidoK wrote: Tue Aug 22, 2017 8:22 pm
jamie_z4 wrote: Tue Aug 22, 2017 8:12 pm Usually indicators are orange all round for a quick visual check on a pre Face-lift.
no, on the pre-fl 2005 model year also white indicators were (factory!) delivered! (but facelift z4's were always with white indicators delivered)

The proper way to check is what vin code it has.

Best visual check would be what bumpers it has:
facelift front bumper
Image

pre-facelift front bumper (note the difference in foglights):
Image

Rear style tail lights is also different:

pre facelift rear lights:
Image

facelift rear lights:
Image
Mines a 55 plate pre fl with orange indicators.

There is not one 05 pre fl for sale on Autotrader or ebay with clear indicators either :?
18 Z4s owned to date.

Current: 2.5i Titan silver

Daily driver: 480bhp M140i Shadow edition.

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GuidoK
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Automatic gearbox advise

Post by GuidoK » Tue Aug 22, 2017 8:30 pm

Well if you look at mobile (very large german sales site), there are loads of 2005 clear indicator pre facelift examples to be found:
https://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/sear ... &scopeId=C

I think its even the majority.
Last edited by GuidoK on Tue Aug 22, 2017 8:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Z4 3.0i | ESS TS2+ | Quaife ATB LSD | Brembo/BMW performance BBK front/rear | Schrick FI cams | Schmiedmann headers+cats | fully polybushed | Vibra-technics engine mounts | H&R anti rollbars | KW V3 coilovers | Sachs Race Engineering clutch

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Ducklakeview
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Automatic gearbox advise

Post by Ducklakeview » Tue Aug 22, 2017 8:30 pm

GuidoK wrote: Tue Aug 22, 2017 8:22 pm
jamie_z4 wrote: Tue Aug 22, 2017 8:12 pm Usually indicators are orange all round for a quick visual check on a pre Face-lift.
no, on the pre-fl 2005 model year also white indicators were (factory!) delivered! (but facelift z4's were always with white indicators delivered)

The proper way to check is what vin code it has.

Best visual check would be what bumpers it has:
facelift front bumper:
Image

pre-facelift front bumper (note the difference in foglights):
Image

Rear style tail lights is also different:

pre facelift rear lights:
Image

facelift rear lights:
Image
Pre facelift cars were never supplied with clear repeaters in the UK..

Mike

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Ducklakeview
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Automatic gearbox advise

Post by Ducklakeview » Tue Aug 22, 2017 8:31 pm

GuidoK wrote: Tue Aug 22, 2017 8:30 pm Well if you look at mobile, there are loads of 2005 clear indicator pre facelift examples to be found:
https://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/sear ... &scopeId=C
And the OP is in the UK, so that site is a waste of time..

Mike

jamie_z4
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Automatic gearbox advise

Post by jamie_z4 » Tue Aug 22, 2017 8:31 pm

GuidoK wrote: Tue Aug 22, 2017 8:30 pm Well if you look at mobile, there are loads of 2005 clear indicator pre facelift examples to be found:
https://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/sear ... &scopeId=C
The Op is based in the UK. I was on about UK specific cars, thought that would be obvious....
18 Z4s owned to date.

Current: 2.5i Titan silver

Daily driver: 480bhp M140i Shadow edition.

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Ducklakeview
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Automatic gearbox advise

Post by Ducklakeview » Tue Aug 22, 2017 8:33 pm

Leesey wrote: Tue Aug 22, 2017 7:08 pm Hi, I'm just about to buy a 2005/6 Z4 automatic in the coming weeks.

I've herd lots of bad things about the auto gearbox & it's putting me off from buying one so I thought I'd ask you guys for some advice.


It's an automatic or nothing....

Appreciate your time, lee...
I LOVE my auto's, and the 3.0 engine, pre or post facelift suits the box perfectly....

Mike

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GuidoK
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Automatic gearbox advise

Post by GuidoK » Tue Aug 22, 2017 8:37 pm

Ducklakeview wrote: Tue Aug 22, 2017 8:31 pm
And the OP is in the UK, so that site is a waste of time..

Mike
What do you mean...waste of time?!?

I'm just making a point that bmw delivered tonnes of clear indicator pre facelift models from factory. And to make that point I showed what is currently for sale in germany. that there are none currently on ebay or autotrader doesnt mean there wont ever be.
How do you know for sure that bmw never delivered a 2005 model in the uk with clear indicators?
If you look at bmw's ETK for the 2005 model (and yes, I do mean the rhd UK model scope), also clear indicator headlights are listed as parts.
They were deliverd under option code S785A if I'm not mistaken.
http://bmwfans.info/parts-catalog/E85/E ... on?s=S785A
jamie_z4 wrote: Tue Aug 22, 2017 8:31 pm
The Op is based in the UK. I was on about UK specific cars, thought that would be obvious....
Read my post above...so you'll vouch for it personally that there will never be one for sale?
Last edited by GuidoK on Tue Aug 22, 2017 8:44 pm, edited 4 times in total.
Z4 3.0i | ESS TS2+ | Quaife ATB LSD | Brembo/BMW performance BBK front/rear | Schrick FI cams | Schmiedmann headers+cats | fully polybushed | Vibra-technics engine mounts | H&R anti rollbars | KW V3 coilovers | Sachs Race Engineering clutch

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