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Re: Driving the Z4 during the winter?

Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 9:38 am
by cj10jeeper
realhenke wrote:Fantastic! Last question, how fast can you drive with the top up and still talk to the person next to you? Or how good does it sound isolate?
Welcome - remember this is no metal topped saloon, so although of course you can hold a conversation at any speed with roof up, don't expect whisper quiet '5 series' noise levels.

Re: Driving the Z4 during the winter?

Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 11:04 am
by Robb
One of the things that annoyed me the most during winter was the windows freezing into the door seals and not dropping for you to get in, pouring water on them every morning to get into my car was becoming tiresome.
Think i might try some silicon based grease this year to see if it helps, other than that it was as good as can be expected, toasty warm but a bit of a liability on the snow, just keep a shovel in the boot.

Re: Driving the Z4 during the winter?

Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 12:05 pm
by craig3.2
As others have saud,it can be tricky in the wet/snowy weather,but like ally,i have an order pending for either some vrdstn or falken winter tyres,which should solve any traction issues/more or less.
As for noise,upto 70-ish u can talk fine in the z4 with the roof down. its a pretty quiet roadster/espcly compared to some :D :thumbsup:

Re: Driving the Z4 during the winter?

Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 12:09 pm
by Breaker
Lets be honest, a Z4 should be able to cope with anything a 3 Series can cope with (apart from carrying more than 2 people that is!). :wink:

Re: Driving the Z4 during the winter?

Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2010 2:10 am
by jhbuining
I've got a Webasto ThermoTop-C parking heater in mine (probably the only one on the forum that has one) which is a very nice addition. Also very usefull in above zero conditions to pre-heat the engine. In below zero conditions this also defrosts the windows and prevents problems with frozen door seals.

Re: Driving the Z4 during the winter?

Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2010 9:57 am
by aquazi
I drove mine in 4+ inch of snow.. tricky but doable.

As for the noise i often forget its a soft top.. the noise is very quiet.. much better then my old Honda S2K. You can have perfect conversations on the motorway without wind noise.. the exhaust is the noisiest thing on it.

The only difference (with the roof up) over a hard top is that when driving in town you can hear people talking from outside!

Even driving in the rain is very quiet.

Long gone are the days when convertibles are made of tarp roofs!

Re: Driving the Z4 during the winter?

Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 8:06 pm
by Beancounter1980
realhenke wrote:Hi!
I'm thinking about buying a Bmw Z4 later this year but one question has popped up in my mind.
Can you drive the car in the winter when it's freezing temperatures or can't the car manage to keep the heat up?

Kind regards!
Good luck mate. This winter I abandoned my car five times because of the snow. The slightest incline sent it swerving.

I also had a harrowing near death experience, where the car slid into a T-junction and ABS was on full lock...

Without winter tyres, it is a death trap. It is for me anyway. Make sure you invest in very very good winter tyres... :wink:

Driving the Z4 during the winter?

Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 8:44 pm
by csmith319
Re talking at speed. I did 148 roof down in Europe, was loud but you could, erm, talk to each other but to be honest I wasn't really concentrating on small talk. Had to raise your voice, but not shout (windows up though).

Re: Driving the Z4 during the winter?

Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 8:49 pm
by Dav the wheel nut
No problem with talking with the roof up or down cos when she starts I just turn the stereo up :D

Re: Driving the Z4 during the winter?

Posted: Fri Jun 07, 2013 2:58 pm
by Shamu1982
Just picking up on this thread, curious to know how the fabric hood holds up to all the salt and crap that is put on our roads in the uk...?

Re: Driving the Z4 during the winter?

Posted: Fri Jun 07, 2013 5:19 pm
by mr wilks
3yr post revival :thumbsup: :happyclap: good work

Re: Driving the Z4 during the winter?

Posted: Fri Jun 07, 2013 5:27 pm
by Nondizzyblonde
However, a really good revival, as loads of people are telling me that I will regret buying the z4 as I will have to drive it this winter, and I am now starting to poop myself and actually wondering whether we should stay a 3 car family despite the expense !

Re: Driving the Z4 during the winter?

Posted: Fri Jun 07, 2013 5:35 pm
by mr wilks
Nondizzyblonde wrote:However, a really good revival, as loads of people are telling me that I will regret buying the z4 as I will have to drive it this winter, and I am now starting to poop myself and actually wondering whether we should stay a 3 car family despite the expense !
Get a set of winter tyres fitted & worry no more , they really do what they promise :thumbsup:

Re: Driving the Z4 during the winter?

Posted: Fri Jun 07, 2013 7:56 pm
by TAZ 1990
This is my 2nd Z4 used as a daily.
It is normally parked on the drive and I have had no leak's. Gets through snow although as others have said rear wheel drive can prove challenging in icy conditions.
As for talking I normally tell them to be quite and listen to the engine. :poke:
Go for it. You will not regret it

Re: Driving the Z4 during the winter?

Posted: Fri Jun 07, 2013 7:59 pm
by Nondizzyblonde
mr wilks wrote:
Nondizzyblonde wrote:However, a really good revival, as loads of people are telling me that I will regret buying the z4 as I will have to drive it this winter, and I am now starting to poop myself and actually wondering whether we should stay a 3 car family despite the expense !
Get a set of winter tyres fitted & worry no more , they really do what they promise :thumbsup:
I have them for my pug, and must admit they make me feel a lot safer !