Z4 buying advice

[Sharpy1975]

Hello all

On the look out for a Z4(3.0) coupe as a second car. Some advice would be great.

Age range is 2004 - 2007, Auto with lowish miles if possible. My main concern is the auto box, if this fails what sort of repair would I be looking at? also, any other major things that can go wrong.

Thank you.

[Marius]

that's ssg not auto , worse thing ever made

[Sharpy1975]

Show's you my knowledge......so what is SSG? do they fail?? expensive to fix etc.....any info would be ace.

[jabber]

that's ssg not auto , worse thing ever made

Not sure why you would say that I have the smg and think its great

Better than the auto and great in manual mode all the fun of a manual without the workout for the left leg

[jabber]

Show's you my knowledge......so what is SSG? do they fail?? expensive to fix etc.....any info would be ace.

The smg is basically a manual gearbox but with the clutch being operated by electronics/hydrolics as opposed to your left leg
It has a manual mode where the gear changes are done using paddles on the steering wheel ( how I use mine all the time ) or pushing the gear stick and an automode where it works like a normal auto but with 6 gears as opposed to the 5 in a full auto. Obviously like anything they can go wrong and can be expensive to fix but that can be said about any gearbox

[Marius]

z4's has ssg (slightly updated smg version from e36 ) and it's awful .

[jabber]

z4's has ssg (slightly updated smg version from e36 ) and it's awful .

That is a very sweeping statement I drive a smg and it is not awful it is a great drive and I have had a 3.0 manual as well so I can compare them it does take a short time to adjust to driving a smg but it is rewarding when you get used to it that being said the full auto mode is on good for fairly sedate driving try pushing it hard and its is particularly poor at changing gear quickly but I suspect most drivers would use it in manual mode when pushing it on

[Marlon]

z4's has ssg (slightly updated smg version from e36 ) and it's awful .

That is a very sweeping statement . . .

Marius is a master of the sweeping statement

[markplant]

Op, if your after a coupe the search starts at 2006 , as with most things if it's been looked after it will lasts , if it's not been treated well you could have problems

[SeanConnor]

Jeez, talk about trying to confuse the poor OP.

The Z4C comes mostly with the standard 6 speed auto or manual NOT SSG.
You can get SSG boxes but they are rare.
Some people love 'em others don't, a bit like everything in life.
The standard auto box is a traditional style 6 speed box with torque converter.
It has fully automatic paddle shift or gear-stick indexed selection.
Most people who have the auto love them (me included) the car pulls like a train.
Other's may wish to comment but AFAIK auto gearbox failures are rare.

Hope this helps

[gerryp]

Jeez, talk about trying to confuse the poor OP.

The Z4C comes mostly with the standard 6 speed auto or manual NOT SSG.
You can get SSG boxes but they are rare.
Some people love 'em others don't, a bit like everything in life.
The standard auto box is a traditional style 6 speed box with torque converter.
It has fully automatic paddle shift or gear-stick indexed selection.
Most people who have the auto love them (me included) the car pulls like a train.
Other's may wish to comment but AFAIK auto gearbox failures are rare.

Hope this helps

Well said.

[Sharpy1975]

Do the M3 and ZA for share the same gearbox? below was interesting reading............

The E46 M3 uses "exactly" that same gearbox as the manual cars. The only difference is a hydraulic selector unit mounted on top of the gearbox where the manual car's gearstick would normally enter. There can be issues with the hydraulic pump unit, these tend to be the only things that will go with the SMG cars and are not cheap! To buy one, it's almost £1000!!! I have replaced one myself so don't know how much a garage would charge to supply and fit? It is important that the software is updated annually, if not at each service. The SMG software measures clutch wear by determining where it finds the biting point. If this is not updated as the clutch wears, then the car thinks the clutch biting point is where it was, at for instance, new. This then causes the car to be a bit jerky and can affect how the car drives at it changes gear. Differentials also took a beating on the SMG cars if they were driven, shall we say, enthusiastically!!! If the car is driven on track, or even on the road in S6 mode, traction off, the quickness of the gearchange and the torque transfered creates a large bang, as some of you will know, which causes premature wear on the differential. Also if the launch control has been used a few times it does take it's toll on the clutch. I am sure this information is stored on the ECU and a dealer, or someone with the appropriate diagnostic equipment, can tell how many times it's been used.

[jabber]

Jeez, talk about trying to confuse the poor OP.

The Z4C comes mostly with the standard 6 speed auto or manual NOT SSG.
You can get SSG boxes but they are rare.
Some people love 'em others don't, a bit like everything in life.
The standard auto box is a traditional style 6 speed box with torque converter.
It has fully automatic paddle shift or gear-stick indexed selection.
Most people who have the auto love them (me included) the car pulls like a train.
Other's may wish to comment but AFAIK auto gearbox failures are rare.

Hope this helps

The op originally had a link to an advert for a smg z4 hence the posts re the pros and cons of one