Just bought my first Z4 Coupe 3.0si SE (Black, Red Leather, 142k)

[Fred Smith]

So, I'm now exactly into two weeks of ownership. I have numerous things to do which I hope to do myself. I'm no expert but I'm talking relatively simple tasks.

The car has been into the garage I've used for my Mitsubishi for 10 years to do the things I wanted done properly ASAP. Things that I wanted done before driving the car much -

(1) Brake pads checked - all good

(2) Four wheel alignment - badly needed, it was all over the shop on my drive home from purchase and the couple of drives I had before I took it to the garage.. The track rod locking nuts were moving freely (I got them moving), but the adjusters themselves were seized front and rear.

(3) "Fit new cam cover gasket set" to address the minor leaks in the engine.

I'm curious to know what other people might expect to pay for the above three items of work (or two if you don't count checking brake pads).

I'm really happy. I do have at least one or two things to do before MOT in 4 months, and I should be considering a full service even though in theory it doesn't need it... but it seems to be a decent enough high miler I can try to tidy up a bit.

[Fred Smith]

but I quite like the "stealth" all black look, and could even be tempted to remove the 3.0 si and Z4 badges as well as leaving the black grill and getting / keeping black wheels

A definite welcome from me . A man after my own heart

My three options I'm considering -

(1) leave the wheels the colour they are. EVERYONE who I have asked in person (only a handful) thinks this is the best option.

(2) gloss black. Stealth. Love it.

(3) another g. Gold.

[1536Z4]

another g. Gold.

Even though I have a liking for black wheels with a black car I think I would go gold because it reminds me of the John Player Special colours

[1536Z4]

another g. Gold.

Even though I have a liking for black wheels . I think with a black car I would go gold because it reminds me of the John Player Special colours

[Mr Tidy]

I'd go for the same colour again too.

If I really wanted a change Gold would work for the JPS look, but I just don't like black wheels!

And if you kerb one it's very obvious!

[Fred Smith]

To be honest I may well just do a really quick dremmel / hand paint "touch up" on the wheels. As a matter of principle any spending I undertake should be necessary maintenance (the inevitable cost of ownership that I accept) or should try as best as possible to keep me at £5k max. all-in so that I can hopefully get my money back if / when I sell. With 143k or so on the clock it can't ever be more than a £5k car, so I want to keep all other improvements (incl defects to bodywork) to under £900 all in (Car plus necessary immediate repairs I was aware of when I bought totals £4,100)!

As things stand this is my first nice car! My entire car history before the Z4 -

1980 Ford Fiesta 1.1L
1986 Ford Capri Laser 1.6
1980 Ford Capri 2.0S (Forest green, perfect interior with Feshnet Recaros)
1995 Mitsubishi Lancer Estate 1.6 (written off by a hit and run driver whilst parked up on a very quiet residential street with massive speed bumps)
1995 Mitsubishi Lancer Estate 1.6
2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Estate 2.0 Sport (I still own this and am unlikely to sell without replacing first).

Based on this pattern my next three cars have to be E86 Z4 coupes I reckon, or Z4s at the very least. I'm loving it so far and am already on the lookout for a lower mileage, more special, nicer colours, long term option!!! (Caveat, f**k knows how I got away with this one given we have a kid, so a second might just be seen as piss take).

[pvr]

To be honest I may well just do a really quick dremmel / hand paint "touch up" on the wheels. As a matter of principle any spending I undertake should be necessary maintenance (the inevitable cost of ownership that I accept) or should try as best as possible to keep me at £5k max. all-in so that I can hopefully get my money back if / when I sell. With 143k or so on the clock it can't ever be more than a £5k car, so I want to keep all other improvements (incl defects to bodywork) to under £900 all in (Car plus necessary immediate repairs I was aware of when I bought totals £4,100)!

As things stand this is my first nice car! My entire car history before the Z4 -

1980 Ford Fiesta 1.1L
1986 Ford Capri Laser 1.6
1980 Ford Capri 2.0S (Forest green, perfect interior with Feshnet Recaros)
1995 Mitsubishi Lancer Estate 1.6 (written off by a hit and run driver whilst parked up on a very quiet residential street with massive speed bumps)
1995 Mitsubishi Lancer Estate 1.6
2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Estate 2.0 Sport (I still own this and am unlikely to sell with replacing first).

Based on this pattern my next three cars have to be E86 Z4 coupes I reckon, or Z4s at the very least. I'm loving it so far and am already on the lookout for a lower mileage, more special, nicer colours, long term option!!! (Caveat, f**k knows how I got away with this one given we have a kid, so a second might just be seen as piss take).

Agreed, don’t have a second kid

[Mr Tidy]

Based on this pattern my next three cars have to be E86 Z4 coupes I reckon, or Z4s at the very least. I'm loving it so far and am already on the lookout for a lower mileage, more special, nicer colours, long term option!!! (Caveat, f**k knows how I got away with this one given we have a kid, so a second might just be seen as piss take).

Well why not? I'm on my third E86 now because I love them too! And while I've had more than 30 previous cars the Coupes are by far the best cars I've had.

Given your thinking on keeping the spending limited I think a "touch up" on the wheels is probably the best option. I picked up my two 3 Series wheels from My Alloys last week after a refurb together with a bill for £163, although they do look good as new.

I took my current Coupe for a 4 wheel alignment at TWG Automotive in Camberley in 2021 and it would have cost £82.50 + VAT, except it needed both track rod ends replacing as the threads were seized solid and a ball joint needed replacing so it came to a bit over £500 in the end.

I used TWG because Will who runs it is ex-Sytner and uses his laser equipment to set up his race cars, and mine was totally transformed afterwards.

A month or so before I bought my 330i with the same N52 engine in 2019 the previous owner had an oil change and replacement cam-cover gasket fitted by a garage in Cambridge and got a bill for £649.70, but they did have to drill out two snapped bolts. Shame he didn't get the oil filter housing gasket replaced as well!

Anyway good luck whatever you decide.

[Fred Smith]

Well why not? I'm on my third E86 now because I love them too! And while I've had more than 30 previous cars the Coupes are by far the best cars I've had.

Given your thinking on keeping the spending limited I think a "touch up" on the wheels is probably the best option. I picked up my two 3 Series wheels from My Alloys last week after a refurb together with a bill for £163, although they do look good as new.

I took my current Coupe for a 4 wheel alignment at TWG Automotive in Camberley in 2021 and it would have cost £82.50 + VAT, except it needed both track rod ends replacing as the threads were seized solid and a ball joint needed replacing so it came to a bit over £500 in the end.

I used TWG because Will who runs it is ex-Sytner and uses his laser equipment to set up his race cars, and mine was totally transformed afterwards.

A month or so before I bought my 330i with the same N52 engine in 2019 the previous owner had an oil change and replacement cam-cover gasket fitted by a garage in Cambridge and got a bill for £649.70, but they did have to drill out two snapped bolts. Shame he didn't get the oil filter housing gasket replaced as well!

Anyway good luck whatever you decide.

I took mine to National / Halfords (I wanted the tracking done ASAP and my normal garage was booked up for a week), and they wanted £550 for two new track ends and ties. Not even sure they looked at the rear wheel alignment. Nearly went ahead and then decided no, took it home, then I got the lock nuts moving, then to my normal garage a week later and they managed to unseize all four adjusters, aligned all four wheels and charged me under £100. Not sure how good a job, but it is clearly in the right ballpark now, if not perfect. Maybe my garage should have said to me "look, we can unseize them but they're old and well past it - new makes sense."

I hope to meet you one day at a meet!

[Mr Tidy]

Well at least you got them undone and the alignment in the right ball-park.

I had mine aligned to the E46 M3 CSL settings because most of the M running gear is the same.

You're quite local so hopefully we'll meet up some time.

[Fred Smith]

Well at least you got them undone and the alignment in the right ball-park.

I had mine aligned to the E46 M3 CSL settings because most of the M running gear is the same.

You're quite local so hopefully we'll meet up some time.

They might be perfect, I don't know how good the garage I use is! As I get to know the car I'll hopefully be in a position to ask questions and consider whether a BMW specialist will do a better job. The garage I use are very small, long established and owned and run by the same guy for years - I trust them, but I don't know how well they know BMWs.

[Mr Tidy]

You're lucky to have a local garage like that.

But BMWs do have some weird electrical issues now and again, especially if the battery is dying.

If you need anyone BMW specific RBM in Hook, Hampshire look after both of mine, and quite a few others on here. Ross set it up in 2019 after 15 years at Sytner so had worked on BMWs from this ear since they were new and is highly recommended. Plus he has a couple of loan cars which can be handy!