Not a Project but...

[Neens76]

Welcome.
Pics yet?
I use a half cover for all the reasons enuff_zed mentions- and mine will always live outside - but having had it cut, polished and ceramic’d, a half cover is ideal.

No idea on your “pick up” issue but you do hear of people mapping them but not for anything that would get you power gains.

Enjoy.

[pvr]

Mdecoder works for my vin fine, 2007si.

I used it to get the paint code of my seats

[Andrew J]

Welcome.
Pics yet?
I use a half cover for all the reasons enuff_zed mentions- and mine will always live outside - but having had it cut, polished and ceramic’d, a half cover is ideal.

No idea on your “pick up” issue but you do hear of people mapping them but not for anything that would get you power gains.

Enjoy.

No pic just yet unfortunately. Not had chance to get the car out and take it for a proper spin. I'd read about the power dips in the torque curve so it could be that. Probably replace the DISA and Vanos anyway.

Mdecoder works for my vin fine, 2007si.

I used it to get the paint code of my seats

Vin decoders have worked for me in the past so not sure what's going on. I've not used Bimmer work before but it keeps just going on a 15 second loop countdown refresh. Is this a thing with Bimmer Work and you just have to wait it out? Been sat here for a while now to no avail.

On the plus side I think the car has been specified with headlight washers but no xenons. Fingers crossed this means I can change to xenons or LEDs with no fuss at MOT time.

[Mr Tidy]

I've struggled with VIN decoders for a couple of years now.

I'm pretty sure all 3 litre Z4s had headlamp washers as standard but Xenons as an option, although you don't actually need the washers for cars registered before 2009 even with Xenons fitted. But buying a pair may be expensive!

[Andrew J]

Congrats.
I would suggest a half cover. It will stop water ingress but not damage the paint.
The door issue is most likely a stretched cable from the handle linkage to the lock assembly.
Fairly easy fix if you have small hands.
Still waiting on those photos

When I open the door I have to simultaneously pull the handle and push the door in and then it opens. Is that typical of a stretched cable? Seems strange to have to shorten the route from the handle to the mechanism by pressing the door in to get it to open. I'm no motor fitter or mechanic so I'm more than happy to be educated on the subject .

I've struggled with VIN decoders for a couple of years now.

I'm pretty sure all 3 litre Z4s had headlamp washers as standard but Xenons as an option, although you don't actually need the washers for cars registered before 2009 even with Xenons fitted. But buying a pair may be expensive!

It's a shame they dont work anymore but I am glad its not just me. I'll keep trying and see what happens. Ah! I wasn't aware it was only post 2009, even better.

I'd seen some xenon bulbs (I think) that didn't look expensive but not sure if they'd fit in the current housing without needing extra wiring, electronics etc. I've seen some LED kits that look fairly cheap and I think they fit fairly easily so might just go that route eventually. I had a quick run out tonight and to be fair, the normal headlights weren't as bad as what I'd read on here. They aren't great by any standards but I could see where I was going so it's probably a mod for later down the line.

Speaking of mods, before I went out I did the sound generator mod. blimey this thing howls! I only took out the bulkhead foam and it's loud enough for me. Might even be too loud! It's quite boomy at motorway speeds when you just want to nip out of traffic but I'll see if I get used to it before chopping up bits of foam.

[Mr Tidy]

It's a shame they dont work anymore but I am glad its not just me. I'll keep trying and see what happens. Ah! I wasn't aware it was only post 2009, even better.

I'd seen some xenon bulbs (I think) that didn't look expensive but not sure if they'd fit in the current housing without needing extra wiring, electronics etc. I've seen some LED kits that look fairly cheap and I think they fit fairly easily so might just go that route eventually. I had a quick run out tonight and to be fair, the normal headlights weren't as bad as what I'd read on here. They aren't great by any standards but I could see where I was going so it's probably a mod for later down the line.

Speaking of mods, before I went out I did the sound generator mod. blimey this thing howls! I only took out the bulkhead foam and it's loud enough for me. Might even be too loud! It's quite boomy at motorway speeds when you just want to nip out of traffic but I'll see if I get used to it before chopping up bits of foam.

I bought my MC with a low washer fluid level warning light on. Filled it up after I got home and found all the fluid on the ground the next day because one of the jets was leaking. Got that fixed then took out Fuse 40 to stop them working!

All they seem to do is obscure your vision when they operate at night and put streaks up the wings! It's passed every MOT test without them.

I don't know about fitting Xenons or LEDs in Halogen fittings, but to be honest I could see where I was going in my 2nd E86 that had Halogens. Better bulbs like Osram Nightbreakers, etc. and clean lenses probably help.

I never experimented with the sound generator though. My 2nd E86 had a custom Cat-back system that gave it a lovely sound-track anyway.

[enuff_zed]

Congrats.
I would suggest a half cover. It will stop water ingress but not damage the paint.
The door issue is most likely a stretched cable from the handle linkage to the lock assembly.
Fairly easy fix if you have small hands.
Still waiting on those photos

When I open the door I have to simultaneously pull the handle and push the door in and then it opens. Is that typical of a stretched cable? Seems strange to have to shorten the route from the handle to the mechanism by pressing the door in to get it to open. I'm no motor fitter or mechanic so I'm more than happy to be educated on the subject .

I've struggled with VIN decoders for a couple of years now.

I'm pretty sure all 3 litre Z4s had headlamp washers as standard but Xenons as an option, although you don't actually need the washers for cars registered before 2009 even with Xenons fitted. But buying a pair may be expensive!

It's a shame they dont work anymore but I am glad its not just me. I'll keep trying and see what happens. Ah! I wasn't aware it was only post 2009, even better.

I'd seen some xenon bulbs (I think) that didn't look expensive but not sure if they'd fit in the current housing without needing extra wiring, electronics etc. I've seen some LED kits that look fairly cheap and I think they fit fairly easily so might just go that route eventually. I had a quick run out tonight and to be fair, the normal headlights weren't as bad as what I'd read on here. They aren't great by any standards but I could see where I was going so it's probably a mod for later down the line.

Speaking of mods, before I went out I did the sound generator mod. blimey this thing howls! I only took out the bulkhead foam and it's loud enough for me. Might even be too loud! It's quite boomy at motorway speeds when you just want to nip out of traffic but I'll see if I get used to it before chopping up bits of foam.

That is exactly the symptoms of a stretched cable. Did one only last week. Bit fiddly to get at but an easy fix.

[Andrew J]

Congrats.
I would suggest a half cover. It will stop water ingress but not damage the paint.
The door issue is most likely a stretched cable from the handle linkage to the lock assembly.
Fairly easy fix if you have small hands.
Still waiting on those photos

When I open the door I have to simultaneously pull the handle and push the door in and then it opens. Is that typical of a stretched cable? Seems strange to have to shorten the route from the handle to the mechanism by pressing the door in to get it to open. I'm no motor fitter or mechanic so I'm more than happy to be educated on the subject .

I've struggled with VIN decoders for a couple of years now.

I'm pretty sure all 3 litre Z4s had headlamp washers as standard but Xenons as an option, although you don't actually need the washers for cars registered before 2009 even with Xenons fitted. But buying a pair may be expensive!

It's a shame they dont work anymore but I am glad its not just me. I'll keep trying and see what happens. Ah! I wasn't aware it was only post 2009, even better.

I'd seen some xenon bulbs (I think) that didn't look expensive but not sure if they'd fit in the current housing without needing extra wiring, electronics etc. I've seen some LED kits that look fairly cheap and I think they fit fairly easily so might just go that route eventually. I had a quick run out tonight and to be fair, the normal headlights weren't as bad as what I'd read on here. They aren't great by any standards but I could see where I was going so it's probably a mod for later down the line.

Speaking of mods, before I went out I did the sound generator mod. blimey this thing howls! I only took out the bulkhead foam and it's loud enough for me. Might even be too loud! It's quite boomy at motorway speeds when you just want to nip out of traffic but I'll see if I get used to it before chopping up bits of foam.

That is exactly the symptoms of a stretched cable. Did one only last week. Bit fiddly to get at but an easy fix.

Thanks for that. Did a quick search and found some YouTube videos showing the procedure. Does seem fiddly but for the sake of a couple of hours and a 10p washer I'll definitely give it a go. Are sticky door handles MOT failures?

Another thing I noticed on my drive yesterday was that I couldn't heel and toe. Whenever I pressed the brake the car would not apply throttle at all. Another search of the forum yielded some results and I think my vacuum hose is perished. Showing cracks along it so I guess this is leaking air into the intake. Another job to the list pre mot in April.

[enuff_zed]

Why faff about? Fit a new door cable

[Andrew J]

Why faff about? Fit a new door cable

I'd read it was a right royal pita to do the door cable instead of just the washer spacer fix. A new cable it is.

[enuff_zed]

Why faff about? Fit a new door cable

I'd read it was a right royal pita to do the door cable instead of just the washer spacer fix. A new cable it is.

Door card off, handle off, carefully fold the membrane upwards, unbolt carrier and lock assembly and pull them out of the door. Fit new cable and put it all back together.

[Andrew J]

Why faff about? Fit a new door cable

I'd read it was a right royal pita to do the door cable instead of just the washer spacer fix. A new cable it is.

Door card off, handle off, carefully fold the membrane upwards, unbolt carrier and lock assembly and pull them out of the door. Fit new cable and put it all back together.

If its that easy I'll have to give it a go

[Andrew J]

I'm going to start using this thread as a progress log so I can actually document what I've done.

Progress report:

Disa valve has been rebuilt and idle control valve has been cleaned. Not suprised it hunted on idle as the icv was solid. A few squirts of brake cleaner and a shake or two has sorted it out. X8r kit for the DISA has sorted that one too. What pita the yellow plastic flap holder bit is to get out. Anyway, both done and back on the car now. Just the rocker cover gasket to replace to get it back running again but I've got the full vanos rebuild kit from x8r as well so that'll be going on soon. Might be able to drive it soon .

[Andrew J]

I thought I'd give the vin decoders a last try today and mdecoder has worked finally!

So it turns out the car was specc'd with m sport suspension and smoker package (no idea what this gets me but I'm not a smoker ).

It doesn't mention the wind deflector so maybe this is aftermarket too. If it is someone has done a decent job of the install and has lined up the holes to well (this was a thing I was going to do if the Z I eventually got didn't come with one).

I was going to wait until I'd got some pictures of my own but because it's been off the road for some work here's some pictures of the car from the sales add. I will add some more of my own once I can get it on the open road.

[Andrew J]

I thought I'd give the vin decoders a last try today and mdecoder has worked finally!

So it turns out the car was specc'd with m sport suspension and smoker package (no idea what this gets me but I'm not a smoker ).

It doesn't mention the wind deflector so maybe this is aftermarket too. If it is someone has done a decent job of the install and has lined up the holes well (this was a thing I was going to do if the Z I eventually got didn't come with one).

I was going to wait until I'd got some pictures of my own but because it's been off the road for some work here's some pictures of the car from the sales add. I will add some more of my own once I can get it on the open road.