My Z4 35i, unexpected purchase, minor project
Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2017 2:51 pm
I always like to make project threads for my cars so here we are with one for the Z4!
I came here looking for a 3.0 Coupe having always loved the shape, found a nice one and then stumbled across the car we eventually bought for a little bit more...
The budget had originally been 12k but a little stretch got us something a generation newer, more special on the inside and with some extras to make living with the car more enjoyable.
So unexpectedly we have ended up with a 35i in Havana, with a lovely spec including the extended leather ivory trim and dark wood that really sold me on the car.
It's a manual which to be honest was led by price, I didn't really have a preference between manual and DCT, so with the doppelkupplungsgetriebers costing a bit more with similar spec, the manual was an easy choice.
Our car does however benefit from a fairly comprehensive tune from Birds, using the Dinan software. The receipt documents considerable dyno time perfecting the map so it's nice to know it's 'just right'.
In terms of power the dyno graph shows peaks of 366bhp and 421lbft, which are impressive numbers! As you'd expect with a 3l turbo the curves are also suitably vuloptuous!
I would say the car feels effortlessly quick with nice surge through the middle of the revs, rather than being quite as ballistic as the numbers would suggest. It's so difficult to tell but I would imagine it's a similar speed to the 435d it replaces, perhaps a little less potent than the derv destroyer at all but licence losing speeds, due to the 8 closely stacked cogs and lightning fast shifts that benefitted the posh barge.
A couple of sweet heel and toe downshifts with the six singing though and I appreciate the manual box!
In terms of immediate plans, it will soon need fresh rubber so I'm deliberating over that. Are the Rainsports sufficient for what is ultimately a nice cruiser for us, or do I give it the best and go with Continentals...
Beyond that I'm looking at getting the CDV (clutch delay valve) removed, as the clutch action and gear change feels inorganic to me. I think I'll also give the 'golf tee' exhaust mod a go, being easily reversible it's worth seeing whether the difference is positive. Would be nice to hear a bit more of that lovely engine though!
A set of Eibach springs and spacers are also on the cards, as are wheel refurbs. Bit of research to do on the former and there's a decision to make on colour for the latter.
Anyhow, lots of rambling, if you've stuck with it this far then well done indeed!
A few pics ahead of the thorough clean it deserves when time permits!
I came here looking for a 3.0 Coupe having always loved the shape, found a nice one and then stumbled across the car we eventually bought for a little bit more...
The budget had originally been 12k but a little stretch got us something a generation newer, more special on the inside and with some extras to make living with the car more enjoyable.
So unexpectedly we have ended up with a 35i in Havana, with a lovely spec including the extended leather ivory trim and dark wood that really sold me on the car.
It's a manual which to be honest was led by price, I didn't really have a preference between manual and DCT, so with the doppelkupplungsgetriebers costing a bit more with similar spec, the manual was an easy choice.
Our car does however benefit from a fairly comprehensive tune from Birds, using the Dinan software. The receipt documents considerable dyno time perfecting the map so it's nice to know it's 'just right'.
In terms of power the dyno graph shows peaks of 366bhp and 421lbft, which are impressive numbers! As you'd expect with a 3l turbo the curves are also suitably vuloptuous!
I would say the car feels effortlessly quick with nice surge through the middle of the revs, rather than being quite as ballistic as the numbers would suggest. It's so difficult to tell but I would imagine it's a similar speed to the 435d it replaces, perhaps a little less potent than the derv destroyer at all but licence losing speeds, due to the 8 closely stacked cogs and lightning fast shifts that benefitted the posh barge.
A couple of sweet heel and toe downshifts with the six singing though and I appreciate the manual box!
In terms of immediate plans, it will soon need fresh rubber so I'm deliberating over that. Are the Rainsports sufficient for what is ultimately a nice cruiser for us, or do I give it the best and go with Continentals...
Beyond that I'm looking at getting the CDV (clutch delay valve) removed, as the clutch action and gear change feels inorganic to me. I think I'll also give the 'golf tee' exhaust mod a go, being easily reversible it's worth seeing whether the difference is positive. Would be nice to hear a bit more of that lovely engine though!
A set of Eibach springs and spacers are also on the cards, as are wheel refurbs. Bit of research to do on the former and there's a decision to make on colour for the latter.
Anyhow, lots of rambling, if you've stuck with it this far then well done indeed!
A few pics ahead of the thorough clean it deserves when time permits!
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