Z4 E86 Coupe modifications so far .............Latest update - Carbon Tailgate and roof painted .

[1536Z4]

I have been meaning to do this for a while so here goes . I bought my 2008 Montego Blue Coupe in July 2020 during Covid unseen ( yes madness ) but I just loved how it looked and it was delivered to me all the way from Wiltshire to Shropshire .

Bear with me whilst I go through my photos and add comments .

I think the first mod was having the wheels powdercoated black . Not to everyones taste I know ( Mr Tidy )

 

[1536Z4]

Next was changing the silver headlights to black . These needed some work but came out looking fine . I also removed the fog lights and replaced them with colour matched blanks .

 

[1536Z4]

Next was changing suspension to BC Racing coilovers with rear Millway reinforcement plates . H & R anti roll bars front and rear . Adjustable rear camber arms . Meyle HD front suspension arms. Adjustable front drop links . Powerflex Black series trailing arm bushes . Braided brake hoses . Stripped and rebuilt brake calipers including brass slider bushes and powdercoated black.

 

[Mr Tidy]

It seems my dislike of black wheels is becoming common knowledge, but so long as you like them that's irrelevant - it's your car.

Might as well ditch the foglights as they're a PITA, and when did any of us actually use them? :lol:

Montego Blue with Pearl Grey is a great combination, and the other mods so far look great.

It may have been a brave purchase at the time but we all needed something to cheer us up at the time. I only bought my MC 3 months before lockdown and wondered if I had made a big mistake, but it turned out I hadn't.

Although you could have bought my Montego Blue with Pearl Grey E86 in February 2020. :roll:

 

[1536Z4]

Next Ultra racing 3 point front strut brace powdercoated black and Eisenmann Race Backbox which sounds great . I have just sold the backbox to a forum member but only for one reason which will come later in the build

 

[1536Z4]

Although you could have bought my Montego Blue with Pearl Grey E86 in February 2020.

I would have but I think yours was a manual and due to a knackered left leg I can no longer use a clutch pedal

 

[Mr Tidy]

Mr Tidy wrote: ↑Sun Oct 01, 2023 8:01 pm
Although you could have bought my Montego Blue with Pearl Grey E86 in February 2020.
I would have but I think yours was a manual and due to a knackered left leg I can no longer use a clutch pedal

Fair enough - mine was indeed manual. I'll stick with 3 pedals for as long as I can still operate them all.

But I expect the Autos with 6 speeds are worlds different to the last Auto (4 speed) I had in a 1994 Mercedes C280!

 

[1536Z4]

Then I went a bit mad and decided to try and make a part kevlar airbox . I made a mold of the top and then laid the carbon/kevlar and epoxy resin in . I smoothed out the inside of the airbox and drilled some holes . I then covered this in some carbon / kevlar .

My intention was to try and get more resonance but it didn`t really work . I later realised that the kevlar is more for strength than resonance which is why companies use just carbon .

It was good experience though .

 

[1536Z4]

But I expect the Autos with 6 speeds are worlds different

Especially with the xHP maps they make a world of difference

 

[1536Z4]

Ok next I think was the wet sanding !!!!! This all started out well as I knew that there were a couple of deep scratches and the paintwork looked ok from a distance but I wasn`t completely happy with it so why not . I had done it before so pretty happy with the process .

However after finishing the wet sanding and polishing up I noticed that all was not right . The paint in some areas just didn`t look right so I took it to a local paint specialist and he pointed out that it had been resprayed at some point and not very well and even pointed out a paint run on the inside of the boot . I handed the car over to him and he resprayed the areas that needed it and I couldn`t tell where he had sprayed it was so good .
If my memory is correct I am sure he said there were 5 different Montego Blues and he tried samples of them all against the original to get the right match . This is probably why when you buy colour match spray cans they dont always match .

 

[1536Z4]

Next I changed the throttle body to a second hand and cheap N54 one as it is supposed to be slightly better and larger than the N52 . I did clean it first not like in the photo . It works fine but could`nt tell you if it makes bugger all difference :rofl:

Also fitted a BMC filter and removed the intake and sound generator and replaced with a silicone hose .

 

[darich]

Mr Tidy wrote: ↑Sun Oct 01, 2023 8:01 pm
Although you could have bought my Montego Blue with Pearl Grey E86 in February 2020.
I would have but I think yours was a manual and due to a knackered left leg I can no longer use a clutch pedal

Fair enough - mine was indeed manual. I'll stick with 3 pedals for as long as I can still operate them all.

But I expect the Autos with 6 speeds are worlds different to the last Auto (4 speed) I had in a 1994 Mercedes C280!

My last 2 daily drivers have been autos....both Audis with the 7 speed DSG box. Gear changes are so quick and seamless, you genuinely don't feel them....amazing.
I'm not going back to manual for my daily, but I love my manual E86

 

[Ed Doe]

Cracking thread this, some nice mods going on!

What make are those droplinks - got a link for them?

 

[1536Z4]

What make are those droplinks - got a link for them?

Got them from a company called spring loaded but are under the name of RoadNutz - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/234181208495 or here https://www.spring-loaded.co.uk/proddetail.php?prod=RoadNutz%7EFront%7EAdjustable%7EDrop%7ELinks%7E-50mm%7Efor%7EBMW%7EZ4%7ECoupe%7E%28E86%29%7E3.0si%7E%2F%7EM%7E%7E03%2F2006-2009

Works out cheaper to buy from spring loaded direct rather than ebay .

 

[1536Z4]

Sound deadening the boot area .

 

[1536Z4]

Removed the standard inlet valvetronic supports and replaced with the machined supports to increase air intake into the cylinders . See more about them here https://www.bimmermilvs.com/ and here https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1329840.

I also changed the eccentric shaft sensor while I was there and then cleaned the solenoids .




View attachment 3

 

[1536Z4]

Then onto a change to the air intake lid from carbon kevlar to just carbon which made a bit of a difference but not worth the time involved . If you are going to do a DIY carbon airbox I have come to the conclusion it needs to be the whole airbox not just parts of it .

Replaced the pedal rubbers with BMW motorsport rubbers with stainless steel . The only problem is the stainless steel on the brake pedal is a separate part and keeps falling off :x . Not good considering it is an official BMW part .

Had the steering wheel refurbed by Royals which is great .

 

[1536Z4]

Next I had seen on e90 post a previous group buy for some Venoxy gagues which I liked the look of and decided to contact Venoxy myself with my own design and colours to change from original black . They were very helpful and I followed a guide on you tube by E91kiter to help with the process of changing the gagues over which was also very helpful shown here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbj2tSZvzI0

 

[1536Z4]

Then onto Vibra Technics engine mounts and mid silencer delete which was done by my local mechanic .

 

[1536Z4]

Forgot about the xHP transmission map . This is a great upgrade and so easy to do . I went for the stage 3 map so you can change between them depending on what you are doing . It is on stage 2 most of the time and stage 3 for those " special biscuits " moments

Site is here for those with auto boxes that havn`t heard about them . https://www.xhpflashtool.com/