My new BMW Z4 3.0i SE - At long last!

dan yeates

Active member
New Forest, Hampshire
So, 10 months without a car! 10 months ago I sold my Z4 M Roadster to fund our first house (which is beautiful and well worth the sacrifice!) However, a few months later, here I am, back in a Z4!

It's a BMW Z4 3.0i SE with a lot of Sport kit on it.

I can't believe it cost about a third of my BMW Z4 M Roadster, as it really is 80% of the car! It's quick, sounds great, looks good and is much better on fuel. I'm very surprised with how tight the car feels considering it's age and mileage, it really does drive like a new car.

Only a couple of jobs to do with it really, I someone to machine polish the car, especially the bonnet, which seems to have gone a bit flat and lost it's shine, the front bumper needs painting as it's so badly stonechipped some of the paint is flaking and there's a scuff on it, the rear brake light is cracked so needs replacing and the BMW badges could do with being replaced. Other than that, it's in really good condition. I've clayed and hand polished the car this morning which has got rid of all the tar and tree sap and the paint is in really good order. I'm sure it will come up really well with a machine polish.

Spec wise, it's pretty high....

M Sport electric memory leather seats
Illuminated Z4 door sills
Professional sat nav and computer
DSP stereo (which is bloody amazing!)
Parking sensors
M Sport 18" wheels
M Sport rear spoiler
Wind deflector
Cruise control
Cup holders!

Pictures! More photos available here if you're still interested: http://www.flickr.com/photos/danyeates/sets/72157631767323129/

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2012-10-14 at 12-26-52 by danyeates, on Flickr

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2012-10-14 at 12-28-07 by danyeates, on Flickr

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2012-10-14 at 12-28-37 by danyeates, on Flickr

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2012-10-14 at 12-28-50 by danyeates, on Flickr

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2012-10-14 at 12-29-45 by danyeates, on Flickr

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2012-10-14 at 12-30-26 by danyeates, on Flickr

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2012-10-14 at 12-31-27 by danyeates, on Flickr

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2012-10-14 at 12-33-13 by danyeates, on Flickr


Good to be back! :driving: :worshipbmw:
 
Welcome back into the saddle and the Zed does look rather nice :thumbsup:

Liking the wheels not seen that style on a Zed before,style 125 :thumbsup:
 
Looks really nice, especially considering you've only just started to tidy it up.

How do you feel the 3.0 compares to the ///M?
 
car looks great dan & the 3.0 is creamy enough for the Zed .
makes you wonder why folks pay OTT for the M version :poke:
:lol:
another happy camper :thumbsup:
 
cj10jeeper said:
Looks really nice, especially considering you've only just started to tidy it up.

How do you feel the 3.0 compares to the ///M?

Yeah, thanks. The front bumper is a bit of a state, especially the other side, but I'll have that painted and it will be as good as new. The rest of the paint is really good. It's quite incredible how clean the clay bar gets the car! I used the Meguiars clay kit with their instant detailer and Autoglym Super Resign Polish. I used Scratch-X on the lights to try to make them clearer as they were a bit cloudy. About 5 hours work early this morning, then headed out to a seaside restaurant for breakfast with my girlfriend with the roof down! Then had a run into the New Forest for some photos.

I obviously haven't driven an M for 10 months so it's hard to compare them side by side. Clearly it's not as fast, but it still moves pretty well. It's surprisingly quick. And it sounds great. The engine is smoother, it's such a silky engine and the gearbox and clutch is easier to use. The only downside is the steering has very little feel. It's so light! I would like a heavier feel to the steering and some more feedback, but I can put up with that. I much prefer how the steering felt in the M. I also prefer the chunky M steering wheel, I'm tempted to buy one as it will add the steering wheel buttons as well. :)
 
mr wilks said:
car looks great dan & the 3.0 is creamy enough for the Zed .
makes you wonder why folks pay OTT for the M version :poke:
:lol:
another happy camper :thumbsup:

Thanks, ha, there's no doubt the M is a better car! The M sounds incredible, especially with the aFe intake, and it's mega fast. But the 3.0 is enough for what I use it for.
 
Redzedfour said:
Doesn't pressing the sport button weighten up the steering :?

I've no idea what the Sport button does!

If so, that's interesting. I haven't used it yet, keep forgetting about it. Thanks.
 
dan yeates said:
Redzedfour said:
Doesn't pressing the sport button weighten up the steering :?

I've no idea what the Sport button does!

If so, that's interesting. I haven't used it yet, keep forgetting about it. Thanks.

a treat in store :)
went into the lanes in the trough of bowland today & it just makes so much difference . becomes majorly reponsive !
the accelerator just seems razor sharp
engine revs hold to you bottle out
& the exhaust tone is to quote my 20yr old son " ripping" :D
it just comes alive & i almost find myself pressing the button then checking all mirrors for plod & gripping the wheel that bit tighter :evil: love it !
 
Welcome back Dan :thumbsup:

Lovely looking example - love the spoiler, and those wheels. Very muscular. x2 on the Sport button - it does add noticeable weight to the steering. Enjoy :driving:
 
Bing said:
Welcome back Dan :thumbsup:

Lovely looking example - love the spoiler, and those wheels. Very muscular. x2 on the Sport button - it does add noticeable weight to the steering. Enjoy :driving:

Thanks, well put!
 
Had a play tonight. Removed one of the bits of foam from the sound generator, sounds great now. Also had a drive with the sport button on, much better!
 
Glad you are back in a z4,and enjoying it...looks a nice one.

Totally agree with the fact its 80% of an M,having went the other way earlier this year...kinda prefered my 3.0 engine note ,at certain revs,compared to the high-pitched metalic squeel of the M( circa 3-4000 rpm)..but the M sounds great higher up.
 
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