a11y's Z4 Roadster (updated pics - April '12)

a11y

Lifer
 Central Scotland
I was lucky enough to buy my Z4 just over a week ago – as it happened, I bought it the day before my 30th :o birthday. And I’m loving it. I bought it from a Z4-forum member who although being a mad Evo-owning car nut, also enjoyed driving his wife’s Z4.

I’d considered and tried a few cars before settling on my choice, but ruled all else out in the end:
VX220 n/a – fun, mental handling, but I struggled to get in and out it (I suffer from back trouble)
350z – good handling but low rent interior IMO and high(er) running costs
Clio V6 mk2 – just can’t get it out my system but decent ones were above my budget
Z3M Coupe – still too much £££ for a decent example
Z4 Coupe – above my budget

So I’ve bought a 3.0i SE Z4 Roadster. Picked it up from Hartlepool Monday last week and my initial impressions are everything I expected. And that straight-6 engine… what an engine. I avoided the M Sport seats as I’ve got too much “girth” (across the shoulders…) to get comfy in them. It’s covered only 18.5k miles despite being just over 4 years old.

My previous car was a Seat Ibiza Cupra TDI that returned 45mpg, so the running costs are going to be a shock compared to that, but it should still prove cheaper than my old Civic Type R: same road tax band, cheaper insurance(!), better MPG despite better performance, even tyres are cheaper if I go for normal (non run-flats).

It isn’t clean as I’ve done 500 miles in the past week with Christmas visits and the like, but I don’t care, I’m enjoying the driving too much plus it's too cold to wash it (2.0 degC in these pics - perfect for roof down winter motoring!).

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Looking forward to many fun times ahead :driving:
Ally
 
looking sweet- when you r using the heater with the top down I turn auto aircon off and just use the fan- its much warmer!
 
Sweet motor.

I know you'll love it but at 2C I would have opted for heated seats!

Great cars find great owners. You have found your car!

Sceptre
 
Thanks for the comments

And cheers for the tip about the heater - I'm still getting used to how it all works. I've had climate control in previous cars and all have worked differently...
 
if you just twist the middle control it switches the fan speed on and then you can use the oter controls to set temp and direction.
 
Do your 'Auto' climate as this was an option.There will be an Auto button if you have it.Car looks great, nice mileage too! Not even run in yet! :)
 
*AL* said:
Do your 'Auto' climate as this was an option.There will be an Auto button if you have it.Car looks great, nice mileage too! Not even run in yet! :)
I've got the Auto button - didn't realise that wasn't standard :). And yeah, barely run in at 18k miles but already with 2 snapped springs...
 
paddy wright said:
r u sure auto wasnt standard?

I got a spec sheet print out for my Z4 from BMW, the guy i dealt with was very helpful and seemed knowledgable.He said i had Auto climate control(button) which was optional. Has any UK Z4 owners not got the Auto climate button?
 
A pair of rear springs from BMW are around £166 + fitting, you'd be better off buying a full set of performance lowered springs?
 
*AL* said:
A pair of rear springs from BMW are around £166 + fitting, you'd be better off buying a full set of performance lowered springs?
Exactly what I'm thinking of doing :D
 
a11y said:
*AL* said:
A pair of rear springs from BMW are around £166 + fitting, you'd be better off buying a full set of performance lowered springs?
Exactly what I'm thinking of doing :D
And I've now done it :D

Eibachs are on - here's the non-sexy pics to see the actual drop (14mm lower thanthe sport suspension as fitted to a 3.0i SE):

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2009-01-31pic3.jpg


Rear:
2009-01-31pic4.jpg


Front:
2009-01-31pic5.jpg


Lowering my Z4 wasn't actually what I had in mind (I was happy with the standard height but not with snapped springs...) but it's something I think I can live with - 14mm isn't too much lower. It doesn't immediately look lowered, which I like.
 
*AL* said:
paddy wright said:
r u sure auto wasnt standard?
I got a spec sheet print out for my Z4 from BMW, the guy i dealt with was very helpful and seemed knowledgable.He said i had Auto climate control(button) which was optional. Has any UK Z4 owners not got the Auto climate button?
When BMW UK decides the spec of the cars they take the base Z4 and then add on items, so they appear on the options list but with £0 against them, so it would show up as an option but it isn't one, if that makes sense? Probably not explained that very well.

Not sure if the 14mm drop is evident or not, but it does look good, especially the 2nd pic 8)
 
Wondermike said:
Not sure if the 14mm drop is evident or not, but it does look good, especially the 2nd pic 8)
Cheers :). I was quite surprised when I got the tape measure out to measure my "after" height - I too can't see much difference.
 
a11y

Looks really good lowered and on the 108's. I'll be interested to hear how you get on and after it's all settled and if you touch down anywhere.

BTW your right OS disc doesn't look very healthy. Seems to be only braking on part of the surface and that mark looks very crack like. Could be just the photo ??
 
cj10jeeper said:
a11y

Looks really good lowered and on the 108's. I'll be interested to hear how you get on and after it's all settled and if you touch down anywhere.

BTW your right OS disc doesn't look very healthy. Seems to be only braking on part of the surface and that mark looks very crack like. Could be just the photo ??
My Zed had been sitting around for a couple of days and also just been washed, so I'm guessing it's marks from that. I had the brakes checked over by my father-in-law/mechanic and he was happy with them (when I bought the car the inspection informed me that it needed new pads all-round, but they're only approx 40% worn apparently..)

Impressions so far (still only driven 120miles since fitting) are no change in ride comfort. Can't comment on the handling as it's not really been the weather for trying that out! I now scrape the underside on my folding bollard on my work car park space, but haven't scraped anywhere else yet - unless you count taking all the snow off the speed hump in my street when I straddled it :)
 
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