I finally bought a Z4 - Ownership thread!

DaveP · Post by **DaveP** » Thu Apr 25, 2024 12:01 pm

j3nks79 wrote: ↑Thu Apr 25, 2024 11:27 am
DaveP wrote: ↑Thu Apr 25, 2024 10:47 am
j3nks79 wrote: ↑Wed Apr 24, 2024 7:19 pm Buy a 14k E46 M3 and you will realise how fast a car can eat money.
I think my track record with this car suggests I'm not afraid to throw money at maintenance (I'm probably in for about £3-4k in a year), but I suspect the M3 would be the most expensive of those three to run by some margin.
I’m not saying you not willing to spend money Dave. Just simply a warning. I’ve owned many E46 M3’s over the years and sold over 150 when I ran a specialist garage.
It was just a word of warning about the costs. You could triple what you have spent on the Z4 easily with a cheap M3.

Forgive the lack of tone - my reply to you wasn't a challenge, more a statement. The 370Z is currently winning for me, but that's still only in theory as I haven't even managed to sit in one yet...

DaveP · Post by **DaveP** » Fri Apr 26, 2024 1:39 pm

Took the opportunity to avoid some work this morning, and popped out to test a Z4 35is and a 370Z that are for sale at dealers local to me.

I fully expected to come away sold on the 370Z, and the Z4 was there more as a 'palate cleanser'. I couldn't have been more wrong. The 370Z was an absolute ergonomic nightmare. The steering wheel didn't adjust for reach, and barely moved up and down. To get comfortable at 6ft3 required my seat to be so far away from the wheel that my arms were almost straight. A really awkward position that could get uncomfortable on long trips. That notwithstanding, even with the wheel in its highest position, my knees still didn't have much room either side.

By contrast, the Z4's cabin was like a Tardis. It's barely bigger than my E85, but I had boatloads of room. The seats were also significantly more comfortable.

I didn't get the chance to stretch the legs of either, but the 370Z sounded the better of the two as standard. However, the accelerator felt really poorly mapped, and almost a bit like a diesel where there's absolutely nothing going on in the first inch or two of travel. The Z4 rode a bit clumsily on its 19s (not my choice), but the engine felt strong, responsive and gutsy at relatively low revs.

Wasn't expecting that at all.

Mr Tidy · Post by **Mr Tidy** » Fri Apr 26, 2024 7:54 pm

It sounds like maybe you'll be looking for a 35is then!

Actually you're a step ahead of me:- viewtopic.php?t=146822

I'm sure some of them came with 18s as I bought a set of them from a 35is owning forum member.

DaveP · Post by **DaveP** » Tue May 14, 2024 11:41 am

Well, I needed to collect my Discovery from the garage this morning, so I thought I'd take my Z4 out for a jolly and drop it in for new front discs on the way.

Sadly this thread may be coming to a bit of a premature end, as my "to do" list is now becoming a "to sell" list so I can get the car into tip-top shape for the buyer. Jobs are:
- New front discs
- Code out odometer dot from changing the LCM
- Code out airbag light from fitting facelift seats (don't want to bodge it with a resistor)
- Fix front outer driver's indicator bulb housing

DaveP · Post by **DaveP** » Fri May 17, 2024 12:14 pm

New front discs are on. It looks like I got my money's worth out of the old ones, as they were the worst warped discs my mechanic has ever seen!

Unfortunately, it appears that my heavy braking foot has also taken the Ferodo DS2500s down too. Were I keeping the car (more on that shortly!), I'd probably go to Winmax W5s as I've heard good things in combination with Brembo HC discs. Just to get me back on the road again, the mechanic has fitted OEM-spec pads.

I've had a very kind offer from Usel to go and test out an E89 seat in my car, to see whether it alleviates the sciatic pain I've been suffering on longer drives. Plan is to take him up on that (thank you!) and test out a seat for a couple of weeks when I get back from my annual pilgrimage to a whisky festival on Islay next week.

I plan to leave the Tesla and Discovery as often as possible, and take the Z4 on as many mundane drives as possible to see whether it solves my problem. If so, then we're back in the game, and back on track with the project.

Usel · Post by **Usel** » Sat May 18, 2024 9:13 am

DaveP wrote: ↑Fri May 17, 2024 12:14 pm New front discs are on. It looks like I got my money's worth out of the old ones, as they were the worst warped discs my mechanic has ever seen!

Unfortunately, it appears that my heavy braking foot has also taken the Ferodo DS2500s down too. Were I keeping the car (more on that shortly!), I'd probably go to Winmax W5s as I've heard good things in combination with Brembo HC discs. Just to get me back on the road again, the mechanic has fitted OEM-spec pads.

I've had a very kind offer from Usel to go and test out an E89 seat in my car, to see whether it alleviates the sciatic pain I've been suffering on longer drives. Plan is to take him up on that (thank you!) and test out a seat for a couple of weeks when I get back from my annual pilgrimage to a whisky festival on Islay next week.

I plan to leave the Tesla and Discovery as often as possible, and take the Z4 on as many mundane drives as possible to see whether it solves my problem. If so, then we're back in the game, and back on track with the project.

If the E89 seats do help then you can get seats with lumber support. They are harder to find but will help support your lower back on longer journeys.

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