2004 3.0l Z4 - Performance Upgrade

[RonCT]

Hi Guys,

I am new here, having owned my 2004 3.0l Z4 Auto for only about a year now.

The car is awesome and has given my some very nice rides. My overall impressions:

1. Superb performance (179kw), with good accelleration (hardly every use sports mode) and top end speed (200km)

2. Ride comfort is a bit lacking, you feel every bump in the base of your sime (18" runflats), however I can corner at high speed with confidence.

3. Fuel consumption is OK, but not great. avg 9.1 on highway dirving and all the way to 10.8 when pushing/redlining it

Why I'm here, is to ask your opinions on doing a performance upgrade, to get a little more power. I emailed Steves Auto Clinic and they recommend just a software upgrade to get 20% more power. They do not recommend free flow etc. Any thoughts on this?

I would like to know if fellow BMW enthusiasts out there have any alternative ideas before I go ahead and make any changes. The car is in stock standard factory condition - so I am being extra cautious.

Any ideas guys? Have a great festive season and drive safe

 

[alucard]

Hi Guys,

I am new here, having owned my 2004 3.0l Z4 Auto for only about a year now.

The car is awesome and has given my some very nice rides. My overall impressions:

1. Superb performance (179kw), with good accelleration (hardly every use sports mode) and top end speed (200km)

2. Ride comfort is a bit lacking, you feel every bump in the base of your sime (18" runflats), however I can corner at high speed with confidence.

3. Fuel consumption is OK, but not great. avg 9.1 on highway dirving and all the way to 10.8 when pushing/redlining it

Why I'm here, is to ask your opinions on doing a performance upgrade, to get a little more power. I emailed Steves Auto Clinic and they recommend just a software upgrade to get 20% more power. They do not recommend free flow etc. Any thoughts on this?

I would like to know if fellow BMW enthusiasts out there have any alternative ideas before I go ahead and make any changes. The car is in stock standard factory condition - so I am being extra cautious.

Any ideas guys? Have a great festive season and drive safe

Just wondering, but you say the car has superb performance on number 1 of your items and good acceleration.

Why do you want more power then?

I highly doubt SAC will get 20% extra with just software. BMW's are pretty much at peak performance on their motors from the factory.

Going Super Charging / Turbo route will be the biggest performance increase by far.

BTW Wikipedia specs on your car:

3.0i 2002–2005 M54B30 2,979 cc (2.979 L; 181.8 cu in) I6 231 PS (170 kW; 228 hp)@5900 300 N·m (220 lb·ft)@3500

 

[SP33DYV]

I won't even trust SAC with my lawn mower let alone my Z4. :nono:
There is no way in hell that they will get an additional 20% from that power plant with just s/w. Rather talk to our forum sponsors, Promotec and Xcede.

IMO, you're wasting your money, but that's just me.

 

[RonCT]

Thank you alucard and SP33DYV for your comments, much appreciated.

In response....

Performance and accelleration are superb. (OK I could be mistaken re: 179KW vs 170KW - either way I have no problems accellerating past any car on the highway on the drive to work in the mornings. I frequently have to keep myself in check. So to me that is good performance --> compared to my previous cars which are sluggish and struggle to keep up with other cars on the road.

The reason I want a little more power is that I am used to the drive/accelleration now and I recently drove a friends M135 car and I loved it (totally different vehicle I know), but it got me thinking if there was a way to "optimise" the power output and get a little more out (without spending too much - I would like to investigate - hence why I'm here chatting to you guys.

On the topic of SAC - I have recieved similar feedback from other people in informal conversations - which again is why I'm chatting to you guys, in the hope someone here would have experience in safely getting more out of this motor.

SP33DYV, thanks for the reference I will be sending off some emails. In your opinion is it a waste of money going to SAC, do you know of any better (and reputable engine tuners?) or do you rekon the whole exercise of trying to get more out of the motor is a waste of money? I'm not in favour of going the turbo charging route on this particular vehicle, as I do not race or go on the track or anything like that.

Thanks again for taking the time to comment - much appreciated.

 

[SP33DYV]

In my opinion, you are wasting money to get a very small gain.
SAC is not what they used to be, they will take your money and lots of it, for very little or no work done to the car.

You can not compare your Z4 with an M135i. You will never get close the M135i's performance, unless you go with forced induction.

If you want a faster car, buy one. Again, all my opinion.

 

[RonCT]

Thanks SP33DYV, much appreciated. I'm in the process of saving up for an M3 someday

 

[LevanM]

Leave the Z4 Stock :thumbs: Only Reason I have not modded yet is if i want a real gain i will need to go the forced induction way

 

[RonCT]

Thanks LevanM - you nailed it on the head.

I guess I was looking for a "quick fix" ie: doing something small for a noticable real gain. So the more I chat to people, the more it seems there is not much that can be done without a big spend and big change to the fundamentals of the motor. (neither of which I'm not prepared to do).

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

 

[SP33DYV]

Now do a proper introduction with pics of your Z4 in the New Members thread. :idea:

 

[MikeR]

yeah I agree with the lads, leave her stock but get rid of the runflats they come out standard without those things are hard ride.

BTW POst some pics of the girl :rollsmile:

 

[LevanM]

If you want you can try Exceed, I have a friend that works there, you can talk to him about doing a Map and testing to see if you happy with hat they can offer.

 

[RonCT]

Haha... yes I promise to do so. Got a date with the car detailers for a full wash, wax and valet soon, and will then take some high def pics on a winding Cape mountain road and post here :rollsmile:

 

[LevanM]

PM me if you want his number :thumbs:

 

[ASH]

You could look at doing a decat or complete new exhaust system, a software remap and CAI as well. I'm not sure what the budget of all of this would be or if the parts exist for the Z4. This would however give you a temporary fix, and you'll be asking for more again after you get used to it.

I'd say, if you like the Z4, and enjoy the individuality of the car, maybe look at finding one of these:-

195kw Z4 Coupe 3.0si, these are almost as quick in acceleration as the Z4 M-Coupe, and are quite hard to find. Also the Z4 Coupe has better torsional rigidity than the roadster, so handling will be alot better.



Or if the budget allows, you can go the whole mile and look for a Z4 M-Coupe............ raise:

 

[HellfireZA]

I'm also looking at a Z4 3.0i (1 of many cars) and wouldn't do much to it but is there anyone who has done something to their car to improve performance and what reuslts are you gettings?

 

[Dean ///M]

+1 of the Z 3.0Si or Z4M, Z4 35 or 135i then M135i depending on your budget. But Z4M will keeping your smiling for days although many are priced over retail there are some reasonably priced out there. Not sure how to post vids but would like to show you the incar acceleration of my previous one.

 

[Dean ///M]

 

[HellfireZA]

I did consider the Z4M but it's a bit too much to have as your 1 and only everyday car, IMO. I would be happy with the Si but they are so rare! I like the normal 3.0i but I'm still keeping my options open.