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Read the WELCOME ALL BMWFANATICS post.
Advise please - 2004 Z4 - Manual
- Thread starter ashley
- Start date
ashley
///Member
Update:
I’m enjoying the drive so far.
But the car attracts the wrong type of attention.
Too much attention to be honest!
I mean big blue, my e39 540I, is a monster and a loud one too, you can hear her a mile away, but she only gets a quarter of the attention, and it’s all good!
I was wondering why most of the convertibles I see driving around all have hoods up!
I weather is lovely most of the time in East London
The penny is beginning to drop.
With the hood up you can block out the “bad” world and car looks like a “normal” car
But then again why have a convertible if you keep hood up all the time?
I’m enjoying the drive so far.
But the car attracts the wrong type of attention.
Too much attention to be honest!
I mean big blue, my e39 540I, is a monster and a loud one too, you can hear her a mile away, but she only gets a quarter of the attention, and it’s all good!
I was wondering why most of the convertibles I see driving around all have hoods up!
I weather is lovely most of the time in East London
The penny is beginning to drop.
With the hood up you can block out the “bad” world and car looks like a “normal” car
But then again why have a convertible if you keep hood up all the time?
tinovittee
Member
+1 on the attention! Mine's a coupe and it's actually a stress just going to the shops and parking it... the topless option has that much more "flashy" appeal... so I can only imagine! Funny though when I drive my folks' SLK no1 even looks twice... :=):
ashley
///Member
Well we attended a track day , today. Was going to drive Big Blue but is was so hot, and Big Blue's air con is not working. So the Z4 had to do the duty
It was fun.
First Track day for Z4
It was fun.
First Track day for Z4
ashley
///Member
So on Sunday I attended another open track day, at the East London Grand Prix Track.
Had some fun, may have cooked the breaks a bit:rollsmile:
YouTube link
Second Track day in Z4 Roadster
having fun
Bit of bodyroll
Had some fun, may have cooked the breaks a bit:rollsmile:
YouTube link
Second Track day in Z4 Roadster
having fun
Bit of bodyroll
Philip Foglar
///Member
This is what this car was made to do!! Looks like loads of fun was had!!! Awesome and thanks for sharing! :thumbs:
Daaf Vader
New member
Awesome to see the Zeds used as a proper sports car.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
ashley
///Member
Well after passing 123456 on the clock
And mirror falling out
We get a bubble in the right rear tyre side wall.
Okay shop around for run flats – (no spare in the Z4 and been in Eastern Cape – no comment).
Order and have small heart attack,
Cars goes in, get a call, Sir are you sure you want the run flats, because the tyres on the car and normal tyres?
WTF - the dealer I bought the car from – told me – that the car has run flats on it!
Totally hacked off, added to the list of faults on this car, this is the last time I buy a car in this town from a dealer
Oh well 9k later for two tyres, and the same in June again for the front two, because they are normal tyres at the moment.
Get home to night, dad says “Hey mister racer! You drove the rubber off the tyre, down to the wire!”
WTF old man
There are still lots of tread! ½ inch wide and 5 inches long, piece is wore on the inside of the 255/35 R18 to the wire.
Thank Buffalo City and your dam potholes
Another day with the Z4 - still smiling and enjoying it!
And mirror falling out
We get a bubble in the right rear tyre side wall.
Okay shop around for run flats – (no spare in the Z4 and been in Eastern Cape – no comment).
Order and have small heart attack,
Cars goes in, get a call, Sir are you sure you want the run flats, because the tyres on the car and normal tyres?
WTF - the dealer I bought the car from – told me – that the car has run flats on it!
Totally hacked off, added to the list of faults on this car, this is the last time I buy a car in this town from a dealer
Oh well 9k later for two tyres, and the same in June again for the front two, because they are normal tyres at the moment.
Get home to night, dad says “Hey mister racer! You drove the rubber off the tyre, down to the wire!”
WTF old man
There are still lots of tread! ½ inch wide and 5 inches long, piece is wore on the inside of the 255/35 R18 to the wire.
Thank Buffalo City and your dam potholes
Another day with the Z4 - still smiling and enjoying it!
ashley said:
Where did you shop around for tyres and who does your wheel alignment? When I was shopping for tyres I found Autotyres in Camebridge to be the cheapest. For wheel alignment I only go to HiQ/Tyremart in Vincent (recommended by Autohaus Monti). They're the only guys that have gotten my alignment right in this town. Also had wheel troubles this weekend:yuck: hit a huge pothole on the way back from Port Alfred. Took it to mag rite today. Thankfully my front left wheel which took most of the impact is only slightly bent so will have to sort that out when I change my front tyres:yuck:
Philip Foglar
///Member
That makes me sick! BMW motorplan so full of nonsense about you HAVING to have RFT's, but then their dealers are perfectly happy selling you a car with normal tyres instead! :argh:
I would recommend a mobility kit at the very least, or ideally a space-saver - problem is, there is already not much space in the boot of the Z4, so RFT's are still kind of the better option...
I would recommend a mobility kit at the very least, or ideally a space-saver - problem is, there is already not much space in the boot of the Z4, so RFT's are still kind of the better option...
ashley
///Member
Update: as of 1st August 2014 I no longer own a BMW Z4. After 13 months and 16000kms of mostly fun journeys, life changes with some interesting curve balls
After Big blue’s crash and been written off, so no working family vehicle I traded the Z4 in, on a more practical one, that mum can in and out of easily ,
Welcome a 2010 Peugeot 3008 THP into the family.
Not a sports car but will do for now!
After Big blue’s crash and been written off, so no working family vehicle I traded the Z4 in, on a more practical one, that mum can in and out of easily ,
Welcome a 2010 Peugeot 3008 THP into the family.
Not a sports car but will do for now!
ashley
///Member
Hi
I'm thinking of getting backing into a Z4 again.
But the choices within my price range.
1. 2006 3.0 Si with 120,000km - full service history, but front bumper and side skirt not sitting smooth with rest of body work. and dealer is replacing windscreen rubbers? and local.
2. 2007 3.0Si Auto - 750kms away
3. 2007 Z4m - 1300kms away
Question to Z4's owner, which model is best, Z4M, or 3.0Si ?:tiptoe:
Will be used 3 times a week.
I'm thinking of getting backing into a Z4 again.
But the choices within my price range.
1. 2006 3.0 Si with 120,000km - full service history, but front bumper and side skirt not sitting smooth with rest of body work. and dealer is replacing windscreen rubbers? and local.
2. 2007 3.0Si Auto - 750kms away
3. 2007 Z4m - 1300kms away
Question to Z4's owner, which model is best, Z4M, or 3.0Si ?:tiptoe:
Will be used 3 times a week.
AdiS
Well-known member
TBP88
Well-known member
Think my situation was similar - I was ONLY interested in coupes. As you'll see in the thread I settled on a Z4MC, it's not a cheap situation to get into and I'd say have at least 50k in spare change ready to spend on the little drips and drabs to get it prepped up mechanically. I reckon I need to throw another 10k at minor cosmetics (need some refurb on some leather, a full clean and detail and some paintless dent removal). Added to that a full set of goodyear eagle f1s in OEM sizing ran me around 10k as well. (4.2 or so for fronts and 6.1 or so for rears).
Either way, you're hopping into a 10 year old car and these will need some work but now that mine is here I love every moment I spend in it, looking at it and walking away from it with my head turned back.
To the cars:
I test drove a pretty neat 3.0si coupe, lovely cars, great noise from the 3.0 and more than enough motivation. The look is a bit staid for me, especially at the front where the bumper and bonnet lacks a bit of bite and meanness that the z4m has. The main complaint most have is the electrical power steering. The Z4m steering is heavy, substantially heavier.
The other big differences are the gearshift and clutch. The Z4m clutch and gearshift, particularly when cold, is extremely touchy from 1-2. The 3.0si I drove was much easier to drive like a normal human. This makes the Z4m sub ideal for traffic driving. Added to this I'd guess that the z4m would have substantially worse (1-2l/100km worse) fuel consumption. For reference I get in the region of 13l/100km on (70/30 town/long road driving) and on pure long road at normal (120ish) speeds I see around 10-11l/100km.
Those are the big differences. I'm not sure where you stay (EL I presume by your pics from there), if you are in EL, then you'll likely have to hunt further afield for a car. I am in CT and found my car in JHB - there simply aren't that many Z4 coupes (M or otherwise) to find in smaller cities like EL. a 3.0si convertible might be findable in EL, but I'd still think about casting a wider net.
Either way, you're hopping into a 10 year old car and these will need some work but now that mine is here I love every moment I spend in it, looking at it and walking away from it with my head turned back.
To the cars:
I test drove a pretty neat 3.0si coupe, lovely cars, great noise from the 3.0 and more than enough motivation. The look is a bit staid for me, especially at the front where the bumper and bonnet lacks a bit of bite and meanness that the z4m has. The main complaint most have is the electrical power steering. The Z4m steering is heavy, substantially heavier.
The other big differences are the gearshift and clutch. The Z4m clutch and gearshift, particularly when cold, is extremely touchy from 1-2. The 3.0si I drove was much easier to drive like a normal human. This makes the Z4m sub ideal for traffic driving. Added to this I'd guess that the z4m would have substantially worse (1-2l/100km worse) fuel consumption. For reference I get in the region of 13l/100km on (70/30 town/long road driving) and on pure long road at normal (120ish) speeds I see around 10-11l/100km.
Those are the big differences. I'm not sure where you stay (EL I presume by your pics from there), if you are in EL, then you'll likely have to hunt further afield for a car. I am in CT and found my car in JHB - there simply aren't that many Z4 coupes (M or otherwise) to find in smaller cities like EL. a 3.0si convertible might be findable in EL, but I'd still think about casting a wider net.
ashley
///Member
Yip TBP88, I'm based in East London and yes the car dealers here are sharks of note!
the one I'm looking at
https://www.gumtree.co.za/a-cars-ba...w-z4-3-0si-for-sale/1001981138840910981140209
Been in the "body shop" for two days , to polish it ! :skit:
today the windscreen rubber is been replaced.
The bumper is not " happy" - not sitting flush
It has sat-nav, bum warmers, and FSH, Newish tyres , but other bad things - few clips and handles broken, wind deflector is broken
Last owner , "woman" who owns an insurance brokers
that means nothing to me , may be it is the reason for the bumper been pushed to one side. I have the feel it was not cared for!
I paid less in 2013 for the 2004 3.0i ,(only just) that was in better condition, I also known the team that did it's services, Clutchplate himself, but as we found out later it been in a crash! - private plates always a give away, people remember them! Towing companies are full of info!
As looking further out , that is not an issue , Just bought Budliegh's 540I, flew to Cape Town and drove it back - I called it a 1400km test drive :rollsmile: Enjoy the journey home, not the flight, been 6foot4 and over weight and the small planes SAA Express use - no comment
Still need to drive the 3.0si
I think the 3.0si in auto or manual is for me, the 2004 I had was fast enough for me. Got a V8 if I want more power.
I just miss the feel and drive the Z4 gave me. The pug is sooo boring, plus the repair cost on the pug would worry some BMW owners, 14k for clutch!
I'm lucky not in a hurry, will test and keep looking, until I find one that "talks" to me
the one I'm looking at
https://www.gumtree.co.za/a-cars-ba...w-z4-3-0si-for-sale/1001981138840910981140209
Been in the "body shop" for two days , to polish it ! :skit:
today the windscreen rubber is been replaced.
The bumper is not " happy" - not sitting flush
It has sat-nav, bum warmers, and FSH, Newish tyres , but other bad things - few clips and handles broken, wind deflector is broken
Last owner , "woman" who owns an insurance brokers
that means nothing to me , may be it is the reason for the bumper been pushed to one side. I have the feel it was not cared for!
I paid less in 2013 for the 2004 3.0i ,(only just) that was in better condition, I also known the team that did it's services, Clutchplate himself, but as we found out later it been in a crash! - private plates always a give away, people remember them! Towing companies are full of info!
As looking further out , that is not an issue , Just bought Budliegh's 540I, flew to Cape Town and drove it back - I called it a 1400km test drive :rollsmile: Enjoy the journey home, not the flight, been 6foot4 and over weight and the small planes SAA Express use - no comment
Still need to drive the 3.0si
I think the 3.0si in auto or manual is for me, the 2004 I had was fast enough for me. Got a V8 if I want more power.
I just miss the feel and drive the Z4 gave me. The pug is sooo boring, plus the repair cost on the pug would worry some BMW owners, 14k for clutch!
I'm lucky not in a hurry, will test and keep looking, until I find one that "talks" to me
TBP88
Well-known member
So you're after a convertible - not sure what your budget is, but at the near R200k mark you can even look for the revised shape Z4 in 3.0 guise. Just to throw an additional spanner into your works.
If it's a drophead car then you'll have no trouble finding a good one I'd imagine, there are plenty of them about (convertibles outsold coupes by an order of magnitude or 2). So it's not worth settling on one that may have gremlins unless the price is exceptional.
If it's a drophead car then you'll have no trouble finding a good one I'd imagine, there are plenty of them about (convertibles outsold coupes by an order of magnitude or 2). So it's not worth settling on one that may have gremlins unless the price is exceptional.
