My car - Z4M Coupe (silvergrey/2007)

[TBP88]

I've had a couple that have blown now. All OEM bulbs replaced by BMW. I have now opted for some LED one's that I have sourced from eBay. I am still waiting for them to arrive. I quite like the brighter/cool white look. I am also hoping that these will last longer... will let you know once they in just FYI.

Although it has been pointed out to me... why make the number plate even MORE visible?... lol

Haha

Besides the legal reasons - it does throw a light error on the display

Will check the handbook for that bulb, I'm sure a midas must be able to give me a part like that for R20.

 

[PLV]

Hehehe...

On RealOEM the part # is 63217160797.

It is a 12v 5W longlife wedge type bulb...

RealOEM ref: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=BT92-EUR-12-2007-E85-BMW-Z4_M32&diagId=63_0764

:coolShake:

 

[Rotinaj]

OK the only way to solve the leather on the steering wheel is to recover. It's really tough to find someone who does a good job in South Africa - I am of the opinion that literally no one can do it to my standard here. Having said that, Razz recently had his Z4M Roadster wheel redone and it came out quite nicely.

https://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/showthread.php?tid=69556&page=4

Wynberg auto trimmers in Joburg. Trust me on this they do a good job of it, also costs a pretty penny but that is because they use the right kind of leather.

 

[NavZ]

Nice to see another Z4M Coupe running around CT.
Anything new done lately?

 

[TBP88]

Sadly not hey - been extremely busy this last few months. Just changed aircon filter and topped up the coolant a few days ago. Other than that car running perfectly fine

 

[telegamer]

There's a guy in goodwod, Dinesh Auto trimmers , did a good job re- covering my steering wheel.....cost around R1300

 

[NavZ]

Saw you on saturday night on the M5/N2.
Unfortunately I was driving a boring Volvo so I may have scared you into thinking you were being followed haha
Car is looking good :coolShake:

 

[TBP88]

Haha, ja if it was late-ish Saturday night that was me, a friend and I went for a drive.

Car still going well - enjoying it everyday, getting close to time for an oil change (I expect it will need to go in around end Oct) again though (I'm going with a change every 10 000km or so). Besides that I've contacted Dinesh and have contacted another chap with a spare centre console piece, I'm contemplating buying his centre console pieces and trying to diy the plastics on there into better shape with some sandpaper and so on (as you lads on here have done). The only downside is that his aluminium section is just as crappy looking as mine (ok, maybe like 10% better looking than mine) which is a bummer. RealOEM gives an indicative price of 360USD (((((

AdiS mentioned getting the part wrapped in an alumium lookalike wrap, something else I'm considering if I get *that* desperate.

 

[PLV]

Hey there, I also can't believe the cost of a new center piece. Also thinking what to do, as my middle aluminium is looking a little worn. Not hectic... but would like for it to look good again.

Let me know what you end up doing! :coolShake:

 

[momo1]

For the Oil change , why not take advantage of the special that BMW are running at the moment at R890 for oils and filter?
with regard to the trimmings another option is to get it wrapped.
I remember seeing a Z4 done on an international forum , just cant remember which one.
the "Colour Glo" okes also do a good job.

this one also came out ok

 

[TBP88]

Think that BMW oil change special is for non-m cars only - though given my car isn't an M2/3/4/5/6, maybe I can sneak that by them, but would rather pay and extra couple of grand and make sure the right oil and so on is used.

Ja, I've not got any closeups here but the aluminium really is an eyesore in the centre, it almost appears pockmarked - like somebody smacked it repeatedly with keys or something? Goodness knows. :/

 

[PLV]

I will also take a photo later and share. Similar kind of thing here. It's definitely some weird pock marks that are present.

:smashScreen:

 

[NavZ]

One of the main culprits for centre console damage would be from the seatbelt.
Careless drivers/passengers with zero hand/eye co-ordination :YesNo:

 

[Morne van Rensburg]

raise:raise:raise:

 

[TBP88]

Sigh

So last night I finally got round to removing the old license plate bulbs, one of the housings had a bent clip, but I've bent that back into something resembling the correct shape, so it should fit nice and snugly, the bulbs were both completely shot, got a new pair from goldwagen and they seemed to work fine, removed everything (I cleaned the housings themselves and they're still drying off) and head off to work this AM.

During the last 1-2km of my work drive the car gives an intermittent flashing of ABS, parking break, TC and tyre pressure lights

A quick online search suggests alternator or battery issues - seeing as my battery is relatively new, I suspect it's alternator related having looked briefly online (link - http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=669131)

I'll see whether it still gives the problem on my drive home, but I'll likely have to try to get codes read and see what shoes and then test voltages. :/

 

[Gizmo]

Provided you car doesn't have a hissy fit, you should try out the festoon LED licence plate lights, they take years off the car in looks.

 

[PLV]

Sigh

So last night I finally got round to removing the old license plate bulbs, one of the housings had a bent clip, but I've bent that back into something resembling the correct shape, so it should fit nice and snugly, the bulbs were both completely shot, got a new pair from goldwagen and they seemed to work fine, removed everything (I cleaned the housings themselves and they're still drying off) and head off to work this AM.

During the last 1-2km of my work drive the car gives an intermittent flashing of ABS, parking break, TC and tyre pressure lights

A quick online search suggests alternator or battery issues - seeing as my battery is relatively new, I suspect it's alternator related having looked briefly online (link - http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=669131)

I'll see whether it still gives the problem on my drive home, but I'll likely have to try to get codes read and see what shoes and then test voltages. :/

Hey man,

Check out my post here: https://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/showthread.php?tid=77307&highlight=valeo

I had the same issue - ended up being the regulator, as my voltage was spiking all over the place.

You will need to check if you have the Bosch or Valeo...

Good luck man!

:coolShake:

 

[AdiS]

Sigh

So last night I finally got round to removing the old license plate bulbs, one of the housings had a bent clip, but I've bent that back into something resembling the correct shape, so it should fit nice and snugly, the bulbs were both completely shot, got a new pair from goldwagen and they seemed to work fine, removed everything (I cleaned the housings themselves and they're still drying off) and head off to work this AM.

During the last 1-2km of my work drive the car gives an intermittent flashing of ABS, parking break, TC and tyre pressure lights

A quick online search suggests alternator or battery issues - seeing as my battery is relatively new, I suspect it's alternator related having looked briefly online (link - http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=669131)

I'll see whether it still gives the problem on my drive home, but I'll likely have to try to get codes read and see what shoes and then test voltages. :/

Hey man,

Check out my post here: https://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/showthread.php?tid=77307&highlight=valeo

I had the same issue - ended up being the regulator, as my voltage was spiking all over the place.

You will need to check if you have the Bosch or Valeo...

Good luck man!

:coolShake:

Thomas - as above - it is highly likely to be the voltage regulator on the alternator. The same thing happened on my M3. The voltage regulator can be replaced on its own.

 

[Fordkoppie]

Sigh

So last night I finally got round to removing the old license plate bulbs, one of the housings had a bent clip, but I've bent that back into something resembling the correct shape, so it should fit nice and snugly, the bulbs were both completely shot, got a new pair from goldwagen and they seemed to work fine, removed everything (I cleaned the housings themselves and they're still drying off) and head off to work this AM.

During the last 1-2km of my work drive the car gives an intermittent flashing of ABS, parking break, TC and tyre pressure lights

A quick online search suggests alternator or battery issues - seeing as my battery is relatively new, I suspect it's alternator related having looked briefly online (link - http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=669131)

I'll see whether it still gives the problem on my drive home, but I'll likely have to try to get codes read and see what shoes and then test voltages. :/

Hey man,

Check out my post here: https://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/showthread.php?tid=77307&highlight=valeo

I had the same issue - ended up being the regulator, as my voltage was spiking all over the place.

You will need to check if you have the Bosch or Valeo...

Good luck man!

:coolShake:

Had the same thing on mine.

Just test the voltage on the battery terminals while someone revs the engine up to 2000rpm.
In my Z's case, the voltage would spike to 17v and all the lights on the cluster would start flickering.

Good luck finding a genuine Valeo voltage regulator though:smashScreen:.

It shares this part with NO other car. I ended up using a knock-off regulator, because BMW's solution is a R14k complete alternator

 

[TBP88]

Sigh

So last night I finally got round to removing the old license plate bulbs, one of the housings had a bent clip, but I've bent that back into something resembling the correct shape, so it should fit nice and snugly, the bulbs were both completely shot, got a new pair from goldwagen and they seemed to work fine, removed everything (I cleaned the housings themselves and they're still drying off) and head off to work this AM.

During the last 1-2km of my work drive the car gives an intermittent flashing of ABS, parking break, TC and tyre pressure lights

A quick online search suggests alternator or battery issues - seeing as my battery is relatively new, I suspect it's alternator related having looked briefly online (link - http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=669131)

I'll see whether it still gives the problem on my drive home, but I'll likely have to try to get codes read and see what shoes and then test voltages. :/

Hey man,

Check out my post here: https://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/showthread.php?tid=77307&highlight=valeo

I had the same issue - ended up being the regulator, as my voltage was spiking all over the place.

You will need to check if you have the Bosch or Valeo...

Good luck man!

:coolShake:

Had the same thing on mine.

Just test the voltage on the battery terminals while someone revs the engine up to 2000rpm.
In my Z's case, the voltage would spike to 17v and all the lights on the cluster would start flickering.

Good luck finding a genuine Valeo voltage regulator though:smashScreen:.

It shares this part with NO other car. I ended up using a knock-off regulator, because BMW's solution is a R14k complete alternator

Ja, had errors cleared last night, immediately afterwards it started the same issue, now it drives normally, but theres a warning light about the lights (strange).

Seems like a grounding or a voltage regulation issue - anyway, I'll be calling around some CT auto-electricians today and hopefully they can slot me in sometime this week to have it checked out... Any contacts you guys can share? Fordkoppie? Who sorted yours out, and where did you source the part?

Regards

---

Sigh

So last night I finally got round to removing the old license plate bulbs, one of the housings had a bent clip, but I've bent that back into something resembling the correct shape, so it should fit nice and snugly, the bulbs were both completely shot, got a new pair from goldwagen and they seemed to work fine, removed everything (I cleaned the housings themselves and they're still drying off) and head off to work this AM.

During the last 1-2km of my work drive the car gives an intermittent flashing of ABS, parking break, TC and tyre pressure lights

A quick online search suggests alternator or battery issues - seeing as my battery is relatively new, I suspect it's alternator related having looked briefly online (link - http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=669131)

I'll see whether it still gives the problem on my drive home, but I'll likely have to try to get codes read and see what shoes and then test voltages. :/

Hey man,

Check out my post here: https://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/showthread.php?tid=77307&highlight=valeo

I had the same issue - ended up being the regulator, as my voltage was spiking all over the place.

You will need to check if you have the Bosch or Valeo...

Good luck man!

:coolShake:

Are you in CPT? any contacts for this? (apologies for the post spam) would just be nice to chat to an auto electrician who has dealt with this before...