Stuart Little (2007 E85 Z4 2.5si manual)

[MR_Y]

Ditto.
Ah, the eternal dilemma. Do we persist with the vintage charm of older BMWs and endure their 'quirks', or gracefully surrender to the effortless ease of newer models, like that white Suzuki? Getting behind the wheel of most modern cars is like stepping into your trusty sneakers, reliable, nimble enough to keep pace, and comfy enough. And while the Z4 might not be your go-to for the daily grind, it's the kind of car that should tempt you to embark on midnight bread runs just for the sheer thrill of the drive, even if your pantry is already stocked! Perhaps it's time (for me) to bid adieu to fantasies of vintage/older BM M ownership and embrace the modern marvels that promise a smoother ride without leaving a trail of oil slicks in our wake. I don't know

I think if you know your way around a spanner and other tools and enjoy spending time working on a car, then there is a lot of pleasure to derive from caring for an older car. Unfortunately, when you have to pay someone to work on the car, then its like (insert inappropriate joke here comparing car to...).

Anyway, as I said earlier there are proper OGs on this forum who have the skills, experience and patience to properly care for and appreciate an old car.

 

[Benji]

I think if you know your way around a spanner and other tools and enjoy spending time working on a car, then there is a lot of pleasure to derive from caring for an older car. Unfortunately, when you have to pay someone to work on the car, then its like (insert inappropriate joke here comparing car to...).

Anyway, as I said earlier there are proper OGs on this forum who have the skills, experience and patience to properly care for and appreciate an old car.

This is so true. I would not recommend an "old" car to anyone who isnt going to perform most of the work on their car themselves, it just isnt worth the trauma and cost of 6-monthly visits to a mechanic. This becomes especially true when your threshold for new and interesting noises/knocks/rattles/squeaks is low.

Add to this the lack of good BMW mechanics at reasonable prices

 

[PsyCLown]

This is so true. I would not recommend an "old" car to anyone who isnt going to perform most of the work on their car themselves, it just isnt worth the trauma and cost of 6-monthly visits to a mechanic. This becomes especially true when your threshold for new and interesting noises/knocks/rattles/squeaks is low.

Add to this the lack of good BMW mechanics at reasonable prices

Easy solution to this problem, get a louder exhaust or turn up the volume!

 

[Benji]

Easy solution to this problem, get a louder exhaust or turn up the volume!

This is my current situation with my daily, I am being forced to fix weird noises because I have no music at the moment due to a 2 month delay in getting my radio from China.

 

[modocrat]

My remote works.
I found out that the battery needs replacing.
The old fashioned keys have the battery soldered in, so it is a mission to replace

How was this mission accomplished?
The previous owner of my E46 wanted to replace the battery before the hand-over, he opened the key and saw what a PITA it is to replace.

Anyone else got this done?

 

[MR_Y]

How was this mission accomplished?
The previous owner of my E46 wanted to replace the battery before the hand-over, he opened the key and saw what a PITA it is to replace.

Anyone else got this done?

Central Locksmiths in Corlett Drive.

 

[Benji]

How was this mission accomplished?
The previous owner of my E46 wanted to replace the battery before the hand-over, he opened the key and saw what a PITA it is to replace.

Anyone else got this done?

I did this, you can buy the batteries online for R100 each. The biggest pita is cutting open the key. This was delegated to the wife. Use a sharp stanley knife and be patient. Replace battery and superglue the 2 halves together. Easy peasy, Bobs your aunty

You will need to relearn the keys to the car afterwards

 

[TBP88]

I did this, you can buy the batteries online for R100 each. The biggest pita is cutting open the key. This was delegated to the wife. Use a sharp stanley knife and be patient. Replace battery and superglue the 2 halves together. Easy peasy, Bobs your aunty

You will need to relearn the keys to the car afterwards

also worth getting some china #1 keys and having them cut and coded, most indies can do it on the E46and prior era keys relatively easily (E85/6 was E46 lock tech).

 

[MR_Y]

Why did I choose this car?
Honestly, I wasn't really looking for a Z4. A great deal just came up and at the price, it just made sense. The FSH from BMW and the fact that it was being sold by a BMW dealer just made it an attractive deal. For now, it scratches my itch for a weekend toy that won't break the bank. I am still looking out for a 987.2, but that is a longer term goal.

Initial comments:

Good:

- Cabin is rock solid. No rattles. Just the usual soft top creaks with age. There are a few wear and tear marks in the cabin, but everything feels solid and built to last. Definitely better built than my F30 LCI and my G01.

- The car is easy to drive. It is comfortable and seems to have sufficient low down torque for driving through trafficz without having to rev up the engine (something an MX5 can require). I got stuck in a traffic jam on the weekend and my left leg was fine. Everything (clutch, brakes, throttle, steering) is easy to operate.

- Engine sounds good and motor pulls decently when pushing it. Not a Porsche, but feels decently quick for what it is at this bargain price point. A sports exhaust will be on the cards after the next service.

- The Logic 7 hi-fi system is excellent. Speakers behind the seats and tweeters in the doors. Much better than my other cars sound systems currently. It even has a 6 disc CD shuttle!

- Spec is impressive. Electric seats for both driver and passenger, with memory on the driver side. Automatic dimming rear view mirror. Rear PDC. ISOFIX anchor points and airbag switch. Audio controls on steering wheel. Proper leather seats that have aged well.

- The car is in good condition, especially given the price point. The dealer did spray the front bumper and did a full valet. I will still take the car for a proper valet and detail soon.

- The previous owner kept detailed service records (invoices) for the last 7 years. BMW have the rest of the older services on their system. The original owner's manual and all the original documents, including a still new first aid kit, are all neatly packaged in the car.

Bad:

- The steering is lifeless around center point and also on turn in, to a degree. I am spoiled by Porsche steering. On the highway, at speed, I don't like the fact that I am numb to what is going on with the front wheels. There is a slight floatiness which is not great at straight line speed. I assume a new set of tyres and proper wheel alignment may help slightly. However, when carving through bends on a back road, when applying more steering turn, the life/feel comes back a bit.

- The Potenzas have 50% life left. But being dated 2017, I can see the rubber deteriorating a bit on the shoulders. I am placing an order for Michelin PS4s soon. Not run flats. Happy to use tyre sealant and a compressor, if I get a puncture. I am not going to cross provinces in this car, so happy to keep it simple.

- No Bluetooth. Not a major issue. Just need to use the Aux input and get a decent Yesido phone air vent mount.

- The front fog light is dead and the cigarette lighter socket too. Dealer will fix/replace these at no cost.

For R150k, I am not complaining. This car does what it needs to do and does it well. Driving with the roof down and tackling some back roads is enjoyable.

Michelins and a sports exhaust will really improve the car, but those will come in time.

Sure, there will be some preventative maintenance to deal with as well, and that will be done in due course.

And definitely no racing stripes this time round...

Looking back, it has been 3 years!
Bought as a weekend toy for R150k in Aug 2023. It ended up costing a lot in maintenance (most being preventative). School fees paid and lessons learnt over the 6 month ownership experience.

As I deal with a small oil leak on my 13+ year old 911, I look back to my experience with the E85. On the E85, each repair seemed like a "while you are in there, fix this" rabbit hole.

The E85 is an enthusiast's car, and you need to be able to get your hands dirty to fix it yourself to savour the full fat ownership experience.