Z4 E86 Coupe future driver

[golfer23]

Good day Gents!

New guy here, as you can see, my VERY FIRST POST!
Im from the vwclub.co.za forum. history, i had a golf 4, and now i want to upgrade.
so im looking to sell the car, and get into a Z4 E86 coupe 3.0si.

Reason for this post:
1 - what problems should i be worried about? car will have around 120kkm. 06/07.
2 - what should i do when i get the car?
3 - has anyone on this forum in cape town, got the Coupe or even the roadster, that is willing to please meet up, chat to me about the car, and just let me sit in it, get a feel for the car, no test drive cause thats asking a lot, well, the owner can drive and i just want to be the passenger.

Thanks!

 

[Clint@MMS AUTO]

Welcome , You wont be disappointed with a z4...

Buy this one and enjoy the car... https://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/showthread.php?tid=84898

 

[golfer23]

Welcome , You wont be disappointed with a z4...

Buy this one and enjoy the car... https://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/showthread.php?tid=84898

Hi! howzit! haha shot for reply, but i want the coupe.
Would you mind if we met up and i got to check your car out?

 

[Clint@MMS AUTO]

i'm in JHB and i have a ///M Coupe... Its very different to a 3.0Si ...

you will have to hang on until you find the right one because 3.0Si's are not very common... They very nice cars though...

 

[MikeR]

:thumbs: z4 the way to go mate, you wont be unhappy - they are drivers cars.

 

[momo1]

welcome

I have a 3.0si coupe, great car , they grow on you like you cannot believe. I absolutely love mine.

with regard to things to look out for..
1) Coolant system, the N52 is a bullet proof engine but the cooling system isn't.. waterpump, thermostat and hoses.
2) make sure control arms have been done, bushings wear out, especially since these cars are 10years old now.
30
3) check the clutch,its essentially a sports car and with that mileage you don't want any slipping.
4) if the car has full service history and no accident damage, all should be good
good luck :thumbs:

 

[golfer23]

welcome

I have a 3.0si coupe, great car , they grow on you like you cannot believe. I absolutely love mine.

with regard to things to look out for..
1) Coolant system, the N52 is a bullet proof engine but the cooling system isn't.. waterpump, thermostat and hoses.
2) make sure control arms have been done, bushings wear out, especially since these cars are 10years old now.
30
3) check the clutch,its essentially a sports car and with that mileage you don't want any slipping.
4) if the car has full service history and no accident damage, all should be good
good luck :thumbs:

aaaah thank you sir! i was thinking wouldnt shocks also need to be done? shocks, bushes, a bit of a refresh there.

 

[Clint@MMS AUTO]

welcome

I have a 3.0si coupe, great car , they grow on you like you cannot believe. I absolutely love mine.

with regard to things to look out for..
1) Coolant system, the N52 is a bullet proof engine but the cooling system isn't.. waterpump, thermostat and hoses.
2) make sure control arms have been done, bushings wear out, especially since these cars are 10years old now.
30
3) check the clutch,its essentially a sports car and with that mileage you don't want any slipping.
4) if the car has full service history and no accident damage, all should be good
good luck :thumbs:

aaaah thank you sir! i was thinking wouldnt shocks also need to be done? shocks, bushes, a bit of a refresh there.

Yeah shocks could be a replacement item but in alot of cases, there may still time before you need to get them done immediately.. so try and wait it out if you can and then plan to do the other suspension items one time while its all stripped out...

 

[momo1]

welcome

I have a 3.0si coupe, great car , they grow on you like you cannot believe. I absolutely love mine.

with regard to things to look out for..
1) Coolant system, the N52 is a bullet proof engine but the cooling system isn't.. waterpump, thermostat and hoses.
2) make sure control arms have been done, bushings wear out, especially since these cars are 10years old now.
30
3) check the clutch,its essentially a sports car and with that mileage you don't want any slipping.
4) if the car has full service history and no accident damage, all should be good
good luck :thumbs:

aaaah thank you sir! i was thinking wouldnt shocks also need to be done? shocks, bushes, a bit of a refresh there.

Yeah shocks could be a replacement item but in alot of cases, there may still time before you need to get them done immediately.. so try and wait it out if you can and then plan to do the other suspension items one time while its all stripped out...

+1 im on 175000km and shocks are still fine

 

[TBP88]

What's your budget like? As above, the N52 apparently has cooling issues.

I was in a similar boat and ended up plumping for the M coupe model. The S54 engine has some issues of it's own (bearings and vanos essentially need major work every 80-100k km) but given the price difference when I looked the M seemed to make more sense.

Avoid the auto box either way and the beige interior (one that I tested was beige and it was really horrible looking and I'm sure a nightmare to clean).

 

[golfer23]

What's your budget like? As above, the N52 apparently has cooling issues.

I was in a similar boat and ended up plumping for the M coupe model. The S54 engine has some issues of it's own (bearings and vanos essentially need major work every 80-100k km) but given the price difference when I looked the M seemed to make more sense.

Avoid the auto box either way and the beige interior (one that I tested was beige and it was really horrible looking and I'm sure a nightmare to clean).

I was looking at around R160k. i see 06/07s go for around there. with 120kkm on the clock. i've seen a few black and silver, but my bro has a black bmw, and im staying away from black. i saw a red on red z4 coupe, and was just, thats a no from me haha.

 

[TBP88]

Personally not one for black cars. Mine is the silver-grey which I like as it masks the dirt (CT is horrible) well.

White is really great but outrageously rare.

From what I've read the cooling system refresh isn't too cheap, nor will the control arms. So whatever you do keep around R30-60k aside for stuff that might need working. Consider also gearbox oil, engine mountings, guibo should all be inspected as well, at 120k and 10 years those will be on their way out.

I've very much enjoyed my car, it is harsh, it is rough, but it is theatrical and fun and it is very, very fast. Especially around smoother roads through corners, in rough roads it can get a bit unsettled mid-corner which can be alarming, fortunately it's very, very easy to feel the onset of oversteer once you're used to it.

Again, the M is a very different proposition in every way, but the 3.0 is a very good car. For me it was just about finding the right car and the right M came around before I found the right Si. The electric steering might offer less feel but I don't think it's nearly as bad as some seem to think (having driven both these cars).

Take your time, test drive any and all you see available, ideally with your own mechanic/a clued up friend and spend time on the foreign forums to get a rundown of the other common failure areas.

 

[zabbo]

I think that you will not be disappointed if you find a clean example! Go and drive one, any one just to experience it!

 

[golfer23]

Thanks for all the reply gents!

trying to get my uncle to check out 1 or 2 in jozi while i try get rid of my car.
hence trying to see if i can meet someone here just to check a z4 out.

also, whats insurance like on them?

 

[momo1]

Personally not one for black cars. Mine is the silver-grey which I like as it masks the dirt (CT is horrible) well.

White is really great but outrageously rare.

From what I've read the cooling system refresh isn't too cheap, nor will the control arms. So whatever you do keep around R30-60k aside for stuff that might need working. Consider also gearbox oil, engine mountings, guibo should all be inspected as well, at 120k and 10 years those will be on their way out.

I've very much enjoyed my car, it is harsh, it is rough, but it is theatrical and fun and it is very, very fast. Especially around smoother roads through corners, in rough roads it can get a bit unsettled mid-corner which can be alarming, fortunately it's very, very easy to feel the onset of oversteer once you're used to it.

Again, the M is a very different proposition in every way, but the 3.0 is a very good car. For me it was just about finding the right car and the right M came around before I found the right Si. The electric steering might offer less feel but I don't think it's nearly as bad as some seem to think (having driven both these cars).

Take your time, test drive any and all you see available, ideally with your own mechanic/a clued up friend and spend time on the foreign forums to get a rundown of the other common failure areas.

you can get away with the cooling system for under 10K, an OEM water pump from Autozone is R4500.
Control arms with poly bushes around R5000
The cooling system is only an issue on some and not all, I'm on 175000km with no issues , I only want to do it as preventative.

 

[NtandoN]

Cooling system on my N52 e90 cost me R8500 for water pump, thermostat and coolant reservoir. If you find a car in good condition, you would do this as preventative maintenance - so you can plan for it.

 

[golfer23]

okay will look at cooling system and suspension.
was in cape town last night, saw a black coupe, looked good.

still hoping can meet up with someone to check their z4 out....:fencelook:

 

[Clint@MMS AUTO]

okay will look at cooling system and suspension.
was in cape town last night, saw a black coupe, looked good.

still hoping can meet up with someone to check their z4 out....:fencelook:

Why not go check out a dealers Z4 then while you wait for someone to offer :smilebounce:

 

[golfer23]

okay will look at cooling system and suspension.
was in cape town last night, saw a black coupe, looked good.

still hoping can meet up with someone to check their z4 out....:fencelook:

Why not go check out a dealers Z4 then while you wait for someone to offer :smilebounce:

LOLS, i saw a z4m in paarl, im checking. hopefully can see this weekend and will go check.

with costings from you guys, seems like its not a crazy expensive car, something quite feasible, save, budget, maintain and then preventative stuff. easy.

Also, i plan to daily the car, this shouldnt be an issue on it?

 

[TBP88]

Depends on your driving. Ride on my M is very harsh. I daily it though as I have minimal traffic on my route to work in the AM.