Z4 - initial thoughts

[Sticks2]

Have a look here http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/ for info on the sound generator. Only taes a couple of minutes. I wasn't keen, it's not the same sort of noise as having a sports exhaust, say, but others like it.

[Mr Whippy]

The sound generator is more an induction noise amplifier really.

I think I'll spruce that up a bit by removing one of the foam inserts, but longer term I think de-baffling the stock back box a fraction would do for just a bit more nice noise... tis a tad mellow at idle (ie, inaudible)

Dave

[bras0782]

Removing the foam will improve the sound inside the cabin not out

[ben]

bras0782 said:

Removing the foam will improve the sound inside the cabin not out

Yer, I took my foam out for a bit but it had to go back in for long motorway trips as it is a little loud.

[tomTVR]

Turns out mine has a snapped rear spring, perhaps that might be part of my ride and handling problem, shall report back.

[Mr Whippy]

Just looking through my history (got the car today, will post pics/details tomorrow), and it had a rear spring for an MOT a few years ago...

I've had issues over some rough roads today, it really wants to be going off in it's own direction at speed on some surfaces

But generally it's super smooth, quiet, solid and planted... just lively. Not really surprising with such wide low profile tyres, relatively low weight, and a stiff chassis...

Loving it really. Just need to get some foam removed as it doesn't really start to shout into the cabin until 5000rpm and even then it's a bit lame... my standard GTi6 306 made more induction noise... I think it's the only bit of the car that is a problem as it is probably TOO quiet.

Steering is great though. Great feel. Standard seats need to be tweaked to get comfy I think, but good holding even with some lateral g's... maybe on a track I'd want M sports but on the road I think they will do for most stuff!

Dave

[ben]

I think mine has had a couple of new springs too - I have heard of many needing this.
You will love the car, trust me!

[Mr Whippy]

Haha, picked up my car Saturday from a dealer who does one hundred etc checks and so on.

RFT warning light comes on last (Sunday) night, doh!

Checked pressures. Front left 20psi ish, front right 9psi, rear left 16psi, rear right 20psi ish.

Well, nice to see that they checked the tyre pressures... not
Clearly they are so low they started leaking pressure and sent the RFT sensor off.


So, now they are filled it's still stiff and moving around a lot, but much more consistently, and deflections when it does seem a lot more controlled!
Glad I've not been driving it fast/hard, just cruising around getting used to it...


So, Tom, if you haven't, check the tyre pressures. 33psi front, 36psi rear according to the book!




I did the sound amplifier mod too. No foam was a bit excessive mainly because of the 3000rpm resonance that would no doubt do your ears damage if you cruised at full throttle around there...
Half a foam seems ok, but it's about the same as the full foam imho (wife didn't notice the difference), so I'll be going for a 1/3 and 1/4 size piece to try find the ideal setup.
It literally is a 30 second mod, just pull the pipe back out of the bulkhead, bend it round, remove foam, stick back through...

(would love to somehow put two tubes in there, with a diverter valve operated by the sport button, I'm surprised with the feature being there at all, but being so tame as standard BMW would have done that anyway)

Dave

Edited by Mr Whippy on Monday 26th January 10:32

[Mattt]

Well mine's apparently back from the dealers now, with new SMG pump, a relay, and a new clutch (all under warranty).

Nice!!

[Mr Whippy]

Mattt said:

Well mine's apparently back from the dealers now, with new SMG pump, a relay, and a new clutch (all under warranty).

Nice!!

Ooooo nice...

One of the reasons I decided not to get SMG out of warranty


I'm down to about 3cm of foam in my sound generator now, and it is perfect

Dave

[tomTVR]

Ill have to check the tyres pressures - see if it makes a difference to mine.

Go on then, piccies

[Mr Whippy]

bks, my front right and rear left have gone down again 10psi ish... sensor lit up the light for me.

The valves on there look past their best though, and I'm starting to wonder if the outer rim corrosion 'reconditioning' has left a not so tidy seat for the tyre... will have to get some soapy water on them to find the leak.

Pain in the arse, but glad they are RFT as I can just drive steady to work and back and re-fill them till I get it sorted properly


I assumed a dealer would make sure a £10,000 car would be in tip top condition where they could make a difference, but now sorting out tyres with ste valves/bad seating (doubt it's a slow leak/puncture as they are not going RIGHT down) and having to sort myself a new key, another £200 here and there, soon you are at AUC price from BMW...


Dave

[tomTVR]

Cant you get the dealer to sort it? After all thats the whole point in buying from a dealer as apposed to privately.

[Mr Whippy]

Well, I'm assuming this is the dealer that has buggered it up in the first place by doing a half arsed job. I'll just ask them if I bring them a receipt and get a *good* tyre fitter to sort the valve

This is why I don't normally buy from traders, they just don't actually do a good job. 150 odd point check my arse

Dave

[Mattt]

I decided if I was going trade, it would only be AUC - too many Micky Mouse outfits out there.

Mine has more than paid for the difference now!!!

[Jimbeaux]

dan101smith said:

Interesting... can I ask how much it cost to get cruise control retrofitted?

I never understood this. The cheapest cars come with cruise control, but it is a special deal with a $50,000 Bimmer.

[Mr Whippy]

Jimbeaux said:

dan101smith said:

Interesting... can I ask how much it cost to get cruise control retrofitted?

I never understood this. The cheapest cars come with cruise control, but it is a special deal with a $50,000 Bimmer.

BMW are annoying with this. Buying the Z4 took about three weeks to work out what options I wanted, then ages trying to find out how to spot them, and then asking every seller if they had certain options etc... made 2nd hand buying a complete nightmare...

Great cars, just the options setup which makes list prices look low, but final purchase prices for 'must have options' about 15% higher, is slightly silly on the higher end cars.

Ie, 318i etc, fair do's, but the £34,000 starting price cars shouldn't really have some of the things that are options, as options on them.


And I bought a 3.0 with lots of standard spec. The 2.0's must be a bloody joke to find the right options on!

Dave

[Jimbeaux]

Mr Whippy said:

Jimbeaux said:

dan101smith said:

Interesting... can I ask how much it cost to get cruise control retrofitted?

I never understood this. The cheapest cars come with cruise control, but it is a special deal with a $50,000 Bimmer.

BMW are annoying with this. Buying the Z4 took about three weeks to work out what options I wanted, then ages trying to find out how to spot them, and then asking every seller if they had certain options etc... made 2nd hand buying a complete nightmare...

Great cars, just the options setup which makes list prices look low, but final purchase prices for 'must have options' about 15% higher, is slightly silly on the higher end cars.

Ie, 318i etc, fair do's, but the £34,000 starting price cars shouldn't really have some of the things that are options, as options on them.


And I bought a 3.0 with lots of standard spec. The 2.0's must be a bloody joke to find the right options on!

Dave

Luckily for me, my second hand 3.0 came with the sport package and a few more options that speced it out rather well. Had I not had that bit of luck, I would have ended up with a bare bones Bimmer.

[Mr Whippy]

Ah, over here the 3.0's came with a fair bit of standard kit... all were sports and essentially SE's...

I dunno really, some sensible expensive options, that I'm glad I don't have, like pro sat nav and SMG (liabilities really, or distractions), while dimming mirrors and wind deflector seem like default options you wouldn't NOT tick...

Dave

[Jimbeaux]

Mr Whippy said:

Ah, over here the 3.0's came with a fair bit of standard kit... all were sports and essentially SE's...

I dunno really, some sensible expensive options, that I'm glad I don't have, like pro sat nav and SMG (liabilities really, or distractions), while dimming mirrors and wind deflector seem like default options you wouldn't NOT tick...

Dave

I know it is divisive, but I really love my SMG. Granted, it takes a week or so to appreciate it; therefore, those who gave it a simple test drive will walk away disappointed.