3.0 Z4 coupe as an occasional weekend car.

[gooner1]

Hopefully viewing and buying the above in the next couple of days.
I am currently renting a garage with no electrics and,due to the nature of my work , may possibly not
get to drive it every weekend. Will I encounter any problems if I disconnect the battery, to put on trickle charge at
home in between using the car?
Solar charger is not an option btw, and car could be standing for possibly 3 weeks at a time between use.
Coupe is a 2007 reg, if that makes any difference. In particular my main worries are the ECU and other assorted
electrical controls.

[Baked_bean]

I currently have a Z4 Coupe as an occasional use car and it is absolutely fine, I have really enjoyed my time with mine.
Mine is in the classifieds btw and I live local to you.....

Apparently there a few glitches if the battery runs low but unless you have a weak battery I wouldn't worry about it, it is a modern car in the grand scheme of things so shouldn't throw up too many niggles.

[mon the fish]

We've got a 3.0si roadster we use as an occasional car, and 3 weeks between use is fine.

Be wary though if the battery does go flat - the car goes into 'transit' mode, which can only be reset by a dealer. Means the heated rear window, aircon and blower don't work. 30 mins labour to fix.

Think ours was standing for over a month when the battery went flat

[Mr Tidy]

They are great as a weekend/special occasions sort of car - I'm on my 2nd now!

I have left both of mine outdoors for 2 weeks or more without any issues to date - should be fine so long as it has a good battery to begin with.

Might be worth you joining Z4Forum - really helpful for questions like this!

[Vroomer]

The Z4 3.0si Coupe is a great car and an appreciating asset.

You shouldn't need a trickle-charger as long as you don't leave it for more than three weeks.

[gooner1]

Many thanks for all the replies, Viewing tomorrow and if and when I buy will post my thoughts after a week or so's use.
Baked Bean, had a quick shufti through classifieds, couldn't seem to find your car.
Mr Tidy, think we may have this conservation before, Already a member of Z4 forum, but since changing from Virgin to Sky
I keep getting "acces restricted" when trying to open it's site.

This will be my most modern car by a long way, how easy/difficult are they re home mechanics?
Have kept 2 E30's on the road for the best part of 10 years, 1992 316i touring and a 1986 325i cab, carrying out all servicing and mechanical problems, so I'm fairly competent, but realise the Z4 may well be a very different case.
Thanks again.

[Mr Tidy]

Hi OP - I hope the viewing goes well!

Sorry for any repetition, and I hope you can get your access sorted (that's the sort of thing that puts me off changing broadband provider)!

I only have a parking space so cannot get too involved with my Z4's grubby bits, but from what I have read on the forum they are pretty analogue - probably why I like them so much!

The N52 engine in the Coupes does have one foible - the water pump is electric and an OEM one costs about £500 before fitting, so if you see one that has already had a new pump that is probably a bonus! (Pump on my first Coupe died at 60K miles and 9 years).

[mon the fish]

No dipstick either - you need to use the OBC to check the oil level.

In terms of the water pump dying - is there any symptoms to be wary of? With the 'damped' water temp gauge, I don't trust it and don't want a blown HG!

[gooner1]

mon the fish said:

No dipstick either - you need to use the OBC to check the oil level.

In terms of the water pump dying - is there any symptoms to be wary of? With the 'damped' water temp gauge, I don't trust it and don't want a blown HG!

Amon, apparently there is a test for the electric water pumps.

Quote:
...his E60 530... overheating... Temperature gauge stays at 6(middle), and slowly goes down toward 7(red zone) as fan goes nuts.
What temperature gauge? As I understand it, the E60 wasn't ever equipped with a coolant temperature gauge, and my '06 E61 doesn't have one. There's a speedo and fuel gauge on the left side of the instrument panel, and a tach and MPG gauge on the right.

I

The N52 engine does indeed have an electric water pump. You can check its basic operation by using a part of the coolant bleeding procedure:
1) Without depressing the clutch (manual trans) or the brake pedal (auto trans), turn the ignition ON. This will keep the engine from starting.
2) Press the accelerator pedal to the floor for ~10 seconds or so. The water pump should start (it's audible), and then run through its automatic 12-minute bleed cycle.
As you mentioned, the thermostat might be stuck closed. Or, the coolant might be very low (check cold), or the radiator could be clogged.

Or...

HTH,
Copied from Bimmerfest.
As for symptoms leading to failure, all I can find atm is a lack of power.

Might be worth a read through this.
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=...

[hilly10]

If the red engine light comes on and the temp gauge goes off the scale. Stop immediately My Roadster as done 59k and is 8 years old so I might get mine done in the Spring. There is a firm in Wolverhampton supply OEM water pump and Thermostat for £300, a BMW tech can fit it in 1hr

Edited by hilly10 on Monday 28th November 19:34

[Mr Tidy]

When my water pump died I had driven 30 or so miles towards home, stopped for petrol and got about 2 miles after filling up when the temperature gauge (E86 Z4 does have one) shot towards the red zone and the red light inset in the gauge came on!

Seeing as I was on an unlit dual carriageway at about 10pm in December I didn't fancy stopping, so did the old-fashioned windows open and heater full on and made it a few miles to home (EML did not illuminate, but it did go into a limp mode). Temp. gauge stayed just below the start of the red sector.

Had pump and thermostat changed and no ill effects after that - my local BM specialist (Ex- Sytner) who fixed it said he couldn't recall ever having to change a head gasket on an N52 engine. (Hopefully not famous last words)!

I don't think it is a disaster, but could be a right PITA if you have no other transport and can't get it booked in for a while - plus it isn't cheap!

Despite all that, I still bought another E86! For me the potential problems are far outweighed by the fun factor!

[mon the fish]

Thanks guys. Ours is an 06 on 42k, so mileage-wise the pump hasn't had a hard life but it is 10 years old

[rassi]

I bought one recently as an "analogue" weekend car. The price gap between a Z4 Coupe and an Z4 M Coupe is sadly enormous (the latter selling for 40.000 euro in Belgium), so I make do with the Z4, but even then the N52 is a great engine, torquey, linear, and makes a very nice sound.

The Z4 is a very simple car, which in standard form is very entertaining. I made a few choice mods, with a Bilstein B12 kit and Z4M wheels and non-RFT, which make a noticeable change in ride and handling.

I think the Z4 M Coupe and related the Z4 Coupe has potential for appreciation, so get one and enjoy it.

[bad company]

The electronics may be different but I leave my 2014 335d and previously 640d in my garage for 5-6 weeks with no problems. When you go back to the car it tells you that it has shut down some non essential stuff (think reverse camera and heated seats etc,) until the battery recovers. The car always starts OK though and just needs a good run.

[Sticks.]

If it's like the pre facelift cars, if the battery does get low one of the first things is that the remote central locking will misbehave (although this can also be the G5 module).

I don't recall any issues when changing the battery.

[Vroomer]

There is just one Z4M on the AUC site at the moment and that is a 2007 example with 37k miles priced at £26k.