165k mile BMW Z4 2.5 - 3 Careful PH Owners

[lemansky]

0a said:

This sums up our relative levels of talent and dedication.

Definitely dedication over talent at this end. The headlight job above, for instance - I just knew that I would balls-up the fitting of the rear covers you bought, unless the headlight units were off the car.

0a said:

Your swap LS430 did super service today, nailing the 300 miles north in super comfort and without complaint. The sports suspension makes it Merc like at 90+. I nipped onto the dual section of the A1 just as they were putting the closure cones out. It’s actually rather fast beyond 100. And beyond that.

Journeys like that are a real pleasure even if the LS doesn't quite pull on the heartstrings in the same way an old Mercedes does. Having Sport and Power buttons switched on really transforms the car, as you've discovered!
The beauty of those clunky switches is that they can be 'on' permanently (and you could even pretend you're in a BMW, with all the lights on the dash).

Great to see you bonding with the LS, I do miss the old girl.

0a said:

I have your passenger seat back by the way!

I had to read that quite a few times until I got it. (Eh?? Did he send my passenger seat off somewhere?)


No rush - with the seat being pushed all the way back, it's out of sight and I'd forgotten all about it.
Plus, I'm keeping half an eye out out for some E46 M-sport seats (black leather, heated, manual adjust) to upgrade to.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

lemansky said:

bolidemichael said:

Why no photos of the Aga?

Because there’s no romance, nostalgia or meaningful racing pedigree with an oil burner.

Deserves recognition, nice one!

[CharlesdeGaulle]

0a said:

Dare I say I am warming to it a lot more!

I know it's the wrong thread, but as lemansky will testify, they have a habit of doing that. I really miss mine. I know that's a bit sad, but it's true.

[Mr Tidy]

lemansky said:

No rush - with the seat being pushed all the way back, it's out of sight and I'd forgotten all about it.
Plus, I'm keeping half an eye out out for some E46 M-sport seats (black leather, heated, manual adjust) to upgrade to.

I wouldn't rule out electric memory seats as early Z4s (pre 2004) were pre-wired for all the options like heated electric memory seats, Cruise control, etc.

[lemansky]

Mr Tidy said:

I wouldn't rule out electric memory seats as early Z4s (pre 2004) were pre-wired for all the options like heated electric memory seats, Cruise control, etc.

I thought I'd seen that somewhere before, but thanks for the heads up, Mr T

The way I'd want my seat - as far back and as low as possible - means that all the electric adjustment motors would just mean a bunch of extra weight for no real reason. I'd prefer manual adjust seats but won't totally discount electric ones, were the right pair to come along.

[Sticks.]

lemansky said:

Mr Tidy said:

I wouldn't rule out electric memory seats as early Z4s (pre 2004) were pre-wired for all the options like heated electric memory seats, Cruise control, etc.

I thought I'd seen that somewhere before, but thanks for the heads up, Mr T

The way I'd want my seat - as far back and as low as possible - means that all the electric adjustment motors would just mean a bunch of extra weight for no real reason. I'd prefer manual adjust seats but won't totally discount electric ones, were the right pair to come along.

I've not checked this but I remember reading years ago that the electric seats sat higher than the manual to make room for the motor etc. I wouldn't mind if they were lower. Wiring pre facelift probably, 06.

I'd prefer M Sport seats but they were rare on the early cars. I think mine would benefit from new foam so I was considering whether a small improvement might be had with firmer sides.

[lemansky]

Sticks. said:

I've not checked this but I remember reading years ago that the electric seats sat higher than the manual to make room for the motor etc. I wouldn't mind if they were lower. Wiring pre facelift probably, 06.

Yes, I've seen that too and it's another reason I'd prefer manual adjust.

E46 M3 convertible seats look the biz but the seat backs appear to be 'thicker' and I really don't want to be sitting any further forward than I do currently.

Sticks. said:

I'd prefer M Sport seats.

Yes, please! I'd love some of these, but ...... HOW MUCH??!!

[Sticks.]

lemansky said:

E46 M3 convertible seats look the biz but the seat backs appear to be 'thicker' and I really don't want to be sitting any further forward than I do currently.

Sticks. said:

I'd prefer M Sport seats.

Yes, please! I'd love some of these, but ...... HOW MUCH??!!

Agree about close enough. Yes, and mine are beige so not a chance at any price. Hence thinking a decent trimmer might do something so you sit in them more rather than on them. Or a DIY project for you?

[lemansky]

No chance, ha!
I'd end up sitting on a beanbag or worse.

I recently sourced a rear wing off a guy down in Blackburn who had around 6-8 Z4s in that he was breaking. One of them was a dark Oxford-y blue colour with a light M-sport interior that he was keen to flog to me, when I mentioned upgrading my seats.

Couldn't tell you exactly which colour, I just know it was too light for my grey car so I didn't look too closely and politely declined.
This was only a month ago, they may still be available?

[Sticks.]

Thanks for that. Some manual ones @ Silverstone for £700 on eBay. I'll have a look on the forum.

Years ago I asked when I was at the dealer how much they were (a pair)........ £5k

[Mr Tidy]

lemansky said:

I thought I'd seen that somewhere before, but thanks for the heads up, Mr T

The way I'd want my seat - as far back and as low as possible - means that all the electric adjustment motors would just mean a bunch of extra weight for no real reason. I'd prefer manual adjust seats but won't totally discount electric ones, were the right pair to come along.

Pre-wiring didn't last long going by this thread. https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1872682...

But I believe the bases from electric/non-electric are interchangeable.

M-Sport seats aren't cheap but are just so much better!

[lemansky]

A few weeks of nothing to report. The little Z did very well with all the Christmas food shopping with which I am annually lemoned.
The boot size really isn't that bad. You can hear the clanking of bottles quite clearly, though, but that just encourages a faster drive home.

A good 340 miles at decent speed today blew out a few cobwebs, including some of my own - I'm well out of the habit of motorway driving.
Here's a question - is it just my imagination or is it infinitely easier and less stressful to just overtake everybody all day long? Certainly is for me.

I'm getting to understand through trial and error that the driving behaviour of these cars is massively swayed by tyre choices and tyre pressures. Not surprising - it is a diddy thing with pretty large tyre sections for its size (225 fronts, 255 rears). I think I overdid it setting the pressures on the fronts before I set off, due to some extra weight of loads of heavy presents and thoughtful things luggage and booze and it felt a bit twitchy on bumpy bits.
It's all part of the fun.

I had the unbridled joy of following a Lexus LC500 convertible for a while today, just on my favourite bit of M6 motorway (that bit where the landscape and views change dramatically, south of Tebay, and the carriageways North/South run at different heights). It was that amazing Candy Apple red colour and was just gorgeous. Okay, the scenery wins every time but what a car!

I wanted to follow it all day but they were going a bit slower than I wanted to go and I was getting high on the smell of all the screenwash I was using. It almost felt dirty, overtaking such a beautiful thing; sorry if that was you today

Visiting my dear Mum for a few days but still have a few days free until work commences, so watch this space. I've got a new (not new, but correct colour) rear OSR wing to fit and am hoping to address the annoying oil drip* by getting the spanners out and replacing the oil filter housing gasket, recently procured.


* Not that annoying. The Smoker Barge Threadistes eschew the virtues of a gravel drive and when it comes to the odd oil drip? They have a point. You can just give the stones a kick and forget that your car is slightly incontinent.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

Good to hear you're still enjoying it. Your post reminds me of how much I want an LC500 though.

[bolidemichael]

It reminds me of how much I enjoy racing that part of the M6 when headed to Glasgow.

[lemansky]

bolidemichael said:

It reminds me of how much I enjoy racing that part of the M6 when headed to Glasgow.

It's a great bit of road, isn't it? I always have a flashback there of an occasion when I had to pass a couple of dozen very, very scary-looking Hell's Angels who were all riding together in the middle lane of a pretty empty motorway. I was in a TVR Griffith with the roof off.

I was hardly going to gesture at them for hogging (groan) the middle lane, was I? Over the years, I'd heard tales of such gangs taking exception to being overtaken as well. I don't know how true those tales were but I spent a bloody long time inching my way past while trying to look as nonchalant yet respectful as possible, all the while absolutely stting myself. I swear some of them sped up to hold pace with me, just to drag the whole episode out.

CharlesdeGaulle said:

Your post reminds me of how much I want an LC500 though.

I think you really ought to give in to the voices in your head.
(Not those ones. The ones telling you to Re-Lex yourself).

Let us know when delivery is due

[bolidemichael]

lemansky said:

bolidemichael said:

It reminds me of how much I enjoy racing that part of the M6 when headed to Glasgow.

It's a great bit of road, isn't it? I always have a flashback there of an occasion when I had to pass a couple of dozen very, very scary-looking Hell's Angels who were all riding together in the middle lane of a pretty empty motorway. I was in a TVR Griffith with the roof off.

I was hardly going to gesture at them for hogging (groan) the middle lane, was I? Over the years, I'd heard tales of such gangs taking exception to being overtaken as well. I don't know how true those tales were but I spent a bloody long time inching my way past while trying to look as nonchalant yet respectful as possible, all the while absolutely stting myself. I swear some of them sped up to hold pace with me, just to drag the whole episode out.

You're smart. I would've undertaken them to make a point then put my foot down for the excitement of getting away without getting my head kicked in.

[Court_S]

lemansky said:

Sticks. said:

I've not checked this but I remember reading years ago that the electric seats sat higher than the manual to make room for the motor etc. I wouldn't mind if they were lower. Wiring pre facelift probably, 06.

Yes, I've seen that too and it's another reason I'd prefer manual adjust.

E46 M3 convertible seats look the biz but the seat backs appear to be 'thicker' and I really don't want to be sitting any further forward than I do currently.

Sticks. said:

I'd prefer M Sport seats.

Yes, please! I'd love some of these, but ...... HOW MUCH??!!

Electric sears definitely sit higher; the electric seats in my 130 are much higher than the manual jobbies in my other half’s 125i. None folding seats are lower still.

Good to hear it’s treating you well. I had a fairly spirited drive back from the Cotswolds today which ended with my other half moaning about feeling car sick (it really wasn’t that quick).

Edited by Court_S on Tuesday 28th December 20:29

[lemansky]

bolidemichael said:

You're smart. I would've undertaken them to make a point then put my foot down for the excitement of getting away without getting my head kicked in.

I used to be brave, haha; kudos for your spirit, BM.

I’m reasonably confident you would have been caught with ease in that scenario, violence and unpleasantness swiftly to follow.

[bolidemichael]

lemansky said:

bolidemichael said:

You're smart. I would've undertaken them to make a point then put my foot down for the excitement of getting away without getting my head kicked in.

I used to be brave, haha; kudos for your spirit, BM.

I’m reasonably confident you would have been caught with ease in that scenario, violence and unpleasantness swiftly to follow.

Not in my imagination. The young (not Epstein-young obvs) Swedish twins double stacked in the front seat would flash their tits as we pass and appease them.

[lemansky]

Court_S said:

I had a fairly spirited drive back from the Cotswolds today which ended with my other half moaning about feeling car sick (it really wasn’t that quick).

That’s a wee shame, my OH can be the same way. Doesn’t get travel sick per se, but too much fast cornering and she’s foaming at the gills.