What have you done to your BMW today?

[d_a_n1979]

Started to clean it to my standards


https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[g3org3y]

Swore at the 630i as it chose this morning for that airbag warning light to come back on.

[Ian Geary]

Been trying to diagnose a strange rattle /squeaking sound, at about 1500-2000 revs or coming off the accelerator

https://youtube.com/shorts/3TnlB3UK_4w?feature=sha...

(Separate thread in the technical section though)

[g3org3y]

Took the Z4 for the first drive in ages (maybe since its MOT in actual fact).



For me it's a 7/10s car, push harder than that and it gets grumpy. Might spend the £££ and ditch the RFTs, apparently makes a big difference.

[Mr Tidy]

g3org3y said:

Took the Z4 for the first drive in ages (maybe since its MOT in actual fact).

For me it's a 7/10s car, push harder than that and it gets grumpy. Might spend the £££ and ditch the RFTs, apparently makes a big difference.

I always thought my 3.0Si was at least an 8 tenths car - but many owners reckon ditching the run-flats, fitting an Eibach B12 suspension set-up and getting Birds to fit a Quaife LSD transform it.

I didn't do any of that, I just replaced it with an MC so HPAS instead of EPAS, "normal" tyres, H & R coil-overs already fitted, LSD as standard and a wondrous S54 engine. At 11 tenths now!

Anyway I took it to a Z4 meet at the Ace Cafe today to meet some of its relatives.

[JakeT]

g3org3y said:

For me it's a 7/10s car, push harder than that and it gets grumpy. Might spend the £££ and ditch the RFTs, apparently makes a big difference.

I'd stick normal tyres on it and that should do it. The two Z4s I tested had the ZF6 auto in them, and I really thought it suited the car, too. Made for a lovely relaxed cruiser that could get a good shift on when needed.

[Court_S]

Cleaned both cars and nicked her car for a wee drive to grab some bits for an impromptu BBQ. Probably one of the last days to actually enjoy it with the roof down…

[g3org3y]

Mr Tidy said:

g3org3y said:

Took the Z4 for the first drive in ages (maybe since its MOT in actual fact).

For me it's a 7/10s car, push harder than that and it gets grumpy. Might spend the £££ and ditch the RFTs, apparently makes a big difference.

I always thought my 3.0Si was at least an 8 tenths car - but many owners reckon ditching the run-flats, fitting an Eibach B12 suspension set-up and getting Birds to fit a Quaife LSD transform it.

I didn't do any of that, I just replaced it with an MC so HPAS instead of EPAS, "normal" tyres, H & R coil-overs already fitted, LSD as standard and a wondrous S54 engine. At 11 tenths now!

I'm not so keen to do any suspension changes but from what I've read it does seem the tyres make a big difference (and these are the especially rubbish Bridgestone RE050A RFTs).

I think the other gripe is the steering, with the EPAS, yes it seems precise but it really lacks any feel. Again, fine at 7/10 but once pushing on you really need the car to give you feedback. It's no surprise they went for HPAS on the M.

JakeT said:

g3org3y said:

For me it's a 7/10s car, push harder than that and it gets grumpy. Might spend the £££ and ditch the RFTs, apparently makes a big difference.

I'd stick normal tyres on it and that should do it. The two Z4s I tested had the ZF6 auto in them, and I really thought it suited the car, too. Made for a lovely relaxed cruiser that could get a good shift on when needed.

I think I would have enjoyed an auto yesterday. It's the first time in AGES I've driven a manual, there were a few nice H&T and rev matched shifts though. If I felt more confident in the car, I'd enjoy it more. It just seems so unsettled, even on a straight, with a few bumps/dodgy camber to the extent that I wasn't enjoying WOT.

I'll think about getting some PS4s on there at some point, not a priority though.

I actually took the 630i out afterwards (airbag light seems sorted again) just to listen to an album through the Pro HiFi and actually enjoyed that drive more than in the Z4.

[JakeT]

g3org3y said:

I think I would have enjoyed an auto yesterday. It's the first time in AGES I've driven a manual, there were a few nice H&T and rev matched shifts though. If I felt more confident in the car, I'd enjoy it more. It just seems so unsettled, even on a straight, with a few bumps/dodgy camber to the extent that I wasn't enjoying WOT.

I'll think about getting some PS4s on there at some point, not a priority though.

I actually took the 630i out afterwards (airbag light seems sorted again) just to listen to an album through the Pro HiFi and actually enjoyed that drive more than in the Z4.

Makes sense. I think roof down cruising is what these do best. Hear the exhaust more and less involved anyway due to the lack of rigidity.

Stick some PS4s on it and see how you go. The ones I’ve driven were all on normal tyres and felt like an E46 should.

[d_a_n1979]

New headlight washer pump ordered, should be with me Tuesday. Washer bottle removed today and cleaned out, both filters were clogged, so windscreen washers work perfectly now, but headlight washer pump is dead...

Winter alloys ordered via eBay; got a set of Style 234s for £200 and have ordered Nexen Winguard 2 tyres from MyTyres

New front Kumho PS91 tyres ordered too; will have them fitted next week and will run them and the nearly shot rears until I fit the winters, and then the 20" Style 253s will get refurbed over winter, unless I decide to go with some 19s instead (better tyre choices and a more compliant ride) etc

[Ian Geary]

Today I did two things

1) diagnose (hopefully) the clicking sound, which is I think an exhaust gasket not being held tightly by the clamp

https://youtube.com/shorts/q9MZxt6iW18?feature=sha...

2) I prepared my entry for the "cleanest reinforcement plate" competition




(And if you think that side is shiny, you should see the other side!

[cerb4.5lee]

g3org3y said:

Mr Tidy said:

g3org3y said:

Took the Z4 for the first drive in ages (maybe since its MOT in actual fact).

For me it's a 7/10s car, push harder than that and it gets grumpy. Might spend the £££ and ditch the RFTs, apparently makes a big difference.

I always thought my 3.0Si was at least an 8 tenths car - but many owners reckon ditching the run-flats, fitting an Eibach B12 suspension set-up and getting Birds to fit a Quaife LSD transform it.

I didn't do any of that, I just replaced it with an MC so HPAS instead of EPAS, "normal" tyres, H & R coil-overs already fitted, LSD as standard and a wondrous S54 engine. At 11 tenths now!

I'm not so keen to do any suspension changes but from what I've read it does seem the tyres make a big difference (and these are the especially rubbish Bridgestone RE050A RFTs).

I think the other gripe is the steering, with the EPAS, yes it seems precise but it really lacks any feel. Again, fine at 7/10 but once pushing on you really need the car to give you feedback. It's no surprise they went for HPAS on the M.

JakeT said:

g3org3y said:

For me it's a 7/10s car, push harder than that and it gets grumpy. Might spend the £££ and ditch the RFTs, apparently makes a big difference.

I'd stick normal tyres on it and that should do it. The two Z4s I tested had the ZF6 auto in them, and I really thought it suited the car, too. Made for a lovely relaxed cruiser that could get a good shift on when needed.

I think I would have enjoyed an auto yesterday. It's the first time in AGES I've driven a manual, there were a few nice H&T and rev matched shifts though. If I felt more confident in the car, I'd enjoy it more. It just seems so unsettled, even on a straight, with a few bumps/dodgy camber to the extent that I wasn't enjoying WOT.

I'll think about getting some PS4s on there at some point, not a priority though.

I actually took the 630i out afterwards (airbag light seems sorted again) just to listen to an album through the Pro HiFi and actually enjoyed that drive more than in the Z4.

I found that even in the Z4M Roadster(I believe the Z4M Coupe is much better from what I read though) without runflats and HPAS it is still very marmite to drive. Mine was very unsettled on uneven roads and over cambers/bumps. I really struggled to get on with it, and that upset me a fair bit, because on paper it had most of the ingredients that I really like in a car to be fair.

[Mr Tidy]

Interesting observations from fellow serial BMW owners Lee and G3org3y - I think I need to stay away from 6 Series!

Although I took my E90 330i to Duxford today (using M3,M25,A1(M) and A505) and on a route like that I'll admit my MC wouldn't have been noticeably better.

It only comes alive on more interesting roads.

[g3org3y]

cerb4.5lee said:

I found that even in the Z4M Roadster(I believe the Z4M Coupe is much better from what I read though) without runflats and HPAS it is still very marmite to drive. Mine was very unsettled on uneven roads and over cambers/bumps. I really struggled to get on with it, and that upset me a fair bit, because on paper it had most of the ingredients that I really like in a car to be fair.

Yep, just seems unsettled and does not inspire confidence which is not ideal given the nature of the car.

Mr Tidy said:

Interesting observations from fellow serial BMW owners Lee and G3org3y - I think I need to stay away from 6 Series!

Although I took my E90 330i to Duxford today (using M3,M25,A1(M) and A505) and on a route like that I'll admit my MC wouldn't have been noticeably better.

It only comes alive on more interesting roads.

The 6 Series is very nice. I think of all the BMWs I have at the mo, it's the one I enjoy the most. V smooth and the fantastic stereo. (Just that airtbag light niggle which hopefully is sorted again now).

[Court_S]

g3org3y said:

The 6 Series is very nice. I think of all the BMWs I have at the mo, it's the one I enjoy the most. V smooth and the fantastic stereo. (Just that airtbag light niggle which hopefully is sorted again now).

The interior of the 6 still holds up too in my opinion. The one I test drove was a bloody lovely place to sit and felt really well made etc. I’d definitely have one if I were doing more work miles and sitting on the motorway.

A passing car flicked up a stone at lunchtime today resulting in a nice big chip in my windscreen



Need to get that sorted at some point.

[g3org3y]

^^^

VERY annoying!

[Court_S]

g3org3y said:

^^^

VERY annoying!

Yup, even more so because the car has original BMW glass still after 14 years.

I’ve bought a home repair kit which I’ll try first. If that doesn’t work, I’ll contact the insurance company.

[JakeT]

g3org3y said:

The 6 Series is very nice. I think of all the BMWs I have at the mo, it's the one I enjoy the most. V smooth and the fantastic stereo. (Just that airtbag light niggle which hopefully is sorted again now).

Agreed. I did a big drive in one with the N53, and the fuel economy and ride (even on run flats) was very acceptable. Some bills are big though, the one I drove needed a lot of suspension bits, after sorting all of the N53 foibles.

[Court_S]

JakeT said:

Agreed. I did a big drive in one with the N53, and the fuel economy and ride (even on run flats) was very acceptable. Some bills are big though, the one I drove needed a lot of suspension bits, after sorting all of the N53 foibles.

That why I decided against the 630 that I looked at locally. No evidence of the usual N53 foibles ever having been tackled. It was lovely though.

[g3org3y]

Court_S said:

g3org3y said:

^^^

VERY annoying!

Yup, even more so because the car has original BMW glass still after 14 years.

I’ve bought a home repair kit which I’ll try first. If that doesn’t work, I’ll contact the insurance company.

Fingers crossed dude.

My nightmare is windscreen replacement and the associated horror stories where it's never factory perfect.