RE: BMW Z4 3.0si: PH Carpool
Discussion
paulyv said:
A good point to raise as the roof on the coupe is in no way load bearing from what I understand, so there should not be a huge difference in rigidity between the two. I believe removing the roof on a coupe is not that difficult a task (relatively speaking) as some have been swapped for carbon panels.
Are you sure removing the roof is not that difficult - do you have a good angle grinder? 
I think the "carbon" ones you have seen are probably wrapped!
And as someone else said, there is "allegedly" a huge difference in rigidity between the Roadster and the Coupe - which may go some way to explaining the price differential.
But if you fancy a floppy convertible that's fine!
Mr Tidy said:
Are you sure removing the roof is not that difficult - do you have a good angle grinder?
I think the "carbon" ones you have seen are probably wrapped!
And as someone else said, there is "allegedly" a huge difference in rigidity between the Roadster and the Coupe - which may go some way to explaining the price differential.
But if you fancy a floppy convertible that's fine!
To be fair, removing the roof on a Coupe is not that difficult, Andysixspeed and a few others have changed out for carbon versions (Think the new carbon panel is around the £800 mark)I think the "carbon" ones you have seen are probably wrapped!
And as someone else said, there is "allegedly" a huge difference in rigidity between the Roadster and the Coupe - which may go some way to explaining the price differential.
But if you fancy a floppy convertible that's fine!
From what I have heard, it's a case of removing the headlining, undoing 4 bolts and pushing the roof out. Obviously there is silicone sealant that'll need to be cleaned off and replaced once you re-fit it.
jabbawookie92 said:
To be fair, removing the roof on a Coupe is not that difficult, Andysixspeed and a few others have changed out for carbon versions (Think the new carbon panel is around the £800 mark)
From what I have heard, it's a case of removing the headlining, undoing 4 bolts and pushing the roof out. Obviously there is silicone sealant that'll need to be cleaned off and replaced once you re-fit it.
I think you and "paulyv" may be thinking of the removal of the optional hardtop that was available for the Roadster! From what I have heard, it's a case of removing the headlining, undoing 4 bolts and pushing the roof out. Obviously there is silicone sealant that'll need to be cleaned off and replaced once you re-fit it.
The Coupe was different enough to get given a different model number by BMW - Roadsters are E85, Coupes are E86!
You'd need to undo at least 4 bolts to get the tailgate off a Coupe before you started drilling out welds and removing the side windows at the rear, the different bootlid, the screen pillar that continues over the door, the headlining and goodness knows what else !
This is an E86 Z4 Coupe:-
Mr Tidy said:
I think you and "paulyv" may be thinking of the removal of the optional hardtop that was available for the Roadster!
The Coupe was different enough to get given a different model number by BMW - Roadsters are E85, Coupes are E86!
You'd need to undo at least 4 bolts to get the tailgate off a Coupe before you started drilling out welds and removing the side windows at the rear, the different bootlid, the screen pillar that continues over the door, the headlining and goodness knows what else !
This is an E86 Z4 Coupe:-
I'll find the article and counter...The Coupe was different enough to get given a different model number by BMW - Roadsters are E85, Coupes are E86!
You'd need to undo at least 4 bolts to get the tailgate off a Coupe before you started drilling out welds and removing the side windows at the rear, the different bootlid, the screen pillar that continues over the door, the headlining and goodness knows what else !
This is an E86 Z4 Coupe:-
However I know what a Coupe is.. it's mine in the Carpool article
Mr Tidy said:
Are you sure removing the roof is not that difficult - do you have a good angle grinder?
I think the "carbon" ones you have seen are probably wrapped!
And as someone else said, there is "allegedly" a huge difference in rigidity between the Roadster and the Coupe - which may go some way to explaining the price differential.
But if you fancy a floppy convertible that's fine!
Easily fixed with strut braces etc. My Z3 roadster is as stiff as a car with a roof. I think the "carbon" ones you have seen are probably wrapped!
And as someone else said, there is "allegedly" a huge difference in rigidity between the Roadster and the Coupe - which may go some way to explaining the price differential.
But if you fancy a floppy convertible that's fine!
Mr Tidy said:
Aes87 said:
Awesome cars! Stretch to the M if you can - definitely worth the extra cash
I'm not sure - M Coupes are about twice the price of 3 litre Coupes. I'm not sure they are twice the car.
Definitely not twice the car!
The M might pull a little on track but on the road, not enough to be convincing, particularly with fresh/uprated suspension on the 3.0 and a decent alignment.
vsonix said:
Easily fixed with strut braces etc. My Z3 roadster is as stiff as a car with a roof.
I'm not entirely sure it will be - a full cage may do the trick though! According to this the Z4 Coupe has twice the stiffness of the Roadster:-
https://zroadster.org/threads/torsional-stiffness-...
Mr Tidy said:
Aes87 said:
Awesome cars! Stretch to the M if you can - definitely worth the extra cash
I'm not sure - M Coupes are about twice the price of 3 litre Coupes. I'm not sure they are twice the car.If you keep it in the garage for a few years you'll likely get your money back and more - if you put miles on it it's an expensive way into owning a z4 as the depreciation will be horrendous compared to the 3.0 as to retain the value in them the miles need to stay off.
paulyv said:
A very accurate write up on a lovely car. Saw my first one at Donington 4 years ago and added it to my list. Eventually I had one for almost 36 months and sold it this year to someone who seemed just as enthusiastic about these cars as I was and I barely lost any money. A terrific engine in a good-looking package. Minus points are the rattles - mine had them too, usually from the air vents. I considered firmer bushes but discounted them for that very reason.
A couple of track days at Silverstone, one with driver instruction, made it clear the abilities of the car were way beyond mine. The only reason it went was it was not getting driven enough as I moved to central London. I miss its amazing frugality when driven with a light right foot. I have progressed to a 1979 450SLC so those days are long behind me!
This year I was in the United States and by pure chance drove right past the plant at Spartanburg, South Carolina where all of these Z4's were made. A huge facility and had I planned ahead I would have seen if they had a visitor centre and had a word with the air vent guy or gal, or robot.
I've still got it Paul and still loving it....great cars and that engine really does sound special when going past the 4K mark. The vent that creaked on the passenger side had a bit of wd40 sprayed on it and it hasn't made a squeak in 4 weeks, same with the drivers seat creaking but all quiet now thank god! A couple of track days at Silverstone, one with driver instruction, made it clear the abilities of the car were way beyond mine. The only reason it went was it was not getting driven enough as I moved to central London. I miss its amazing frugality when driven with a light right foot. I have progressed to a 1979 450SLC so those days are long behind me!
This year I was in the United States and by pure chance drove right past the plant at Spartanburg, South Carolina where all of these Z4's were made. A huge facility and had I planned ahead I would have seen if they had a visitor centre and had a word with the air vent guy or gal, or robot.
htid said:
Does anyone actually know the correct tyre pressures for the 3.0si coupe when you are running Non run flats. Seems to be a fair few different opinions or what have owners found work best?
I'm about to find out - the general consensus seems to be to use Z4M pressures as they come with non-RFTs. Try a search on a dedicated forum, like z4forum, zroadster.org, etc.
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