Cheap BMW Z4 3.0

[SiT]

Auto Glym hood renovator kit is great and comes with abrasive sponge, hoover the roof off first (random I know!) then wet it and spray on the cleaner, agitate with the sponge and rinse off. Then spray on the waterproofer and leave to dry - it transformed my VX220 canvas roof and left enough to do it again 12 months later.

Great little car for the money.

Si

[Jakg]

How is it 2 weeks in?

[M1C]

I really, really want a Z4. I've driven a 3.0 on big wheels and a 2.5 on little teensy wheels. The 3.0 looked (and went) better of course...but i thought the 2.5 was still a lovely unit, plenty quick enough and the ride much more acceptable.

I used to have a 2002 320i with the 2.2 engine and it left me feeling 'meh' so i wonder if the 2.2 is better in the Z4 as it should be lighter?

But yeah. Always liked the Z4. I've driven a 3.0 Z3 too and to be honest i thought it was tremendous! I like the look of the Z4 more, though.

[greggy50]

Jakg said:

How is it 2 weeks in?

Done 1,000 miles and it’s great so far. It’s fun to drive and now I have taken the foam out the sound generator nearest the cabin the noise is fantastic inside the car.

I am going to get the tracking done as it’s not quite prefect but it drives really nicely and makes a change from my diesel daily.

One issue is a slight driveline clunk when setting off or doing 1st to 2nd gearchange. The clutch and gearbox seem sweet so I assume it could be bushes/driveshaft or diff related? If you are smooth it is not really an issue and it may be more my driving behind honest...

[Jez m]

Looks good! Just sold my 3.0L last week. Was a great car.

Roof: I tried all the black dye products. By far the best was this one. Easy to apply with the sponge and lasted longer than the other brands.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Forever-Black-Black-Top-V...

[e30m3Mark]

greggy50 said:

Jakg said:

How is it 2 weeks in?

Done 1,000 miles and it’s great so far. It’s fun to drive and now I have taken the foam out the sound generator nearest the cabin the noise is fantastic inside the car.

I am going to get the tracking done as it’s not quite prefect but it drives really nicely and makes a change from my diesel daily.

One issue is a slight driveline clunk when setting off or doing 1st to 2nd gearchange. The clutch and gearbox seem sweet so I assume it could be bushes/driveshaft or diff related? If you are smooth it is not really an issue and it may be more my driving behind honest...

Might be a rubber props haft donut that needs replacing? Certainly there on older BMW and sound as described when failing.

[greggy50]

e30m3Mark said:

greggy50 said:

Jakg said:

How is it 2 weeks in?

Done 1,000 miles and it’s great so far. It’s fun to drive and now I have taken the foam out the sound generator nearest the cabin the noise is fantastic inside the car.

I am going to get the tracking done as it’s not quite prefect but it drives really nicely and makes a change from my diesel daily.

One issue is a slight driveline clunk when setting off or doing 1st to 2nd gearchange. The clutch and gearbox seem sweet so I assume it could be bushes/driveshaft or diff related? If you are smooth it is not really an issue and it may be more my driving behind honest...

Might be a rubber props haft donut that needs replacing? Certainly there on older BMW and sound as described when failing.

Is this known as he flex disk? Had a google and sounds a common problem it appears to be the part below:

https://m.ebay.com/itm/For-BMW-3Series-Z4-E46-Driv...

[e30m3Mark]

greggy50 said:

e30m3Mark said:

greggy50 said:

Jakg said:

How is it 2 weeks in?

Done 1,000 miles and it’s great so far. It’s fun to drive and now I have taken the foam out the sound generator nearest the cabin the noise is fantastic inside the car.

I am going to get the tracking done as it’s not quite prefect but it drives really nicely and makes a change from my diesel daily.

One issue is a slight driveline clunk when setting off or doing 1st to 2nd gearchange. The clutch and gearbox seem sweet so I assume it could be bushes/driveshaft or diff related? If you are smooth it is not really an issue and it may be more my driving behind honest...

Might be a rubber props haft donut that needs replacing? Certainly there on older BMW and sound as described when failing.

Is this known as he flex disk? Had a google and sounds a common problem it appears to be the part below:

https://m.ebay.com/itm/For-BMW-3Series-Z4-E46-Driv...

Yep, that's the fella. It's an easy (albeit awkward to reach) DIY proposition too.

[greggy50]

To confirm since buying the car I have ordered the following:

New DISA Valve £40
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151006154531?ul_noapp=t...

Vanos Repair Kit £100
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221946288092

Roof Repair £100
Member from Z4 Forum

Tracking £30

New Flex Disk and Bearing Support £40
https://www.ebay.com/itm/For-BMW-3Series-Z4-E46-Dr...

The Flex/Disk and bearing was due to the clunking noise mentioned earlier I am yet to fit this but I hope it would resolve the problem.

The Vanos/DISA was more preventive maintenance from googling as due to the milleage both are at the risk of failure. The car does seem to pull a lot harder from 4k almost as if it is turbod and they is a slight ticking noise both of which are signs of vanos failure. I will fit the parts myself apart from the flex disk/bearing support which I don't fancy doing personally.

This means the total expenditure on the car will be £310 if you add this onto the £2,550 I paid it totals £2,860 so far. It will need a service in 6 months and I will stick some better pads on the front and it will then owe me circa £3k all in. Personally I am very pleased with this as I should then have a car that should last a while and hopefully with the Vanos/Disa work pull stronger as well.

[DMN]

I have a 125i with the same clunking noise. My googling has led me to believe its related to the driveshaft moving backwards and forwards near the diff. The repair for that is to remove it from the diff, cover it in locktite and put it back in.

So I'd be interested to see what you find.

[Nutty9000]

That's an absolutely ridiculous amount of car for the money. Very nice!

[greggy50]

Just to add I have seen that the genuine wind deflectors with brackets re-sell for around £150 on eBay as I never actually use it I will be selling mine bringing my total expenditure back down to circa. £2,700.

I could make another £350 swapping away the xenon headlamps that come on the 3.0 for the normal lights if I really wanted to get this for a bargain basement price but I want to keep them.

Edited by greggy50 on Friday 27th April 10:29

[Ranger 6]

Mr Tidy said:

....Mine has been fitted with a custom-built cat-back system and it definitely sounds better for it - nice pops and bangs when you lift-off.

So that's you I see going up the A332 towards the M4 in the morning. I wondered if it was a PH'er but didn't get close enough to see a smilie.

It does sound nice!!!

[parabolica]

How are you getting on with it OP? I'm off to see a low mileage 2003 3.0 tomorrow and got high hopes for it. Looks good in the pictures but I guess we'll see up close. Any "wish I'd known that before buying it" thoughts?

Incidentally if anyone has experience of the SMG boxes in these I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts.

Edited by parabolica on Sunday 6th May 17:12

[Shenanigans]

Thats a bargain at that price. Miss mine sometimes!

I'd recommend getting the rear silencer removed and have straight pipes fabricated. Had mine done and it sounded brilliant on PH Runs....and through tunnels! I had the exhaust place fit sleeves onto the new and old box so I could swap them over when my ears started to bleed!

[Mr Tidy]

Shenanigans said:

I'd recommend getting the rear silencer removed and have straight pipes fabricated. Had mine done and it sounded brilliant on PH Runs....and through tunnels! I had the exhaust place fit sleeves onto the new and old box so I could swap them over when my ears started to bleed!

Or there are a couple of guys on the Z4forum who will open up the back box, remove as much of the contents as you want then weld it back up again - that way it still looks OEM.

[anonymous-user]

Would love to get one one these as a weekend/summer car and would have to be the 3.0, seem much better value than the equivalent Boxster and surely they can't get much cheaper?

Just out of interest, what is the oil consumption like as I know this engine has a bit of a reputation for consuming oil?

Great car, not sure you can get a more expensive looking car for the money.

[Mr Tidy]

I had an E46 325ti Compact for a few years with the same M54 engine as the pre-facelift Z4 2.5i.

It used 3 litres in 15K miles, from 82K to 97K miles, so hardly excessive.

My current Z4 is a facelift with the 3.0Si N52 engine and it has used a litre in 3K miles between 82K and 85K miles, so also not excessive IMO.

My previous Z4 facelift went from 54K to 62K miles without needing any!

I'd be more worried about Porsche scored bores - much more costly to fix than an oil drinking habit!

Edited by Mr Tidy on Tuesday 8th May 23:32

[greggy50]

parabolica said:

How are you getting on with it OP? I'm off to see a low mileage 2003 3.0 tomorrow and got high hopes for it. Looks good in the pictures but I guess we'll see up close. Any "wish I'd known that before buying it" thoughts?

Incidentally if anyone has experience of the SMG boxes in these I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts.

Edited by parabolica on Sunday 6th May 17:12

Its going well however I have had it confirmed the the DMF is on the way out. I therefore have been quoted £1,050 for a new clutch, flywheel and associated bits along with a full vanos rebuild.

Therefore this means the car will now owe me £3,600 (I sold the wind deflector for £200) the costs for this are as follows:

Car £2,650 (£2,450 after wind deflector)
DISA Rebuild Kit £50 (They will all need this)
DMF + Clutch £800
Vanos Rebuild £275 (They will all need this after 40k/50k miles it doesn't damage the car it just means they are down on power)
Roof Repair + Motor Relocate £100 (Common problem and a cheap fix via the forums so look for one with this to get a bargain)
Tracking £25

The DMF going is a major annoyance but to be honest once it is done I will have a mint Z4 with all the issues fixed for £3,600 and being honest I don't think I will lose much when I come to sell it. The car drives nicely and sounds great with the sound generator modification. My only annoyance is the drive line clunk and rattle from the DMF however the new bushes and vanos rebuild and clutch etc. will transform the car I am sure.

In terms of other common issues springs can snap however mine were changed only 12 months ago along with the catalic convertors and disks & pads so no worries in terms of that.

For the money I don't think they can be beaten and everyone so far has commented they can't believe the cost only cost me what it did I would recommend one to anyone.

If you can get one with a broken roof even better as they are cheap to fix and you can pick up a bargain.

Edited by greggy50 on Wednesday 9th May 21:39

[parabolica]

Thanks OP; I actually bought the one I went to look at. 03, 3.0 and only 60k. Great history and everything seemed to work as it should. Going to take it to an indy once I’ve picked it up so they can do a thorough vehicle check.