My midlife crisis purchase; E86 BMW Z4 Coupe
Discussion
Heathwood said:
I like these a lot and often have thoughts of swapping into one, but can’t help feeling that it’s not different enough from my current 130i. I believe you owned a 130i previously didn’t you OP? How does the Z4C compare?
I did indeed have a 130i before my 335i. The Z4 feels very different - the driving experience is very different sitting so far out back. The N52 is much more vocal in these too and the view out feels quite special.
Court_S said:
I’ve cracked the windscreen already courtesy is a stone so that’s getting replaced on Thursday.
The last time of checking which was several months ago, there was no OE stock of Z4 windscreens. The aftermarket offering from Saint Gobain (Sekurit) has a shape issue on the driver side (went through a couple which confirmed it's an issue). Pilkington showing stock.
mooseracer said:
Very nice. This and your estate should cover most bases.
I really like the shape of these. A friend had a Z4M a while ago and that was lovely, if a bit hyperactive.
Looking forward to the ownership journey, vicariously of course.
Thanks - I’m hoping that they’ll be a good combination. I’ve heard they can be a bit busy, I guess part of that is sitting on the rear axle. I really like the shape of these. A friend had a Z4M a while ago and that was lovely, if a bit hyperactive.
Looking forward to the ownership journey, vicariously of course.
My wife is smitten with it already despite not having driven it yet.
Glassman said:
The last time of checking which was several months ago, there was no OE stock of Z4 windscreens. The aftermarket offering from Saint Gobain (Sekurit) has a shape issue on the driver side (went through a couple which confirmed it's an issue).
Pilkington showing stock.
That’s good to know. I’ll keep an eye out for that / check what they’ll be fitting before they get stuck in. Pilkington showing stock.
Craikeybaby said:
I think you buy a BMW more frequently than my MR2 gets washed...
I think these are brilliant, I love the looks of the coupe. A couple of my mates have/had the roadster versions, and the 3.0 sounds awesome.
I think these are brilliant, I love the looks of the coupe. A couple of my mates have/had the roadster versions, and the 3.0 sounds awesome.
it seems a bit like that doesn’t it?It’s certainly a pretty big thing.
Craikeybaby said:
I think you buy a BMW more frequently than my MR2 gets washed...
I think these are brilliant, I love the looks of the coupe. A couple of my mates have/had the roadster versions, and the 3.0 sounds awesome.
The Z4M Roadster was my first midlife crisis car back in 2012, and I remember struggling to choose between the Roadster/Coupe. I much preferred the Coupes shape, and even now when I see a Z4 Coupe(or a Z4M Coupe) it always makes me wish that I'd gone in the direction of the Coupe. I think these are brilliant, I love the looks of the coupe. A couple of my mates have/had the roadster versions, and the 3.0 sounds awesome.
The Z4 Coupe is one of BMWs best ever designs to my eyes for definite.
cerb4.5lee said:
The Z4M Roadster was my first midlife crisis car back in 2012, and I remember struggling to choose between the Roadster/Coupe. I much preferred the Coupes shape, and even now when I see a Z4 Coupe(or a Z4M Coupe) it always makes me wish that I'd gone in the direction of the Coupe.
The Z4 Coupe is one of BMWs best ever designs to my eyes for definite.
I really like it, particularly from the side and rear three quarter angle. The Z4 Coupe is one of BMWs best ever designs to my eyes for definite.
The coupe is pretty rare as well so I think they stand out quite a lot.
I’ve taken it for a basic alignment this morning until I can start replacing parts and the rear dampers have been replace already with B4’s, so that’s one job off my list.
But the brackets for the rear trailing arms used for the rear alignment are a bit crusty….so much so that the garage didn’t want to touch them! I have Powerflex bushes on the way but need to get some new brackets. The existing RTSB bushes look a bit shot.
Amazingly the front tie rods aren’t seized solid. I’ll replace them anyway since it’s easy.
But the brackets for the rear trailing arms used for the rear alignment are a bit crusty….so much so that the garage didn’t want to touch them! I have Powerflex bushes on the way but need to get some new brackets. The existing RTSB bushes look a bit shot.
Amazingly the front tie rods aren’t seized solid. I’ll replace them anyway since it’s easy.
Court_S said:
So, now it’s in the process of getting cleaned and looking good, what are my plans? Well I don’t intend to get to carried away with mods in this one, I’ll focus on maintenance and keeping it well looked after.
Having driven it a bit, it’s clear that I need to do a few things now. First up is some suspension work. The alignment is off, so I’ll get it booked in some where cheap this week to see if they can improve it in the short term until I can replace parts. The front end is quite busy especially on the motorway, where it follows cambers and ruts. Having owned an E46 before I’m pretty sure the lollipop bushes are shot. Complete wishbones are not expensive from AUTODOC so I’ll replace the whole wishbones especially as there’s no evidence of them being done. When I orders the Powerflex front ARB bushes for my 335i AUTODOC sent me the 24mm ones not 26mm and they just happen to fit this, so they’ll be going on.
The front dampers are quite new Bilstein B4’s, so I’ll chuck on a pair of rear B4’s to match. Whilst I’m mucking around with the suspension, I’m toying with fitting Powerflex RTAB - it looks easy enough in the videos I’ve watched and it’d make sense before taking it somewhere for a nice alignment.
The wheels might get changed - I’m not a fan of the 108’s although my wife really likes them and thinks there suit the car. The ride is quite firm on 18’s and given how the small the car is, I’m tempted to drop down to 17’s. I’m trying to avoid CSL’s having been there and done it. Z4 options are limited / a bit crap but one wheel that I think might work is the style 194’s from an E9x 3 series. I really like them and they’re pretty cheap to buy. I did find a person who had done it and I like it:
Another option is 261’s from a 1 series but a friend has done that and I don’t want to be a city cat!
The 216’s suit them well too, I think they need to be off a 1 series. Downside to both of these is that they’re 18’s.
I need to modernise the connectivity too. There is a CarPlay option for these, but it’s expensive. To start with I might just add an aux input so I can at least plug my phone in (I’m currently having to relay on a few CD’s that I have left). There are plenty of Bluetooth options but I’m not sure if they’ll work since I have the CCC nav.
I would concur RE: the alloys. Not a fan of those BBS Split rims.Having driven it a bit, it’s clear that I need to do a few things now. First up is some suspension work. The alignment is off, so I’ll get it booked in some where cheap this week to see if they can improve it in the short term until I can replace parts. The front end is quite busy especially on the motorway, where it follows cambers and ruts. Having owned an E46 before I’m pretty sure the lollipop bushes are shot. Complete wishbones are not expensive from AUTODOC so I’ll replace the whole wishbones especially as there’s no evidence of them being done. When I orders the Powerflex front ARB bushes for my 335i AUTODOC sent me the 24mm ones not 26mm and they just happen to fit this, so they’ll be going on.
The front dampers are quite new Bilstein B4’s, so I’ll chuck on a pair of rear B4’s to match. Whilst I’m mucking around with the suspension, I’m toying with fitting Powerflex RTAB - it looks easy enough in the videos I’ve watched and it’d make sense before taking it somewhere for a nice alignment.
The wheels might get changed - I’m not a fan of the 108’s although my wife really likes them and thinks there suit the car. The ride is quite firm on 18’s and given how the small the car is, I’m tempted to drop down to 17’s. I’m trying to avoid CSL’s having been there and done it. Z4 options are limited / a bit crap but one wheel that I think might work is the style 194’s from an E9x 3 series. I really like them and they’re pretty cheap to buy. I did find a person who had done it and I like it:
Another option is 261’s from a 1 series but a friend has done that and I don’t want to be a city cat!
The 216’s suit them well too, I think they need to be off a 1 series. Downside to both of these is that they’re 18’s.I need to modernise the connectivity too. There is a CarPlay option for these, but it’s expensive. To start with I might just add an aux input so I can at least plug my phone in (I’m currently having to relay on a few CD’s that I have left). There are plenty of Bluetooth options but I’m not sure if they’ll work since I have the CCC nav.
CSL style are the go to choice - i did the same on mine - but as you say it would maybe be nice to do something different this time around.
I do like that 17 inch E90 wheel you're looking at. I changed to those on my 330i SE and loved them.
Another choice might be the Style 216 Motorsport alloys fitted to the 320Si (and to more editions later)
https://www.zacharylukecarslimited.co.uk/assets/82...
Edited by Deep Thought on Tuesday 9th April 09:16
Court_S said:
d_a_n1979 said:
Looks really well that Sam; superb colour!
They're some of my favourite wheels as well; I know what you're saying re 17s. But hose 108s suit the car so well... I reckon decent tyres, but with a slighter softer sidewall, might be the happy medium?
Goodyear Assym6s or similar maybe?
Cheers Dan.They're some of my favourite wheels as well; I know what you're saying re 17s. But hose 108s suit the car so well... I reckon decent tyres, but with a slighter softer sidewall, might be the happy medium?
Goodyear Assym6s or similar maybe?
I’m not a fan of the wheels personally, but most people seem to love them including my wife who is adamant that I should keep them. It’s on Dunlop Sport Max which are pretty crap so I might leave them.
Wheels are a personal choice; they'll sell easy enough
What about some 216s?
https://www.auto-treff.com/wcf/index.php?article/2...
Although as I said on email; 17s work so well on the UK roads. They're more than likely going to be the happy-medium
Deep Thought said:
I would concur RE: the alloys. Not a fan of those BBS Split rims.
CSL style are the go to choice - i did the same on mine - but as you say it would maybe be nice to do something different this time around.
I do like that 17 inch E90 wheel you're looking at. I changed to those on my 330i SE and loved them.
Another choice might be the Style 216 Motorsport alloys fitted to the 320Si (and to more editions later)
https://www.zacharylukecarslimited.co.uk/assets/82...
I think you’re the only one who agrees with me! CSL style are the go to choice - i did the same on mine - but as you say it would maybe be nice to do something different this time around.
I do like that 17 inch E90 wheel you're looking at. I changed to those on my 330i SE and loved them.
Another choice might be the Style 216 Motorsport alloys fitted to the 320Si (and to more editions later)
https://www.zacharylukecarslimited.co.uk/assets/82...
Edited by Deep Thought on Tuesday 9th April 09:16
The 108’s do seem quite popular. I like the 216 on these as well. There is a well priced set for sale, but they’re bloody miles away. I need to check to see if they’re 1 or 3 series fitment and if the latter will fit ok. The 194’s will be a bit pokier which is fin.
d_a_n1979 said:
Yeah; they're not great tyres Sam; I know that, had them before and bloody horrible
Wheels are a personal choice; they'll sell easy enough
What about some 216s?
https://www.auto-treff.com/wcf/index.php?article/2...
Although as I said on email; 17s work so well on the UK roads. They're more than likely going to be the happy-medium
Part of me wonders if a set of better tyres might help.Wheels are a personal choice; they'll sell easy enough
What about some 216s?
https://www.auto-treff.com/wcf/index.php?article/2...
Although as I said on email; 17s work so well on the UK roads. They're more than likely going to be the happy-medium
Some times I look at the car and think the 108’s suit it but other times I want to change them….I’m very much on the fence. I don’t think I’ll rush into anything, I want to get the suspension sorted before mucking about with wheels. One thing I will say is that the 108’s are dead easy to clean.
Court_S said:
d_a_n1979 said:
Yeah; they're not great tyres Sam; I know that, had them before and bloody horrible
Wheels are a personal choice; they'll sell easy enough
What about some 216s?
https://www.auto-treff.com/wcf/index.php?article/2...
Although as I said on email; 17s work so well on the UK roads. They're more than likely going to be the happy-medium
Part of me wonders if a set of better tyres might help.Wheels are a personal choice; they'll sell easy enough
What about some 216s?
https://www.auto-treff.com/wcf/index.php?article/2...
Although as I said on email; 17s work so well on the UK roads. They're more than likely going to be the happy-medium
Some times I look at the car and think the 108’s suit it but other times I want to change them….I’m very much on the fence. I don’t think I’ll rush into anything, I want to get the suspension sorted before mucking about with wheels. One thing I will say is that the 108’s are dead easy to clean.
Court_S said:
d_a_n1979 said:
Yeah; they're not great tyres Sam; I know that, had them before and bloody horrible
Wheels are a personal choice; they'll sell easy enough
What about some 216s?
https://www.auto-treff.com/wcf/index.php?article/2...
Although as I said on email; 17s work so well on the UK roads. They're more than likely going to be the happy-medium
Part of me wonders if a set of better tyres might help.Wheels are a personal choice; they'll sell easy enough
What about some 216s?
https://www.auto-treff.com/wcf/index.php?article/2...
Although as I said on email; 17s work so well on the UK roads. They're more than likely going to be the happy-medium
Some times I look at the car and think the 108’s suit it but other times I want to change them….I’m very much on the fence. I don’t think I’ll rush into anything, I want to get the suspension sorted before mucking about with wheels. One thing I will say is that the 108’s are dead easy to clean.
I love the CSL style wheels, but you've been there and done that though. However I did quite like the standard wheels that came on my Z4M though(224's).
Nice! Love a Z4 Coupe! The 3.0 is a very nice thing.. Those wheels really suit it! What tyre sizes are on currently? I ask as even on the heavy MV2's the E46 rides well on 18's and those are E46 based.. Goodyear Asymmetric 6's work REALLY well and are cheap. I went to 235/40 on the rear and you don't notice the less width, and balances the chassis a bit more.
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