E85 Z4 Stereo

[BrickCounter]

So I’ve just got my hands on a decent 2005 E85 Z4 as bit of a summer toy ( yes I know it’s January, and it will probably rain for the next 12 months continuously) and I’m wondering what is the best was to get tunes from the iPhone/Spotify onto the BMW professional stereo in it ?

It does have an older parrot phone kit fitted which seems to work fine, but could do with some options on the music.

Anyone got any ideas? It’s a fun car so don’t want to go spending ££££ on complete new installs.

[Jakg]

Cheapest is one of the aux cables that are sub £10.

But a BlueMusic bluetooth dongle at £40 is probably a better bet.

[ian332isport]

I think those are similar to an e46 in the electronics department. You can probably fit an intravee and Alpine iPod interface.

[parabolica]

Jakg said:

Cheapest is one of the aux cables that are sub £10.

But a BlueMusic bluetooth dongle at £40 is probably a better bet.

Aux cable is the cheapest and easiest IME; if your car has the optional sat nav with display unit installed, there are kits out there to replace the old unit with a modern, BMW-looking tablet display that has all the usual suspects on it. A bit more involved but not too pricey. Z4 Forum has a long running thread on the options.

[naturalaspiration]

The great thing with Bluemusic is that it is fully integrated with BMW IBus - fill control via built in steering wheel controls. Both for playing music via Spotify or any other app as well as answering/dropping/redialing calls. German made, really smart.

And install is straight forward.

https://www.musikimauto.de/BlueMusic-Bluetooth-Aud...

[Earthdweller]

FM radio transmitter from about £10
Works a treat

[BrickCounter]

Thanks for all the responses - As the car is still new to me and unproven I ordered a Bluetooth cable and mic kit for £15 off eBay.

Put it in today and it seems to do the job :-)

Still getting used to the car, next I need to decide on the cup holders which seems the big debate on Z4’s !

[Mr Tidy]

BrickCounter said:

next I need to decide on the cup holders which seems the big debate on Z4’s !

OE ones were quite hard to find and were expensive, but I believe you can now get them for sensible money on Ebay.

And while they aren't a brilliant design there's nowhere else to put things in a Z4!

[aquarianone]

Personally i'd leave the cupholders as they're pretty rubbish and just tend to rattle and eventually break

You can always whack a water bottle in the middle cubby hole

The real question is stubby or whippy arial

I'd def recommend...

1) Ditch the runflats if fitted ( Mich Ps4 / Goodyear eagle Asymmetric 5 are fantastic and confidence inspiring when pushing on)

2) ZHP gear knob - much better than the plastic standard one)

3) CDV delete - makes it a bit smoother to drive ( especially into first gear)

check and and move the roof motor as apparently that's an issue (i've got the coupe but I gather it's a common issue in the E85)

head over to the z4 forum for more focused discussion and ways to make you spend (much) more money...

https://z4-forum.com/

Edited by aquarianone on Monday 14th February 14:32

[Collectingbrass]

Mr Tidy said:

BrickCounter said:

next I need to decide on the cup holders which seems the big debate on Z4’s !

OE ones were quite hard to find and were expensive, but I believe you can now get them for sensible money on Ebay.

And while they aren't a brilliant design there's nowhere else to put things in a Z4!

I got mine from Amazon, just bear in mind that the cover plate is separate to the cup holder (so it matches the rest of the dash trim colour)

The main thing to do is to check the roof motor has been moved to the boot and that the cavity drain holes aft of the "B Pillar" are clear.

[Mr Tidy]

Collectingbrass said:

The main thing to do is to check the roof motor has been moved to the boot and that the cavity drain holes aft of the "B Pillar" are clear.

There are a few people on z4forum who will relocate roof motors into the boot and often revive seemingly motors for sensible money, but I've avoided that problem by only having E86 Coupes.