Z4 3.0 Roadster - your opinions please

[TeaVR]

Thinking about swapping my MK5 Golf R32 for a 3.0 Z4 roadster.

What are your opinions of the Z4?

[pgilc1]

We have a z4 3.0 coupe. Superb cars. Highly recommended.

[eowen]

Great car. My partner has one. Great noise, great roof, goes really well. Really nice car.

[dibbly_dobbler]

The engine is an absolute peach - great sound, torquey low down with a screaming top end and very economical. It'll pull in 4th from under 20mph to around a ton - lovely

[eowen]

And they even put a bit of foam in the pipe to the cabin you can remove which improves the sound!

[Hammerhead]

Who told you that then?

[bras0782]

Great car

[gwatson]

The Z4 will feel a lot more "chuckable" and alive than your R32...

[dan101smith]

My other half has one, nice car but a little bit crashy round town. Oh, and definitely ditch the runflats - just changed to PS2s and much, MUCH better!

[TeaVR]

gwatson said:

The Z4 will feel a lot more "chuckable" and alive than your R32...

Noticed that your Z4 is supercharged. What is the cost and what is the reliability like (if you don't mind me asking)?

[VerySideways]

Hang on - which 3.0?

The 3.0i is the earlier 230bhp engine, the 3.0si is the later 260bhp engine which not only has more power and more torque but is also more economical and has sharper throttle response (and, subjectively, a better noise too).

So which are you looking at?

[TeaVR]

VerySideways said:

Hang on - which 3.0?

The 3.0i is the earlier 230bhp engine, the 3.0si is the later 260bhp engine which not only has more power and more torque but is also more economical and has sharper throttle response (and, subjectively, a better noise too).

So which are you looking at?

Hmmm - good point - the one I am going to have a look at is the 230BHP.

Is the 230BHP not worth looking at? Surely not?

[VerySideways]

Still a very nice car... definitely worth a look at and a drive.

[[TW]Fox]

Whats the ride like on the 3.0? Put a deposit down on a 3.0 SE yesterday - but didn't realise they all have the much criticised Sports suspension as standard!

[photo_ed]

pgilc1 said:

We have a z4 3.0 coupe. Superb cars. Highly recommended.

Seconded.

[gwatson]

TeaVR said:

Noticed that your Z4 is supercharged. What is the cost and what is the reliability like (if you don't mind me asking)?

It's actually for sale just now http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/497741.htm

Anyway, just for the supercharger it's around £5k by the time you pay import tax and VAT. 12 hours of labour to fit. Bearing in mind this kit is the latest type of supercharger, not the old certrifugal or rotex kits.

Reliability is spot on, had a few teething issues, but mine was the firt kit in the UK, runs like clockwork now. Supercharger will last longer than any engine so no concerns there, require very little maintenance, just check the oil and water levels every 5-10k... no big deal. Fuel consumption is better when cruising, around 35mpg on motorway, never had less than 26mpg from a tank.. even when pushing on a little.

230bhp is much stronger, the 265+bhp is built with very little tolerance. 230bhp is good for 450bhp with just a piston change, well proven engine for supercharging and turbo kits.

As the other said, ditch the run flats for F1's or PS2 and you'll have a great car.

Good luck.. you'll love it.

[[TW]Fox]

A test drive a 2006 3.0Si and found it tramlined really badly - a world away from my M Sport suspension fitted 18" wearing 2001 530i Sport.

I'm a bit concerned the 2003 Z4 3.0i SE is going to be the same - can you put my mind at rest? If it is, are the runflats the primary reason? The plan is to replace them with Eagle F1's all round anyway, only we cant do that until we've bought the car!

[eowen]

My girlfriend has a 230bhp 2003 3.0i SE (which I think has sports suspension, it certainly has the "spot" button) with 18" Elipsoid alloys (the only ones to have in my opinion) and runflats, and the ride is fine.

[shadowninja]

Had a 2.5 Z4 for a week or so. Really impressed (apart from a lack of power).

eowen said:

with 18" Elipsoid alloys (the only ones to have in my opinion) and runflats, and the ride is fine.

Would have thought the ride would be bouncy if they're ellipsoidal.

[TeaVR]

Booked in for a test drive this afternoon - will report my findings later.