Not joined yet? Register for free and enjoy features such as alerts, private messaging and viewing latest posts and topics.
2004 Z4 2.5 SE - back behind the wheel of a BMW for the first time in years
-
- Newbie
- Posts: 17
- Joined: Thu Sep 27, 2018 4:39 pm
2004 Z4 2.5 SE - back behind the wheel of a BMW for the first time in years
Hi, this Z4 is my return to the BMW fold, 6 years after selling my E90 saloon. My family are all big BMW fans, but BMW lost me to Honda when I wanted a 4x4 and got fed up with dealing with BMW dealers and couldn't face the inflated prices of the X3.
I bought the Z4 from a good friend, who bought it 14 years ago as an ex-demo. It's a 2.5 SE (I know everyone says get the 3.0) with 46k miles on the clock and in very good cosmetic condition. It drives well, but hasn't seen much servicing in the last 4-5 years apart from oil changes and tyres.
I'm not normally fussy about mileage, but it is nice to have an older car where the leather seats are still in great shape, there are hardly any stone chips, and all the interior switches work smoothly and crisply.
It will be a second car in our household, with a 2013 CR-V doing the most of the heavy lifting.
First impressions of the car are great. I haven't owned a convertible since my Mk2 MX-5 ages ago. The six cylinder engine sounds fantastic, and driving around on a warm autumn day with the roof down is a lot of fun. My wife is not normally a fan of the "fun" cars I buy (previous cars include 2010 Mini Cooper S and 2000 Jag XK8) but she likes this one as it reminds her of her old E46 3-series coupe that she owned a long time ago.
Plans for the car are:
* Give it a service (oil change, air filter, pollen filter, brake fluid)
* Have a go at the cloudy headlight lenses with a headlight polishing kit
* Retro-fit the in-dash cupholders
* Fit a stubby aerial
* Maybe change the alloys, as the rear tyres will need replacing soon anyway
Happy to hear recommendations for replacement BMW alloy wheel styles that suit the E85 Z4!
I bought the Z4 from a good friend, who bought it 14 years ago as an ex-demo. It's a 2.5 SE (I know everyone says get the 3.0) with 46k miles on the clock and in very good cosmetic condition. It drives well, but hasn't seen much servicing in the last 4-5 years apart from oil changes and tyres.
I'm not normally fussy about mileage, but it is nice to have an older car where the leather seats are still in great shape, there are hardly any stone chips, and all the interior switches work smoothly and crisply.
It will be a second car in our household, with a 2013 CR-V doing the most of the heavy lifting.
First impressions of the car are great. I haven't owned a convertible since my Mk2 MX-5 ages ago. The six cylinder engine sounds fantastic, and driving around on a warm autumn day with the roof down is a lot of fun. My wife is not normally a fan of the "fun" cars I buy (previous cars include 2010 Mini Cooper S and 2000 Jag XK8) but she likes this one as it reminds her of her old E46 3-series coupe that she owned a long time ago.
Plans for the car are:
* Give it a service (oil change, air filter, pollen filter, brake fluid)
* Have a go at the cloudy headlight lenses with a headlight polishing kit
* Retro-fit the in-dash cupholders
* Fit a stubby aerial
* Maybe change the alloys, as the rear tyres will need replacing soon anyway
Happy to hear recommendations for replacement BMW alloy wheel styles that suit the E85 Z4!
- Marlon
- Lifer
- Posts: 10899
- Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2015 11:13 am
- Location: Lancs.
- Contact:
2004 Z4 2.5 SE - back behind the wheel of a BMW for the first time in years
Buying off a friend who's had it from new and with low miles, can't get better history than that
Changing to 18" alloys will improve the look
Welcome to the forum
Changing to 18" alloys will improve the look
Welcome to the forum
Gone: 3.0si 2008 E85
911 997 Carrera S
- Jembo
- Lifer
- Posts: 6030
- Joined: Sat Jun 25, 2011 11:59 pm
- Location: 1066 Country
2004 Z4 2.5 SE - back behind the wheel of a BMW for the first time in years
... I see you’ve come to the right place for male retail therapy.
Welcome & enjoy, come sun, rain or snow
Welcome & enjoy, come sun, rain or snow
Joined the dark side with a ///M Hell Bronze Sepang Coupe
Ex Aug 2005 Maldives Blue 3 litre cruizer, lots of toyz,
Lifer 54
Ex Aug 2005 Maldives Blue 3 litre cruizer, lots of toyz,
Lifer 54
- Grumpyowl
- Lifer
- Posts: 3438
- Joined: Mon Aug 12, 2013 8:00 pm
- Location: North East Derbyshire
2004 Z4 2.5 SE - back behind the wheel of a BMW for the first time in years
Welcome, great car with great history.
18” style 224’s are the best wheels option imo
Enjoy
Popular prevention-
Move roof motor to boot
Disa valve upgrade
Remove CDV
Upgraded Vanos oil seals
Amongst others
18” style 224’s are the best wheels option imo
Enjoy
Popular prevention-
Move roof motor to boot
Disa valve upgrade
Remove CDV
Upgraded Vanos oil seals
Amongst others
-
- Newbie
- Posts: 17
- Joined: Thu Sep 27, 2018 11:54 pm
- Location: Millom Cumbria
2004 Z4 2.5 SE - back behind the wheel of a BMW for the first time in years
Had my 2003 3.0 for nearly a year now . Love it
-
- Newbie
- Posts: 17
- Joined: Thu Sep 27, 2018 11:54 pm
- Location: Millom Cumbria
2004 Z4 2.5 SE - back behind the wheel of a BMW for the first time in years
Had roof motor moved by Z Shed at Earlstown near Warrington, he also sorted out sticky steering he really knows his Zs.
- jabber
- Lifer
- Posts: 3138
- Joined: Mon Jul 05, 2010 9:23 am
- Location: Hampshire
2004 Z4 2.5 SE - back behind the wheel of a BMW for the first time in years
Hi and welcome enjoy your z4 whatever engine it has
Z less again
14 E89 Z4 2.0 msport grey gone now
10 E89 Z4 3.0 Black auto now. Very sadly gone
Gone 04 E85 z4 3.0 Maldives blue smg
14 E89 Z4 2.0 msport grey gone now
10 E89 Z4 3.0 Black auto now. Very sadly gone
Gone 04 E85 z4 3.0 Maldives blue smg
- Mr Tidy
- Legend
- Posts: 23809
- Joined: Wed Jul 02, 2014 12:18 pm
- Location: North West Surrey
2004 Z4 2.5 SE - back behind the wheel of a BMW for the first time in years
Hi and welcome to the forum.
For wheel inspiration you can spend some time on this thread:- viewtopic.php?f=2&t=27575
For wheel inspiration you can spend some time on this thread:- viewtopic.php?f=2&t=27575
Coupes because stunning!
Current - Silver Grey MC, Imola Red heated Nappa & carbon trim. Aeros, H & R Coil-overs, 224s, OE Strut brace, Nav, cup-holders, DSP Hi-Fi, pdc, cruise, MFSW, no CDV! E90 330i daily
Gone - Montego Blue
Gone - Ruby Black
Current - Silver Grey MC, Imola Red heated Nappa & carbon trim. Aeros, H & R Coil-overs, 224s, OE Strut brace, Nav, cup-holders, DSP Hi-Fi, pdc, cruise, MFSW, no CDV! E90 330i daily
Gone - Montego Blue
Gone - Ruby Black
-
- Member
- Posts: 789
- Joined: Sat May 05, 2018 8:08 pm
- Location: Bridgend South Wales
2004 Z4 2.5 SE - back behind the wheel of a BMW for the first time in years
Welcome great car to buy.
D
D
Z in da Head.
3.0i Z3 sport,sapphire black,3.0i Z4 roadster Sterling grey,auto,Z4 3.0si Coupe Titanium silver,Stubby &B06 Plus some other German beauties!!
3.0i Z3 sport,sapphire black,3.0i Z4 roadster Sterling grey,auto,Z4 3.0si Coupe Titanium silver,Stubby &B06 Plus some other German beauties!!
-
- Newbie
- Posts: 17
- Joined: Thu Sep 27, 2018 4:39 pm
2004 Z4 2.5 SE - back behind the wheel of a BMW for the first time in years
Style 89s going on today - thanks to forum member kis for helping me switch the wheels.
- Attachments
-
- B67022E3-E4AF-429E-903D-FD488BA55B7D.jpeg (662.33 KiB) Viewed 2252 times
- Mr Tidy
- Legend
- Posts: 23809
- Joined: Wed Jul 02, 2014 12:18 pm
- Location: North West Surrey
2004 Z4 2.5 SE - back behind the wheel of a BMW for the first time in years
They look great - but good luck when you need to clean them!spreadsheet monkey wrote: ↑Sat Sep 29, 2018 10:05 pm Style 89s going on today - thanks to forum member kis for helping me switch the wheels.
Coupes because stunning!
Current - Silver Grey MC, Imola Red heated Nappa & carbon trim. Aeros, H & R Coil-overs, 224s, OE Strut brace, Nav, cup-holders, DSP Hi-Fi, pdc, cruise, MFSW, no CDV! E90 330i daily
Gone - Montego Blue
Gone - Ruby Black
Current - Silver Grey MC, Imola Red heated Nappa & carbon trim. Aeros, H & R Coil-overs, 224s, OE Strut brace, Nav, cup-holders, DSP Hi-Fi, pdc, cruise, MFSW, no CDV! E90 330i daily
Gone - Montego Blue
Gone - Ruby Black
-
- Member
- Posts: 205
- Joined: Wed Sep 12, 2018 7:08 pm
- Location: Southport
2004 Z4 2.5 SE - back behind the wheel of a BMW for the first time in years
Wheels look great - ive got the same original se wheels so looking to upgrade too
E89 2.0 i S Drive M Sport
TT MK1 Roadster
RR Evoque
Now gone E85 2.0 SE
TT MK1 Roadster
RR Evoque
Now gone E85 2.0 SE
-
- Member
- Posts: 567
- Joined: Fri Mar 16, 2018 9:11 am
2004 Z4 2.5 SE - back behind the wheel of a BMW for the first time in years
A Zed is a great way back into BMW ownership. Looks and sounds like a nice car. Yes, most people say go for the 3.0, but I have had zero regrets buying my 2.5. I love it and I’m sure you will. Enjoy!
-
- Newbie
- Posts: 17
- Joined: Thu Sep 27, 2018 4:39 pm
2004 Z4 2.5 SE - back behind the wheel of a BMW for the first time in years
Saw your car on your introductory post - looks great.
Replacement wheels are a minefield! There are loads of secondhand sets of wheels on eBay, gumtree and on this forum, but finding the size you want in good nick and (ideally) local to you is not easy.
Good luck finding something that suits the car and your taste!
-
- Member
- Posts: 205
- Joined: Wed Sep 12, 2018 7:08 pm
- Location: Southport
2004 Z4 2.5 SE - back behind the wheel of a BMW for the first time in years
Cheers spreadsheet monkey - the set you found seem mint. Thinking about some csl replicas - there are quite a few alloy wheel companies that seem to do a great wheel / tyre package but then think originals would be better but there seems a lot of rough looking wheels on ebay etc- oh well will keep me out of trouble looking - enjoy your new car looks great !!!! Silver always a classy choice
E89 2.0 i S Drive M Sport
TT MK1 Roadster
RR Evoque
Now gone E85 2.0 SE
TT MK1 Roadster
RR Evoque
Now gone E85 2.0 SE