Z4-forum.com

Heya all

[Edit, you may as well skip past this bit, pics at botttom]

I never expected the post to be so long...

Recently picked up a very nice looking 2003 3.0 SE for what I think is a good price but a bit of a gamble with no service history.
It has around 125k on the clock and came with a clean 12 months MOT

Here's the link to eBay
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133817455842
(Not sure if that'll work as auction was ended early)

It seemed solid to me, roof and windows were quick and quiet and for its age it looks great.

It has had all the breaks overhauled (lines, pads, calipers) which was cause of the previous MOT failures

No serious mods like the roof motor relocation or intake/exhaust though it does have the noise generator mod and sounds rediculous (in a good way)

So anyway the sound from the 3 litre, the looks and that nothing was obviously broken was all it took and I bought it.

The only maybe major thing I found whilst driving it in the hot weather yesterday was the steering felt a bit strange but I couldn't work out what it was and I just put it down to the quirky electronic steering.

Will give the advice in this thread a try - viewtopic.php?f=3&t=100725&start=45
Or probably see if a local garage can give it a try.




Here's my list of things I'll get looked at or fixed, is there anything else I should know?

I do plan to check out the two drainage plugs, I've seen the threads but still welcome advice

Some Easy fixes
• no Bluetooth music, looking at this bargain Bluetooth dongle
There is no Aux port and no CD changer, I hope this type will still work
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/313544304665


• Cup holders don't hold anything.
How are these cheap replacement cup holders?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/363390813852

• Black grills. Just because
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/174349764355

• Missing the OEM wind deflector
It does the clip fittings near the head things, I'd rather get a nice looking OEM one


I've got it booked into a BMW and Mercedes specialist here in Exeter to give it a proper once over.
I'm not usually a very hands-on car owner

Other than the steering is there anything I need to ask em to look at?



More pics to follow once I go somewhere scenic and less bug-ridden but the previous seller took some nice ones

Edit: Ohhh.. and I think it refuels really slow.. it's unlikely every petrol station has dodgey pumps.
Am I correct in assuming this is likely the Fuel Tank Breather Valve?

Hi and welcome to the forum.

Welcome to Z ownership and the forum. I have the same year of car, fairly easy cars to work on and lots of fun. Plenty info here on the forum.

Hi and welcome to the forum.

That link regarding the steering looks like a good place to start.

I don't know about Bluetooth adapters but I believe all E85s were pre-wired for a CD changer so if that cables connects to the changer wiring I imagine that should work, but hopefully someone more knowledgeable will be along soon!

Those ebay cup-holders don't look much different to the OE ones - they are a bit fiddly to use, and pretty flimsy.

Slow refuelling does sound like a breather issue.

Anyway I hope you can get the niggles sorted so you can just enjoy it.

Hi and welcome to the forum. That’s a serious bug collection you’ve got going on there.

Best place to start if you have weird steering is check if you have run-flat tyres. The OEM fit Bridgestone Potenzas are truly awful and your steering will be transformed by switching to a decent tyre. Plenty of advice on here for steering and suspension issues if it’s not that.

Hello and welcome, car looks good, as Zedebee said if it has run flats lose them quickly

Cheers guys, I think the steering is the 'sticky' issue.. it was fine during the test drive and driving it home late at night
It was night and day hoping back into my old car, never noticed how light and responsive the steering was until I had that comparison


Great looking cars, not sure why I've never looked at them sooner

Welcome to the forum.

I proimised more pictures without the bugs, one of these days..

Recent weekend away with the boys.

Also an unexpected bonus, almost all the issues I mentioned in OP seemed to have fix themselves.

Pointy wrote: ↑Tue Jul 27, 2021 9:42 pm I proimised more pictures without the bugs, one of these days..

Recent weekend away with the boys.

Also s bonus, almost all the issues I had seemed to have fix themselves.

Looks stunning mate, is that Ladybower?

That was in Elan Valley, Wales

Here's a couple of nice scenery shots form that area. The road to get there is called something like Nation Cycle Route 81 and it's very windy!

Hello there, welcome to the fourm

Pointy wrote: ↑Tue Jul 27, 2021 11:55 pm That was in Elan Valley, Wales

Here's a couple of nice scenery shots form that area. The road to get there is called something like Nation Cycle Route 81 and it's very windy!

Very nice! well if you're ever venturing up north I can recommend Ladybower dam and some surrounding roads for a nice drive and similar scenery.

Hi and a belated welcome.
If you're still needing cup holders I can recommend these ones
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08 ... UTF8&psc=1

abzthemanc wrote: ↑Wed Jul 28, 2021 11:05 am
Very nice! well if you're ever venturing up north I can recommend Ladybower dam and some surrounding roads for a nice drive and similar scenery.

Thanks for the tip! We might end up making a trip up there, I don't think any of us have been

I reckon being able to sending the drones around that big drainhole will tempt some of the guys. Looks very cool