XWC journal (Commando _Rob)

Commando_Rob · Post by **Commando_Rob** » Sat Jun 22, 2019 12:52 pm

Well I think it's about time I started a journal on my Z4 journey, having done the same with my previous Z3, on that forum, and was good.

Well having sold my previous daily runner in the form of an E46 M3 cab manual 6 speed for a tidy profit to a French car collector I needed a new daily runner having really enjoyed my previous two roadsters in the forms of Z3M and a Z3 2.8 Orinoco edition both funnily enough also being sold to the French

We have a 7seat X5 40d msport as the family steed so this allows me to go down to only two seats for my daily, I've always liked the original Z4 and feel they are a real used car bargain at the moe, I also wanted a bmw I could work on myself for servicing and tinkering etc as I have a garage queen 911 that I don't touch for fear of breaking

and after having a good look and a drive of a 3.0i Z4 at an ace cafe BMW night i was sold and I started my hunt.

It had to be a manual and a 3.0i, I went and saw a great priced low mileage low owner high spec grey 3.0i not far from me but it was a complete dog, the second I saw was higher mileage but had a great service history and was well looked after and after abit of haggling I bought my current Z4, she's got all the options I wanted apart from the carver sound system that I wish it had as the current set up is really poor.

Here are a few pics from the day I bought it.

buzyg · Post by **buzyg** » Sat Jun 22, 2019 12:54 pm

The journey begins.

paddy wright · Post by **paddy wright** » Sat Jun 22, 2019 12:58 pm

Enjoy the new car

Commando_Rob · Post by **Commando_Rob** » Sat Jun 22, 2019 1:28 pm

So after a full service inspection2 it didn't take long for the tinkering & modifying to start

First up was to refresh the suspension and add some Eibach sports lowering springs, after an incident with a pot hole

and a snapped front spring that carved opened my nearly new front tyre like a can opener, I installed new top mounts drop links sway bars and Eibach, the shocks had been replaced fairly recently so was no need to replace these. A few pics.

Commando_Rob · Post by **Commando_Rob** » Sat Jun 22, 2019 1:56 pm

A before and after with Eibach, it rides so much nicer now but am sure that's a combo of suspension refresh as well as springs. I've also added clear side indicators.

Mr Tidy · Post by **Mr Tidy** » Sat Jun 22, 2019 7:45 pm

Shame about your pothole incident, but at least it rides better now.

A good time of year to buy a Roadster too - enjoy.

Commando_Rob · Post by **Commando_Rob** » Mon Jul 01, 2019 9:22 pm

Thanks for the replays and kind words guys.

So next up was to give this roadster some sounds, one of the first things I noticed was just how quiet and refined the Z4 was and in my opinion far to quiet when comparing to my last non M BMW roadster which was a 2.8 Z3 that even in standard form had a nice deep exhaust note, as the car doesn't really get used on motorways and is my fun car I went for a back box removal and replaced with straight pipes.

This is one of the best mods in terms of changing a cars character I've ever done and really gives the car the sounds it deserves it now really sounds like a big 6 with pops and crackles on overrun and is sort of TVResc

I went with quite subtle twin pipes here's some pics.

tomrdy · Post by **tomrdy** » Tue Jul 02, 2019 10:25 am

Commando_Rob wrote: ↑Mon Jul 01, 2019 9:22 pm This is one of the best mods... pops and crackles on overrun

I 100% concur to your opinions on pops and crackles

Commando_Rob · Post by **Commando_Rob** » Wed Jul 03, 2019 1:40 pm

tomrdy wrote: ↑Tue Jul 02, 2019 10:25 am
Commando_Rob wrote: ↑Mon Jul 01, 2019 9:22 pm This is one of the best mods... pops and crackles on overrun
I 100% concur to your opinions on pops and crackles

LittleZ4 · Post by **LittleZ4** » Fri Jul 05, 2019 6:48 am

Cars looking good!!
I love my backbox delete, like you say it changes the character of the car, way to muted from factory.

Commando_Rob · Post by **Commando_Rob** » Sat Jul 06, 2019 10:10 pm

So now that the Z has the sounds after the exhaust mod I feel it needs something more aggressive in the wheel department. Ive always and still love the look of 19" CSL's but feel there now very common on Z4s as a mod and I like to be different, I also looked at Alpina and Hartge 19s and even thought about sticking with the 18s and getting them powder coated grey/black but finally settled on 19" BBS CH-R black edition as think they are absolutely stunning wheels and really suit the Z and will make it look up to date style wise, plus silver cars and grey/black wheels look good together. Heres a pic of the wheels after getting some new rubber on them. Excuse the wall I'm getting my patio done.

Commando_Rob · Post by **Commando_Rob** » Fri Jul 12, 2019 2:15 pm

Update! So the wheels are on, and I must say am very happy with them, after advice from other members on here

who've got 19s I went with Michelin 225/35/19 tyres on the front and Dunlop 265/30/19 tyres on the rear. The ride is surprisingly good, I will keep my 18s and get them refurbed and use those if I ever take the Z on the track. Here's a few pics.

Commando_Rob · Post by **Commando_Rob** » Tue Feb 04, 2020 1:23 pm

Haven’t updated in a while, so, had the rocker cover done the other day as had been leaking from usual spot for a while, bought an oe rocker cover set and rubber washers before Christmas but wanted to wait for the weather get abit nicer.

Commando_Rob · Post by **Commando_Rob** » Wed Mar 25, 2020 6:20 pm

Found these on the bay for a decent price considering how rare they are and couldn’t resist.

Commando_Rob · Post by **Commando_Rob** » Wed Mar 25, 2020 6:27 pm

We’re a 10 min fit, and I think they look pretty good! much better than orange, only thing I haven’t done is change the colour coded strips on the lights over from black to silver as quite like the black, what do you guys think??

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