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3.0 si - common issues & have I got a deal?

2003 - 2009, roadster, coupe, facelift
Andrew Sheldon
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3.0 si - common issues & have I got a deal?

Post by Andrew Sheldon » Tue Mar 16, 2021 12:47 pm

Bit strange the timing chain was replaced with that relatively low mileage, I would definitely want to know why is was necessary to do this work..
Having said that I have a 2006 E85 and BMW deemed it necessary to change the timing chain when in actual fact the problem with the car had nothing to do with the chain whatsoever... Try and find out a wee bit more about its history...

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skelters
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3.0 si - common issues & have I got a deal?

Post by skelters » Tue Mar 16, 2021 1:34 pm

ABS Pump
Water Pump
Starter Motor
Window Regulator
Coil Packs
Sensors
Bushes
Spring should be treated as a consumable.
Brake discs and pads
Suspension

You're possibly buying a car that's 13 years old so things will go wrong, will need fixed or need replaced.

Get the car checked by the AA or RAC before making an offer.

Budget for at least £1000 on getting things fixed.

Check the MOT history.
2007 Z4 3.0si Sport. Silver Grey Metallic, Brembo Brakes, HEL Braided Brake Hoses, Machine Monkey Exhaust Tips, Stubby, Piano Black trim, Black Leather, Bilstein B12-Pro-Kit, Michelin Pilot Sport 4 on MV2's. Roof Motor in the Boot!

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3.0 si - common issues & have I got a deal?

Post by Zedebee » Tue Mar 16, 2021 3:43 pm

Gg.z495 wrote: Tue Mar 16, 2021 11:37 am You mention that it can become costly if not a DIY’er... I must admit I am not the best at DIY, although, I have heard elsewhere that many tutorials are on YouTube? Do you know if that’s the case and would these videos suffice for a novice like myself?

Thank you!!
Greg
Hi Greg and welcome to the forum.

Most jobs on the z4 can be done with a bit of common sense and patience. Good problem solving ability and a sense of humour helps as well!

You will need some tools. The z4 needs some “special” tools not found in your average Halfords/Amazon tool kit (or, as I have, collected over time) e.g. 16mm and 18mm sockets, torx keys, torx wrenches, breaker bar, to name a few which I have had to acquire during Z ownership.

Good luck, it’s a rewarding car to work on.
2003 Maldives Blue 3.0i auto
Previously: Maldives Blue 2.5i manual (its back!) and another, and a Monaco Blue 3.0Si coupe

Gg.z495
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3.0 si - common issues & have I got a deal?

Post by Gg.z495 » Tue Mar 16, 2021 5:24 pm

Thanks to you all for your kind words and sharing your advice + knowledge. It’s much appreciated.

Can confirm I’m off for the viewing on Saturday and if all is in good order, I’m going to go for it!! :D

Cheers :thumbsup:

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3.0 si - common issues & have I got a deal?

Post by Gg.z495 » Tue Mar 16, 2021 6:02 pm

Thank you to everyone for the advice and knowledge shared. Some really helpful bits of information there and I feel much more confident proceeding with this.

I have arranged the viewing for this saturday and if all is in order I will be going for it! Exciting stuff...

The following advisories are pulling through on the MOT check but the garage are telling me they'll get the MOT cleaned out prior to service.
  • Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))
    Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))
    Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement rear bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))
    Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement rear bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))
    Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))
    Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))
Can anyone advise if any of these are signs of problems to come?

Thank you!

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Smartbear
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3.0 si - common issues & have I got a deal?

Post by Smartbear » Tue Mar 16, 2021 6:05 pm

Have the garage said they’re fixing the advisory items? They need sorting or they’re going to get worse.
Rob
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e89 Sdrive 20i, plenty of mumbo & good economy-the thinking bears z4
e89 Sdrive 30i, this ones busted, pass me another...
e85 3.0si sold

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3.0 si - common issues & have I got a deal?

Post by Jl-c » Tue Mar 16, 2021 6:47 pm

Gg.z495 wrote: Tue Mar 16, 2021 6:02 pm Thank you to everyone for the advice and knowledge shared. Some really helpful bits of information there and I feel much more confident proceeding with this.

I have arranged the viewing for this saturday and if all is in order I will be going for it! Exciting stuff...


The following advisories are pulling through on the MOT check but the garage are telling me they'll get the MOT cleaned out prior to service.
  • Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))
    Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))
    Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement rear bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))
    Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement rear bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))
    Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))
    Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))
Can anyone advise if any of these are signs of problems to come?

Thank you!

IMHO these are all signs of issues to come and you should bite the bullet and get it all done, before more things wear. Then you have a good "starting point" to work from. You will also learn how the car should behave then you will be far more aware when something doesn't feel right. Get it done and enjoy it! :thumbsup:
Ex E86 Z4 3.0si coupé facelift blue now Z'less
Porsche 997 C2S black-gone-, Mazda Eunos 1.8 yellow-gone-, Audi S4 Avant v6 Quattro 3.0 supercharged red-gone. Abarth 500 red. Abarth 124 Spider GT black. Porsche Cayenne red.

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3.0 si - common issues & have I got a deal?

Post by Toed64 » Tue Mar 16, 2021 8:11 pm

I'm impressed with this forum...lots of friendly, sensible and accurate advice above.

The N52 engine fitted to the si version of the Z4, is known to be one of the most reliable engines BMW has made. My last daily driver was a 130i with the same engine and I chose my December 2008 E85 si because it is a lovely engine. BMW main dealers have always practised a carefully crafted smoke and mirrors game to make their customers believe that it is essential to use them rather than a good local garage, or independent BMW specialist. Actually, these cars are not hugely complicated and most of the tech is now quite elderly as this model shares most of its mechaincal parts with the E46 3 series from 1990s.

BMW claims that the gearbox and diff are sealed for life and do not need to have their fluids (and in the case of an automatic, their filters) replaced. BMW does not manufacture its own gearboxes or diffs. Many of the diffs are Drexlers and the gearboxes are often ZF. Both of these companies suggest that they are serviced. The diff is simple and cheap to drain and refill. The automatic gearbox is more expensive to service because the filter is supplied as part of the pan, but it is a job that is well worth doing. The gearbox oil in omn of my 1 series BMWs was blackened and silvery at under 50,000 miles. Gearbox oil is golden. I was worried that the gearbox would let go, but it was fine (and still is 4 years later - I know the chap that bought it), the quality of the gear change improved markedly over the next few hundred miles.

As mentioned above, the electric water pump and thermostat is likely to die at some point soon, unless they've already been replaced. I have wondered whether thes things might fail less frequently if the coolant were to be replaced...they died on my previous 135i just after the warranty ran out and with only 50,000 miles on the clock.

The electric power steering motor may give up. My 2008 130i epas motor died when the car had 58000 miles on the clock and was 9 years old. The motor was a brute to remove from the rack, but was fixed for about £300 with a lifetime warranty.

There are plastic wells into which the roof drains on each side behind the seat belts. The drains block and then the roof motor is immersed in water with obvious consequences. Obviously these need to be kept clear. Some owners relocate the roof motor into the boot. I decided that the most easily effected precaution is to remove the rubber spider inhibitors in the bottom of the drain tubes to avoid them blocking up. They are accessible from underneath, inside the rear end of each sill.

I think mine drives much better on normal, rather than runflat tyres. The ride quality is much less crashy and I think the ultimate adhesion is also better on Michelin PS4s.

Front suspension trailing arm bushes wear out and the cars become twitchy and tramline, badly. They are only about £20 each and replacing them makes a huge difference.

The comment above about the need for timing chain replacement is quite important. Find out if anything else was done at that time.

The Z4 is a rewarding daily driver. It is from an era just before made things much more complicated and I really enjoy its relative simplicity. I have had a lot of nice cars, but this Z4 is one of my favourites.
E85 3.0si manual

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enuff_zed
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3.0 si - common issues & have I got a deal?

Post by enuff_zed » Wed Mar 17, 2021 9:06 am

Gg.z495 wrote: Tue Mar 16, 2021 6:02 pm Thank you to everyone for the advice and knowledge shared. Some really helpful bits of information there and I feel much more confident proceeding with this.

I have arranged the viewing for this saturday and if all is in order I will be going for it! Exciting stuff...

The following advisories are pulling through on the MOT check but the garage are telling me they'll get the MOT cleaned out prior to service.
  • Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))
    Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))
    Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement rear bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))
    Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement rear bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))
    Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))
    Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))
Can anyone advise if any of these are signs of problems to come?

Thank you!
Brake hoses speak for themselves.
The other four will all be cured by fitting new front wishbones with new lollipops (that's the bush the 'pin' sits in).
I suspect with garage labour rates you'll be looking at close to £500 for that lot, if you factor in a complete brake fluid change too. May as well while the hoses are being swapped.

As a guide, my wife's car had those bottom four advisories and about 6 months after the MOT they started knocking and I had both sides changed.
HQ of 'Norfolk Zed Rescue'.
Always happy to help if I can.

If the forum helped you, why not help the forum back. Thats the Z4 way! :thumbsup:
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