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To really Mod or not

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Str6mik
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Post by Str6mik » Mon Jan 15, 2018 5:22 pm

I bow to the collective brainpower of the forum to answer me a dilemma..

I've had my Z4 for over a year now, I bought it with the intention of keeping it forever, and something to drive only in the summer and at weekends.

The car is immaculate, people who have seen it have said it is one of the best examples they have seen, and it wants for nothing - if a bolt goes rusty, it gets replaced.

I absolutely love it as an object, and love that it isn't losing any money. But I can't help but feel it isn't 'quite' special to have as just a weekend car, and the opportunity cost of having the Z in the garage is preventing me getting into something that would

I think the car has potential - and I'm debating modding it. I've already done small things - pagid pads, rogue mounts but am contemplating fitting carbon intake, and shrick cams which would make the car far more special.

My problem is by doing this am I totally invalidating the first reason I bought it - and limiting the potential market, and return on the car by modifying it?

I know this is slightly biased in that its a Z4 forum, but would seeing the car tastefully modded with the above mods influence the price you would pay ?

In my view It's dying to be turned into a mini CSL, but can't quite pull the trigger! It's a constant conundrum that is annoying me beyond belief.

If I sold the Z4 I would likely get a Cayman GT4 / new Cayman GTS - but they obviously incur a significant financial hit

Any thoughts welcome

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Tcochrane92
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Post by Tcochrane92 » Mon Jan 15, 2018 5:25 pm

For me personally, it would influence me to pay more for the car as it's more desirable to me

But, if I were to do the mods you mentioned to my own Z4m (which I would like to do), then I'd return the car to stock before selling it
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MrPT
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Post by MrPT » Mon Jan 15, 2018 6:05 pm

If you can afford a Cayman GTS or GT4 then go for it. Diminishing "specialness per £" compared to the ///M, but they are more capable cars and the risk of you losing money in the long term (assuming you can find a good one and aren't totally ripped off) is minimal.

If not, then suspension, brakes, carbon airbox/intake, lighter alloys and seats will give you something a lot more special for less than the cost of 1 silly bitcoin. :)
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Post by mmm-five » Mon Jan 15, 2018 6:06 pm

The problem with mods (which I’ve encountered myself) is that it might make the car more desirable...but only to a subset of the potential market.

The Z4M market being small in the first place doesn’t help, as this further reduces your audience.

It will sell, it not for necessarily more than a standard one, and it may take more time to sell.

If I had to do it again, I’d return it to standard. For example I’ve still got my original back-boxes, mats, air box... it won’t have original springs, dampers or calipers as these were all replaced at end-of-life (man maths). But it probably won’t make any difference in my case as no one will buy a Z4M with more than 100k miles :P
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jimmybell
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Post by jimmybell » Mon Jan 15, 2018 6:27 pm

what mmm-five said.

Personally if i was buying back in to a z4m, i'd be keen on the cams etc, as i know the car / engine well enough to appreciate it (though would be beneficial to ensure a reputable indy does the work, and proof of such on sale). But anyone not in the know, with no Z4M (or S54) experience might be put off by 'engine mods'. In the average mindset - engine tuning = risky = it's gona explode! Even if the shrick cams/followers are actually harder wearing.

With mine i never did anything beyond OEM+, anything was either removable or very commonplace among owners. That being said - removing shrick cams/followers pre-sale ain't gonna be financially sensible.
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Post by RedUn » Tue Jan 16, 2018 1:33 am

Str6mik wrote: Mon Jan 15, 2018 5:22 pmI bow to the collective brainpower of the forum to answer me a dilemma..

I've had my Z4 for over a year now, I bought it with the intention of keeping it forever, and something to drive only in the summer and at weekends.

The car is immaculate, people who have seen it have said it is one of the best examples they have seen, and it wants for nothing - if a bolt goes rusty, it gets replaced.

I absolutely love it as an object, and love that it isn't losing any money. But I can't help but feel it isn't 'quite' special to have as just a weekend car, and the opportunity cost of having the Z in the garage is preventing me getting into something that would

I think the car has potential - and I'm debating modding it. I've already done small things - pagid pads, rogue mounts but am contemplating fitting carbon intake, and shrick cams which would make the car far more special.

My problem is by doing this am I totally invalidating the first reason I bought it - and limiting the potential market, and return on the car by modifying it?

I know this is slightly biased in that its a Z4 forum, but would seeing the car tastefully modded with the above mods influence the price you would pay ?

In my view It's dying to be turned into a mini CSL, but can't quite pull the trigger! It's a constant conundrum that is annoying me beyond belief.

If I sold the Z4 I would likely get a Cayman GT4 / new Cayman GTS - but they obviously incur a significant financial hit

Any thoughts welcome
Have you still not fitted that box :poke: :P

Seriously though I guess it depends if your doing it with your head or your heart and how raw / intimate you want the driving experience...

I think you would want to mod the porka eventually 8)
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Post by Bottom » Tue Jan 16, 2018 10:00 am

Do the shocks and springs first, totally transformed my car for the better, sorry if you’ve already done it, but IMO extra power is totally wasted when the car doesn’t handle properly.
Then again I’m not interested in going fast in a straight line, the bends are where the fun is.

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Post by Muckinonthesofa » Tue Jan 16, 2018 10:21 am

Good question. I have never been into modify cars, always keeping them factory standard. BUT..... I have put a few mods on my Z4MC because of the obvious improvement they make over factory standard. When I bought my car it was standard apart from the intravee, something I would of fitted as it adds to the car in a unobtrusive way and imo can only be seen as a plus. I have also taken out the CDV, fitted a ZHP gear stick, fitted a Gruppe M induction and Bilstein B12's. Some of which address some of the well known flaws in the original car. At the moment I'm not looking for more power so engine mods aren't on my list but one day potentially brakes and wheels (again, I'd keep the orignals).

If I was looking to buy now, these mods would undoubtedly make my car more a more attractive proposition as a purchase to me. I do know that it wouldn't be for others so I've kept all the original parts to revert back if I ever sell and someone wants factory standard.

If you want to modify it do it, have like you want but maybe be prepared to return to factory spec if necessary. :thumbsup:
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Post by Fishy Dave » Tue Jan 16, 2018 10:49 am

I would personally opt for bolt-ons that can be removed at a later date a. if you sell it or b. you realise that you've spoilt it!
Brakes, exhaust, intake, suspension all make a difference.
In years gone by I spent (wasted) a lot of money on modifying a car and regretted it, with performance mods that changed the nature of the car, making it harder to sell. I wished I had spent the money on driving it around Europe or just using it more in this country.
Cams on our engines don't make a big enough performance difference to justify the cost (IMHO), UNLESS you have to replace bits anyway.
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Post by Beedub » Tue Jan 16, 2018 5:01 pm

replied on PH :-) same applies here!!
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jimmybell
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Post by jimmybell » Tue Jan 16, 2018 6:17 pm

Beedub wrote: Tue Jan 16, 2018 5:01 pmreplied on PH :-) same applies here!!
traitor.

:D
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Post by Beedub » Tue Jan 16, 2018 9:27 pm

jimmybell wrote: Tue Jan 16, 2018 6:17 pm
Beedub wrote: Tue Jan 16, 2018 5:01 pmreplied on PH :-) same applies here!!
traitor.

:D

hahaha
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Post by FD3S » Wed Jan 17, 2018 1:01 am

I had the same questions before modding my car. It was also after 1 year of having it.
The moment I heard a CSL airbox it was clear to me that I want this definitely.

All the mods that you list are reversible except the cams maybe, so that is not an issue. If I had to sell the car, I would do it without the mods and I keep for that reason all the stock parts.

I believe that the mods will renew your affair with your car. Personally I do not regret it.

Str6mik
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Post by Str6mik » Sun Jan 21, 2018 11:01 pm

Many many thanks for the replies - some very articulately made . Just had the car detailed - it looks phenomenal! like a new car. I'm not sure I can get rid of it. I'm going to try and keep it, mod it and hopefully buy a new Cayman GTS.

Thanks for the replies again.

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Post by RedUn » Sun Jan 21, 2018 11:35 pm

You've already ticket the Cayman box, why not try something else? You could get a reasonable 996 gt3 for similar money 8)
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