Z4 coupe with a different engine?

esafaeian · Post by **esafaeian** » Wed Mar 22, 2023 11:33 am

Hey All,
Just a quick question, seems as though my z4 coupe has had its motor replaced at some point. From the looks of things, looks like the engine came from overseas and there’s a code next to the engine number - 11000421062 which from googling seems like is linked to short blocks for z4s (happy it seems like whoever changed the motor did it properly and not just whacked in any old second hand motor).

Problem is I don’t have any paperwork detailing why the engine short block was changed or when exactly (although I suspect it had been done after 2018).

Engine number doesn’t match the original number on the paperwork although it is now linked to the vin # on all my registration paperwork.

Should I take this as a positive in that I have what seems to be a newish motor? Looks fairly clean under the oil cap too..!

Rockhopper · Post by **Rockhopper** » Wed Mar 22, 2023 11:51 am

Have you seen the price of them!! Must have been done as part of a BMW warranty claim?

esafaeian · Post by **esafaeian** » Wed Mar 22, 2023 11:58 am

Rockhopper wrote: ↑Wed Mar 22, 2023 11:51 am Have you seen the price of them!! Must have been done as part of a BMW warranty claim?

So does it seem like this is what’s been done looking at the numbers? Guessing this is a bonus for me? Car had 100k Km and is otherwise in really good condition/well cared for.

Also if it was done as part of warranty, I’m guessing maybe was done years ago and not more recently as I had thought and the engine numbers just never updated on the state databases?

One thing that I’m concerned with is that it possibly hasn’t driven much with this engine, except probably close to 1000km since I bought it as I had to drive it across Australian states. Should I just do an early oil change and then consider it broken in? How bad is it if I revved beyond 4k a couple times possibly?

True-Blue · Post by **True-Blue** » Wed Mar 22, 2023 12:32 pm

If it’s a warranty replacement BMW should still have details I would have thought, I’d be getting in touch with them to check.

Rockhopper · Post by **Rockhopper** » Wed Mar 22, 2023 12:34 pm

It'll be fine.

mmm-five · Post by **mmm-five** » Wed Mar 22, 2023 12:39 pm

I didn't even check if my engine number / registration documents changed when I had my new S54 under warranty

inkey$ · Post by **inkey$** » Wed Mar 22, 2023 12:44 pm

Wonder if this new supplied engine included the modified head to cure lifter tick.

esafaeian · Post by **esafaeian** » Wed Mar 22, 2023 1:10 pm

inkey$ wrote: ↑Wed Mar 22, 2023 12:44 pm Wonder if this new supplied engine included the modified head to cure lifter tick.

I’ve had 3 z4 coupes and non of mine had lifter tick in the past, this engine/car included.

I called a BMW dealer today and they didn’t have any info on an engine swap..

Rockhopper · Post by **Rockhopper** » Wed Mar 22, 2023 1:41 pm

A short engine wouldn't normally include the cylinder head.

Chris_D · Post by **Chris_D** » Wed Mar 22, 2023 2:06 pm

Sometimes BMW flies under the radar and goes all shy when it comes to short engine swaps under warranty.

I bought a 40k mile E36 coupe (M52B25TU) years ago which had benefitted from a short block refresh due to the infamous Nikasil bore wear issue that BMW dropped a clanger with back in the 90's.

I discovered only after buying the car that it had had the swap done at 11k miles only after reading about the issue in BMW magazine and decided to do some research. The seller, a BMW dealer reseller had no idea about it as BMW didn't actually publicise the issue or make it known via the dealer/reseller network for obvious reasons and sold it to me as a 40k miler. That car eventually gave me another 220k faultless miles! WIN!

You need to do a lot of digging to find out which dealer carried out the work and BMW will play all innocent unless you push them hard enough. Would be interesting to hear if you can get to the bottom of it....

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smorris_12 · Post by **smorris_12** » Wed Mar 22, 2023 2:33 pm

esafaeian wrote: ↑Wed Mar 22, 2023 11:58 am How bad is it if I revved beyond 4k a couple times possibly?

It's actually far too easy with large engines to baby them too much and never bed everything in properly when new. I suspect it's why BMWs have a reputation for drinking oil and they have to say that a litre every 1000 miles is acceptable.

That engine does look fairly new, no varnish under the oil cap, but any which way, with at least a 1000 km on it, work it to red line.

esafaeian · Post by **esafaeian** » Wed Mar 22, 2023 8:56 pm

Thanks All, I’ll try digging a little deeper but more importantly I’ll stop stressing about it and will try and enjoy the car now

j3nks79 · Post by **j3nks79** » Wed Mar 22, 2023 9:27 pm

Drive it, enjoy it, service it and look after it.
Stop worrying about something you will never find the answer to.

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