Barty's Green Z4 Coupé - Not another one…

[Barty]

UPDATED 10-11: Lights, Maintenance, Alps!
Trip No. 2, this time the classic annual Alpine trip. Before that, I decided to treat the Zed to some preventive maintenance as well as a much needed light upgrade. Read on here.

UPDATED 06-10: NC500 Adventures & ZedFest 2023
A trip Max, Joël and I had been looking forward to for the better part of a year was finally here. The NC500 and Zedfest 2023, what a trip it's been. Read on here.

UPDATED 06-06: Aero and Automotive Appreciation; Good updates come in Threes
Life's all about ups and downs, and how you deal with them. While the aero adventures related to Thomas aren't going well, there's still plenty to enjoy. Read on here.

UPDATED 26-04: Project PDM
12 Months from now, I'll start on what is no doubt the biggest project I've ever undertaken. So in celebration of that to-be milestone, I've bought myself another headache! More on that here.

UPDATED 13-02: Zandvoort Stumble, Seating Arrangements & Nosejobs
Didn’t quite manage to end 2022 on a high, with a reverse-expedition into the tyres at turn 12 on Zandvoort. More on those repairs, a final phase 2 interior upgrade and a whole new look here!

UPDATED 01-12: Aero Adventures, Muddy Hoons & Zandvoort Trackday
While I got my personal fill of aero parts, it seems more were yet in order! I also took the Zed to Zandvoort for a 30-minute blast around the GP track. Want to see the coupe the dirtiest it's been so far? Click right here

UPDATED 23-09: Como Revival, Croatian Capers & Wiper Woes
My first furore into Z4 ownership was a trip to Como. This year, it was the stepping stone to a week in Croatia. In preparation, the Zed got a little TLC, a CDV delete as well as new callipers. The trip was fun, although I did have one failure… Read it right here!

UPDATED 25-07: Aero Upgrades and the start of Interior Phase 2
Aero skirts and related components have become something of a treasure these days. I'm happy to say I've managed to strike gold, thanks to the help of one of this forum's greats. The interior has also undergone further work. Read more here!

UPDATED 01-05: Interior Phase 1 now complete
It's been a long time coming, but finally all the right parts came together in what is now officially the biggest job I've ever taken on for one of my cars. So far... Check it out here.

UPDATED 20-03: New Boots
Finally fitted and by popular demand: bronze CSL's on a green Z4... Classic combo, take a look.

UPDATED 22-12: Interior Madness
While the cream and wood may look good in an XJ or classic 7-series, I never fancied it in the Zed. So off on a slightly mental daytrip to fix that! Read more here.

UPDATED 23-11: Full Detail Results
Having a detailing studio comes with the perk of being able to really go all-in on your own car. The results can be found here.

UPDATED 27-09: Take Two
See that lovely white Z4 below? That was, by quite some margin, the shortest car-ownership experience I've been involved in thusfar. Check out this post for what came next...

Introduction
After my introduction in the newbies section, I figured it's now time to introduce not just myself but the car as well: a white E86 3.0Si coupe. I've always wanted an Z4 coupe but never had the A) means or B) chance. That is, until now!

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Just over 2 weeks ago I went to see a white Z4 3.0Si. Individual interior spec, auto-box and in decent shape. Technically well-looked after, but in need of some visual improvement. Fortunately being the owner of a detailing studio has its perks, so we'll put her through the full process some time this winter. As this takes between 60 to 100 hours total, it won't be a quick job!

I picked up the car on Friday evening, 13th of August. That Saturday was a long work day, so didn't get to drive the car at all. Normally, that would have been somewhat disappointing, however... Sunday morning at 04.00, I set off on an 1100km drive to lake Como in Italy with a few car-minded friends. What better way to get to know your new car than to take it to the Alps

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Testdrive
Over the course of last week, I've added a total of around 2700km to the 151.500 already on the clock, including two 1100km trips on the autobahn and Swiss motorways (oh soooo smooth). What I've learned: I can't get enough of that straight-six howl when you go past 5000rpm. Which, on the autobahn, requires you to go well past 200kph if you want to sustain the noise

The car ran like an absolute dream- eventually. When I first got it, it rattled like a bag of spanners due to it having been stationary for a few weeks. Nothing a long drive couldn't fix though, as after the first 10 minutes it started to quiet down and when up to temperature it purred like a kitten. The rattle never came back either, so I've put it down to the lifters not being oiled up properly. As for consumption: not a drop of oil, but plenty of fuel. The motorway blast (cruise at 160-200kph) led to a consumption of roughly 9 litres per 100km. Not bad for such a big lump, especially compared to my previous 1750 Alfa 159 which used 11 litres per 100km. Heavy right foot in a heavy car and all that.

In the Alps, the Z4 really managed to impress. The engine pulls smoothly and the box goes through the gears nicely. One thing I've noticed is a slight whine when rising through the revs above 2500rpm. Sounds like it's coming from the front, so unlikely to be the diff. If anyone has any common pointers, feel free to share.

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The steering feel is somewhat vague and at speed it feels planted yet twitchy. An adjustment of the excentric ring on the steering column is in order it seems.

Funny (afterwards) incident on the way home: a final push to hit 250kph resulted in a loud THUMP and a black piece of plastic going for a hard right. As it turned out, the headlight service hatch in the right wheelarch decided to eject at 70 metres per second. When in Italy, I noticed it was missing one of its two lips as well as a twist-lock. New item on order, since this one is now scattered across half a kilometer of German autobahn

Updates and Upgrades
Any plans? Short answer: loads! First things first, a stubby. I've already got it lying around waiting to be fitted, however the old one snapped off when trying to remove it, so a new antenna base is on order. Meanwhile, I've retrofitted LED indicators in the sides and rears giving a nice and crisp on/off cut-off. Fronts will have to wait, as I can't quite get to them through the service hatch (even when it's gone missing). Nice little touch by the seller: they fitted weighted hub caps which stay upright while the wheels turn. A gimmick which so far has proven highly entertaining when stuck in traffic, as you can frequently see people do a double-take when rolling by slowly

Also, new kidney grills were fitted under the Italian sunshine; gloss black to contrast nicely with the white paint. The roof and mirror-supports will be painted gloss black this winter (preferred over wraps), and I'll be upgrading to a set of M-bumpers as well. Interior? While I do like the two-tone leather, I've always lusted after Amarone extended leather. So maybe I'll be putting the current interior into vacuum storage and overhaul the entire interior. Fun winter projects...

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I'll use this thread to keep track of my progress. If you want to see more pics: @bartsbimmer on Instagram

[groovy_hippy]

Lovely! They look great in white don’t they
Perhaps yours is my Zed’s Dutch cousin?

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[1536Z4]

Nice car , nice write up and nice views Is it a custom exhaust or well know manufacturer ?

[Zedebee]

Lovely looking car. Each to his own, but I wouldn't put amarone in that, the two tone interior is amazing.

[Argyll Andy]

Hello and welcome, lovely looking car and another one for not changing the interior. It sits very well with the car

[Mr Tidy]

It sounds like you had a great road trip! And a trip like that certainly lets you bond with your new car.

If the N52 engine is left unused for a while some tapping from the lifters on cold start-up isn't unusual, so the best solution is to use the car more.

[Dark Diggler]

Great write up and lovely car, what terrible views you have to endure!
The whine you talk of is something I’m keen to hear opinions on, I’m leaning towards the serpentine belt area, maybe a pulley or maybe some interference, mine is on revs in and out of gear so not the diff, It’s not loud but I know it’s there. Need to investigate when I get a minute.
I do like your car

[Barty]

Thanks all for the warm welcome! For those saying not to change the interior: I get where you're coming from, and I really am in two minds about it... I'll stick with the two-tone for a while and take care of a few other things first. In any case I wouldn't be getting rid of the original interior, so I could always revert back at some point. Be it for a sale or because the mood takes me.

Great write up and lovely car, what terrible views you have to endure!
The whine you talk of is something I’m keen to hear opinions on, I’m leaning towards the serpentine belt area, maybe a pulley or maybe some interference, mine is on revs in and out of gear so not the diff, It’s not loud but I know it’s there. Need to investigate when I get a minute.
I do like your car

The serpentine belt has crossed my mind, so it's something I'll be changing somewhere this autumn including the pulleys and waterpump. On top of that, some regular maintenance and an upgrade of the brakes. Just to make sure everything's in good order. If anyone has any further pointers on the whine (rise and fall with revs, irrespective of gear or in neutral), feel free to share! I'll be taking it to my local trusty indy for a full inspection soon, he's always taken good care of our 118D and has been specialised in BMW for over 30 years now (before that, he was a BMW head mechanic for nearly 10 years but couldn't agree with the dealer culture).

[inkey$]

Great write up and beautiful car (which I’m also following the progress on via Instagram )
Best line of the piece…”the headlight service hatch in the right wheelarch decided to eject at 70 metres per second”

[Barty]

Lovely! They look great in white don’t they
Perhaps yours is my Zed’s Dutch cousin?

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Sure could be from the looks of it! White does show off those lines beautifully. What I particularly like is the flame surfaces really come into their own when light hits them from certain angles. The design has aged incredibly well, and parked next to my girlfriend's E81 in grey you can really see the family heritage coming through.

Great write up and beautiful car (which I’m also following the progress on via Instagram )
Best line of the piece…”the headlight service hatch in the right wheelarch decided to eject at 70 metres per second”

Ha thanks! Likewise on your Monaco Blue beauty. Really like the amber touches you've reintroduced into the design.

Regarding the -err- "trim-cident": when something like this happens at these speeds, you really do need to be able to look at it with a sense of "that could have been worse" as we first thought it may have been a tyre that let go. My previous 159 came from the Czech republic (Rosso Competizione is really hard to come by) and on the way back we got hit with a massive thunderstorm. No biggie, turn on the wipers and -oh, there go the rubbers; came clean off from the blades themselves. Naturally, not a single petrol station had wipers that would fit the Alfa, so the drive back pretty much left a crease in the alcantara of the seat where my cheeks were clenched tight enough to crack a walnut.

Moral of the story: whenever I buy a car, I have to leave something behind on the way back home over the German autobahn...

[Barty]

Update 27-08

Today the replacement headlight hatch came in, so as of now my car is once again waterproof

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Although I say that… on the way back from the stores, a thin rubber strip came off from between the windscreen and the rubber cover strip itself. Anyone know whether this affects the waterproofing of my car? And if so; can the strip be replaced or does it require removal of the actual screen?

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I’ve also replaced the aerial base for a fresh one, since the previous one had what remained of my original aerial stuck in it. Joined the stubby-side of life while I was at it too…

More soon!

[Dark Diggler]

Trim can be replaced without the glass being removed.
Part no is 51317017021, this YouTube video is pretty accurate,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6YTW4_ ... e=youtu.be
I had a slight issue with the channel between the glass and the roof being fouled by he windscreen sealant, no problem, just carefully scraped it out with a blade and small flat screwdriver, the strip went in fine after that, I used some soap and water solution to make it super easy.
I paid £33 from bmw for the strip. From what I gather, the strip is more aesthetic than practical in terms of water ingress.

[Barty]

Trim can be replaced without the glass being removed.
Part no is 51317017021, this YouTube video is pretty accurate,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6YTW4_ ... e=youtu.be
I had a slight issue with the channel between the glass and the roof being fouled by he windscreen sealant, no problem, just carefully scraped it out with a blade and small flat screwdriver, the strip went in fine after that, I used some soap and water solution to make it super easy.
I paid £33 from bmw for the strip. From what I gather, the strip is more aesthetic than practical in terms of water ingress.

Thanks for the info, much appreciated! I'll look into it this autumn, and consider changing the windscreen anyway. It's covered in deeper scratches due to a previous owner not bothering with replacing the wipers every now and then.

[ZedsDeadbabyZedzdead]

Shame about the lazy last owner not changing the wipers, I can’t understand why people are too tight to spend something like £30 on a nice car like these.

[Barty]

Shame about the lazy last owner not changing the wipers, I can’t understand why people are too tight to spend something like £30 on a nice car like these.

Too often these cars end up being driven for a few months and then moved on to the next owner, as the previous one can't be bothered to do some proper maintenance. The history is pretty solid (thank god) but I'll be taking on a few preventive measures this autumn (oil, filters, spark plugs, new WP and thermostat, brake upgrade planned anyway) to make sure we're all good to go. Wipers were the first thing I replaced myself, as well as some small stuff.