Inkey$ Z4 3.0 project diary

[inkey$]

Thought I would stick with tradition and create a build diary for my newly acquired E85 Z4 3.0se. Can sometimes help others with similar issues, plus its a great opportunity to keep track of the work I need to get done during ownership. I’ve had many Z’s and know most issues, so there is a familiarity thats comforting when you compare it to the briefly owned MX5 I had this summer. There’s also much more space for 6’3” me, so thats a bonus too.

She’s a 2005 3 litre E85 SE roadster in Black Sapphire Metallic on just 60k miles and with some pretty good options. Xenon’s, heated seats, nav and refurbished 108 wheels which I’ve never been a fan of but somehow quite like them on a black car. Perhaps one day I’ll find a set of gorgeous ellipsoid’s to replace them, but for now they work well. Apparently it had a new roof motor last November too.

The car has had 5 owners, with the last one not putting more than 200 miles on the car in the last year. Its got some service history up to 2014-ish but seemed to check out and has been looked after (just without receipt). The person I bought it from did a lot of work themselves and I may investigate and BMW stamps its lacking from the book and see what’s required, but to be honest its a 17 year old car that runs pretty sweetly and just needs using/taking care of.

Bodywork looks amazing and I’m yet to find a serious blemish, however I’m a realist and know that these things usually present themselves after a first wash and detail.

What didn't work so well were the front tyres. She was on 4 x Bridgestone RFT’s and the fronts were an MOT advisory for depth. Driving home along the M2 after pickup, the steering would shake at anything near or above 60mph and on side roads would tramline and twitch. Thankfully all that has been solved by replacing them for 2 x Goodyear Asymmetric 5’s and the steering is now amazing again - no shimmy, no shake. I’m replacing the rears on Friday with the same tyres, but for now the car doesn't feel like it wants to kill me.

I also have an airbag light on and plugging in my C110+ scanner told me it was the following:
SBSR: satellite B-pillar right - 98F Resistance, firing circuit, safety battery terminal (E85), or belt tensioner, rear right (E6x), too high

Looking at the battery, I don't think its the firing circuit as that looks intact, so my guess is its the seat belt tensioner. I did clear the code but it came back on again when I restarted the car.

I’m going to book the car into my local indy for a full checkover and ask them to do whatever needs doing, as well as check the codes and software. There’s a slight clunk on low speed gear changes, which I’m guessing is a dry diff input flange.

Other jobs are for full checkover of suspensions parts and bushes, condition of the waterpump, new belts, DISA check, remove the CDV, all fluids including gearbox oil - the list goes on. She’s a great car but after little use I think a full inspection is probably due.

Then I can get busy re-waterproofing the roof, cleaning, detailing and upgrading.

The adventure with my 5th Z4 starts here….

[Mr Tidy]

It sounds like you are enjoying being back in a Z4, despite the list of things to do!

In the true spirit of the forum helping to spend other peoples' money maybe you could add sourcing M-Sport seats to the list.

[Neens76]

Looks great. Welcome.

[tomscott]

Looking forward to see what you do with this one

[inkey$]

It sounds like you are enjoying being back in a Z4, despite the list of things to do!
In the true spirit of the forum helping to spend other peoples' money maybe you could add sourcing M-Sport seats to the list.

Its easily done. Funnily enough, I may be on the lookout for some heated M-Sport seats at some point

[TOMGREEN413]

CDV looking for to watching your build diary, I think it's going to help me with answering some of the typical newby questions. Can I ask what the CDV is ? And what it does please,
So this is the new Inky black Z4 you were telling me about.......congratulations back to you Sir

[inkey$]

CDV looking for to watching your build diary, I think it's going to help me with answering some of the typical newby questions. Can I ask what the CDV is ? And what it does please,
So this is the new Inky black Z4 you were telling me about.......congratulations back to you Sir

Clutch Delay Valve (CDV). Lots of info on here, but the basic theory is that without it, early gear changes are smoother. Others say thats not the case and that you just need to learn how to change gear properly, but I’ve personally never got around to doing it on any of Zed’s, so may as well try it with this one to see what all the fuss is about

[Pondrew]

Looks like you are happy to be 'back in the Z4 fold'. Excellent!

[Mr Tidy]

Clutch Delay Valve (CDV). Lots of info on here, but the basic theory is that without it, early gear changes are smoother. Others say thats not the case and that you just need to learn how to change gear properly, but I’ve personally never got around to doing it on any of Zed’s, so may as well try it with this one to see what all the fuss is about

I've had the CDV removed from an E46 325ti, E90 330i, Z4C 3.0Si and my MC. It isn't exactly a night and day improvement and worked better on some than others, but didn't make any of them any worse so it won't do any harm!

[inkey$]

Clutch Delay Valve (CDV). Lots of info on here, but the basic theory is that without it, early gear changes are smoother. Others say thats not the case and that you just need to learn how to change gear properly, but I’ve personally never got around to doing it on any of Zed’s, so may as well try it with this one to see what all the fuss is about

I've had the CDV removed from an E46 325ti, E90 330i, Z4C 3.0Si and my MC. It isn't exactly a night and day improvement and worked better on some than others, but didn't make any of them any worse so it won't do any harm!

Did you also do the larger clutch pedal stop upgrade? I did that on my last coupe and it made quite a difference.

[tomscott]

It's funny, I didn't struggle with me Z4M coupe with the clutch but the Z4M roadster has been more tricky. They are meant to be self adjusting but the bite is much higher than my coupe. It could well be that its done a lot more milage and by different people but a clutch stop solved the issue for me

[inkey$]

Update for today. Got a few things sorted, a few things planned in and a few more things added to the list. Theres a good low mileage Zed under the grime (still not cleaned it), and I’m looking forward to treating it to some TLC.

First up today was to get the RFTs from 2016 on the rear replaced with Goodyears to match the fronts I had put on earlier this week. Nice new rear springs on full display although the hubs and brake calipers could do with some cleaning up.

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Then, it was a dash over to ETA Motorsport to book the car in for a few things:

- Inspection 2 including the usual: plugs, diff and gearbox oil, filters etc.
- Update ECU
- Investigate airbag light that keeps returning after clearing
- Check DISA valve
- Check bushes and suspension
- Adjust handbrake
- Adjust steering dead spot (at high speeds there is still adjustments needed to a slightly squirmy electronic steering)

Matt at ETA also managed to remove my gear knob which was stuck fast, leading me to believe that since I turned 50 on Monday, my strength has reduced overnight. My Storm Motorwerks handbrake lever and gear knob now installed.

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On the way to ETA after the new tyres were put on, I got the tyre pressure light appear but after pressing and holding the reset button its now gone.

Driving home hood down (natch), I noticed the centre drivers vent is broken and I cant direct the air, so I’ll either need to fix or find a replacement centre vent unit. I’ve added that to the list of second hand parts I need which also includes a drivers side fog light which is cracked.

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Going to tackle the interior this weekend if I have time. The exterior can wait until the weather improves

If it arrives in then I’m also going to add Bluetooth to the head unit and sort the charging/phone position out.

I’m having fun!

[Mr Tidy]

Did you also do the larger clutch pedal stop upgrade? I did that on my last coupe and it made quite a difference.

No I've never tried that. TBH I'm not quite sure what difference it makes.

[TOMGREEN413]

Wow......your really cracking on, loving the handbrake and gearknob combo. Where did you find them?
Apparently my Coupe I'm hopefully collecting later today is on RNF but they all have lots of tread left so I'll probably wait a few thousand miles before changing.
I'm noting down your list of jobs mechanically and will be taking mine to a local specialist to go through them, so I'll be watching your thread with interest.

[inkey$]

Wow......your really cracking on, loving the handbrake and gearknob combo. Where did you find them?
Apparently my Coupe I'm hopefully collecting later today is on RNF but they all have lots of tread left so I'll probably wait a few thousand miles before changing.
I'm noting down your list of jobs mechanically and will be taking mine to a local specialist to go through them, so I'll be watching your thread with interest.

Cheers Tom. Handbrake and gear know are from Storm Motorwerks. HIghly recommended and transforms the interior and gear changes.
http://www.storm-motorwerks.com/interior/bmw/
Hopefully you’re en route now to get the coupe, so have fun and when you get back, take a look at my build thread I created for my last Zed. Lots of reading material too.
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