I'd always wanted to own a Z4 coupe having opted for a 130i a few years ago, but I finally got the opportunity to get into one in June of last year, and the ownership experience definitely didn't disappoint.
It's such a special car, and I have a certain bias towards the shape of the coupe, but I still think they look absolutely fantastic and I hope to own another in the future.
Alas, at this time, a different passion in the shape of a snowboard needs to be pursued, and the car needs to be sold because I have no idea when I'll return to the UK.
I bought the car off of a fellow forum member, HGoward, who had documented a few bits that he had done to it on here.
The car wasn't perfect when I bought it, but I thought it would be a keeper so I was happy to take it in the state it was in (which was good, just not perfect!) with the intention of transforming it into an OEM+ style build.
I love to do track days and Nurburgring trips, but only managed the one at Brands Hatch and thankfully was smart enough not to spend thousands in modifications that I would never get back!
I've got a build thread that documents anything I've done to the car, in the short time that I've had it. viewtopic.php?t=136671
It's got Michelin Pilot Sport 4 on the front, about 6mm across on each tyre.
Michelin Super Sport on the rear, one side has approx 5mm across the tyre, other has a minimum depth of 3.6mm on the inner third, with 4.2mm on the outer third (as it's lowered it has negative camber).
Standard specification from factory:
Sapphire Black
Black leather interior
Sports seats (not heated)
Cruise control
Piano black trim (not sure if this is factory or retrofit, as MDecoder states "S4AD Brushed Aluminium")
Sat-nav
Rain Sensor
Automatic A/C
Rear PDC (Parking sensors)
Cup holders
She does have a few modifications, as follows:
Custom backbox created by DTMotorsport (local motorsport engineering firm). It's loud, has a surprisingly deep tone, but isn't unbearable at motorway cruising speeds.
Bilstein B12 Pro kit (Eibach springs with Bilstein Dampers)
Storm Motorwerks Gearknob and Handbrake Handle
Buckley Aluminium indicator badges/covers
Z4M Front Antiroll bar with Powerflex purple ARB bushes
Maxton Design rear spoiler
Tinted rear quarter windows & rear screen
Black front & rear BMW badges
Camber pin "mod" - removed the camber pin from the front top mounts to gain a touch more negative camber
Clutch Delay Valve removed
Stubby aerial
Black grills
Sound deadening added underneath boot carpet
12mm front spacers, 15mm rear spacers
Style 108 Wheels
Powerflex Black Trailing Arm Bushes
Powerflex Purple Rear Differential bush
Service history is as follows:
Stamped in booklet;
16389
44581
79814
92964
109846
117842
121671
From receipts;
129k
135k
140,755 (most recent)
The ever so troublesome waterpump was also replaced with the thermostat at 117k.
There is a folder full of invoices for various parts purchased and work carried out.
In terms of work that I've done/had done to it in my ownership, I have done some necessary fixes, and some preventative fixes (Again, I thought this was a keeper and wanted to change certain things for peace of mind).
Bosch Reman Starter Motor (old one died in McDonalds car park)
New Oil filler cap (old one was weeping)
New inlet manifold gaskets (came with the car so I fitted them whilst I was doing the starter motor)
Oil filter housing & Oil cooler gaskets
Aluminium "Mickey Mouse" fitting for the coolant pipe into the head. The original is plastic and becomes extremely brittle with the heat cycles, so this was an upgrade instead of having to replace the entire hose.
New top radiator hose (from rad to oil filter housing)
New INA Belt tensioner & Aux belt (This wasn't strictly necessary as I saw evidence it was replaced in 2018, but I managed to get oil on the belt doing the gaskets and changed them both whilst there)
Both seatbelts have been replaced with brand new items from BMW, as it failed the MOT test on this. Expensive, but peace of mind for years to come.
Oil & Filter service
Brake fluid replaced with ATE Typ200
New MeyleHD front droplinks
New ARB Brackets and nuts
More recently, I've had the following replaced because I had bought the parts last year, but never got round to fitting them, and I want the car to be in as good condition as possible for the new owner.
2 front wheel bearings (SKF)
New Brembo discs & pads all around
New eccentric shaft sensor
New eccentric shaft sensor gasket
Rocker cover gasket
Rocker cover bolts (they're single use on the silver top)
New Valvetronic gasket
New outer tie rods R&L
New handbrake shoes
New rear bump stops (Bilstein)
New Powerflex rear diff bush
Powerflex Black rear trailing arm bushes
Oil & Filter change
It'll also come with a new Febi CCV kit (I bought this as a spare in case we snapped any of the pipes when changing the rocker cover)
2x SKF rear wheel bearings (we didn't fit these as the current ones are in perfect working order, so only replaced the fronts)
Bad bits:
Like most cars at this mileage, the bodywork is the area that has suffered the most. It's not terrible, but I'd rather be as honest as can be, as I don't have time to mess or be messed around, and would prefer for this to go to another forum member because I'd like to keep track of what happens to her!
Front end has stone chips. The front bumper was actually resprayed by the previous owner before I bought it, but then he did the NC500 before the paint had cured, so it got battered again! Some were attempted to be touched up, but they're not great.
Rear bumper could use a respray. I bought it second hand to replace the Z4M one that was previously fitted, and the seller hadn't mentioned that the paint had started to come off one of the corners, so that was a pleasant surprise. There are also surface scratches and a hole under the bumper that my jack handle went through! Can't see it when fitted, but wanted to make any viewer aware.
Small rust spot on the corner of the passenger door (pictured). It's the only rust I've managed to find on the car.
Usual window scratches on both sides.
Lifters can sometimes be a bit noisy, but this is a common issue with the N52. If you "bleed" them, it goes away for a while, but does come back.
Driver's bolster is worn, and the seat cushion looks to have collapsed slightly. After 141k miles and 9 owners, not too surprised! (My plan was to put either Recaros or Cobra bucket seats in, so never bothered to do anything about it)
Some slight cracks/scratches in the paint of the centre console, presumably where elbows and arms have been rested.
Alcantara steering wheel cover isn't the best fitting item, but it can be easily removed as the original leather is still underneath.
One of the front wheels has some kerb marks.
After carrying out all of the recent work and taking it for a drive, I'm even more gutted to be selling this. There was a clunk from the rear end on gear changes due to the diff bush which has been sorted, and also the car used to flex a bit from the rear end
when turning into a corner - the Powerflex trailing arm bushes have completely changed this behaviour because the originals were floppy and it's now an absolute hoot to throw around on a B-road.
All in all, it's a good, honest car that I have no doubts the new owner will enjoy for many more miles.
Price: £6,750.
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