E85 questions before buying

Z

Z-Dawg

New member
 Germany
I'm looking into E85, and my budget allows me 3.0i M54 231 hp.

I test drove one today and fell in love.
Until now, my options were:
Miata (I'm too big)
MR2 (Still too big)
Audi TT 8n (shitbox)
SLK (best alternative to E85, but boring ride)

Therefore, it was quite easy to fall in love. As I said, I'm quite tall at 6'1'' / 185 cm, and I do fit in Z4 with the top up. When I test drove it, I felt more wind on my head and neck than with the SLK. Maybe because the windows were half down?

Q1: Is there a way to reduce wind circulation? It did have a mesh wind deflector, or were the windows the issue? Or am I actually too tall again?

The car had M seats retrofitted, which I couldn't fit in, because of my lats. A different one that looks way better and I would buy if everything goes well has standard seats.

Q2: How are the standard seats heightwise compared to M Seats? Is there a way to sit lower?

I'm an audiophile, meaning I like my sound systems. I don't expect great audio quality from a small car from the 2000s, but I wouldn't really want to use a transmitter.

Q3: What's the best way to play music from a USB? I guess Bluetooth audio could work as well. What's the best way to connect to Bluetooth? Is BlueBus an option here? What does it actually do?

Please answer these questions for me. Thank you, and I can't wait to join this family.
 
Great choice.
The Msport seats can be quite narrow for some people. The last time I “upgraded” to Msport seats, I sold my standard seats to a broader gentlemen who had the same problem that you do.
If you have manually adjustable seats, these do go slightly lower than adjustable ones.
The standard (6-speaker) stereo is abysmal. Definitely worth seeking out the upgraded 10-speaker HiFi, or the top of the range DSP “top HiFi” system.
 
I'm 6'3" and i nearly always drive with no wind deflector (I have one but never use it) and the windows down when i have the roof down. Can't honestly say I've noticed any issued buy isn't that why you buy a convertible car in the first place, to get the wind in the hair experience?
 
Zedebee said:
Great choice.
The Msport seats can be quite narrow for some people. The last time I “upgraded” to Msport seats, I sold my standard seats to a broader gentlemen who had the same problem that you do.
If you have manually adjustable seats, these do go slightly lower than adjustable ones.
The standard (6-speaker) stereo is abysmal. Definitely worth seeking out the upgraded 10-speaker HiFi, or the top of the range DSP “top HiFi” system.
Click to expand...
How does the height compare to the standard seats? Do you sit higher or lower on standard seats?

I don't really care about HiFi. I want to know what's the best way to listen to music through USB and, alternatively, via phone.
 
Rockhopper said:
I'm 6'3" and i nearly always drive with no wind deflector (I have one but never use it) and the windows down when i have the roof down. Can't honestly say I've noticed any issued buy isn't that why you buy a convertible car in the first place, to get the wind in the hair experience?
Click to expand...
It was my second roadster experience, SLK was less windy, and I thought Z4 was faulty? It wasn't just on my hair; it was also in my neck, so I thought it was because the windows were half down.
 
Z-Dawg said:
It was my second roadster experience, SLK was less windy, and I thought Z4 was faulty? It wasn't just on my hair; it was also in my neck, so I thought it was because the windows were half down.
Click to expand...
Putting the windows fully up, with a wind deflector in place and the seat set low should result in next to no wind getting to you.
 
Zedebee said:
I’ve not noticed any difference in seat height
Click to expand...
Standard seats have support springs underneath but Sports seats don't. So older Sports seats can sag a bit lower than they should, but otherwise, yes, should all be the same height.
As already stated, without the electric motors underneath, the manual seats go a bit lower and a bit further back than electrically adjustable ones.
 
Welcome to the forum and good luck finding the right Z4. :thumbsup:

Another forum member who found the M-Sport seats too narrow, but wanted more side support than the standard seats as his was a track car, fitted a pair of E89 Sport seats.
 
Personally, I would look for a facelift E85. The N52 motor is so much better. I've driven an M and a 3.0 si and they were very close.
 
mothy5000 said:
The N52 motor is so much better.
Click to expand...
That is a very subjective argument. The N52 shows higher BHP figures, but you have to rev it more to get them
The M54 is a solid, torquey engine which will pull you off the line with much less drama and doesn't require the revs.
Having driven several examples of each type, I would say it depends very much on driving style and the roads you'll be using it on.
From a purely personal perspective I think I would prefer to sacrifice a few BHP for the easy power delivery of the M54.
So, @mothy5000 says personally an N52 is best, whereas I say personally the M54 is preferable.
This just shows that ideally you need to drive both to decide which suits you.
 
Z-Dawg said:
Q1: Is there a way to reduce wind circulation? It did have a mesh wind deflector, or were the windows the issue? Or am I actually too tall again?
Click to expand...
The mesh wind deflector (if it still has one) is stored under the boot lid when it's not being used.
 
There is more adjustment in the sports seats. If you have long legs, I would go for those. If it's width you need go for the standard seats. Best try to test drive and fiddle with both options. I'm 6ft 4" and the sports seats worked great for me. My hair on the other had got battered. Wind deflector and windows up.

I'll try not to get shot here. My wife has a mk3 mx5 and it is far more roomy, that the earlier and later models. It is also heavier though, so less fun to drive.
 
I'm 6'2 and whilst out yesterday it did get a bit nippy and I could feel the wind around my neck with windows fully up and deflector in place. Mind you, isn't that all part of the top-down experience?
Next time it will be a scarf - to go with my beige leather driving gloves and Peaky Blinders style cap :rofl:
Good luck in finding your E85, they are worth every moment of ownership.
 
If you buy the one with the M seats, I’ll drive to Germany and swap with my standard seats. :ROFLMAO: As long as you have heated seats!

Oh yeah and Bluemusic is what you can use to stream Bluetooth audio. If you have one with the navigation system, you can look into Carphonics or Viovox for Carplay.
 
Regarding music from your phone its ever so easy and there are many ways to achieve it. There are various bluetooth devices that can be fitted. Some have attached them near the CD changer in the boot.

I have a "Bluemusic" adapter which has a car facing connector on one end of the set of wires and a head unit connector on the other end. I think it might have been one of these (looks like there are comments in the amazon page from people who have installed in E85 successfully) but there are various makes out there, be sure to check compatability with your car and particular stereo setup.

It is ever so easy to install. Slide out the air vent and head unit in the driving compartment. Disconnect the car connector from the back of the head unit and plug it into the bluemusic device then plug the other side of the bluemusic device into the head unit. Reinstall the headunit and air vent. Job done. Then you set your car stereo to aux input (I think its the aux input I switch to) and connect your phone to the bluemusic device. Your phone sound will now stream to your stereo.
 
I'm one of those who has the BlueMusic adapter connected to the CD Changer wiring behind the centre console. Great bit of kit - very reliable and good sound, and highly recommended for bluetooth music from your phone. I believe there is also a version with a mic for handsfree calls? The changer wiring is accessed from the boot by lifting up the carpet just behind the seats/centre console, and having a hunt around for the wires/connectors (mine were very easy to locate).

There's also a version which can be plugged in to the rear of the head unit, however I gave up trying to remove the air vent (which you need to do to remove the radio unit). For some reason my air vents appear to refuse to be removed without some level of damage to the vents. I'm clearly doing something wrong there....
 
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