I bought a 2003 E85 about 2 1/2 years ago with 90+K miles. Since it was just a good weather car, I have only driven it 3000 miles. In that time I have put now over $10,000 in repairs, most recently the left and right hinges for the convertible top $1800. Other repairs include top pump, A/C compressor, water pump, head and oil pan gaskets, oil pump, O2 sensors, side mirror control, O2 mass sensor, pulleys, motor mounts, and the list goes on. Is anyone else having these kinds of difficulties? It seems the car just fell apart at 90+K miles? Is it because the car is made in America?
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03 headache and a half
- Thread starter Mike W
- Start date
ZED_NOT_ZEE
Member
Sounds like whoever owned the car before you really hasn't taken care of it. Some problems may be due to the fact that it's a 2003 (first model year). During that year there are a lot of revisions and changes to fix some QC issues into the 2004 year. What month was your car produced?
Most of the Z4 issues on the forum involve the quality of the plastics used for the interior. (rattles, squeaks, cup holders, glove box, etc.). The soft-top pump dying due to water penetrating the housing in 03-05 cars. (tonnes of threads on this and how to fix it inexpensively). The rest of the mechanical problems you've mentioned are not unique to the Z4. Those mechanicals were used on the 3 series, 5 series, and X series cars too... most of which have went north of 90K miles by this point and still going strong.
Other parts you mentioned are wear and tear (i.e. o2 sensors, gaskets, motor mounts) and usually require refreshing at around 100k anyway.
Keep in mind that a good independent shop could've done all those repairs for A LOT less than $10k... I assume those are dealer prices you have been quoted.
Most of the Z4 issues on the forum involve the quality of the plastics used for the interior. (rattles, squeaks, cup holders, glove box, etc.). The soft-top pump dying due to water penetrating the housing in 03-05 cars. (tonnes of threads on this and how to fix it inexpensively). The rest of the mechanical problems you've mentioned are not unique to the Z4. Those mechanicals were used on the 3 series, 5 series, and X series cars too... most of which have went north of 90K miles by this point and still going strong.
Other parts you mentioned are wear and tear (i.e. o2 sensors, gaskets, motor mounts) and usually require refreshing at around 100k anyway.
Keep in mind that a good independent shop could've done all those repairs for A LOT less than $10k... I assume those are dealer prices you have been quoted.
I own a 2003 2.5i roadster, which was built in august IIRC. I've owned it since 2007 and have driven it for 80.000 or so kilometers, it now has 108.000 km on the clock.
So far, i haven't got near any kind of repair you mention. I think i should change all my silent-blocks in the drive-train including the diff ones, and i also should change the pulleys (AC, water pump, alternator). But that's about it.
In my opinion, it's a rather tough car (knowing that i've doing some track with it).
So far, i haven't got near any kind of repair you mention. I think i should change all my silent-blocks in the drive-train including the diff ones, and i also should change the pulleys (AC, water pump, alternator). But that's about it.
In my opinion, it's a rather tough car (knowing that i've doing some track with it).
Zed not Zee
Thanks for the response. The work was all done by recommended independent German car shops, but they still charge $90/hour labor here in Clearwater, Florida. If I had taken it to a dealer, I would have paid another 25% as the dealers here are at $120/hour and take longer to repair (i.e.they wanted 7 hours to replace the top pump while the shop charged 5 hours). The tag shows the car was made in April 2003.
Thanks for the response. The work was all done by recommended independent German car shops, but they still charge $90/hour labor here in Clearwater, Florida. If I had taken it to a dealer, I would have paid another 25% as the dealers here are at $120/hour and take longer to repair (i.e.they wanted 7 hours to replace the top pump while the shop charged 5 hours). The tag shows the car was made in April 2003.