A few newbie queries - Z4M but queries general Z4

[Adamw]

Hi all
I’ve just purchased a lovey Z4MR as per this thread but the queries really apply to the Z4 in general:

Post in thread 'Adamw’s Z4M roadster'

Oct 21, 2025

Welcome. Silver grey is one of my favs! Lovely car

• tomscott

• 

I have a few newbie queries that I wondered if you guys might be able to help with.

1. Cup Holders - can anyone recommend where to get these and are these easy to fit?
2. Head unit - current stereo in the car didn’t come with a cd drawer or disk changer but instead an old iPod connector and a very dated gps dvd nav system. Can anyone recommend a solution that’d make playing music more easy but still in keeping with the lovely interior. Even if that’s an oem front loader cd player. Anyone have one, pls pm.
3. Headlight polish - The headlights have a slight ‘haze / misting’ on them. Not bad but I’d really like these polished. I know these can be diy but do most independent specialists also offer this?

I’m sure they’ll be more newb questions so thanks in advance.

Adam

 

[Zedebee]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

Cup holders easy to fit. Just two screws from memory and pull out the vent unit, then the cup holder screws on to the underside of the vent. Second hand OEM ones often come up for sale, but several people on here seem to have bought eBay/AliEx copies that they have been pleased with.

Head unit. You should have a 6-cd changer with that one, but someone must have removed it (check in the compartment between the seats) as they can be temperamental. I have a spare “BMW Business” (i.e. standard) head unit with a single cd front loader.

Headlights. It’s an easy DIY with good results using a kit and some elbow grease. Kits are readily available from Halfords, eBay, Amazon etc <£20. If you have more money than sense, take it to a detailer.

Good luck, and enjoy the car.

 

[Adamw]

Thanks Zedebee.
I’ll try and track down some cup holders - eBay look to be about £35 a pair so not bad.

Re stereo, thanks will check for disc changer but sure it isn’t there.
Should it be in centre section I posted ?
Also, what’s sensible going rate for front loader?

Cool, re lights I’ll give it a go

 

[Zedebee]

Cheapest BMW business radio for Z4 on eBay seems to be £35, so I’ll offer you mine for that.

If you had a cd changer it would be situated in that vacant cubby below the dvd player (for satnav).

@Adamw

 

[tomscott]

The sat nav can be upgraded to car play with a mod keeping the original design

Thread 'E85/6 Z4M CarPlay/Android Auto with original hardware'

Dec 8, 2023

Hi All,

Ive been looking for a solution like this for a while. I have toyed with the idea of replacing the original screen with a new one with all the newer tech but the downside is you loose the original functionality.

The ideal would be to have both as it keeps the car looking OEM.

Anyway ive been following a company called carphonics for a while and they do conversions for the early 2000s BMW nav systems. There are quite of a lot of examples of 3/X5/7 Series and apparently this is available on the Z too.

If you dont want to read my waffle there is loads of info linked below...

• tomscott
• Replies: 172
• Forum: "M" Specific

Cup holders are rubbish one of mine just broke. You can get OE ones or buy cheaper ones on amazon etc

If you are going to polish the headlights just remember to seal them as they will do the same very quickly..

UPDATE sorry i didnt realise you didnt have the sat nav display. You can replace the head unit with a flip out version. There are a lot of options unfortunately, most of them dont really look great.

 

[tonyz4c]

Head unit. You should have a 6-cd changer with that one, but someone must have removed it

When you have the iPod option in the glovebox, you can't have the 6cd player

Ipod emulates the 6 cd , when you press 1 instead of selecting disc1, it's select a playlist you must name play1 or something like that

I also had to unplug this iPod from head unit to install an intravee