Audio options & ride comfort decisions aaaggghhh! HELP!

I

iwatchlive

Member
 doing the E of my BASE
Hi All

I am lucky enough to have just been given the opportunity to double my available budget for a Z4 :D , so I have a few questions regarding audio selection and ride comfort options on the Z4. The Salesman @BMW dealer I talked to got confused :cry: -which didn't help, so I thought I'd ask the real experts here.

Audio:
Having read through all the posts relating to audio options, I am still lost on the difference between standard, middle grade and ultimate audio options including the difference between Carver; DSP; Har-Kardon /Logic7: and finally the individual option)

Being a bit of an audiophile I wanted at least Carver audio; this appears to have changed to logic 7 or is it now known as Harmon Kardon? so I am unsure which is which. I am looking at three 2006 3.0 Zeds with a very similar spec and similar price, -(N.B. they all have NAV system Pro)
one has Loudspeaker system - BMW Business-
one has Loudspeaker system - BMW Professional
the third one has individual audio-
Can someone please explain & identify the difference, pretty please- with a cherry on top :rofl:

Ride comfort:
I really don’t want a hard ride and have received conflicting info on SE versus Sport suspension, then this is further complicated by the run flats versus non run flats equation. All the AUC cars up to 3 or 4 years old appear to have sports suspension- I accept it’s a sports car, but in summary I will be doing lots of miles, I want a softer ride & I won’t be taking the car on track days so what’s the best way to go?
SE with run flats
SE without run flats
Sports without run flats

Thanks in advance for your advice

Regards


IwatchLive
 
iwatchlive said:
...the third one has individual audio...
Click to expand...
Don't believe this was available on the Z4 so someone has their wires crossed - is it at in independent dealer?

Standard - 6 speakers
Hifi - 10 speakers, amp
Carver/Logic 7 - 10 better speakers, better amp, DSP

Have had the Hifi system twice and been very happy with it, so if you can find one that otherwise ticks all the other boxes than I wouldn't rule it out.
 
I had the same issue a year ago. I bought a 2004 3.0 SE Sport which was rock hard over the bumps with 18s and run-flats. I thought I had made a terrible mistake buying a Z4. However, after fixing a broke spring with 2 new ones and running on 17s with non run flats makes it a real joy. In fairness, running on 18s may have been similar. I just like the idea of more air in the tyres. The next thing is getting the seat set 'just right' so that it fits like a glove. Now I can drive all day long and still get out fresh. My SE has the subwoofers behind the seats and sounds great, not sure which 10 speaker set-up comes as standard. Cruise control is also a must. :driving:
 
As above(mike) said,if you want decent audio then,while it does some people,the standard setup (6 spkrs/ie no subs and mids behind seats,and no added amp)imho the std setup is a bit lacking.

You want to go for at least Hi-fi option,with an amp and 10 speakers. I used to hand build/design car audio installs back in the 90's,so a decent sound was important to me too,so i went for the Carver,with digital dsp(u get digital and non-digital dsp.tho not too important),which has 3/4 preset settings on options menu on non-nav systems,but on cars with NAV,as the ones u were looking at,as far as i know,u can fine tune the dsp settings on the nav-pro display . As for Logic7,i am led to believe that is the revised name for the Carver set-up. :thumbsup:
The only other choice available,that i know of,was the Harmman-Kardon system u get in other bm's ,which was same as carver/logic7 in its setup,tho obviusly har/kardn subs/spkrs,etc in lieu of the Carver,though having heard this in a 3ser,not really worth the extra that bmw wanted for it!!

To check u have carver/digital dsp amp,look in the boot,next to battery,and look closely for a very thin digi co-ax lead going into the side of it(hard to spot rt away). Hope this helps.

As for sports suspension,ALL 3.0's have M-Sport suspension as std,so will be stiffer than 2.0/2,2/2.5's,regardless of se or sport spec.
Just ditch the Runflats,and fit some excellent Vredestein Ultracs/Sessantas,or the (cheaper) Falken 452's,which wear out quicker and don't grip as well in the wet, than the verdstn's do,IMO :P

Oh yeah,and seek out joe@soper,for an oem,BMW Strutbrace (£200 Delivered),which improves turn in/handling on the Roadster alot :D :driving:
 
Wondermike wrote ...the third one has individual audio...
- Don't believe this was available on the Z4 so someone has their wires crossed - is it at in independent dealer?

Hi wondermike-This was from a salesman at main BMW dealer -Chandlers- Sussex, via telephone- he said ”NAV pro and upgraded individual audio”

TBH they cheesed me right off today, :headbang: I went in Tuesday with a spec list and a budget of 15K, commenting I wanted one as soon as possible & may stretch a bit for ”the ideal” spec that I want- after a chat and the clear indication there was nought about that would give me exactly what i want -they arranged to bring one from another (non chandlers) BMW main dealer down to Sussex for me to have a close look and test drive in (for tomorrow Friday) and I arranged the morning off. This one was at £14K and didn’t have the ideal spec for me, for example no SATNAV and not my #1 choice of exterior colour either.

Salesman calls my mobile today happily explaining he has got hold of one that fits my spec list EXACTLY (which I have been trawling for 5 or 6 weeks for) has everything i want -so i am over the moon. Low mileage 2006 3.0 with Auto box, right colour paint: right colour leather; NAV Pro; upgraded audio and other bits required,

Then he says it’ll be 19K not 15K as i had stated was my budget. Hhhmmmm! In fact he mentioned THAT price more than three times in the conversation. I tell him I would get back to him in ten minutes, so I then run the gauntlet of the high stakes/heated discussions with the missus and we agree to go for it.

I call him to say Okeedokeee we have a deal, when can he have it ready for me and he says give us two minutes and i’ll call you back-
Then he calls back saying it’s now £19600. I was livid.
Now I know the Z is an emotional purchase for me but I feel he is extracting the urine now-is it me being over sensitive or is that just CLEARLY UNSCRUPULOUS ?? Comments Welcomed
 
thanks craig3.0, m44rrt; Wondermike :thumbsup:

Ref Audio-Guess I want at least the HIFI, preferably Carver / logic 7 though. Guess I’ve been spoilt as my XC90 has top of range premium audio with 12 speaker Dolby surround sound and a serious Sub woofer under the floor, it’s just fantastic. Can’t imagine ever getting another ride with anything lower spec than this – could not live without a decent sub.

Ride comfort
Going to go to main dealers tomorrow and test drive a few, doubt they will have one without run flats for me to compare against though, any advice as to what I should do to compare the ride on a RF V non RF- i.e. B4 I spend the money honey????
 
check what brand of run flat tyres are on the car you drive...

if Michelin zp I think you will find the ride more than acceptable :D
 
Hi iwatchlive, welcome!

Erm, for what it's worth, your dealer appears to be messing you around. Do you really want to spend your money with them? It's not like they're doing you any favours. There are a lot of Z4's out there, I'm sure you can get one with a better price/spec balance. For £19k, I'd have thought you could probably get into an M! Might have a bit of mileage on it, but if it's been looked after... That is if you are considering going 4k over your intial 15k target price.

Tip: list out your exact spec, a forum member might know of someone who wants a change/upgrade - or even one for sale elsewhere.

Do shop around, it makes a lot of sense, esp at the end of August (some people might say summer isn't over yet!) if you're after a roadster. The money you save could pay for the new tyres of your choice, so why compromise?

It's just my two pence worth mate, wish you all the best, and look forward to seeing some pics of your new motor when you get it!
 
iwatchlive said:
Wondermike wrote ...the third one has individual audio...
- Don't believe this was available on the Z4 so someone has their wires crossed - is it at in independent dealer?

Hi wondermike-This was from a salesman at main BMW dealer -Chandlers- Sussex, via telephone- he said ”NAV pro and upgraded individual audio”
Click to expand...
Ah OK well would have expected better from them. Have a look at this link, you'll be able to browse the options lists and see exactly what was available at the time.

http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=27852#p27852
 
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