Automatic gearbox advise

[Leesey]

Hi, I'm just about to buy a 2005/6 Z4 automatic in the coming weeks.

I've herd lots of bad things about the auto gearbox & it's putting me off from buying one so I thought I'd ask you guys for some advice.


It's an automatic or nothing....

Appreciate your time, lee...

 

[GuidoK]

bmw autoboxes are generally reliable.

Try to get a facelift z4, they have the more modern 6 speed auto gearboxes (pre facelift z4's have 5 speed auto. Helps in performance and fuel economy.

 

[jamie_z4]

Hardly seen anything that goes wrong with the normal auto box on the z4 it just that hideous smg one that always goes wrong :thumbsdown:

 

[Leesey]

Are the 2006 models the facelift ?

 

[Leesey]

How do I tell the difference between a facelift model & an earlier model ?

 

[jamie_z4]

Usually indicators are orange all round for a quick visual check on a pre Face-lift.

 

[Ducklakeview]

Hardly seen anything that goes wrong with the normal auto box on the z4 it just that hideous smg one that always goes wrong :thumbsdown:

The pre-facelift ZF5HP boxes are pretty bulletproof, the later 6 speed GA6HP19 facelift boxes however do suffer with some problems.

Mike

 

[GuidoK]

Usually indicators are orange all round for a quick visual check on a pre Face-lift.

no, on the pre-fl 2005 model year also white indicators were (factory!) delivered! (but facelift z4's were always with white indicators delivered)

The proper way to check is what vin code it has.

Best visual check would be what bumpers it has:
facelift front bumper:


pre-facelift front bumper (note the difference in foglights):

Rear style tail lights is also different:

pre facelift rear lights:

facelift rear lights:

 

[jamie_z4]

Usually indicators are orange all round for a quick visual check on a pre Face-lift.

no, on the pre-fl 2005 model year also white indicators were (factory!) delivered! (but facelift z4's were always with white indicators delivered)

The proper way to check is what vin code it has.

Best visual check would be what bumpers it has:
facelift front bumper


pre-facelift front bumper (note the difference in foglights):

Rear style tail lights is also different:

pre facelift rear lights:

facelift rear lights:

Mines a 55 plate pre fl with orange indicators.

There is not one 05 pre fl for sale on Autotrader or ebay with clear indicators either :?

 

[GuidoK]

Well if you look at mobile (very large german sales site), there are loads of 2005 clear indicator pre facelift examples to be found:
https://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/search.html?damageUnrepaired=NO_DAMAGE_UNREPAIRED&isSearchRequest=true&makeModelVariant1.makeId=3500&makeModelVariant1.modelId=52&maxFirstRegistrationDate=2005-12-31&maxPowerAsArray=PS&minFirstRegistrationDate=2005-01-01&minPowerAsArray=PS&scopeId=C

I think its even the majority.

 

[Ducklakeview]

Usually indicators are orange all round for a quick visual check on a pre Face-lift.

no, on the pre-fl 2005 model year also white indicators were (factory!) delivered! (but facelift z4's were always with white indicators delivered)

The proper way to check is what vin code it has.

Best visual check would be what bumpers it has:
facelift front bumper:


pre-facelift front bumper (note the difference in foglights):

Rear style tail lights is also different:

pre facelift rear lights:

facelift rear lights:

Pre facelift cars were never supplied with clear repeaters in the UK..

Mike

 

[Ducklakeview]

Well if you look at mobile, there are loads of 2005 clear indicator pre facelift examples to be found:
https://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/search.html?damageUnrepaired=NO_DAMAGE_UNREPAIRED&isSearchRequest=true&makeModelVariant1.makeId=3500&makeModelVariant1.modelId=52&maxFirstRegistrationDate=2005-12-31&maxPowerAsArray=PS&minFirstRegistrationDate=2005-01-01&minPowerAsArray=PS&scopeId=C

And the OP is in the UK, so that site is a waste of time..

Mike

 

[jamie_z4]

Well if you look at mobile, there are loads of 2005 clear indicator pre facelift examples to be found:
https://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/search.html?damageUnrepaired=NO_DAMAGE_UNREPAIRED&isSearchRequest=true&makeModelVariant1.makeId=3500&makeModelVariant1.modelId=52&maxFirstRegistrationDate=2005-12-31&maxPowerAsArray=PS&minFirstRegistrationDate=2005-01-01&minPowerAsArray=PS&scopeId=C

The Op is based in the UK. I was on about UK specific cars, thought that would be obvious....

 

[Ducklakeview]

Hi, I'm just about to buy a 2005/6 Z4 automatic in the coming weeks.

I've herd lots of bad things about the auto gearbox & it's putting me off from buying one so I thought I'd ask you guys for some advice.


It's an automatic or nothing....

Appreciate your time, lee...

I LOVE my auto's, and the 3.0 engine, pre or post facelift suits the box perfectly....

Mike

 

[GuidoK]

And the OP is in the UK, so that site is a waste of time..

Mike

What do you mean...waste of time?!?

I'm just making a point that bmw delivered tonnes of clear indicator pre facelift models from factory. And to make that point I showed what is currently for sale in germany. that there are none currently on ebay or autotrader doesnt mean there wont ever be.
How do you know for sure that bmw never delivered a 2005 model in the uk with clear indicators?
If you look at bmw's ETK for the 2005 model (and yes, I do mean the rhd UK model scope), also clear indicator headlights are listed as parts.
They were deliverd under option code S785A if I'm not mistaken.
http://bmwfans.info/parts-catalog/E85/Europe/Z4_3.0i-M54/R-N/2005/option?s=S785A

The Op is based in the UK. I was on about UK specific cars, thought that would be obvious....

Read my post above...so you'll vouch for it personally that there will never be one for sale?

 

[Ducklakeview]

And the OP is in the UK, so that site is a waste of time..

Mike

What do you mean...waste of time?!?

I'm just making a point that bmw delivered tonnes of clear indicator pre facelift models from factory. And to make that point I showed what is currently for sale in germany. that there are none currently on ebay or autotrader doesnt mean there wont ever be.
How do you know for sure that bmw never delivered a 2005 model in the uk with clear indicators?

Find one.. Ie, put up or shut up!

Pedantry has it's place, and this thread isn't one of them.

Mike

 

[jamie_z4]

GuidoK.

In the history of this forum I've not seen one factory z4 pre facelift with clear indicators that hasn't had them retrofitted. I've been on here 9 years.

Now stop being pedantic unless you've actually got some decent advice for the original poster, I think mine is pretty helpful if he's looking to buy any current car for sale in the UK.

 

[jamie_z4]

Your just being pedantic for the sake of it.

 

[bz4kev]

opcorn: wned:

 

[GuidoK]

Find one.. Ie, put up or shut up!

Pedantry has it's place, and this thread isn't one of them.

Mike

Bit sore that I know how bmw designates all its parts and you dont eh?
oke:
Not the first time today that you didnt know how to find parts in the bmw parts catalog....

Now stop being pedantic unless you've actually got some decent advice for the original poster,

You havent seen my elaborate post about bumper styles and rear headlight styles?
I think I played my part in posting useful info on that wouldnt you say?
(and btw your profile join date says you've been here for about 7½ years. You had a previous account?)