Buying a Z4.. Advice?

[Orlando_Z4]

Hey everyone!

I'm currently in the process of parting out my last car and selling it. I plan to buy a Z4, but I'm not too sure exactly what I want! I was hoping you guys could give me some advice.

I'm looking to buy one for around $15,000

My dilemmas are:

1) What color do I want? I'm leaning towards the grey, dark blue, or red

2) How much better is the 3.0L compared to the other available engines?

3) Advice on Coilovers, Exhausts, Intakes, and Headers available for the Z4?

4) What do I need to do to convert the Soft Top to a Hard Top?

5) Is the M series worth the extra money?

6) I know the Z4 got redesigned in 2009, but are there any other differences between years that I should be aware about?


My current car is a 2011 Scion TC with an obnoxious amount of modifications. I work at a shop, so labor is free for me; hence my ease of modifying. My TC had a custom widebody kit, color change, full turbo, coilovers, bride seats, harness brace, custom gauge pods, plus many other countless things.

I'm ready for a fun RWD roadster that I don't plan on modding to excessively, which led me towards the Z4. The only modifications I will be making for sure are coilovers, wheels, hardtop, exhaust, intake, header, seats, and stereo. Any other modifications will be done as I see fit, but I plan on keeping this car much more OEM than my last.


So... answers to my questions?

 

[Taz]

welcome to the forum

if your thinking about an hard top then why notjust buy a coupe?

AlanJ as a good buyers guide in his signature, check it out

 

[corsaire77]

Hi there,

here's a brief compendium of Zed knowledge, especially the 2006 facelift information (new engines, lights, build improvements)
http://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=15177



1) It's your own call, but the rarer the better. Stratus grey or the unicorn-scarce space grey, maldives blue, or if you buy an M - the white colour definitely looks the business. Red also suits the M's spicy character and sporty bodykit.

2) some engine/model information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_Z4 - the pre-facelift 3.0 and the post-facelift 3.0si are a bit different beasts. The pre-facelift engine can suffer from DISA trouble (an easy fix if spotted in time), while the post-facelift engine, on some low-mileage examples, can develop HVA noise.

3) Coilovers are popular here, there are several members on the forum who can offer expert advice. Eisemann and Supersprint exhausts are available. There's an LSD, developed by Quaife, and I would list it as a very desirable mod for the non-M cars. There is a Gruppe M intake, quite expensive and the effect is marginal without a remap. I've seen Zeds with aftermarket headers, but only on Youtube, not on the forum. Last but not least there is the ESS Supercharger, also far from affordable.

Modding the Zed offers very few possibilities. In fact, all the money you invest in the modding can be saved towards the M - an a better machine it will be, anyway.

4) All UK Zeds had hardtop preparation, but on the continent it was optional. I don't know about the USDM market, but you can check the factory spec as soon as you know the VIN number of your desired vehicle.

5) The hell it is! A legendary engine, improved suspension and brakes, the hood and the bodykit, the dual exhaust, no electric streering you get in the stardard Zed, no runflats, and - moist importantly - the M limited-slip diff.

6) The facelift, back to point 2.

I hope I've helped a little.