BuzzardBikers 3.0Si Coupe

[BuzzardBiker]

Hi all,

I collected my Si Coupe on Saturday 15th March.
Its my first Z4 and I bought it after contemplating between the E85/E86. I decided the Coupe was the one for me.

Space Grey with Dream Red M Sport interior.
Auto transmission

I did also consider a manual but with the type of driving I'd be doing (the odd commute to work and cruising the country roads), the Auto seemed ideal and the price of my car was also favourable.

So far, I'm impressed and I can see previous owners have spent a fair chunk of money maintaining it. I aim to keep it original and clean.

I've owned over 40 cars and nearing 40 motorbikes now so have had a fair amount of experience with old/new, good and bad.

I've never had any really special cars or bikes but a few highlights so far have been (and ones I wish I'd kept):

Cars:
Celica GT4 ST185 Carlos Sainz (Black)
Integra Type R DC2 (Milano Red aka Milano Pink)
Civic Type R EP3 (Cosmic Grey)
Peugeot 106 Rallye 1.3 Cherry Red
MR2 Rev 3 GT Turbo
VW Golf MKIV GT TDI (Tuned to 281hp/425lbft)
.....and now my Z4 Coupe

Bikes:
Honda Fireblade 2010 in HRC colours
BMW R1200GS TE Exclusive
BMW R1250R SE
KTM 990 SMT

I'm a 'nodder' when out on my bike and I'll say hello if I spot a fellow Z4 owner.

 

[Calps]

Welcome, and congrats on the coupe purchase. That is a super pic - it looks great in that colour against the wheels.

(If you've any photos of the Rallye, don't be shy. One of my favourite cars!)

 

[tomcuthbertson7]

Lovely coupe in a good colour.

And another appreciation for the Rallye, and the Integra!

 

[Gwest44]

Looks good mate and always best to get hold of a well cared for example

 

[BuzzardBiker]

Thanks all.

So I've had a chance today for its first wash and a quick coat of wax.
The wheels have previously been refurbished to a decent enough standard for now. The front bumper has in the past, seen a little kerb rash on the nearside front corner and of course there are a few stone chips but for the age of the car and the mileage (93,800 miles), I think it looks excellent overall and has aged very well. Certainly better than some of the newer MX5 ND's I was looking at before deciding they just weren't up to my expectations.

A few more pics as its lovely outside today.

 

[Meds]

Lovely colour combo and good to see the original grills are there, most have been blacked out.
enjoy !

 

[Mr Tidy]

It's looking really smart, and those grey kidneys go really well with the Space Grey paint.

 

[Joycey]

Welcome to the club mate. I always nod at other coupe owners or give a thumbs up.

 

[BuzzardBiker]

Thanks all.
I’ve started to clean some of the underside of the car.
I think a previous owner or the dealer may have driven through cement as it’s stuck in the wheels arches.
I had some on the paintwork which I have been carefully removing.
The car is sitting on original shocks so I think these will be changed soon.
I would want Oem quality and original height springs to compliment the new shocks too.
I’ve seen Bilstein offer B4 oem shocks but I need some oem quality springs.
Suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[Meds]

I run Koni Sport Yellow dampers and the ride is fantastic. I recommend.
Combined with Suplex springs (mSport ride height) it'd be a worthy swap.
Or pair them with a set of Eibach Pro springs for something a little lower.

 

[BuzzardBiker]

Opened up the performance a bit more today for the first time.
Sport mode and used the paddle levers.
Sounds lovely and it’s so free revving.
Didn’t go silly but it was nice to experience part of what the car has above 5k rpm.
The wife wasn’t used to it and the roar of the engine scared her a little but then she’s used to driving a clattery old tdi engine and my Aygo.

Tested the car over some bumpy roads and definitely think newer shocks and springs will help massively.

 

[BuzzardBiker]

Now I’m starting to get to know the car more I have been doing little bits here and there.
Took the engine cover off to inspect and clean and verify there are no oil leaks since the gaskets were fitted. Greased the bonnet catches. Noticed the air filter element was worn and damaged which wasn’t nice after buying it from an independent dealer.
£23 and a new air filter.
Noticed that the two xenon headlights are a slightly different shade of white with one being a bright white and the other a little more yellow tinted.
Will sort that out soon.

 

[Mr Tidy]

Sounds lovely and it’s so free revving.
Didn’t go silly but it was nice to experience part of what the car has above 5k rpm.

The free-revving nature of the N52 engine right up to the red-line is one of the things I've always liked about them.

Good to see you are still making progress to get it how you want.

 

[STC_Zed]

That’s a great colour combo; a colleague had a manual car in the same combo which he traded in for buttons against a new M140i back in 2018.

The N52 is a fabulous engine. For me, it’s a high point for me.

 

[BuzzardBiker]

Thanks.
I like the way sunlight and street lighting seems to change the colour (as it would being metallic).
The interior also seems to visually change from a brighter red to a more subdued hue.

 

[BuzzardBiker]

Update on my car since ownership.

Any new car ownership is a learning curve.

So far I have replaced the air filter element with a new Mann one.

I like the smoothness of the engine and the riding experience. Everything feels comfortable inside.

I have found an oil leak around the filter housing so have bought an oil cooler gasket. I need to buy the filter housing gasket too and then find out how to fix it all.

Some of the LED bulbs in the 3rd brake light are not illuminating so I guess that needs replacing too.

I have a whirring/buzzing noise (much like a worn shaft bearing) from the front of the engine on cold start. It didn’t do that when I first purchased the car so not sure what that could be. It does seem to go quieter after the car is warmed up.

Where is the best place to buy the 3rd brake light and is it an easy job on the Coupe?

Any suggestions on the whirring noise?

Might need some help with the oil cooler / oil housing gasket. Any takers for helping? Happy to pay/travel.

Thanks all

 

[STC_Zed]

The filter housing and cooler gaskets are pretty easy to do if a bit messy. I’d be tempted to chuck on a new aux belt at the same time because rubber and oil don’t play nicely. Also check any rad hoses. The gaskets on my wife’s 330i had been leaking for a while and one of the rad hoses was super swollen around a metal clamp as a result.

Have you checked to see if there is an oil in the expansion tank? I there is it’ll be like brown mayonnaise. If the gasket’s been leaking a while some oil might have got in the cooling system (was like this on my wife’s 330i but since sorting the gaskets and doing a coolant flush it’s not come back).

The third brake light is not that expensive from BMW if I recall.

 

[BuzzardBiker]

Thanks. I purchased the car a few weeks ago from a reputable dealer and am confident the oil cooler and housing gaskets have only just started leaking.
Aux belt looks fine as do the coolant hoses. I had a good look. No sign of any mayo in the expansion tank and the float is at the correct height.

 

[STC_Zed]

Thanks. I purchased the car a few weeks ago from a reputable dealer and am confident the oil cooler and housing gaskets have only just started leaking.
Aux belt looks fine as do the coolant hoses. I had a good look. No sign of any mayo in the expansion tank and the float is at the correct height.

Good stuff, looks like you’ve caught it in time then. It’s easy to miss some of the cooler / housing gasket leaks when the black plastic cover is fitted.

I think OE gaskets are about £16 for the pair.

 

[BuzzardBiker]

Thanks. I purchased the car a few weeks ago from a reputable dealer and am confident the oil cooler and housing gaskets have only just started leaking.
Aux belt looks fine as do the coolant hoses. I had a good look. No sign of any mayo in the expansion tank and the float is at the correct height.

Good stuff, looks like you’ve caught it in time then. It’s easy to miss some of the cooler / housing gasket leaks when the black plastic cover is fitted.

I think OE gaskets are about £16 for the pair.

Yeah I think so.
My car doesn’t have the little plastic cover. I did think about getting one but will leave it off for now to keep things visible and easier to check.
New Febi gaskets for oil housing and cooler are purchased.
£30. Not too bad. Dealer has kindly offered to reimburse me too which is great.