Chris' 3.0

[ChrisGUK]

Morning all,
I'm new to the forum, but I just picked up a 2003 manual 3.0. It's on a mere 65k and appears to have been well loved by previous owners - 6 consecutive 'green' MOTs and it was on a SORN for several recent winters. Paint is near perfect, tasty alloys, and interior appears almost new. I need to pour over the service record and make myself an OCD spreadsheet, but new shocks within the last 5k, various links/tie-rods replaced, all the normal stuff and no red flags.

Good - I'm sure someone must have done the 'sound generator' mod as it is crazy loud on throttle inside - I really cannot believe BMW would sell it this way even though I love it! They have also done the coding for the key-operated roof mechanism, and relocated the roof mechanism.
Bad - there is a horrible JVC stereo that immediately needs replacing as it has no bluetooth!

I'm wondering if the suspension is a little too crashy. It's running on 18s at the moment, but I think stock is 17' for these? It has M-sport suspension. I'm very conscious that my daily driver is a Galaxy, and the last toy I had was a TVR Chimaera running on 16' wheels with 50 profile tyres, so I'm quite used to a very compliant ride!

Anyway, I need to give it some proper love, then take some arty photos, but these are good enough for day 1.

 

[buzyg]

Great Photo's Chris. Looks like you found a good car there. 8)

 

[BumpyZ4]

Nice car. They come with 18" staggered wheel setup or a 17" square setup. As far as the sound generator the PO probably removed the foam baffles from the sound generator tube.

 

[Mr Tidy]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

It looks like you've found a great low mileage example too. M-Sport suspension is lower and therefore stiffer than SE, but changing to smaller wheels might help especially if you don't fit run-flat tyres. I'm pretty sure you could even fit 16s so long as the front brakes are standard.

 

[ChrisGUK]

Thanks chaps.
I’ve done some investigating and yes, all the foam has been removed from the sound generator. I’m quite happy with it like that and I won’t be putting it back.

After a couple of hundred miles, I’m still thinking about the wheels. I wonder if anyone could identify these alloys or possibly just advise whether you think the fronts are ‘stretched’? There are 225 tyres but I wonder if the alloy itself is wider than stock? I’m going to get a few things checked. Firstly I want to make sure the wheels are straight and don’t need balancing as there’s a very slight wobble at high-speed – only to sort of thing an obsessive would notice, my wife definitely wouldn’t! Then I’m going to get a geometry assessment done (I haven’t search for the FAQs but can anyone point me towards preferred fast road settings?). It doesn’t want to self-centre nearly as much as any other car I’ve driven, and I’m convinced there’s something not quite right at the front.

If I’m still not happy after that, I’m going to go back to standard BMW wheels. It’s a bit of a shame as I love the deep dish on the rears, so much that it has 265/35 tyres!

 

[Carlosos]

That does look jolly nice. The wheels suit it well.

 

[tomscott]

Relatively common problem on the Z is the the struts leak. There may not be any visible residue but overtime the loose pressure and not much dampening will be going on, if any. Its funny seeing a strut come out that's past its best pushing it all the way in and its doesn't come back.

If it has not had them done before then 21 years later I would suggest they will be shot which may be your suspension issue. They are stiff anyway but worth updating with something like a B4 or B6 kit

Springs are well known for snapping but there is a correlation between the struts not doing their job and the springs doing all the work.

From my experience with 18s and 19s and the last 12 years honestly I didn't really notice any difference although a lot swear that its a big deal, I would suggest that the struts are past their best in the latter.

 

[ChrisGUK]

Sometimes cars are so sodding frustrating!! Spent an unreasonably long time getting the car up on axle stands... combination of BMW jack, trolly jack, wood props and much fiddling... finally I get under the car and the bloody CDV delete has already been done!!

Honestly, I still think the clutch actuation is a little slow, I have no idea how bad it must have been with the valve in!

 

[ChrisGUK]

Relatively common problem on the Z is the the struts leak. There may not be any visible residue but overtime the loose pressure and not much dampening will be going on, if any. Its funny seeing a strut come out that's past its best pushing it all the way in and its doesn't come back.

Thanks, fortunately the struts have all been done in the last 5000 miles and at least the front springs too, not sure about the rear springs but I don't think they are broken

 

[Sticks]

I know I'm in a minority but I'm not keen on those wheels. I think the 107s suit it best as they're a bit unusual, much like the car's styling. Non RFTs helps, obv and I went for F1 Asy's as they've a bit more give than some.
The seats don't have much padding, which makes it feel less comfortable (or I could be getting old) and, given it's 20 years old, having the foam replaced/improved is on my list.

 

[ChrisGUK]

I think the 107s suit it best as they're a bit unusual, much like the car's styling.

I’m not 100% sold on them myself, although I do like the aggressive dish at the rear. I’m not happy with the handling at the moment, so I’m getting a proper balancing, alignment/suspension review next week. After that, if I’m still not happy I’m going to find a way to borrow some standard wheels with decent tyres and see if that makes a difference - I’ll definitely go back to the stock wheels if it makes it handle better as I’m much more interested in performance than image.
Fortunately, I bought the car with nearly new asymmetric 5s, which was a nice bonus.

 

[Carlosos]

I like the wheels they give it a alpina vibe. I know nothing like alpinas really but they stand out.

 

[ChrisGUK]

It seems a previous owner must have done some tinkering…
I assume these holes are not stock and would be trying to improve air flow? Has anyone seen/done this themselves?

 

[Mike6]

Oh dear hope it hasn't had a boy racer owner. I would seal those holes which look a real bodge job at trying to get more air into the engine .

 

[ChrisGUK]

Scrubs up nice

 

[ChrisGUK]

Oh dear hope it hasn't had a boy racer owner. I would seal those holes which look a real bodge job at trying to get more air into the engine .

I thought it was quite neatly done actually - I certainly did worse efforts in my youth! I have very little expectation it is doing anything positive for the engine, but equally I can’t see it doing harm. My plan is just to ignore it.

 

[Carlosos]

It seems a previous owner must have done some tinkering…
I assume these holes are not stock and would be trying to improve air flow? Has anyone seen/done this themselves?

IMG_3870.jpeg
IMG_3869.jpeg

That’s an old trick to try to release more intake noise.

 

[ChrisGUK]

Next question... Brakes!

My neighbour had a visitor yesterday in a 2007 3.0 coupe. It wasn't an M but it was clear that their front brake disc was much larger than mine. I felt a specific male jealousy...
I can't find an easy answer, but I expect I could with a little effort... but might be easier asking here! First, did BMW just put larger brakes on the later cars or is this a coupe thing? Second, is it retrofittable to my 2003? I have no real concerns of inadequacy with my brakes and don't plan to track the car, but the disc seemed to fit the wheel void more pleasingly. When I inevitably have to change discs/pads in the future I may upgrade if it is a relatively inexpensive option. I've searched big brake upgrades and see that Porsche 4pots are an option, or 130i 6 pots, but I have no need for that level of stopping power or expense!

 

[Sticks]

Looks great, and I take back what I said about the wheels, they look good. Walking back to mine last night at dusk and I thought, yep, still looks good.

 

[Zedebee]

Next question... Brakes!

My neighbour had a visitor yesterday in a 2007 3.0 coupe. It wasn't an M but it was clear that their front brake disc was much larger than mine. I felt a specific male jealousy...
I can't find an easy answer, but I expect I could with a little effort... but might be easier asking here! First, did BMW just put larger brakes on the later cars or is this a coupe thing? Second, is it retrofittable to my 2003? I have no real concerns of inadequacy with my brakes and don't plan to track the car, but the disc seemed to fit the wheel void more pleasingly. When I inevitably have to change discs/pads in the future I may upgrade if it is a relatively inexpensive option. I've searched big brake upgrades and see that Porsche 4pots are an option, or 130i 6 pots, but I have no need for that level of stopping power or expense!

It’s an easy DIY upgrade from 3.0i 300mm discs to 3.0Si 325mm discs and it’s well worth it in my opinion. The only problem is getting hold of the parts. You need discs (and pads, obviously), callipers and calliper carriers. Everything else is common.