Dumb Question from a Newbie

[mangolicious]

Hi everyone

I know nothing about Z4 (and cars in general), and plan to get a 2004 or 2005 one.
I'm just wondering, what are the cosmetic changes it's had from 2002 to present?
Can you also specify which change happened in which year, please?

Your help is greatly appreciated!

 

[gannet]

Welcome to the forum!

Not sure about the dates (sometime in 2006) was the main facelift. Other changes I believe are down to personal choice etc - like deleting the Amber indicators, and clear brake lights etc...

Someone more knowledgeable will probably be along soon

 

[IMZ4N]

Welcome to the forum.

I will try to help. I'm sure I will miss something and someone will correct me.

If we get enough input, I will create a spreadsheet for this information. This question seams to come up quite often.

2003-2004 look identical from the outside.

2003 roadsters only
Does not have remote top down from the key
Does not have one touch up/down of passenger window ( only drivers side one touch window operation until 04/04 build )
Has orange turn signal in headlight and on the hamburger and tail lights
Has red third tail light
Steptronic has 6 gears

2004 roadsters only
04/04 build and beyond have remote top down from the key
04/04 build has one touch up/down operation of both drivers/passengers window
Has orange turn signal in headlight and on the hamburger and tail lights
Has red third tail light
Steptronic has 5 gears

2005 roadsters only
Clear third brake light
Clear turn indicators on the side of front finder ( hamburger)
Clear front headlight ( no orange turnsignal )
Clear third tail light
US- had orange reflector on each side of front bumper
Steptronic has 5 gears

2006 - 2008 roadster and coupes ----- SI and ///M models
This was the first year of the facelift cars 2006
Steptronic trans now has 6 gears
First year with Start-off Assistant
reflectors on front finder are rectangles
foglights are now rectangular
lower front bumper is now different ( wider opening with a bar across the open area)
Steptronic has 6 gears

 

[z44me]

Welcome to the forum.

 

[BMW_Z4_Norway]

IMZ4N,

The 04 roadster dosent come with remote top down from the key as standard does it? If so mine dosent work

 

[konas]

Maybe depends on the Country?

In Greece no changes until the main face lift occured in 2006, which had also the changes IMZ4N described as happened in 2005 roadsters.
Also manual with 6 gears to the 2.0 lt model since its 1st appearance (2005)

Remote up/down from key, was never here. Only as a mod

 

[IMZ4N]

IMZ4N,

The 04 roadster dosent come with remote top down from the key as standard does it? If so mine dosent work

Check your build date. In the US after 04/04 build date all Z4's had remote top down from the key. Look on the drivers side , when you open the door, where the door latch is on the car you will find two plates. On the very top of one of the plates you will find your build date. The cars prior to the 04/04 build date does not have the one touch passenger window up and down feature either. I just learned that one this past weekend.

 

[IMZ4N]

Maybe depends on the Country?

In Greece no changes until the main face lift occured in 2006, which had also the changes IMZ4N described as happened in 2005 roadsters.
Also manual with 6 gears to the 2.0 lt model since its 1st appearance (2005)

Remote up/down from key, was never here. Only as a mod

As far as the softtop , I thought after the 04/04 build the top would go down from the key , Never up unless you had the Reinhold mod.

I think you will find that the 05 tail lights are different than the 06 tail lights. The 05 tail lights will have what is called the french fry. The french fry, is a piece between the large round brake light and the smaller inside ( towards the center of the car ) light , that is painted the same color as the car. The 06 and later tail lights do not have the french fry.

The only difference that I am aware of between the US and Euro cars ( as far as the tail lights are conserned ) was the Euro cars had one white light on one side that was to help the car to be seen by a car coming from the rear. I can't for the life of me think what it was called at the moment.

 

[Herminator]

The only difference that I am aware of between the US and Euro cars ( as far as the tail lights are conserned ) was the Euro cars had one white light on one side that was to help the car to be seen by a car coming from the rear. I can't for the life of me think what it was called at the moment.

You mean the reversing light? to warn idiot pedestrians and other cars, not that they take much notice of it anyway.

 

[WLH]

mangolicious, welcome to the forum...

IMZ4N, I could be wrong about this but I seem to recall the "Hill Hold" function which is standard equipment on 06 and on US models for sure is fitted on both manual and auto. Perhaps not as noticable on auto models and I believe BMW calls this feature Start-off Assistant.

 

[IMZ4N]

I have corrected that feature WLH.

I can be wroung on some of this stuff expecially where Euro comes in. Please correct me!

This type of question comes up quite often. When I feel that we have good and correct info I will create a spreadsheet for this.

 

[WLH]

This type of question comes up quite often. When I feel that we have good and correct info I will create a spreadsheet for this.

Excellent Idea...

 

[WaZZZZman]

I have corrected that feature WLH.

I can be wroung on some of this stuff expecially where Euro comes in. Please correct me!

This type of question comes up quite often. When I feel that we have good and correct info I will create a spreadsheet for this.

Please do and with your permission I would like to post it on my Z4 web page.

 

[IMZ4N]

I have corrected that feature WLH.

I can be wroung on some of this stuff expecially where Euro comes in. Please correct me!

This type of question comes up quite often. When I feel that we have good and correct info I will create a spreadsheet for this.

Please do and with your permission I would like to post it on my Z4 web page.

I have no problem with that. As long as you come up with so information to add.

 

[Mattt]

2004 roadsters only
04/04 build and beyond have remote top down from the key

Mine was in today for (more) work, and they said mine couldn't do the roof - even though it is a 09/04 build. They printed off that key options list, but they said because mine doesn't have the 'access pack' (or something like that) but has the 'convenience pack' (or something like that) that they couldn't do it.

BS or truth? If BS, any tips for them on how to do it?

 

[IMZ4N]

cj10jeeper fitted one of these. Perhaps you could check with him as you both are on that side of the pond. I don't want to give bad information. There seems to be some differences.

http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=4150&p=59607&hilit=+reinhold#p59607

Here is where you get them.

http://www.reinhold-engineering.de/frames.html

 

[Mattt]

I was aware of the Reinhold module - but was told that my car should be fine because of its build date - now the dealership tells me otherwise :?

 

[IMZ4N]

I was aware of the Reinhold module - but was told that my car should be fine because of its build date - now the dealership tells me otherwise :?

I'm sorry if I have miss informed you.

I do know for a fact, that the way I stated in the post is the way it works in the US. Euro specs seem to not follow what goes on here.

If you find this to be true, please post the answer here and the spreadsheet I put together will need to reflect Eoro and US specs.

 

[ovrkll]

If it comes from the factory = yes
It is an option that the UK can pay for = yes (And you will pay for it)
If it is an option that the US can pay for = maybe

Pretty well sums it up!

 

[konas]

Maybe depends on the Country?

In Greece no changes until the main face lift occured in 2006, which had also the changes IMZ4N described as happened in 2005 roadsters.
Also manual with 6 gears to the 2.0 lt model since its 1st appearance (2005)

Remote up/down from key, was never here. Only as a mod

As far as the softtop , I thought after the 04/04 build the top would go down from the key , Never up unless you had the Reinhold mod. I dont think that this can be done on my car, but I 'll try...

I think you will find that the 05 tail lights are different than the 06 tail lights. The 05 tail lights will have what is called the french fry. The french fry, is a piece between the large round brake light and the smaller inside ( towards the center of the car ) light , that is painted the same color as the car. The 06 and later tail lights do not have the french fry. You are correct. Also the clear colour on turn lights you wrote before is correct. :roll:

The only difference that I am aware of between the US and Euro cars ( as far as the tail lights are conserned ) was the Euro cars had one white light on one side that was to help the car to be seen by a car coming from the rear. I can't for the life of me think what it was called at the moment.

Are you talking for the white tail light which is for the reverse? that's the only one I know