E85 Roadster to Z4MR upgrade worth it?

Besides tax and insurance main expenses in 5+ years of ownership and 36k miles. .

tyres in 2011 (rears) 2012 (fronts) £900
4 wheel alignment 2012. £120
oil service 2008 & 2012 at main dealer £400
insp 1 2010 £600 at main dealer
MOTs - no fails. :)
extended warranty £56 per month - no claims :roll:

Cheap as chips!
 
When I bought my Z4MC it had 25,011 miles on the clock and the rear tyres were down to the legal limit (previous owner had had an advisory on the last MOT on them) I presume that these were the second set of tyres that the car had had from new. That's an average of 12.5k miles from two different owner/drivers to me. I would certainly never run a set of tyres to the minimum legal limit, so I think my experience of 9k miles on the driven axle with the road network that surrounds my home (i.e. NSL twisties) is quite normal for my driving on the roads that I have to use. I live 6 miles from the nearest town and the road surfaces on rural A&B roads are far more abrasive because they are mostly covered in hard stone chippings, whereas the roads in urban areas, on the main arterial routes and motorways are much smoother, therefore this has a big influence on tyre wear. I possibly could get 15k miles or more from a pair of driven tyres if I lived in a different location and spent proportionately less time driving on the twisties. Horses for courses.
 
My rears were swapped out at 30k but I'd run a second set of M wheels and tyres for about 18 months so I'm guessing they were at about 22k when I swapped them. Still had a bit of legal wear in them too. Actually the rear end was a little more 'fun' when the tyres were on the last few mms of legal wear :)

I'd estimate 50% use on motorways getting to decent roads to drive lol. :thumbsup:
 
That sounds sensible sammyz, and after my experience trying to keep up on the National meet sammyz doesn't hang around haha! :thumbsup:
 
exdos said:
When I bought my Z4MC it had 25,011 miles on the clock and the rear tyres were down to the legal limit (previous owner had had an advisory on the last MOT on them) I presume that these were the second set of tyres that the car had had from new.
Click to expand...

First set of tyres on my Roadster where at 25k, so I think that could have been the original set you changed. I'm sure you could wear them out in 12.5k or in 2k if you tried hard enough, but unless your spinning them up I recon 20k+ is easy to achive. :)
 
buzyg said:
exdos said:
When I bought my Z4MC it had 25,011 miles on the clock and the rear tyres were down to the legal limit (previous owner had had an advisory on the last MOT on them) I presume that these were the second set of tyres that the car had had from new.
Click to expand...

First set of tyres on my Roadster where at 25k, so I think that could have been the original set you changed. I'm sure you could wear them out in 12.5k or in 2k if you tried hard enough, but unless your spinning them up I recon 20k+ is easy to achive. :)
Click to expand...
I'm going off the thickness of the front brake discs at the time I bought the car which was measured with a micrometer, and they were almost down to the minimum thickness. From my experience, brake disc wear would certainly not be at the same rate as a set of tyres. OTOH, the car may have been at the end of a third set of tyres, with an average of 8.3k miles? I certainly couldn't get anywhere near 25k miles out of a set of tyres, especially in a performance car, and I don't do drag starts and burnouts etc.

This is a worn Falken 451 which was removed that had done 9k miles on my Z3MC with its replacement Falken 452. Do others run their tyres down more than that?

Is it worth creating a new "tyre wear" thread so as not to digress in this one?

Falken451v452.jpg
 
Rears on mine were changed at 19.9k, fronts are original and on 23k and still going strong. Previous owner obviously wasn't a hooner. Also, I took the M to work yesterday, 50 mile round trip with 80% motorway at sensible speeds, averaged 29mpg.

Back on topic, if the reason for upgrading is to experience the S54 engine, then I can't see how it could disappoint, its a stunner. If the upgrade is to have a faster roadster, then of course its a faster car, but how much of it can you use on the road (answer - up to second gear!). Good luck in deciding, definitely get out in one to experience it.
 
Thanks to everyone whos made a comment. Im considering them all. Im lucky enough that someone in my company has a ruby black Z4MC, so when Im back in the UK, I might have a word to have a closer look/ride.

Is it true that the standard engine and exhaust system can pop when coming off the throttle? Ive heard a quiet version of this on my 3.0i and would love it to be a little more obvious! I watched some you tube vids, but Im never sure if the car is 100% standard.
 
Its a different experience. I still have a soft spot when I see the original pre-facelift Z4 3l SE on the 107 18 inch spokes. its got the classic look. The ///M is that plus substantially more hair raising experience with that epic S54 engine both performance and noise. Just that noise from the original 3.2 straight 6 is worth it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom