I bought the wrong Z4..

[BoxClever]

There's nothing wrong with the car I bought, but I really should have bought the bigger engined version. Doh!!

I started the year with three BMWs which were all 3 litres - one petrol and two diesel. I've been meaning to get down to one car for a while now and starting the process of trying to economise better, and also Bristol is about to go ULEZ so needed to think about the daily. I'm a single dad of 50 and can't justify paying three lots of insurance, tax and maintenance and we all know that BMWs over ten years old need love as much as your children sometimes!

So I sold the E46 330d touring, the E92 330d coupe and I recently bought and just sold a 1.9 Z3 - it was the Z3 that got me interested in dailying a Z4!! I still have my E46 330 convertible which I'm in the process of getting prepared to sell and my Z4 purchase was supposed to be my keeper and daily for the next year or so. So I found a nice 2003 2.2 in sterling grey that looks and drives well. But I've realised I need to have a 3 litre in my life so the 2.2 will be up for sale as I just bought a 2003 Z4 3 litre to replace it!!

I know, I'm a muppet but I'm a big believer in failing fast and it's better to get out of a hole early. I pick up the new car next week and will be transferring a few bits from the 2.2 over to the new one - wind deflector, stubby (!) and wheels.

The 3 litre is in Toledo Blue with black roof and cream leather, looks a lovely combo. No pictures for you yet as I want to get the bits transferred over but I'm already feeling better now that I have a 3 litre as my daily!

Should I change my username to muppet??

 

[john-e89]

The irony in your username is priceless..... oke: :evil: :wink:

Don't sweat it Box, at least when the 3litre lands you'll never be wondering if a 2.2 would suffice, yin and yan and all that cobblers.... :lol: Pics when it arrives please sire. :driving:

 

[SonnyA85]

The Z4 isn't ULEZ compliant up here so I can't use as my daily. Bristol must be pretty lax.

 

[BoxClever]

Haha! I'd forgotten about my username, I've used it for decades now and it's becoming increasingly obvious that I need a new one!!

Bristol's new ULEZ charging zone starts at the end of the year and both my diesels and the Z3 would have been charged £9 daily but the 3 litre petrol E46 and Z4 will not be charged. So it'll be a 3 litre petrol until the government bans everything!

So do I understand right that toledo blue is not a very common colour? It's a beautiful blue and I've had a few dark BMW blues but I think it might be my nicest one yet.

 

[buzyg]

Every one here knows your a muppet, so nothing to change. Enjoy big Blue and of course get some pics ups just as soon as those wheels are on. :wink:

 

[BoxClever]

Ha! Glad that's settled then! Will get working on username 2.0 - maybe BoxMuppet !!

 

[SonnyA85]

Haha! I'd forgotten about my username, I've used it for decades now and it's becoming increasingly obvious that I need a new one!!

Bristol's new ULEZ charging zone starts at the end of the year and both my diesels and the Z3 would have been charged £9 daily but the 3 litre petrol E46 and Z4 will not be charged. So it'll be a 3 litre petrol until the government bans everything!

So do I understand right that toledo blue is not a very common colour? It's a beautiful blue and I've had a few dark BMW blues but I think it might be my nicest one yet.

My Z4 isn't allowed in the city centre up here. It's a £60 fine I think. Luckily the wife's hybrid lexus is fine and should be for a long time too hopefully. There is no fee to go into the city at all for her car.

 

[BoxClever]

Where’s up here, @SonnyA85 ? South isn’t quite as restrictive but it’s getting there!!

 

[Mr Tidy]

Maybe you need to change your user name to something like "3 litres please"!

But you aren't alone in making the wrong choice! I wanted an E91 daily in 2018 and really struggled to find a 330i, so I bought a 325i.

Compromised just a year later and replaced it with an E90 330i - so much better.

Toledo Blue does seem to be quite rare, but looks great with cream leather - so you need to add some photos for us!

Strange about the Emissions issue up North though. Any Euro IV petrol is OK for the London ULEZ - well for now anyway.

 

[SonnyA85]

Where’s up here, @SonnyA85 ? South isn’t quite as restrictive but it’s getting there!!

Glasgow

Petrols from 2006 onwards are usually okay
Diesels from late (Sept) 2015 are usually okay

So you must have a very modern diesel and petrol is fine unless you are running a very old car like the early Z4's

 

[Mr Tidy]

BoxClever wrote: ↑Wed Jul 27, 2022 6:41 pm
Where’s up here, @SonnyA85 ? South isn’t quite as restrictive but it’s getting there!!
Glasgow

Petrols from 2006 onwards are usually okay
Diesels from late (Sept) 2015 are usually okay

So you must have a very modern diesel and petrol is fine unless you are running a very old car like the early Z4's

I just had a look at the Glasgow website and it says Euro IV for petrol - surely any Z4 meets that?

It was only an issue for me because I sometimes go into London, but when I checked my 2002 E46 325ti (M54 engine) was Euro IV compliant according to tfl. As were/are my 2006 E91 325i, 2005 E90 330i, 2006 3.0si Z4s and even my MC!

 

[Argyll Andy]

Where’s up here, @SonnyA85 ? South isn’t quite as restrictive but it’s getting there!!

Glasgow

Petrols from 2006 onwards are usually okay
Diesels from late (Sept) 2015 are usually okay

So you must have a very modern diesel and petrol is fine unless you are running a very old car like the early Z4's

There isn’t one in Glasgow for cars, not being introduced until June 2023

https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/23026

 

[MikeyH]

According to AT Z4s are Euro 3. Pre face lift. Face lift Euro 4.

 

[BoxClever]

According to AT Z4s are Euro 3. Pre face lift. Face lift Euro 4.

I'm going on the vehicle reg checker for Bristol and both my 2003 Z4 3 litre and my 2004 E46 3 litre incur no charge, and in any of the big city ULEZ zones.

 

[SonnyA85]

Where’s up here, @SonnyA85 ? South isn’t quite as restrictive but it’s getting there!!

Glasgow

Petrols from 2006 onwards are usually okay
Diesels from late (Sept) 2015 are usually okay

So you must have a very modern diesel and petrol is fine unless you are running a very old car like the early Z4's

There isn’t one in Glasgow for cars, not being introduced until June 2023

https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/23026

No it's in place now we just have a years grace period. 2 years grace period in Edinburgh.

So if I drive in the city I will get a letter saying I shouldn't have driven there but no fine. The fines start next year because they implemented a grace period. So they have sort of delayed it by a year by introducing the grace period but there is a lez and my car is euro 3 according to the Google I did not euro 4.

Automatic 3.0i 2003

 

[Argyll Andy]

My Z4 isn't allowed in the city centre up here. It's a £60 fine I think

So not enforced so no fine like stated on your earlier post :slaphead:

 

[CeeDee]

Not that I’m planning to go to Bristol any time soon but this intrigued me enough to check for my Z4MC. I was pleasantly surprised to find the gov.co.uk checker came up with a “no charge” result.

I’m sure it makes sense to someone but I don’t think I could convince many people that my car is environmentally friendly!

 

[BoxClever]

Haha! I agree - these old 3 litres are not what you’d call eco friendly but Bristol seems to like them!!

 

[Nota TR5 man]

I started with a 2.2 Z4 and realised I actually wanted a 3 litre jobbie
I had been put off a 4 pot BMW after owning a 318 touring with a 2 litre lump that could qualify it as a BM Troubleyou!
My 3 litre Z4 is great on fuel and so far reliable.
I am coming up on 5 years of Z4 ownership and still love it.

 

[BoxClever]

I started with a 2.2 Z4 and realised I actually wanted a 3 litre jobbie
I had been put off a 4 pot BMW after owning a 318 touring with a 2 litre lump that could qualify it as a BM Troubleyou!
My 3 litre Z4 is great on fuel and so far reliable.
I am coming up on 5 years of Z4 ownership and still love it.

Thanks ever so much for commenting, and great to hear you're still loving it!

I had never had a 4-pot BMW in 30 years of car ownership, even back in my E30 days, until the Z3 came along in May this year. The 16V was fun but I missed the 6 cylinder noises and torque and thought a 2.2 Z4 would give me the best of both worlds... and it hasn't. But I'm big enough and ugly enough to admit I was wrong and can't wait to get back into a M54B30 engined car, especially one as small as a Z4!!