I get it now...

I

idej_z4

Senior member
After cancelling our 10 year wedding anniversary summer holiday due to the Covids (who wants to sit around and eat and drink all day for a holiday when that's all most of us have been doing for the last 7 weeks), we decided that after lockdown we would spend our money helping the British economy and do as many UK trips as time / government / money will allow.

This means plenty of Zed time for me! The problem is Mrs J always wants to 'have a go' when we're out for the day / weekend, but of course I'm more than just a tad reluctant to let her drive my car so I decided to buy her a Zed as a 10 year wedding anniversary gift as she's mentioned everytime we go to a car show / meet she would like a convertible.

It's a 2004, 2.5 roadster, 96k on the clock. Bought from Mike at the Zed Shed so has had all the necessary fixes done on a car of that age e.g. Vanos, disa, roof motor relocation etc. All social distancing and contactless purchasing was observed when it arrived (came with 6 months warranty just to be sure).

It also has uprated 3.0 discs and pads, gaptech module and Bluetooth.

Now, the purpose of this post is not just to share a new Zed driver, but the revolation I had. I've always loved my Coupe. The looks, the sports car cockpit feel and the rarity, but I've never actually experienced a roadster fully. We had a Chevrolet Camero convertible in America when we did the West Coast loop, but I spent 99.9% of the time with the roof up.

I took the new Zed for a drive to the shops and wow. The freedom you feel when the roof is down is really exhilarating. It's like a whole different driving experience. So now I tottally get the roadster appeal. Roof down it really is very special. Don't get me wrong, the looks and styling of the coupe will always have my heart, but I can now appreciate why the roadster crew love it so much.

We've had the car a week and being on furlough I've done what I can with my limited skills to make it feel special when she gets behind the wheel. A few hundred quid and a bit of spit and polish and you can really bring a worn out Zed back to life!!

Some of you life long members may even recognise the car as it had 2 forum stickers in the window when we got it.

Some obligatory pics below showing some of the before and afters. The last one is showing the wrap. In normal light it just looks black but glitters in the sun. Not something I would ever want but thought it was pretty cool for a girls car!

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Lucky Mrs idej_z4. :thumbsup:

That looks like a great example, and coming from Mike you know it will be sorted!

After years of Coupe ownership when I was looking to scratch the "M" itch last year I did wonder about trying a Roadster (well they are cheaper after all) but then an advert for my MC appeared so that never went any further.

But I still keep thinking I ought to try a Roadster one day! It might be a more interesting daily than my 3 Series. Just don't tell the Roadster owners. :roll:
 
Mr Tidy said:
Lucky Mrs idej_z4. :thumbsup:

That looks like a great example, and coming from Mike you know it will be sorted!

After years of Coupe ownership when I was looking to scratch the "M" itch last year I did wonder about trying a Roadster (well they are cheaper after all) but then an advert for my MC appeared so that never went any further.

But I still keep thinking I ought to try a Roadster one day! It might be a more interesting daily than my 3 Series. Just don't tell the Roadster owners. :roll:
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I don't think I would ever make the switch, even though with a few grand thrown in I could probably sell the coupe and get an M roadster. I'll just nick the Mrs' when she's not looking. :wink:
 
Chippie said:
:thumbsup: very nice, she must be really pleased with it.
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Yeah, she is well chuffed thanks...just hoping we can get out for a bit and put it through its paces sooner rather than later. :driving:
 
Just a short convertible story. I have had one since I got out of the Navy in 1977 and, well...

I was taking my 10 YO niece back home from a visit. We were in my 1998 Z3 at the time, with the top down. I said to her, "I never want to be without a 4 wheel drive, a motorcycle and a convertible."

Her response, "Why a convertible?" I just put my hands in the air looked around and gave a "you're livin' it right now, don't you get it?" expression...I guess she didn't. The 4WD and bike made sense but, "Why a convertible?" She will probably never own one in her life...unless I will her the Z-4...poor girl !
 
My Z4 Convertible is an old mans motorbike without the raw exposure that is best left to the young men.
 
Old-Duckman said:
Just a short convertible story. I have had one since I got out of the Navy in 1977 and, well...

I was taking my 10 YO niece back home from a visit. We were in my 1998 Z3 at the time, with the top down. I said to her, "I never want to be without a 4 wheel drive, a motorcycle and a convertible."

Her response, "Why a convertible?" I just put my hands in the air looked around and gave a "you're livin' it right now, don't you get it?" expression...I guess she didn't. The 4WD and bike made sense but, "Why a convertible?" She will probably never own one in her life...unless I will her the Z-4...poor girl !
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Nice little story :thumbsup: I would argue the bike is the one to live without. I mean, why have 2 wheels when you can have 4 and comfort to top it off!?!

Note - I used to be heavy into MTBing so know the feeling of flying on two wheels and the adrenaline rush. I also know the damage it can do when you fall off! :headbang:
 
Big Bad Boris said:
Did you use a cut and polish kit on the headlights, or were the blemishes on the inside?
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All the work was done on the outside. 5 or 6 passes with a heavy compound and a DA polisher and 1 pass with a refining polish.

There are still some small blemishes on the inside which I'll get to when I do a bulb upgrade for the Mrs as the standard halogens are pretty poor, but you can achieve a lot just by working on the outside. :thumbsup:
 
Hi again and a special welcome to your (well her) roadster. You think your converted? - just wait until you drive it at night or on a crisp late autumn day - topless of course :thumbsup:
 
Crazy Harry said:
Hi again and a special welcome to your (well her) roadster. You think your converted? - just wait until you drive it at night or on a crisp late autumn day - topless of course :thumbsup:
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Like I said, I'm a coupe man at heart, but I am looking forward to stealing the keys from the Mrs and taking it for a blast on a late summers night!
 
Z4C_er said:
Great tidy up! Congrats.
What wrap did you use?
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Nothing in particular, just some I found on eBay. The Mrs was specific about the wrap she wanted (black with sparkles) so choices were limited. :)
 
What a great anniversary present. Bet she's chuffed with that.
Did the same thing for my missus as a Valentine present (ish) this year.
Almost identical, 53-plate 2.5i. She loves hers too, and is already talking to her contacts from McLaren and Lotus (where she's been a purchasing manager) to get the seats and steering wheel redone. Oh, and another contact who does exhausts. Oh, and another contact who refurbishes alloys..................:roll:
I hope both our better halves are soon out on the road enjoying their cars.
 
idej_z4 said:
Z4C_er said:
Great tidy up! Congrats.
What wrap did you use?
Click to expand...

Nothing in particular, just some I found on eBay. The Mrs was specific about the wrap she wanted (black with sparkles) so choices were limited. :)
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Aaah, yes, then that'll do it...
 
OK, showing my E85 ignorance, my wife's has silver roll hoops, but yours are black? Is that a model difference or have you wrapped them too?
 
enuff_zed said:
What a great anniversary present. Bet she's chuffed with that.
Did the same thing for my missus as a Valentine present (ish) this year.
Almost identical, 53-plate 2.5i. She loves hers too, and is already talking to her contacts from McLaren and Lotus (where she's been a purchasing manager) to get the seats and steering wheel redone. Oh, and another contact who does exhausts. Oh, and another contact who refurbishes alloys..................:roll:
I hope both our better halves are soon out on the road enjoying their cars.
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:rofl: I hope my Mrs doesn't get the taste for modding...only I'm allowed to do that!! :wink:

To be fair she already wants a spoiler and alloys powder coating black...this might get more expensive than I planned!! :P
 
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