Thought I would stick with tradition and create a build diary for my newly acquired E85 Z4 3.0se. Can sometimes help others with similar issues, plus its a great opportunity to keep track of the work I need to get done during ownership. I’ve had many Z’s and know most issues, so there is a familiarity thats comforting when you compare it to the briefly owned MX5 I had this summer. There’s also much more space for 6’3” me, so thats a bonus too.
She’s a 2005 3 litre E85 SE roadster in Black Sapphire Metallic on just 60k miles and with some pretty good options. Xenon’s, heated seats, nav and refurbished 108 wheels which I’ve never been a fan of but somehow quite like them on a black car. Perhaps one day I’ll find a set of gorgeous ellipsoid’s to replace them, but for now they work well. Apparently it had a new roof motor last November too.
The car has had 5 owners, with the last one not putting more than 200 miles on the car in the last year. Its got some service history up to 2014-ish but seemed to check out and has been looked after (just without receipt). The person I bought it from did a lot of work themselves and I may investigate and BMW stamps its lacking from the book and see what’s required, but to be honest its a 17 year old car that runs pretty sweetly and just needs using/taking care of.
Bodywork looks amazing and I’m yet to find a serious blemish, however I’m a realist and know that these things usually present themselves after a first wash and detail.
What didn't work so well were the front tyres. She was on 4 x Bridgestone RFT’s and the fronts were an MOT advisory for depth. Driving home along the M2 after pickup, the steering would shake at anything near or above 60mph and on side roads would tramline and twitch. Thankfully all that has been solved by replacing them for 2 x Goodyear Asymmetric 5’s and the steering is now amazing again - no shimmy, no shake. I’m replacing the rears on Friday with the same tyres, but for now the car doesn't feel like it wants to kill me.
I also have an airbag light on and plugging in my C110+ scanner told me it was the following:
SBSR: satellite B-pillar right - 98F Resistance, firing circuit, safety battery terminal (E85), or belt tensioner, rear right (E6x), too high
Looking at the battery, I don't think its the firing circuit as that looks intact, so my guess is its the seat belt tensioner. I did clear the code but it came back on again when I restarted the car.
I’m going to book the car into my local indy for a full checkover and ask them to do whatever needs doing, as well as check the codes and software. There’s a slight clunk on low speed gear changes, which I’m guessing is a dry diff input flange.
Other jobs are for full checkover of suspensions parts and bushes, condition of the waterpump, new belts, DISA check, remove the CDV, all fluids including gearbox oil - the list goes on. She’s a great car but after little use I think a full inspection is probably due.
Then I can get busy re-waterproofing the roof, cleaning, detailing and upgrading.
The adventure with my 5th Z4 starts here….
She’s a 2005 3 litre E85 SE roadster in Black Sapphire Metallic on just 60k miles and with some pretty good options. Xenon’s, heated seats, nav and refurbished 108 wheels which I’ve never been a fan of but somehow quite like them on a black car. Perhaps one day I’ll find a set of gorgeous ellipsoid’s to replace them, but for now they work well. Apparently it had a new roof motor last November too.
The car has had 5 owners, with the last one not putting more than 200 miles on the car in the last year. Its got some service history up to 2014-ish but seemed to check out and has been looked after (just without receipt). The person I bought it from did a lot of work themselves and I may investigate and BMW stamps its lacking from the book and see what’s required, but to be honest its a 17 year old car that runs pretty sweetly and just needs using/taking care of.
Bodywork looks amazing and I’m yet to find a serious blemish, however I’m a realist and know that these things usually present themselves after a first wash and detail.
What didn't work so well were the front tyres. She was on 4 x Bridgestone RFT’s and the fronts were an MOT advisory for depth. Driving home along the M2 after pickup, the steering would shake at anything near or above 60mph and on side roads would tramline and twitch. Thankfully all that has been solved by replacing them for 2 x Goodyear Asymmetric 5’s and the steering is now amazing again - no shimmy, no shake. I’m replacing the rears on Friday with the same tyres, but for now the car doesn't feel like it wants to kill me.
I also have an airbag light on and plugging in my C110+ scanner told me it was the following:
SBSR: satellite B-pillar right - 98F Resistance, firing circuit, safety battery terminal (E85), or belt tensioner, rear right (E6x), too high
Looking at the battery, I don't think its the firing circuit as that looks intact, so my guess is its the seat belt tensioner. I did clear the code but it came back on again when I restarted the car.
I’m going to book the car into my local indy for a full checkover and ask them to do whatever needs doing, as well as check the codes and software. There’s a slight clunk on low speed gear changes, which I’m guessing is a dry diff input flange.
Other jobs are for full checkover of suspensions parts and bushes, condition of the waterpump, new belts, DISA check, remove the CDV, all fluids including gearbox oil - the list goes on. She’s a great car but after little use I think a full inspection is probably due.
Then I can get busy re-waterproofing the roof, cleaning, detailing and upgrading.
The adventure with my 5th Z4 starts here….
North West Surrey
At the summit of the picturesque fens
