Life after the Z4 - update Sept 2012
- Thread starter a11y
- Start date
Nah, this is one of the pre-LCI ones and doesn't have the more efficient, direct injection petrol engines. Just as well as from what I read online there's more issues with the newer engine. Would've been nice with the extra mpg but this should still be better than my pre-facelift Z4AndrewP said:Nice, is it not the 272ps N52 (more power than mine) in those later ones too?
south yorkshire
lovely car- I'm going to get one like it or an e60 for my work run and keep the z for sunny days- 5 years of daily driving the z has been great but now I have a longer commute i need to keep the miles down.
Covered approx 130miles yesterday in the new car, hard not to think of it as a 4-seat Z4...
+ves:
+ copes better with broken/rough surfaces than the Z4, i.e. UK roads...
+ nice toys
+ doesn't feel big when driving
+ deceptively quick
-ves:
- deceptively quick: not got the same excitement factor as the Z4 (but that's not surprising)
- far too quiet: it needs more engine noise into the cabin
Probably being harsh but it's so well insulated and refined that you barely hear the engine at times, I'd be as well having a diesel 90% of the time. But that other 10%: wow. Just wish it had a sound generator that I could remove foam from like the Z4
+ves:
+ copes better with broken/rough surfaces than the Z4, i.e. UK roads...
+ nice toys
+ doesn't feel big when driving
+ deceptively quick
-ves:
- deceptively quick: not got the same excitement factor as the Z4 (but that's not surprising)
- far too quiet: it needs more engine noise into the cabin
Probably being harsh but it's so well insulated and refined that you barely hear the engine at times, I'd be as well having a diesel 90% of the time. But that other 10%: wow. Just wish it had a sound generator that I could remove foam from like the Z4
UPDATE: September 2012 - a big clean and a few mods
* Finally had time to clean my "new" car in more detail to remove years worth of crap baked onto the paintwork
* de-tarred, clayed, polished, glazed and waxed
* I was sad enough that I even scrubbed the arches...
* brake calipers and hubs tidied up - see the "before" pics to see what a disgrace they were
* engine bay cleaned up - forgot the "after" pics though
* registration plate finally transferred over
* front number plate mounting plinth removed
* M3-style bootlid spoiler added
Before:
^ 76k miles and doubt it's seen the slightest bit of cleaning under there...
^ previous owner obviously hadn't heard of detailing clay...
^ nice BMW quality on show there...
^ number plate plinth soon to be removed
After:
^ much happier with the reduction in swirls but still not 100% done - hoping to attend a machine-polish instruction class soon
^ it wasn't until AFTER I'd hosed the inside of the engine bay that I found the driver's side headlight access cover wasn't attached properly - still trying to dry it out
^ big improvement using leftover black hammerite
^ plate mounting plinth removed - much cleaner-looking with the plate stuck directly to the bumper IMO
Still have a list of stuff do to including repaint the black trim around the windows and a bit more time on the interior. Also waiting on a suitable date to attend a machine-polishing master class in Glasgow but the dates haven't suited to date. Now have winter alloys and tyres sitting in the garage awaiting a refurb. And also have a Disklok on the way and the bits to relocate my OBD2 port, but the less said about that the better...
But, 2.5 months and 1.5 tanks of fuel (~450 miles so far
) I'm loving the e90
* Finally had time to clean my "new" car in more detail to remove years worth of crap baked onto the paintwork
* de-tarred, clayed, polished, glazed and waxed
* I was sad enough that I even scrubbed the arches...
* brake calipers and hubs tidied up - see the "before" pics to see what a disgrace they were
* engine bay cleaned up - forgot the "after" pics though
* registration plate finally transferred over
* front number plate mounting plinth removed
* M3-style bootlid spoiler added
Before:
^ 76k miles and doubt it's seen the slightest bit of cleaning under there...
^ previous owner obviously hadn't heard of detailing clay...
^ nice BMW quality on show there...
^ number plate plinth soon to be removed
After:
^ much happier with the reduction in swirls but still not 100% done - hoping to attend a machine-polish instruction class soon
^ it wasn't until AFTER I'd hosed the inside of the engine bay that I found the driver's side headlight access cover wasn't attached properly - still trying to dry it out
^ big improvement using leftover black hammerite
^ plate mounting plinth removed - much cleaner-looking with the plate stuck directly to the bumper IMO
Still have a list of stuff do to including repaint the black trim around the windows and a bit more time on the interior. Also waiting on a suitable date to attend a machine-polishing master class in Glasgow but the dates haven't suited to date. Now have winter alloys and tyres sitting in the garage awaiting a refurb. And also have a Disklok on the way and the bits to relocate my OBD2 port, but the less said about that the better...
But, 2.5 months and 1.5 tanks of fuel (~450 miles so far
) I'm loving the e90 Stop all this pish about buying yourself an ///M and treat the good lady to one of theseBing said:Lovely job a11y
Mrs B has her heart set on one of these :roll:
What did you use to clean the engine bay ?
I used Flash All-Purpose Cleaner - it would've been Tesco own brand but the Flash was on special
. Sprayed the engine bay beforehand with warm water in a portable garden sprayer (didn't have the confidence to use anything with more pressure), used a sponge and a brush to get into all the bits, then rinsed again with the water sprayer. Yet to dress the plastics, etc hence the lack of pics.
a11y said:Stop all this pish about buying yourself an ///M and treat the good lady to one of theseBing said:Lovely job a11y
Mrs B has her heart set on one of these :roll:
What did you use to clean the engine bay ?
I used Flash All-Purpose Cleaner - it would've been Tesco own brand but the Flash was on special
Cheers a11y.
You have actually managed, in one succinct instruction, to strip bare all the bollocks and reveal a major plank of what I have been referring to as The Plan
Once she has a new car, the possibilities become much more, well, possible
Cheers CarolCarol M said:Looking lovely a11y! You've done a cracking job, well done.
I'm not in the same league as Nosa, but us all being Scots you know we don't mince our wordsBing said:a11y said:Stop all this pish about buying yourself an ///M and treat the good lady to one of these
Cheers a11y.
You have actually managed, in one succinct instruction, to strip bare all the bollocks and reveal a major plank of what I have been referring to as The Plan
Once she has a new car, the possibilities become much more, well, possible
New car me for, new car for OH, new car for me, new car for OH - ANY deviation from that pattern can only lead to trouble. But to quote the cigar-smoking Mr H Smith, "I love it when a plan comes together" - glad to hear there is indeed an "Operation ///M"...
And ta RobZermattV said:looks great a11y ....
New car's looking good mate! And congrats on mini-a11y too
Next you need to concentrate your efforts finding the best bike to take a child seat :wink:
Next you need to concentrate your efforts finding the best bike to take a child seat :wink:
Cheers Matt, all change herePawnSacrifice said:New car's looking good mate! And congrats on mini-a11y too
Next you need to concentrate your efforts finding the best bike to take a child seat :wink:
Don't worry, already thinking ahead re: bike seats - we plan to head back to the Alps again for a biking holiday again in July 2013
I'd certainly recommend one. TBH I've only (embarrassingly) driven 2 full tankfuls yet - about 50% town, 30% A/B-road, and 20% motorway - and getting a calculated 27.1mpg. I'm expecting better once my driving returns to normal: I don't usually do much town/city driving, for example my 3.0 231ps Z4 averaged 30.2mpg over the 14k miles I owned it, including a lot of hooning. Hoping for +30mpg in the 330i...mr wilks said:330i . top drawer !
looking to chop mrs w's golf next spring for 3 series tourer & planned to go for 325i or 320i ?
what kind of real world figures are you showing ? town / motorway ?
a11y said:Cheers Matt, all change herePawnSacrifice said:New car's looking good mate! And congrats on mini-a11y too
Next you need to concentrate your efforts finding the best bike to take a child seat :wink:
Don't worry, already thinking ahead re: bike seats - we plan to head back to the Alps again for a biking holiday again in July 2013
Excellent approach
Sort of like some diseases: you never get fully rid of z4-itis once you've had itAdamski said:Now it's clean, let the tinkering commence
Likewise, I'll certainly be around next year - hopefully the meet dates will be kinder to you in future!ZermattV said:
Hopefully I'm not all talk and will relent when mini-a11y arrives, but we don't intend cutting back on our outdoors lifestyle too much! Bourg St Maurice in the French Alps: campsite 5mins walk from shops/restaurant/etc with a funicular railway that takes you up to Arcs1600 where all the MTBs arePawnSacrifice said:a11y said:Cheers Matt, all change herePawnSacrifice said:New car's looking good mate! And congrats on mini-a11y too
Next you need to concentrate your efforts finding the best bike to take a child seat :wink:
Don't worry, already thinking ahead re: bike seats - we plan to head back to the Alps again for a biking holiday again in July 2013
Excellent approach