My 2006 Z4 Coupe

[BuzzardBiker]

Nice work
Hopefully the parts resolve your issues.
I’ve not heard of the heated elbow connector causing issues. Hopefully the replacement part works ok and lasts.

I suspect I have a weeping Valvetronic gasket so will be keeping an eye on mine and following your progress too.

The heated connector is quite a common failure. It was subject to a proper recall in the states. They can fail badly enough to catch fire as someone on Pistonheads found out with their 330i!

Do you think it is worth replacing as preventative maintenance then?

 

[chanlon1]

Some of the vacuum lines and hoses are a pain. The oil return pipe from the CCV is a pig to get off because you’re working blind and access is annoying. I found it l easier to disconnect from the CCV and leave attached to the sump.

I keep threatening to renew all the CCV pipes incase any are old and brittle, but the fact I couldnt get that one off puts me off the idea.....but, if I was renewing them, I could also just cut it..........

 

[STC_Zed]

Nice work
Hopefully the parts resolve your issues.
I’ve not heard of the heated elbow connector causing issues. Hopefully the replacement part works ok and lasts.

I suspect I have a weeping Valvetronic gasket so will be keeping an eye on mine and following your progress too.

The heated connector is quite a common failure. It was subject to a proper recall in the states. They can fail badly enough to catch fire as someone on Pistonheads found out with their 330i!

Do you think it is worth replacing as preventative maintenance then?

Because it’s a manifold off job, I’d only do it as part of a bigger job like replacing the CCV system or the starter motor.

The OE part is NLA now by the looks of it; I’ve had one on order for a year now nearly with no update.

 

[STC_Zed]

Some of the vacuum lines and hoses are a pain. The oil return pipe from the CCV is a pig to get off because you’re working blind and access is annoying. I found it l easier to disconnect from the CCV and leave attached to the sump.

I keep threatening to renew all the CCV pipes incase any are old and brittle, but the fact I couldnt get that one off puts me off the idea.....but, if I was renewing them, I could also just cut it..........

Yeah, those pipes are cack once they get to a certain age. I was amazed that mine didn’t fall apart. I was bitten on two black top engines with very brittle pipes.

 

[STC_Zed]

Whilst patiently waiting for the postman to arrive I started putting the intake manifold back in, connecting plugs etc and just leaving the throttle body off.



I fitted a new gasket to the throttle body as well as the manifold gaskets. I reused the manifold bolts because they’re steel (I also checked with BMW yesterday when I was picking up that hose and they said they don’t usually do the bolts, just the gaskets).



Finally the postman arrived with my new DISA valve.



Old and new.



As soon as it was back together I did a quick start and everything was good. I was a tad nervous after last summer when things didn’t go quite to plan with the car running rough. No more rattle from the intake, just some lifter tick. Annoyingly the cold idle remains slightly erratic, it’s fine once the engine is up to temperature. I’ll swap the valvetronic motor this week - a badly worn gasket has caused others some odd idle issues looking on forums / facebook groups. After that, I guess I need to get it smoke tested to see if there is a vacuum leak, somewhere.

I’ve since taken it for a quick test drive and it’s noticeably better lower down the rev range which I believe is where the big DISA works. There was a slight hiccup in the revs when changing gear below 3,500rpm which has now gone too. This time, it feels much more successful than last year when I removed the manifold.

As a reward, I fitted the new Alcantara handbrake gaiter and elbow rest with cream stitching to match the leather.



Much better than the very worn, shiny leather of the old one.

 

[STC_Zed]

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been getting the new, used, front wings that I bought ready for fitting.

First up was a good clean…I don’t think the car they came from was particularly well loved judging by the clay bar!

[ATTACH=full]190153[/ATTACH]|https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/171413/20250504782167

[ATTACH=full]190154[/ATTACH]|https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/171413/202505047823327

That’s worse than my whole cars when I clay them!

The main thing I wanted to do before fitting them was dealing with any surface rust and give them a bit more protection. Anything that looked a bit sinister was tackled with a wire brush attachment on my drill and then treated with Hydrate 80. Sone of the bits tackled didn’t react, so there was no rust. Once I’d applied two coast of Hydrate 80, I went over the areas with Por-15 rust preventer which was also applied to the entire inner lip.

[ATTACH=full]190155[/ATTACH]|https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/171413/202505047844776

I finally got round to fitting them today.

Front end up on axle stands.

[ATTACH=full]190156[/ATTACH]|https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/171413/202505047852716

Arch liner off, fixings removed from the side skirt so I could unclip it from the wings.

[ATTACH=full]190157[/ATTACH]|https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/171413/202505047859379

It was then time to start accessing the T30 bolts which was pretty easy other than them being tight, like really tight.

[ATTACH=full]190158[/ATTACH]|https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/171413/202505047865044

Soon enough the old wing was off.

[ATTACH=full]190159[/ATTACH]|https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/171413/202505047867938

With access to hidden parts, it would have been rude not to break out the APC, a detailing brush and the hose to remove 19 years of hidden crap. Generally it was pretty good, although on the top of the chassis rail, the paint is blistering a bit. If I had more time, I would have dealt with it today but it’ll have to keep for another day.

[ATTACH=full]190160[/ATTACH]|https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/171413/202505047882082

New wing fitted and lined up. Pretty easy on the drivers side.

[ATTACH=full]190161[/ATTACH]|https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/171413/202505047886959

It was then time to start taking apart the passenger side.

[ATTACH=full]190162[/ATTACH]|https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/171413/202505047890368

The side skirt is fully removed this side because one of the very tight T30 bolts bit me in the arse. When I said they were tight, they were really tight and no amount of penetrant was helping on one bolt which bloody rounded. Twat. Luckily it was the front one so access wasn’t too bad. The skirt was removed so I could attack it with the angle grinder.

A whole lot of crap came out of the side skirt.

[ATTACH=full]190163[/ATTACH]|https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/171413/202505047904866

[ATTACH=full]190164[/ATTACH]|https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/171413/202505047906128

Whilst the skirt was off, I had a look at the chassis under there and the jacking points and it looks really good for a 19 year old car that has spent a significant amount of time in Swansea.

[ATTACH=full]190165[/ATTACH]|https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/171413/202505047938966

The passenger side was cleaned up with the wing removed.

[ATTACH=full]190166[/ATTACH]|https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/171413/202505047975523

Later this summer, I’ll take the car off the road for a full weekend, remove both skirts and wings, wire brush obvious rust and blisters, treat with Hydrate 80 which can then be coated after 24 hours. The worst areas are just behind the jacking points.

The wings I removed were really crusty on the inside.

[ATTACH=full]190167[/ATTACH]|https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/171413/202505047952723

[ATTACH=full]190168[/ATTACH]|https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/171413/202505047954405

After firing both wings, the car had a quick wash before I polished the wings and popping on some Fusso Coat.

[ATTACH=full]190169[/ATTACH]|https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/171413/202505047963384

[ATTACH=full]190170[/ATTACH]|https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/171413/202505047964697

[ATTACH=full]190171[/ATTACH]|https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/171413/202505047966377

When collecting the wings, I’d missed that there are a couple of minor dings in the drivers wing. Annoying but the local PDR chap should be able to sort them. It’s still cheaper than getting the old wings repairs and painted.

 

[PedroSouth]

Superb work

 

[Meds]

Nice work....

 

[BuzzardBiker]

Great work.

 

[STC_Zed]

Cheers chaps, plenty more to keep me busy with the Z4.

 

[Mr Tidy]

Your original wings do look a bit crusty!

I guess spending time living by the coast doesn't do our cars any good.

 

[STC_Zed]

Your original wings do look a bit crusty!

I guess spending time living by the coast doesn't do our cars any good.

They were well on their way.

It’s a 19 year old car at the end of the day. It’s done well to get this far before succumbing.