My Z journal

[yipikayee]

Since i like reading other peoples threads, i decided to make my own too. Maybe someone will find it interesting, and enjoy reading it as much as i enjoy working on my car.

Last September i bought my first ever BMW/sport car/roadster. Crazy experience to swap your second car from 1.2 petrol Polo to 3.0 Z4 :lol:
Here is the pic the next day i brought it home:




She came with 19" style 67 alloys that were not to my liking, so i knew straight away i will be investing in new set of wheels, which i eventually did.
Car has 160k on a clock, and i can say after all those months of ownership - its a tank engine and i cant understand why ppl are afraid of high mileage examples. Never let me down and im using it as a daily even during past winter

After a week or two I decided to put the car up for a oil and filter change in recommended garage, and since im based in Birmingham i left her with Marc's Independent BMW ( https://marcsbmw.com ) Great guy, done the solid job and checked my whole suspension per my request as well.

More about the car:

- 3.0 straight six, 2004 manual with sport button
- Electric folding mirrors
- rear parking sensors - from new
- Sat nav
- BT phone prep
- BMW 6disc changer
- auto wipers
- auto dimmable rear mirror
- relocated roof motor (win!)
- angel eyes, xenon clean headlamps
- black leather, electric memory seats
- came with polybushes from previous owner
- new rear springs

Done:
- new wheels
- clear indicators
- service and check after buying
- new front and boot badge
- v brace painted
- new 3rd break light
- diff oil change
- break fluid full flush
- cruise control retrofit
- source and mount wind deflector
- 3 stage paint correction
- ceramic coating
- clean and restore soft top
- deal with right headlight condensation
- new bilstein B4 front shocks fitted, plus new droplinks
- oem wind deflector,and loop covers painted black

To do list:


- interior light change (cheap LED atm)
- caliper clean and paint
- MTEC drilled discs
- window tint
- wheel refurb and respray
- gearbox oil


So, just like mentioned above first upgrade was to change the wheels. I decided to downgrade 19" to 18" for more comfort. And yes, i know its not very popular to put comfort equally to owning a sports car but if u don't have to deal with awful Bham roads daily, please come and see yourself :headbang:
Went for style 32 i fell in love with. Simple and stylish, apart from colour that will be changed at some point. Here we go:


MASSIVE difference! Driving is possible to enjoy in the city.
was:
255/35 19
225/40 19
changed to:

8J Front ET20
9J Rear ET22

205/40
215/35


More changes to come 8)

 

[Mr Tidy]

Looking good, and I much prefer the Style 32 wheels to what you had.

But I might have gone with a bit more tyre even if only to give the rims a bit of protection (OE sizes for staggered 18s were 225/40 front and 255/35 rear). You'll just have to keep well away from kerbs!

 

[yipikayee]

Looking good, and I much prefer the Style 32 wheels to what you had.

But I might have gone with a bit more tyre even if only to give the rims a bit of protection (OE sizes for staggered 18s were 225/40 front and 255/35 rear). You'll just have to keep well away from kerbs!

Thank you for the comment, and i absolutely agree!
Wheels came with them tyres on already. Good thing is these were brand new, and seller was great dude(showed me his m3, m5 and owned x5as well) and said to just try them for a bit and see how i like it. And even its not a lot rubber on, it felt like an upgrade from what i had before
Apart from performance i like "meaty look" more so will be putting wider tyres all round at some point

 

[Mr Tidy]

Wheels came with them tyres on already. Good thing is these were brand new, and seller was great dude(showed me his m3, m5 and owned x5as well) and said to just try them for a bit and see how i like it. And even its not a lot rubber on, it felt like an upgrade from what i had before

Oh well, that makes sense. And even if you get a scuff it won't be a disaster if you are planning a change of colour anyway.

It must feel like a rocket-ship after your Polo!

 

[yipikayee]

So taking small steps one at a time i went for easy change of side indicators to clear ones, as i have clear headlights so wanted to get rid of amber from front of the car.
It is a very easy thing to do, got clear indicators from the guy on FB group.

before


during




To take off the indicators you just need to grab them firmly and twist, then its pretty straight forward. I used hair dryer to heat the glue under badges as i reused them for now, i will get new ones eventually. Its just one cable to reconnect the indicator.

 

[yipikayee]

It must feel like a rocket-ship after your Polo!

It does ! still smiling like a kid when I'm driving it. Cant wait to take it for a proper roadtrip :driving:

 

[yipikayee]

Another weekend and more small details done to the car.

Starting off with painted v brace. I initially wanted to wrap it, even had wrap in hand but when i actually get to do it i changed my mind and painted it instead. Used spray paint from The Range. Peeled pieces of previous black paint off, cleaned it with alcohol, and carried out painting through grilles holes.

Isn't perfect look but does look 100 times better


Changed badges, as old ones were absolutely horrible :|
Bought the flybay ones as i cant justify spending 90quid on front and rear from bmw..



If they will fly off(unlikely) somewhere on motorway i will buy genuine next.

Finished the day off with cleaning roof drain holes and getting rid off the rubber ends. It was all clogged up with wet dirt, now nice and free of obstruction

 

[Croot23]

Looks great!

Did you remove the V-brace to paint it?

 

[yipikayee]

Looks great!

Did you remove the V-brace to paint it?

that took me a while to reply lol sorry
no, i took of the grilles, covered pain around and painted throught the holes taking off v brace is too big of an hassle for me

 

[yipikayee]

So done some work around the car. Horrible hobby to have i must say, next house need to have a garage and a lift
Working under car on jacks isn't comfy at all but oh well.



changing three of those oils was the plan, but manage to do two and ran out of time. didnt want to spend all sunny sunday under the car.



Brake fluid was long due, i missed it initially and finally changed it. cleaned up the mesh filter and container, done full flush and fluid change. Old one was very dark and after change i could actually feel the difference. Brakes are important, don't forget about them like me



diff oil next. Done it just beacause havent had any trace of it being changed before and it suppose to be easy job to do. Well, it is, but not very comfy, a lot of wiggling under the car to unscrew the plugs(especially if u dont have correct size allen key and need to figure it out on spot lol)



old diff oil.


Transmission oil left, dropped it for now, will do next time

 

[yipikayee]

Hello again, i manage to get myself a bargain on OEM complete wind deflector for my toy. I have bought damaged one because it was in price i was very happy with, and was easy fix as it just needed new mesh.


i sourced an anti mosquito net for a 5£ online, and it went really well replacing it. Its not even close the same material, but will stay on till i found something better or there will be no difference with it on. OEM material is soft and finer, and the one i got is very syntetic in feel with much larger holes.
Im robbing wife stocking on next try


oem vs replaced material, pretty big difference.
I dont have it on car yet, will mount it today/tommorow

 

[bigwinn]

Wheels look really good matey

 

[yipikayee]

Wheels look really good matey

thank you, one of my fav style. i knew i wanted them as soon as i found them

 

[mr.tourette]

nice thread.. also a big fan of the style 32 :driving:

 

[Zulu4]

Interesting stuff. Well done.
To be pedantic, breaks are important, but brakes are even more important :wink:

 

[yipikayee]

Interesting stuff. Well done.
To be pedantic, breaks are important, but brakes are even more important :wink:

thanks, i wouldnt notice

 

[yipikayee]

Another update. Last week i picked up the car from a detailing shop and OH BOY, what a difference u can get in 24h

Shop:

https://www.facebook.com/DetailedByDale/

I left my toy saturday and it was ready to pick up same day/following morning. I went for signature day pack but the guys doing extra if some spare time in hand.
- paint correction done
- headlights restored
- tailpipes polished
- engine bay cleaned
- roof cleaned
and all that finished with ceramic coating.




I could not speak about them highly enough, huge knowledge, great skills and cool easy going guys

 

[yipikayee]

New front shocks fitted today. Had to leave it in a garage as i wanted to get it done asap and my spring compressor was shite..
Went for new set of Bilstein B4, changed the drop links as an extra since they were at it. Back to smooth riding mode :driving:

 

[yipikayee]

sprayed loop covers satin black, and mounted recently bought wind deflector. middle mesh got replaced as old had a hole
old vs new

new set on car


much much better imo :driving:

 

[jamie_z4]

lovely car,

just an observation from your initial RE your style 32's - they arent the same specs as what are on your car, i can tell from just looking

The specs you quoted are the e46 fitment non - dished versions.

the ones you have are 8J Front ET20, 9J Rear ET22.

Jamie