New E86 3.0si owner

[RossT]

Hi everyone, I recently bought my 2007 E86 3.0si coupe. Silver grey with 108 style wheels and dark red/wine coloured sports seats (not sure of the official name for that colour?).

Not driven it too much yet as it's winter and I want to get a few things sorted when I can - a full service/health check from a specialist, and I've spotted two or three very small spots of corrosion I want to get dealt with. The car drives very well though, and I've always loved how these look.

The 108s are in pretty good condition but I am looking at other wheel options so they might be for sale at some point.

 

[Z450]

Lovely looking car, the interior colour is called Amore if it is a darker red!

 

[RossT]

Ah! Thanks Z450. Yeah I love the look plus the formula of a decent sized NA engine with manual gearbox and rear wheel drive, and fairly light.

 

[Z450]

Ah! Thanks Z450. Yeah I love the look plus the formula of a decent sized NA engine with manual gearbox and rear wheel drive, and fairly light.

The coupes are great, and simply don’t make cars like this anymore!

 

[Mr Tidy]

Hi Ross and welcome to the forum from a serial Coupe owner.

They do drive very well, and the 3.0Si engine is a gem. FWIW I think your interior colour is called Amarone. Going by the database someone on here compiled the UK only got 16 Coupes in Silver Grey with Amarone leather.

Link here if you have some time to spare! http://perso.numericable.fr/tonyz4c/index30si.html

 

[coldel]

Very beautiful cars the coupes, loved the angles on mine. I had 108s, I liked them, but they do wear badly and as two piece horrendously expensive to refurb. Im sure a decent set might attract some interest should you sell them.

 

[RossT]

Thanks Mr Tidy, that link is very interesting. You can probably see from the photo that my dash is the brushed aluminium (I think, not sure what "Aluminium Cirrus" is), which appears to mean that there were only two UK coupes in the exact spec of my car!

Looks like you've had some great cars previously coldel, it is sad how modern cars have become so heavy and complicated which is why I went for the Z4 and hope to keep it running for as long as possible. I do like the look of the 108s more than anything standard other than 224s but I'll probably get something aftermarket but tasteful at some point.

 

[JimCosworth]

Looks a lovely car. Do like the shape of the coupe.

 

[Mr Tidy]

Thanks Mr Tidy, that link is very interesting. You can probably see from the photo that my dash is the brushed aluminium (I think, not sure what "Aluminium Cirrus" is), which appears to mean that there were only two UK coupes in the exact spec of my car!

Looks like you've had some great cars previously coldel, it is sad how modern cars have become so heavy and complicated which is why I went for the Z4 and hope to keep it running for as long as possible. I do like the look of the 108s more than anything standard other than 224s but I'll probably get something aftermarket but tasteful at some point.

The Aluminium Cirrus is an engine turned look. I had it in my 2nd Coupe and really liked it. That came with 108 wheels that had been refurbed by a previous owner so knowing the issues they can have I sold them while they were still in decent condition.

I replaced them with a set of 295s from an E89, but others have fitted E9* 3 Series wheels. The advantage with those options is because they have different offsets they sit further out in the wheel-arches without needing spacers.

 

[buzyg]

Welcome to the forum Ross. Looking very smart there.

 

[RossT]

The Aluminium Cirrus is an engine turned look. I had it in my 2nd Coupe and really liked it.

Ah thanks, I think I know what you mean though I've never seen it on a Z4 - appears to be the rarest dash option based on my car colour with Piano Black being most popular. I like what I have as it lightens the interior a bit.

Thanks for the welcome buzyg, I'm looking forward to better weather so I can get out driving more. The car has fairly high mileage (around 100k) but it has a full service history and I work from home so I won't be racking up too many miles.

 

[ARCS]

Welcome to the forum, Ross. That's a cracking looking coupe you've got yourself. This is what the hens teeth of dash trim in cirrus looks like.

 

[Fred Smith]

Ah! Thanks Z450. Yeah I love the look plus the formula of a decent sized NA engine with manual gearbox and rear wheel drive, and fairly light.

For me the format is as you say, but also, wheelbase not too long, bonnet as long as possible, the overal basic shape (similar to a capri or a datsum 240Z, seats as close to the rear wheels as possible.

When I consider upgrading my E86 there is relatively little that ticks all those boxes... and a lot of it is very old.

 

[RossT]

This is what the hens teeth of dash trim in cirrus looks like.

Cheers BA, that does look nice - a slightly finer pattern than I imagined. It's interesting seeing all the options for a car like this, has anyone got an original brochure or something that shows all the colours and interior possibilities all together? I noticed a variety when I was looking at Z4s for sale, such as the two-tone seats and coloured leather dash options. Red and white seem to be rare exterior colours too?

I agree Fred, almost no new cars catch my attention. I quite liked the look of the Toyota GR86 before they soon stopped selling them here because of emissions or something? Also considered things like a Nissan 370Z but they're a bit hefty and not as good looking as the Z4s. My favourite non-supercar of all time is the Mazda RX-7 (FD) but they're rare/expensive in good condition now and the rotary is meant to be tricky to maintain so I'm very happy with the E86 as a similar package and almost as rare on the roads.

 

[Mr Tidy]

Cheers BA, that does look nice - a slightly finer pattern than I imagined. It's interesting seeing all the options for a car like this, has anyone got an original brochure or something that shows all the colours and interior possibilities all together? I noticed a variety when I was looking at Z4s for sale, such as the two-tone seats and coloured leather dash options. Red and white seem to be rare exterior colours too?

I was surprised my 2nd Coupe had Cirrus trim because it was an option, and it was built with absolutely no other options fitted apart from 108 wheels! Although it had been retro-fitted with cup-holders and rear parking sensors.

These were the seat options for the facelift models from the brochure.



But don't include the Individual colours like Champagne, Amarone and Syrah Blue or the Bi-Colour ones.

Red and white were rare choices, but white didn't seem to be in fashion in 2006/8 whereas loads of E89s are white. Hellrot isn't as red as I'd like, the Imola Red on the Ms is so much better.

As a two time 2.8i Capri owner in the 80s I was immediately drawn to the shape of the E86, but there is hardly anything newer I like other than maybe a Supra but they are still out of budget. My solution was to replace my 3.0Si with an M.

However desirable they are a rotary Mazda must be a more scary proposition than an M on the potential for big bills!

 

[Jembo]

Suggest u hang onto the 108’s

They really grow on u & are super easy to clean

I thought the same with my 1st Zed, those BBS split rims are some of the best IMO

.. & of course u have a Coupe

 

[RossT]

Thanks Mr T, it is funny what some original owners chose as options for their car. Your current M sounds like a very nice spec.

My car has rear parking sensors, and I believe the wheels on all Z4s have tyre pressure monitoring? This is the first car I've ever had with either of those, despite my previous car being a few years newer! I need to learn about TPMS, I hope it's not too much hassle if changing wheels.

 

[RossT]

Suggest u hang onto the 108’s

I like the design and definitely agree about them being easy to clean but they would need a refurb if I was to keep them as there is some light corrosion visible when you get close. I could possibly store them but I'm not planning to sell the car (perhaps ever) so I'm still leaning towards selling them - I have a few decent wheel options I'm considering but it's too early to change anything yet.

 

[Mr Tidy]

Thanks Mr T, it is funny what some original owners chose as options for their car. Your current M sounds like a very nice spec.

My car has rear parking sensors, and I believe the wheels on all Z4s have tyre pressure monitoring? This is the first car I've ever had with either of those, despite my previous car being a few years newer! I need to learn about TPMS, I hope it's not too much hassle if changing wheels.

I think my M has that spec because it's first owner seems to have been BMW UK!

TPMS in E85/86s work off the wheel speed sensors, so no issue with needing specific tyre valves like later E89s. But if you change wheels it's worth resetting it with the button on the centre console.

The Style 295s I had were just as easy to clean with just 5 spokes, but no bolt-heads to react and lift the lacquer.

 

[RossT]

I think my M has that spec because it's first owner seems to have been BMW UK!

TPMS in E85/86s work off the wheel speed sensors, so no issue with needing specific tyre valves like later E89s. But if you change wheels it's worth resetting it with the button on the centre console.

The Style 295s I had were just as easy to clean with just 5 spokes, but no bolt-heads to react and lift the lacquer.

My wife bought an almost-new car last year (23 plate) and it had been a demonstrator for BMW so it had almost every option, very similar to yours!

Thanks for the info on TPMS, that doesn't sound too bad then.

5 spokes or split 5 spoke wheels are my favourite too. Some modern designs are so intricate and complicated these days I think they look ugly even before considering what a nightmare they must be to clean!