New Owner First Impressions

[Mr Tidy]

Custom cat back exhaust sounds interesting! Did you have it done yourself? Tell me more please!

Well the guy I bought the car from told me it had one fitted by a previous owner, but he didn't know any more than that. But the back box is noticeably smaller than stock!

Then I posted a picture of my car on another forum and that same previous owner posted to say that used to be his car, so I sent him a message and amazingly he replied! :laugh:

It seems he owned the car from 2012 to 2016 and had the system made by these people:- https://solid-fabrications.com/

So they just might still have the dimensions.

 

[MattZCars]

Custom cat back exhaust sounds interesting! Did you have it done yourself? Tell me more please!

Well the guy I bought the car from told me it had one fitted by a previous owner, but he didn't know any more than that. But the back box is noticeably smaller than stock!

Then I posted a picture of my car on another forum and that same previous owner posted to say that used to be his car, so I sent him a message and amazingly he replied! :laugh:

It seems he owned the car from 2012 to 2016 and had the system made by these people:- https://solid-fabrications.com/

So they just might still have the dimensions.

Ah excellent! Cheers Mr T. I see they're still in business so that's a good start! I'll sound them out but first the car is going in to Brystone for a bit of a health check. Want to make sure I haven't bought a lemon before I start throwing money at it!!

 

[Mr Tidy]

Ah excellent! Cheers Mr T. I see they're still in business so that's a good start! I'll sound them out but first the car is going in to Brystone for a bit of a health check. Want to make sure I haven't bought a lemon before I start throwing money at it!!

No, definitely makes sense to get it checked over first.

Just a heads-up, but after the cat-back system was fitted the previous owner got a fault code for the lambda sensors - replacements cost him £900.

I've also just noticed you have a 2.5 - I'm not sure if they use the same exhaust as the 3.0, so that might be worth checking.

Anyway, I hope Brystone give your car a clean bill of health.

 

[Darkangelv2]

Make sure you get alternative quotes for any work Brystone recommends.

It’s a fab garage and the team there are great (I have my MOTs there) but they don’t offer great value for money in my experience.

For a rocker gasket change the quoted me £300. £200 of which being labour! It’s about an hours job so I’ll be taking my car to Bartley over the road where they quoted me £120.

 

[DSCOFF]

Hey Matt,
Enjoyed reading the feedback on your car.
You mention The New Forest - guess you must live in Hampshire or Dorset?
I’m often in ‘The Forest’, though have a coupé to keep-out the insects...
May finally be ditching my run flats and can’t wait.
+1 on getting a ZHP gear knob.
Enjoy your car!

Yep I'm in Lymington. The 40 mph limit is a complete PITA sometimes, but still nice to cruise around a bit on a sunny day or even a clear night! I remember when I was in the Uni motor club back in the 80's a lot of the forest roads were still national speed limit and we regularly did our navigational rallies (we're not racing officer, honest.... :telloff: ) out there. We had a few accidents but a whole lot of fun too! Bit dumb though really with all the animals on the road

The Forest can be pretty dangerous, especially after dark and have had a few near misses with wildlife, ponies, cattle, sheep, pigs and donkeys( phew!). Some great roads and now the cycling fraternity see it as their personal training ground - even 40mph can be a struggle.
Will look out for your car.

 

[Rich8]

Steering wheel adjusts for rake AND reach??
Why have I not realised that in the last 6 years!
I thought it just had rake adjustment!
How do you do it? Same leaver under the column?
I'm off to have a fiddle!

 

[Rich8]

........well bugger me.
I do feel silly.

 

[davros]

........well bugger me.
I do feel silly.

Your not alone mate . I’ve just spent 3 years moaning my steering wheel was too near the dashboard.....doh

 

[MattZCars]

........well bugger me.
I do feel silly.

Your not alone mate . I’ve just spent 3 years moaning my steering wheel was too near the dashboard.....doh

Well I would laugh but that is almost certainly the first and last time I'll know more about the Z4 than anyone!! ...so I'll just say, no problem gents, glad to help

I always check on a new car.... comes from having long legs and short arms...or as my mates would say....short arms and deep pockets..... .....

 

[Mr Tidy]

........well bugger me.
I do feel silly.

Well at least your fiddle had a good result. :lol:

Hopefully you can find a better driving position now!

 

[Capa]

Make sure you get alternative quotes for any work Brystone recommends.

It’s a fab garage and the team there are great (I have my MOTs there) but they don’t offer great value for money in my experience.

For a rocker gasket change the quoted me £300. £200 of which being labour! It’s about an hours job so I’ll be taking my car to Bartley over the road where they quoted me £120.

I've found the reverse to be true at times. Although 300 for a rocker cover change can go and do one! As you've said; get more than one quote...

 

[Darkangelv2]

Make sure you get alternative quotes for any work Brystone recommends.

It’s a fab garage and the team there are great (I have my MOTs there) but they don’t offer great value for money in my experience.

For a rocker gasket change the quoted me £300. £200 of which being labour! It’s about an hours job so I’ll be taking my car to Bartley over the road where they quoted me £120.

I've found the reverse to be true at times. Although 300 for a rocker cover change can go and do one! As you've said; get more than one quote...

You’re right, always need to shop around

 

[MattZCars]

Make sure you get alternative quotes for any work Brystone recommends.

It’s a fab garage and the team there are great (I have my MOTs there) but they don’t offer great value for money in my experience.

For a rocker gasket change the quoted me £300. £200 of which being labour! It’s about an hours job so I’ll be taking my car to Bartley over the road where they quoted me £120.

I've found the reverse to be true at times. Although 300 for a rocker cover change can go and do one! As you've said; get more than one quote...

You’re right, always need to shop around

Thanks chaps, really appreciate the feedback. It's obviously a toss up between Brystone and Bartley near me, Iridium seem to be happy with the customers they already have and that's fine with me. I thought I would try Brystone first and let them show me what they're made of with a check over before I spend any real money. It had crossed my mind to get Bartley to do exactly the same!

I'm quite happy to travel to get a car looked after properly, I used to take my Scoob to a place in Newbury because they were the best within a couple of hours drive and did it with my 300ZX's as well.

Also I'm an accountant by profession :yawn: :yawn: so I'm usually quite careful before I unlock the wallet! ......

Will see what they say first, hopefully they won't condemn it ....

 

[DSCOFF]

Bartley BMW do have a good reputation.
BTW I know that Scooby place in Newbury!
Though mine goes to Triton Motorsport, near Bournemouth.

 

[MattZCars]

Bartley BMW do have a good reputation.
BTW I know that Scooby place in Newbury!
Though mine goes to Triton Motorsport, near Bournemouth.

Yes, the name is a bit naff but they are really excellent. I had my scoob 4 years, did a lot of mods, sometimes I supplied parts, sometimes they did but never ever had a single issue with anything. The scoob was quite probably the best car I've ever had, but I was accumulating points faster than I was losing them ...

 

[DSCOFF]

Bartley BMW do have a good reputation.
BTW I know that Scooby place in Newbury!
Though mine goes to Triton Motorsport, near Bournemouth.

Yes, the name is a bit naff but they are really excellent. I had my scoob 4 years, did a lot of mods, sometimes I supplied parts, sometimes they did but never ever had a single issue with anything. The scoob was quite probably the best car I've ever had, but I was accumulating points faster than I was losing them ...

Haha - recently been on a speed awareness course, thanks to my scooby!

 

[MattZCars]

Bartley BMW do have a good reputation.
BTW I know that Scooby place in Newbury!
Though mine goes to Triton Motorsport, near Bournemouth.

Yes, the name is a bit naff but they are really excellent. I had my scoob 4 years, did a lot of mods, sometimes I supplied parts, sometimes they did but never ever had a single issue with anything. The scoob was quite probably the best car I've ever had, but I was accumulating points faster than I was losing them ...

Haha - recently been on a speed awareness course, thanks to my scooby!

I know this is a Z forum and all that but what model scoob do you have?

 

[DSCOFF]

Matt,
I have a Forester 2.5XT SG9.
It’s a manual car with a hybrid Pro-Drive/ Hayward and Scott exhaust.
Somebody described it as a ‘sleeper’ - it is certainly a faster to 60mph than my E86.
That Scooby soundtrack is addictive!

 

[MattZCars]

Matt,
I have a Forester 2.5XT SG9.
It’s a manual car with a hybrid Pro-Drive/ Hayward and Scott exhaust.
Somebody described it as a ‘sleeper’ - it is certainly a faster to 60mph than my E86.
That Scooby soundtrack is addictive!

Nice! I bet you've surprised plenty of other road users in it Yeah that noise still makes me turn around every time I hear it. I sold mine when fuel prices were climbing and Scoob prices were plummeting! To buy it now would cost me nearly twice what I let it go for....but so many other cars I want to own, just have to forget all that!

 

[DSCOFF]

Matt,
I have a Forester 2.5XT SG9.
It’s a manual car with a hybrid Pro-Drive/ Hayward and Scott exhaust.
Somebody described it as a ‘sleeper’ - it is certainly a faster to 60mph than my E86.
That Scooby soundtrack is addictive!

Nice! I bet you've surprised plenty of other road users in it Yeah that noise still makes me turn around every time I hear it. I sold mine when fuel prices were climbing and Scoob prices were plummeting! To buy it now would cost me nearly twice what I let it go for....but so many other cars I want to own, just have to forget all that!

My car likes a drink, though at £540 the road tax is the killer. Though she is my everyday driver...
But we’re both enjoying Z4 ownership and a great forum too!