New owner

S

Stueyboy43

Member
Hi all.

I am the proud owner of a 2003 2.5 Z4 in Sterling Grey. Picked it up a couple of days ago and I am really enjoying my first sports car.

It all seems too good to be true at the moment. It has a few things that need to sorted, small scratches and a small dent need to be sorted, but seems to run lovely at the moment. Needed a good clean inside, mainly looks like dust from standing still (previous owner only did 4k in 2 years)

Roof doesn't leak and everything mechanical seems fine so far.

For a 17 year old car I am amazed at the condition, I am only the 5th owner, it has original med kit, tool kit and doesn't look like its been messed with in any way.

I am going to get cupholders for it, have replaced the aerial for a shorter version to tidy it up ( doesn't do anything as previous owner put in a DAB radio with new aerial).

FSH up until 4K miles ago and MOT history is good.

Going to get it serviced with an oil change etc, only slight issue is car moves slightly on handbrake on a slope

Interior has aged well with minimal wear for the years.

Are there any modifications that you guys suggest could be done in time. Not looking for more performance specifically, but refinements I guess

Many thanks

Stu
 

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Welcome to the forum and nice looking Zed. You can add items easily as the early classic Zed was pre wired for most add on's. Got any photos of the interior.
 
Hi and welcome to the forum with your smart looking Z4. :thumbsup:

It's lucky you aren't looking for performance modifications as there aren't really any for these, just things like upgraded brake or lower suspension which won't add refinement! Some people swap wheels, but the ones you already have (Style 107s) are pretty sought after.

I understand the BMW wind deflector that fits between the seat headrests helps reduce buffeting when the roof is down so it might be worth looking for one of those if your car doesn't have one.

And yes, the Bi-Xenons are much better than the standard Halogen lights - they're often compared to candles!
 
Thanks guys for your welcome. Here are a few pics of the interior

Mr Tidy the car came with the wind deflector already, I think it is a genuine BMW offering but not sure.

I did drive a 2 litre but wasn't that excited in comparison to my partners car, but i love the power delivery of the 2.5, fun but without it being scary in anyway.

Suspension could be something I would look at in the future, but brake improvements would be of interest
 

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You can add heated sports seats, cruise control, MFSW if you want. These early cars are pre wired so plug and play.
 
Looking good. :thumbsup:

Someone has even fitted the ZHP gear knob which is a popular modification, so that's saved you £50 or so!

If the wind deflector is made of mesh it's probably the BMW one.

I can see why you'd prefer a 2.5i to a 2.0i. That way you get to listen to a straight 6, it goes better and is generally reckoned to be less troublesome than the 4 cylinder engine in the 2.0i.

I'm not completely sure, but I think the front discs on the 2.5i are 285mm whereas the 3.0i has 300mm discs. Or you can fit the brakes from a 3 litre facelift which has 325mm discs, but you might need different calipers for those - you'd definitely need different caliper support brackets.
 
Thanks all.

I am going to look into the cruise control fitment. As this is only a fun car for occasional use I'm not sure how much I will use it in winter. I have taxed it until December then will decide if I'm going to use it or sorn it, but if I use it in winter heated seats could be a great upgrade.

I quite like having to reach to the stereo to control it, takes me back to my early driving years.

I was drawn to the 6 cylinder engine and the noise and smoothness it gives.

I might go for black alloys at some point, but happy with the ones I have for now.

I was otmriginally looking at MX-5s, MR2s and MGTFs as I didn't realise the Zeds were available at such good value, I cannot believe it to be honest.
 
Zeds are amazing performance and build for the value! Yours looks good!

Where abouts are you? I’ve got my old front 3.0i brakes. The carriers will fit straight on your standard callipers and allow you to go up to 300mm front discs. I’m selling brakes, discs and callipers for £50 on here. Will do £40 collected if you want?
 
kis said:
Zeds are amazing performance and build for the value! Yours looks good!

Where abouts are you? I’ve got my old front 3.0i brakes. The carriers will fit straight on your standard callipers and allow you to go up to 300mm front discs. I’m selling brakes, discs and callipers for £50 on here. Will do £40 collected if you want?
Click to expand...

Hi thank you, I am near Leicester
 
I do have a quick question if anyone can help. The one issue to looknat is the roof, which when going down seemed to stick for a split second just about 10-15 cms up from full down position, then it would bang down. Going up it is fine. I have stayed some lithium grease on all the joints I can see and it is now smoother. I am going to add a bit more grease and see if it improves further.

Just wondered if apart from Lubrication is there anything else it could be, from your experiences

Thanks
 
Referring to the handbrake issue, before any adjustments just lift the handbrake leather cowl up and give a good spray of grease around the mechanism. Its probably dried out.

Welcome to the forum, nice lookin zed there mate.

Cheers, tug :thumbsup:
 
Welcome.
Have a butchers in the history and see if the cam cover gasket has been renewed. If it hasn't check for oil leaks, specifically at the back of the engine where the cam cover meets the head. If you sense any oil change your ccg.
Same goes for the CCV system. If it hasn't been renewed in the last 10 years consider renewing it.
Roof motor relocation to the boot is a popular mod amongst owners as its factory location is in a drain channel where it can suffer water ingress, corrosion and failure.
 
tug said:
Referring to the handbrake issue, before any adjustments just lift the handbrake leather cowl up and give a good spray of grease around the mechanism. Its probably dried out.

Welcome to the forum, nice lookin zed there mate.

Cheers, tug :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Thanks Tug, I will certainly give that a go
 
Chris_D said:
Welcome.
Have a butchers in the history and see if the cam cover gasket has been renewed. If it hasn't check for oil leaks, specifically at the back of the engine where the cam cover meets the head. If you sense any oil change your ccg.
Same goes for the CCV system. If it hasn't been renewed in the last 10 years consider renewing it.
Roof motor relocation to the boot is a popular mod amongst owners as its factory location is in a drain channel where it can suffer water ingress, corrosion and failure.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the info, vannot see any oil leaks, but i have a wad of paperwork to go through so I will look at it all and see what has been done.

The roof motor relocation (and possible refurbishment if needed) is something i will do in time as a preventative measure
 
Snap, mine is a 2003 2.5 but in Silver, got mine last September and since then been going through it to sort a few things. Already have a Z3 so armed to the teeth with all the diagnostics kit. So far have changed the oil level sensor in the sump which was throwing a code. Replaced the cam cover gasket as it had a leak dripping on the exhaust causing it to burn and smoke. Also changed the CCV system, really didn't need doing but wanted to make sure it was all ok. Its a pain to change all the hoses and I ended up lifting the inlet manifold to get at the main valve unit and access to clip all its hoses in place. Full oil service, engine, gearbox and Diff, gearchange improved with new oil, don't rely on BMW saying its filled for life, same for the diff, fresh oil makes a difference. Handbrake is currently having attention, stripped off the rear disc/drums the other day and checked the handbrake shoes and cleaned the workings, loads of meat on the shoes so only pulled the adjusters and greased their internals with copper ease grease to keep them lubed. Same for the contact points on the disc pads.calipers when I refitted them. Adjusting the handbrake is an art on these, you have to set a service position on the internal cable that sits under the handbrake lever, access 6to that by removing the cover and gaiter inside the car. Its a alloy capped spring that has to be compressed so that its internal latch sets and holds the spring compressed whilst you use the wheel adjusters with a screw driver through one of the wheel bolt holes using a long flat blade screwdriver to turn the notched adjuster wheels up and down to get the desired position of the brake shoes. This is supposed to be wound up till the drum is locked by the shoes then backed off eight clicks. Once both sides are adjusted return to the interior and release the compressed service spring and pull the handbrake lever a few times to check operation. Finally apply lever three clicks, they say the drums should not be able to be turned at this setting. Did mine but still not happy, needs a really good pull to hold on a hill, mine has three clicks.
 
Thanks Colb.

I have got it into a friendly garage today to give it a once over, oil and filter change and getting the handbrake looked at.
 
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