New to the community, new to the Z4. Advice wanted!

C

C3Raines

Member
 FT Carson, Colorado
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Will post more pictures soon. I know it's a 2.5i and not the 3.0i or an M but it is still a fun car never the less. I came from a 2003 VW GLI 6 speed with an inline 6 and that was a fun car as well. I bought the car strictly as a toy, and I plan on doing some upgrades. I know the car doesn't have a whole lot available to get any crazy horsepower gains, but I'm really just looking for audio, and converting the halogen lights to HID. After I enjoy the pure stock feel for about 6 months I might supercharge it with the ESS M52TÜ/M54 VT1 Supercharger System. That's really all I'm looking at doing except maybe getting some lighter rims. I looked up my VIN to see the package that came with my car and I found out a lot of stuff that I didn't even know came with the car. I nearly bought an S2000, but I'm glad I decided to go check the car out cause I really enjoy driving it. In fact I like it so much that I think in a few years I will get the M. I love working on any vehicle, small gains or comfort gains, all the same reward to me. So while I have this new toy, does anyone have any tips, advice, or general knowledge about the E85 M54B25 engine and what upgrades are tried and true? Treat this like a project car, it's something for me to play with and upgrade for the next few years. Thanks for your help in advance, look forward to hearing from some seasoned enthusiast.
 
Welcome to the forum, sounds like you know what you're doing. I'll let others with the E85 M54 have their say but from what I've heard its a great engine - enjoy :thumbsup:
 
Thanks for the welcome. Since buying the car I've really come to appreciate all the bells and whistles, fine tuning, and just hidden luxuries BMW offers. I didn't realize I had the Premium package, and the Sports package when I purchased the vehicle. I think all I want to do to this car is high flow catalytic converters, and a muffler for a little deeper sporty sound. Then a vortech supercharger kit pushing 6 or 7 psi from ESS and the tune kit that comes with it. Couple that upgrade with brembo rotors and some fine pads. With the M suspension the car is already plenty low. Probably upgrade to 18 inch wheels. That's about it from the performance stand point. I am going to do the HID conversion from the old halogens, and would like to switch the fog lights over to HID as well. The license plate bracket on the front bumper is gone because I didn't need it. I'm still in debate over the hard top. A lot of people don't care much for the premium audio package that came with the car, but it's not all that bad honestly. I've seen worse, haha. I may get bored and upgrade the 6.5s behind the seats one day, but I'm in no hurry there. I think I will have to change the head unit eventually, but that's just to get with the times. Whatever head unit I choose will still have a luxurious look to it. I will put a slight tint on the windows, and change the locks to the BMW emblem locks for that added comfort. The shift knob and e-brake will get a makeover too. Well that's the plan. I will be sure to keep the forum updated with pictures as I make these changes.
 
You know your way around cars from the sound of it, what do you do in the military, if your allowed to tell.. we need more photos though as it's been 5 months since you got her and still the same one. Happy new year
 
Welcome, the 2.5 is a great car. Had mine as a toy since last August and its a brilliant car and certainly fast enough for me. As a retired person I have a very long history with cars and still enjoy the mechanical side - simply would not trust any grease monkey caring for my baby. On that subject I have found most main dealers and not just BMW to be rip off merchants doing a crap job but then giving your car a clean on the theory that you will not look any further than the shiny bodywork. When I got my car it had BMW main dealer service history, wasnt due a service for umpteen miles but the first thing I found was a filthy air filter with a 2004 date stamp suggesting it hadnt been changed since new.
So my recommendation would be do all your own servicing and do not leave it until the service light indicates its due. If you want to keep the car running sweet into a ripe old age change the oil and filter every 6000 miles or therabouts.
As for the mods I dont think you say the age or mileage of your car. Just bear in mind that performance mods are more in keeping with lower mile younger cars.
 
firebobby said:
You know your way around cars from the sound of it, what do you do in the military, if your allowed to tell.. we need more photos though as it's been 5 months since you got her and still the same one. Happy new year
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I'm not an expert, but I know a thing or two. I'm in the infantry. I was a dismount on a Bradley for awhile, then I drove the Bradley for awhile. Now I'm in a Stryker unit. They may put me mounted and they may put me dismounted, I'll probably find out next week. Yes I plan on uploading some photos next week as well! It is well overdue. Happy new year!
 
Mike6 said:
Welcome, the 2.5 is a great car. Had mine as a toy since last August and its a brilliant car and certainly fast enough for me. As a retired person I have a very long history with cars and still enjoy the mechanical side - simply would not trust any grease monkey caring for my baby. On that subject I have found most main dealers and not just BMW to be rip off merchants doing a crap job but then giving your car a clean on the theory that you will not look any further than the shiny bodywork. When I got my car it had BMW main dealer service history, wasnt due a service for umpteen miles but the first thing I found was a filthy air filter with a 2004 date stamp suggesting it hadnt been changed since new.
So my recommendation would be do all your own servicing and do not leave it until the service light indicates its due. If you want to keep the car running sweet into a ripe old age change the oil and filter every 6000 miles or therabouts.
As for the mods I dont think you say the age or mileage of your car. Just bear in mind that performance mods are more in keeping with lower mile younger cars.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the welcome! Yes you are right about the servicing. I service my vehicles myself for that reason as well. The mods I plan on doing will be fine for the age of the car. It's been garaged it's whole life and only previously owned by two other people. I have just now gotten it close to 80k miles. I just use the k&n filters. They last forever and are easy to clean. My real issue right now is finding a hard top for the winter months. It's been quite the search. Not having any luck.
 
Congratulations on your purchase just brought the same myself a couple weeks ago. One question what website do you use to check the vintage and options it had on first purchase.
Thanks
 
shaun chisholm said:
Congratulations on your purchase just brought the same myself a couple weeks ago. One question what website do you use to check the vintage and options it had on first purchase.
Thanks
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Hi Shaun, take your vin number to a bmw dealer & they should give you a printout of the equipment the car was supplied with when new.
Regards
 
I just Googled the Vin lookup there are a few different sites you can use. Dealer is a stealer. I try to avoid them except for some things like coolant I only use bmw. I know I promised pictured and I will post some soon. I have the ess tuning supercharger on the way. A new valve gasket, and a disa upgrade kit coming today. New spark plugs install will be completed with valve gasket replacement. Preparing for forced induction is the reason for the replacements. Going to ride the ignition coils out unless I see cracked boots or other signs of wear. Anyways that what's new and I'll post pictures of install and after install for yall as well!
 
Welcome from a fellow infantry man. I worked with the USMC out in afghan. Did a few strike ops from Ospreys which was good fun.
 
The car is just now at 80k. I changed the spark plugs and valve gasket and grommets. I upgraded to aluminum parts for the disa. I just finished the install on the supercharger last night. Was a huge pain in the ass. They sent me the wrong parts, they sent me a kit for a 330 and ZHP model. That's the only reason it took so long. Even sent me the wrong supercharger with a straight outlet instead of curved. Was an ordeal getting the correct parts to say the least. But it's all installed now and it looks and drives great. Sounds pretty nice hearing the supercharger whine. Especially when the bypass valve releases air. Vortech had over torqued the dipstick on the supercharger and it ended up being a pain in the ass to get that out as well. Since they are brass anything over hand tightening will strip the screw. Through all the hurdles it's on there. Uploaded my tune and didn't have a single error code or dash light on so that was a relief. I haven't been able to push the car hard yet because of the break in period for the supercharger, but I can tell you it is faster. Sport mode is very fun now. I'm just looking at custom exhaust now, because supersprint exhaust is ridiculously expensive. I just can't bite the bullet on that when I know I could have a custom setup just as nice if not better. I'm on my mobile right now, but when I get home I'll post some pictures up from the pc. Just wanted to give an update letting yall know all is well. I'll respond individually to posts later. Just wanted to throw this up real fast!
 
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