New to Z4's - Tips Please!

[Hedgo]

Hi everyone,
Have long been an admirer of the Z4 but never been in a position to own one. Until now...
I'm in NZ and there aren't that many.
I've owned a few 3 and 5 series before so know a little about the Beemer.
I'm thinking about this one:

2003 BMW Z4 5 Speed MANUAL | Trade Me Motors

2003 BMW Z4 2.5l 5 Speed MANUAL Rare 5 speed manual (try and find another one) original unmolested car in very good condition which I have owned for 3.5 years....

www.trademe.co.nz

Any tips n hints as to what to look out for, or any other advice, would be gratefully received.
Thanks in advance!
Andrew

 

[colb]

Rubber and plastic components are the usual problems that occur as they age and degrade from repeated heat cycles. Oil leaks from cam cover gaskets and the oil filter housing to engine block are the usual source of oil leaks. Suspension bushes front and back are also points of wear that should be checked. All these jobs are DIY if you are handy with spanners. Airbag modules are also prone to failing and can be problematic finding good used replacements and they do have to be coded to the car when fitted. Best investment you can make is to bolster your toolbox with a decent code reader like a Creator 310+ or 410 model which is their latest version. Always good to scan a car when considering to buy it or not. Failed roof motors are common, most owners relocate it to the trunk/boot, they fail when they get wet from blocked drains at the bottom of the cavity where the factory put them in. All the above points have loads of threads on here so well worth spending time going through the posts to educate yourself on the Z4.

 

[Hedgo]

Rubber and plastic components are the usual problems that occur as they age and degrade from repeated heat cycles. Oil leaks from cam cover gaskets and the oil filter housing to engine block are the usual source of oil leaks. Suspension bushes front and back are also points of wear that should be checked. All these jobs are DIY if you are handy with spanners. Airbag modules are also prone to failing and can be problematic finding good used replacements and they do have to be coded to the car when fitted. Best investment you can make is to bolster your toolbox with a decent code reader like a Creator 310+ or 410 model which is their latest version. Always good to scan a car when considering to buy it or not. Failed roof motors are common, most owners relocate it to the trunk/boot, they fail when they get wet from blocked drains at the bottom of the cavity where the factory put them in. All the above points have loads of threads on here so well worth spending time going through the posts to educate yourself on the Z4.

Awesome - thanks Colb will do.

 

[raymond.harper]

Roof motor relocation is a bit crude. Check the steering on a test drive, look for stickiness and deviations from the straight ahead. As said before, take a model-specific code reader and check for faults, especially on the airbag side of things. Look carefully through the service history.

 

[Hedgo]

Roof motor relocation is a bit crude. Check the steering on a test drive, look for stickiness and deviations from the straight ahead. As said before, take a model-specific code reader and check for faults, especially on the airbag side of things. Look carefully through the service history.

Yeah - I'll be checking out that motor move. Thanks!

 

[raymond.harper]

It probably works, but a good job would look like this. No pictures of the seats so expect some wear on the bolsters

 

[Rockhopper]

My roof motor is exactly the same, its nothing to get too excited about. The lack of air-conditioning would concern me though as that could be expensive to get working again, and you really should! What's spares availability like over there? Did BMW sell many Z4's? Cant really comment on the price as that's down to the market but its quite expensive compared to a similar UK car. Probably £1500 more than here.

 

[Mr Tidy]

Hi and welcome to the forum Andrew.

I think it has all been covered so good luck with your Z4 search.