New Z4 e85 2.5 Si Sport owner

[Z4_ATB]

Hi all,

Another new owner here - I’ve wanted an e85 for 17 years now after seeing my first in silver with the BBS alloys, and after just selling a 4 series convertible with M Performance pack and 20’s along with giving back a 20 reg 330e M Sport with Tech and Plus Pack - decided to get one when I saw this late 09 reg e85 with only 66k miles.

Factory Options include
- New England leather upgrade
- Piano black dash
- Sat Nav currently running the latest v32 software and a 2019/20 map disc
- 10 speaker system with AUX input
- Bluetooth telephone prep
- Heated seats
- Cruise control
- Xenons
- Auto lights
- Cup holders
- Multifunction steering wheel
- Wind deflector
- Headlamp washers
- Auto dimming mirrors
- Storage nets
- 108 BBS split rim alloys

I’ve had it since Saturday and so far:
- Replaced whippy with a stubby aerial
- Replaced chrome front grills with black grills
- Added the Bluetooth adapter to the CD changer wiring
- Fitted H&R springs
- Fitted genuine BMW floor mats
- Fitted genuine BMW ZHP gear knob
- Had the lower Sport front bumper wrapped black
- Fitted a clear rear upper brake light
- Oil service
- Coolant replaced
- Gearbox oil replaced
- Ailun low profile CD mount magnetic phone holder

And looking at:
- Fitting a genuine set of BMW E46 M3 style 67 19” alloys
- Whether to do the CDV mod when having the springs fitted
- Backbox delete and maybe twin pipes on the other side although hearing that 6 cylinder again like the 330 Clubsport I had - not sure whether to just leave it stock...

I’ve been reading the forum for advice and will continue to do so - any thoughts on the car, mods so far, future mods and things to look out for much appreciated

Meant to say from a BMW ownership point of view I’ve had
- 120d M Sport
- 218d M Sport Grand Tourer
- 320d E46 SE Touring, 320d E46 M Sport, 316i M Sport Compact, 318d E91 Sport Plus Touring, 330Ci E46 Clubsport, 330e G20 M Sport
- 428i F33 M Sport convertible
- 530d E60 M Sport
So a 1, a 2, many 3’s, a 4, a 5 and now a Z

 

[groovy_hippy]

That looks a nice, well spec’ed example! Silver isn’t the colour for me but I think it suits Zeds well.

RE floor mats - I can’t fault genuine BMW ones, but they’re about £60-£80 a pair (best to check price at somewhere like Sopers in Lincoln - you get a forum discount if you ask nicely!)

Enjoy zedding!

 

[Z4_ATB]

best to check price at somewhere like Sopers in Lincoln - you get a forum discount if you ask nicely!

Thanks for the comments and I’d read this and wondered if it still applied as I was going to order the ZHP gear knob off eBay for about £64 for the genuine item and think I read Sopers with discount -may- get it as low down as £44ish?

 

[Argyll Andy]

think I read Sopers with discount -may- get it as low down as £44ish?

Hello and welcome

I bought one from Sopers recently £60.98 or £61.98 with postage and discount from memory

EDIT - just checked

‘the part you are looking for did cost £69.00 at full retail but with your discount I can do it for £60.38 including VAT.‘

 

[jabber]

Hi and welcome

 

[mr.tourette]

welcome.. nice looking and well specced zed

 

[Z4_ATB]

Thanks for the comments so far

Meant to say, the dealer I bought it from got it from a main BMW dealer and the roof motor had failed, they’ve had it fixed/refurbed but kept in the same location with -apparently- a drains mod to stop it happening again... sound about right?

 

[Z4_ATB]

I bought one from Sopers recently £60.98 or £61.98 with postage and discount from memory

EDIT - just checked

‘the part you are looking for did cost £69.00 at full retail but with your discount I can do it for £60.38 including VAT.‘

Shame as I saw this (see enclosed) but it was several years back ha!

 

[Argyll Andy]

I bought one from Sopers recently £60.98 or £61.98 with postage and discount from memory

EDIT - just checked

‘the part you are looking for did cost £69.00 at full retail but with your discount I can do it for £60.38 including VAT.‘

Shame as I saw this (see enclosed) but it was several years back ha!

Yeah quite a few years ago, nearly a decade and to make it worse I sold mine on here last week after having it on the car for less than a week as I sold the car.

Great addition right enough, just feels so much better.

 

[Mr Tidy]

Hi and welcome from a fellow serial BMW owner. I've got numbers 7 and 8 at present.

It looks like you found good example with a great spec too.

I'd definitely recommend a CDV delete and fitting a ZHP. The part number is B25.11.27.896.886. Mine cost £57.00 posted from Cotswold BMW who also do a forum discount but that was back in June 2017. If you see them a bit cheaper they are probably the 5 speed version - significantly cheaper and they are unlikely to be genuine!

Wheels wise you have 108s, so they will be 8J x 18 with ET47 (offset) fronts and 8.5J x 18 ET50 rears, although "ET" is "IS" in BMW speak. :? A smaller number ET will sit further out in the arches - an ET37 will be 10mm further out than an ET47 for example. I fitted a set of E89 wheels to my previous Coupe and they were 18mm further out on the front and 10mm on the rear, but I didn't get any rubbing.

If you put details in on a site like this it will tell you how they compare to what you currently have:- https://www.willtheyfit.com/

I've heard a 3.0Si with a back-box delete and while it sounds great I think I might find it a bit wearing on a longer journey, but then it may not be as loud inside the car. In an ideal world it would be good if you could find someone on here who has had it done and see what you think, but an ideal world looks very far away sadly.

 

[ph001]

Welcome. One of the the very last E85 with the superb N52K engine. Piano black trim looks great but it does show swirl marks easy if wiped with a normal cotton cloth. I had great results using car polish and a DA polisher with a 3" head. It literally came up like new.

Your steering wheel looks PHAT! I guess that has a cover stitched on. Highly recommend Royal steering wheel refurb if you want it back to standard and looking pristine.

 

[Z4_ATB]

One of the the very last E85 with the superb N52K engine

Ah that’s good to hear - I thought I’d read the previous engine was better, something to do with the water pump being cheaper or something?

Your steering wheel looks PHAT! I guess that has a cover stitched on

Oh really so not standard/original? I’ll have to take a look at it again but it does feel nice and thick to grab on to ha!

I see you have 19” CSL’s too - are they OEM or aftermarket? And if the latter what offset?

 

[Z4_ATB]

I'd definitely recommend a CDV delete and fitting a ZHP.

Will try Sopers and Cotswolds today to see what price they can do

I've heard a 3.0Si with a back-box delete and while it sounds great I think I might find it a bit wearing on a longer journey

That’s also the worry - I love the external sound but don’t want it to be droning inside ha! Thanks for the offset info too, i saw this video which I love the low stance but his rear offset is ET20

https://youtu.be/wTgfe3eAeGs

 

[groovy_hippy]

Welcome. One of the the very last E85 with the superb N52K engine. Piano black trim looks great but it does show swirl marks easy if wiped with a normal cotton cloth. I had great results using car polish and a DA polisher with a 3" head. It literally came up like new.

Ahhh, I shall have a look at polishing mine....it's got plenty of swirl marks in and drives me potty when I'm waiting in traffic (not like that happens much these days though since working from home...). Another thing with the piano black - while it looks awesome I have found it dazzles me when it's sunny! If that's the price to pay for such loveliness I reckon I'll cope...

 

[Z4_ATB]

RE floor mats - I can’t fault genuine BMW ones,

Yeah I was hoping it came with them but didn’t, just Velcro on the floor so looked ok eBay and can see various prices/thicknesses available - saw these which looked ok with them being 2 to 3x the ‘g’ some are advertised at...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/170805589293

I’ve quick quoted a couple above now and it seems to say I’m quoting myself when I’m not... odd

 

[ph001]

I would second the geniune BMW mats. They will last 10 times as long as any aftermarket ebay ones and will fit perfectly.

 

[Mr Tidy]

I’ve quick quoted a couple above now and it seems to say I’m quoting myself when I’m not... odd

Yes, it looks like you quoted me and ph001 as saying the same thing! :?

If it's of any interest I prefer the N52 engine to the M54 as it revs a bit higher, and you get 218PS instead of 192PS which is handy! The only downside is the electric water pump as it just stops working which results in overheating in less than a mile, and new OE Pierburg ones cost around £250/£300! (Unless you buy from BMW, who charge over £500). But their life is unpredictable - my 1st Coupe needed one at 60K miles and 10 years old but my 2nd Coupe was still on the original after 90K and 13 years. Still it's only likely to happen once in most peoples ownership!

Those ebay mats look quite good in the photo, but I don't think OE are too much dearer and you know what you are getting.

I can't comment on how CSLs or Reps might fit as mine are on an M which has different offsets to the other models. But my Reps are identical sizes to Genuine ones, so 8.5J x 19 ET44 fronts and 9.5J x 19 ET27 rears.

Anyway good luck with your programme of improvements.

 

[Z4_ATB]

Any way of me checking if the water pump has been replaced? Or just a case of keeping an eye on the water temp needle?

Just ordered the ZHP gear knob - Cotswold BMW have got it on eBay for £58 and with PRICE8 discount code it brings it down to £53.97 delivered 8)

 

[Z4_ATB]

H&R springs have arrived too - how long does it normally take to replace the springs as if it’s a fairly quick job may get my local garage to do it rather than an Indy