New Z4 owner questions.

[LewisBloomer]

I just recently purchased a 2.0 litre Z4 E85 and I have some questions.
1. Can you get a hard top for it?
2. Is there a way to make the seat stop squeaking off of the plastic behind the seat? (I'm 6ft so I can't put the seat forward any more).
3. Will the car be able to handle 19 inch rims without the wheels scrubbing off of the arches.
4. Is there any modifications that can be made, not for aesthetics but more for improving the drive?
5. Upon starting the car it makes a "rush of air" type noise. Is there some sort of automatic choke? Or is it something else?

 

[ChrisGUK]

Welcome! I’m pretty new too but I can answer a few…

1. Yes. You need a hard top AND fitting kit, they’re surprisingly expensive. Also, from my experiences with an S2000 and MX5, these things are annoyingly big when not on the car - I wouldn’t bother!
2. I’m the same height and found that moving my seat forward a bit then tilting back helped. I have the electric memory seats (flash git!) so I’m not sure if that gives me more or less space.
3. Not sure but probably if you reduce the tyre size to keep the rolling radius the same - but that might ruin the handling. I have 18” wheels and am tempted to go to 17s for better ride.
4. I don’t think much more poke can be easily achieved without significant cash - turbo etc. for handling, refreshing the suspension parts makes a big difference - bushings, springs, dampers etc to get it back to as good as it was from factory.
5. No idea! There will be a cold start map on the ECU and the engine note will change after a few minutes similar to the choke on older cars but I don’t recognise a whooshy air sound from mine.

 

[Mr Tidy]

Welcome to the forum Lewis.

1) As Chris said hard tops do come up for sale on here from time to time, but they tend to cost £800 or more.
2) If you have the seat at the back of the runners I don't think you can avoid squeaks from behind them, but I'm only 5'9"!
3) All E85/86s seem to have the same wings and wheelarches so 19s should fit, just be careful with the sizes and offsets. My current one had 19" CSL Replicas when I bought it and they didn't rub - well not after the coil-overs got wound up and the spacers removed!
4) I'm not sure there are any significant performance upgrades for a 2 litre, other than swapping for a 2.5 or 3 litre! But binning run-flats and fitting better suspension can improve the drive.
5) Sorry but I can't help with that.

 

[buzyg]

Welcome to the forum. There are hard tops, but folk tend to hang on to them. 19s may fit but they certainly won't improve the ride or handling, without changing the shocks and springs. Enjoy you Z4 and do post a picture. :wink:

 

[BumpyZ4]

5. Upon starting the car it makes a "rush of air" type noise. Is there some sort of automatic choke? Or is it something else?

If you are in the US it would be the Air Pump (emissions).

 

[DaveP]

by LewisBloomer » Wed Aug 21, 2024 9:06 pm

2. Is there a way to make the seat stop squeaking off of the plastic behind the seat? (I'm 6ft so I can't put the seat forward any more).

I'm surprised you need the seat all the way back. I'm 6ft3 and can fit with a helmet on and the roof up without having the seat fully back. Do you have unusually long legs (like 36+)?