Newbie - Purchased an E89

[Argyll Andy]

After much searching, and mind changing on what too buy, I picked up my first Z4 on Saturday.

It’ll be familiar to some of you. I bought a 23i sDrive from Clarker63.

Lovely car from a nice guy who was great to deal with.

Got to give it a proper run on my 632 mile drive home. Weather was awful most of the way so never got to try it out too much. Rain, hail and snow.

Love it already and managed the roof down for the first 100 miles after picking it up.

Only thing I’m unsure of, and looking for a bit of advice, is the wheels/tyres combo. Was set on 296’s whatever car I got and was fortunate enough that this had them. Drove great on the roads in Devon on the test drive. Got nosier and a bit more skittish the further up the road I got. I’ve no doubt that it’s the condition of the roads that’s the issue and not the car as it was fine on better quality roads.

Would getting normal tyres and ditching the run flats make a huge difference or might I need to come down to 18’s?

If changing to run flats what’s best for rain and also is it possible to stay on 19’s and increase the profile for a bit more cushioning?

Apologies for the poor quality of the picture but the weather’s been awful since I got home and this is how it sits until I can get to wash it! Will get more up when i clean it and get it out somewhere nice to photograph it.

 

[Mr Tidy]

Welcome to Z4 ownership - that was some trip home!

Still at least you must be used to the lovely straight 6 engine now. :lol:

Your car looks great, and I really like those wheels too.

Sorry I can't offer any help on your tyres question - my Z4 is an E86 on 18s (and still on run-flats). :roll:

 

[mr wilks]

Nice buy , the 296s are 8j F + 9j R , will feel so much better on non runflats & no reason at all why you cant switch the rear profile from 255 30 19 to 245 35 19 . Fronts i don't think are a problem as stock on 225 35 19
Got there in the end

 

[Chippie]

Congratulations on the purchase it looks great
Afraid I can’t help with the run flats as I bought mine already fitted with non run flats but I think the general consensus is that it’s a much better ride without the run flats

 

[Haggisman]

Well done on the purchase, looks a nice car. Although I have an E85 ditching the run flats made a difference to the general feel of the car plus run flats are heavier normally than non run flats which is a plus by lowering the unstrung weight.

 

[Loxford]

Mines got run-flats. I don't mind them, my previous sports car was a little racer with very hard suspension. Compared to that the runflats are fine with me.
However, everyone says the same, bound to be a smoother ride without them. but you do need to have the tyre repair goo tube because you ain't got no spare!

 

[Zed Baron]

Congratulations on your new car, since Ive had mine it has been on non runflats, Goodyear Eagle F1's which seem to be good in the wet. I beefed up the back ones slightly to cushion the alloys, (from what Ive read on here) seem to be prone to cracks (especially with runflats).

 

[Silverstar]

Congrats on the new car, I ditched the run flats for some Goodyear Eagles F1 Asy 3s, just 3 days after buying the car, it has made a massive difference, way more comfortable ride, much quieter and handles better too.

 

[buzyg]

Welcome, lovely Z4.

 

[firebobby]

Welcome to the forum, always good to buy an ex forum car as you can trawl through the old posts to see how it's been treated.
Think you have a peach there

 

[Argyll Andy]

Welcome to Z4 ownership - that was some trip home!

Still at least you must be used to the lovely straight 6 engine now. :lol:

Your car looks great, and I really like those wheels too.

Sorry I can't offer any help on your tyres question - my Z4 is an E86 on 18s (and still on run-flats). :roll:

Yes it was a great trip home apart from the worsening weather the further up the road I got.

I’m used to it and got to say I love it. The sound just brings a smile to my face. My young fella loves it too.

Run flats are coming off

 

[Argyll Andy]

Nice buy , the 296s are 8j F + 9j R , will feel so much better on non runflats & no reason at all why you cant switch the rear profile from 255 30 19 to 245 35 19 . Fronts i don't think are a problem as stock on 225 35 19
Got there in the end

Yes, got there in the end, completely different to what I started out for.

Thanks for all your help and also for tyre info here. Want to keep the 296’s so think I’ll follow your advice about the 245’s could definitely do with a bit more between the road and rim

Andy

 

[Argyll Andy]

Welcome, lovely Z4.

 

[Argyll Andy]

Thanks all for the replies and views re tyres.

The runflats are definitely going as they’re just too hard and noisy on the roads up here.

Goodyear’s seem a decent shout, is there much difference between the numbers associated with them?

 

[Jollyjoiner]

Welcome to E89 ownership

 

[Argyll Andy]

Welcome to the forum, always good to buy an ex forum car as you can trawl through the old posts to see how it's been treated.
Think you have a peach there

Thanks, decided early on that I was going to try and buy from the forum for that very reason.

Yes I think that too, for my budget I’m extremely happy with what I managed to purchase. Good thing is it needs very little done to it as it’s got most things I want, 296’s heated M seats, PDC F&R, cruise, MFSW on thing that might need to change is back to a Whippy as the reception is really poor up here. One in the boot that came with it. Either that or upgrade sound system completely but that’d be about it at the moment

 

[firebobby]

You live in a lovely part of the UK, the whippy is the way to go.

 

[Anonymous]

The whippy

Welcome to the forum, always good to buy an ex forum car as you can trawl through the old posts to see how it's been treated.
Think you have a peach there

Thanks, decided early on that I was going to try and buy from the forum for that very reason.

Yes I think that too, for my budget I’m extremely happy with what I managed to purchase. Good thing is it needs very little done to it as it’s got most things I want, 296’s heated M seats, PDC F&R, cruise, MFSW on thing that might need to change is back to a Whippy as the reception is really poor up here. One in the boot that came with it. Either that or upgrade sound system completely but that’d be about it at the moment

The E89 uses a complex 4 FM channel and 1 AM channel diversity aerial system..the whippy although essential for aerodynamic stability and style does not contribute massively to FM signals...not sure what you are trying to tune in?

 

[Smartbear]

The whippy

Welcome to the forum, always good to buy an ex forum car as you can trawl through the old posts to see how it's been treated.
Think you have a peach there

Thanks, decided early on that I was going to try and buy from the forum for that very reason.

Yes I think that too, for my budget I’m extremely happy with what I managed to purchase. Good thing is it needs very little done to it as it’s got most things I want, 296’s heated M seats, PDC F&R, cruise, MFSW on thing that might need to change is back to a Whippy as the reception is really poor up here. One in the boot that came with it. Either that or upgrade sound system completely but that’d be about it at the moment

The E89 uses a complex 4 FM channel and 1 AM channel diversity aerial system..the whippy although essential for aerodynamic stability and style does not contribute massively to FM signals...not sure what you are trying to tune in?

Whilst agreeing with the aerodynamic stability claims of the whippy (i felt a massive increase in downforce) i removed mine for a stubby as the loss in performance due to the increased aero drag was just to much of a penalty
To live with.
My radio reception is fine using the bmw stubby
Rob

 

[Argyll Andy]

The whippy

Welcome to the forum, always good to buy an ex forum car as you can trawl through the old posts to see how it's been treated.
Think you have a peach there

Thanks, decided early on that I was going to try and buy from the forum for that very reason.

Yes I think that too, for my budget I’m extremely happy with what I managed to purchase. Good thing is it needs very little done to it as it’s got most things I want, 296’s heated M seats, PDC F&R, cruise, MFSW on thing that might need to change is back to a Whippy as the reception is really poor up here. One in the boot that came with it. Either that or upgrade sound system completely but that’d be about it at the moment

The E89 uses a complex 4 FM channel and 1 AM channel diversity aerial system..the whippy although essential for aerodynamic stability and style does not contribute massively to FM signals...not sure what you are trying to tune in?

Just general radio reception. It’s either staticky or signal is dropping so just thought it might be to do with the stubby. Nothing to do with a preference either way. Just thought the bigger surface of the whippy might improve signal.

Don’t have an issue with reception on my 3 series DD

Is there anything in the E89 set up that might be causing this other than the ariel?

As for the aerodynamic argument, just been for my first proper blast and can’t say I noticed