Newbie Questions

[stal023]

I have never owned a BMW so forgive me for some questions but I want to make sure I know what I am getting myself into. Here are the Z4s I have test drove: '04 3.0i, '05 2.5i, '07 3.0si.

1. I absolutely hated the sport suspension on the si. I read somewhere pre-facelift they all had sport suspension, true or false?

• Everyone says to run the car on non-run flats. How do you know when viewing a car what tires it has in terms of RF or NRF?

• Most Z4s I see don't have cruise control but have read of adding this aftermarket. I am sure there are many posts answering this question of how this is done. Can anyone point me in the right direction of this? Has anyone on here done this and regretted it?

• The 3.0 si had listed a "custom exhaust" and it sounded amazing. I know nothing about exhaust systems. Where does one start in learning about adding better sounding exhaust systems to a Z4?

• Seems like both engines have pros and cons to pre-post facelift and one shouldn't worry too much about one over the other. I've read a ton on this. To my research, the engines sound different. So when opening the hood, what should I be listening to address red flags? Are there DIY fixes to the M54 to help mitigate the oil burning issue? Would appear that one would install a disa valve right away on used unless records show this was changed?

I am also located in the US.

Thanks everyone!

 

[buzyg]

It may be the Tyres causing the harsh ride. These cars come alive on standard tyres rather than the OEM fit run flats. I believe there is sport and none sport suspension also, but I will leave it to some one who knows more than I to go into the details.

 

[BumpyZ4]

On the preface cars the M sport suspension was an option.

 

[stal023]

On the preface cars the M sport suspension was an option.

But not standard, right?

 

[rdm05z4]

For RF vs non RF you can just take down the code information on the tire. And do a look up it will tell you (the size, age (the numbers will when decoded looked up will tell you the date/year manufactured) When looking up the size by the manufacture it will tell you if RF were made in that size.

 

[Mr Tidy]

BumpyZ4 wrote: ↑Thu Apr 22, 2021 6:32 pm
On the preface cars the M sport suspension was an option.
But not standard, right?

Not standard in the UK anyway. We got two trim levels on facelifts, SE where M-Sport suspension was an option and Sport which had it as standard.

2 of mine had cruise and I find it really useful as here in the UK average speed cameras are getting ever more common, and it's easy for speed to creep up in a Z4! Here's a link to a "Hot-To" guide for retro-fitting cruise to a facelift:- https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=19242

So far as tyres go run-flats have letters like "RFT" or RSC" on the sidewalls depending on the brand. I'm pretty sure it's RSC on the OE Bridgestone Potenzas, which are horrible!

My 2nd 3.0Si had a custom cat-back system with a samller back-box when I bought it which sounded great, but meant I didn't need to look into modifying.

I've not had a Z4 with an M54 so can't comment on that, but if there is a bit of "ticking" coming from the top of an N52 engine when it's cold other than being a bit noisy it isn't a problem and should go away once the engine is warmed up and has been driven a bit. It usually seems to afflict cars that sit for a while mostly which cars up for sale often do.

 

[stal023]

2 of mine had cruise and I find it really useful as here in the UK average speed cameras are getting ever more common, and it's easy for speed to creep up in a Z4! Here's a link to a "Hot-To" guide for retro-fitting cruise to a facelift:- https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=19242

This is written for a N52. I am guessing it is different for a M54? What part do I even google to check out the price?

So far as tyres go run-flats have letters like "RFT" or RSC" on the sidewalls depending on the brand. I'm pretty sure it's RSC on the OE Bridgestone Potenzas, which are horrible!

Same in the US?

 

[Mr Tidy]

This is written for a N52. I am guessing it is different for a M54? What part do I even google to check out the price?

Here's a link to another thread on retro-fitting cruise - it looks like it's the same on all E85s if you try the link on Caesars post:- https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=14699&start=300

Mr Tidy wrote: ↑Thu Apr 22, 2021 8:09 pm
So far as tyres go run-flats have letters like "RFT" or RSC" on the sidewalls depending on the brand. I'm pretty sure it's RSC on the OE Bridgestone Potenzas, which are horrible!

Same in the US?

I don't know, but this seems to be a US based guide:- https://www.wikihow.com/Identify-Run-Flat-Tires

 

[Zedebee]

On the M54/pre-facelift installing cruise control is simple as the wiring loom is already present in the steering cowl. All you need to do is buy the stalk, cut out the cowl cut-out and plug it in. For N52 post-facelift you have to buy the loom as well. Installation is not that hard, there are plenty of guides on here.

Not all runflats are bad. I have no problems at all with the Nokian run flats on my winter wheels, but the OEM Bridgestones on my regular rims are truly horrible.

 

[stal023]

I have since read a number of post, youtube videos, etc and I am seeing folks say pretty much all the same issues exist between the N52 and M54 EXCEPT the M54 parts are cheaper. True?