newbie with kids

[mrklaw]

Hi,

Was directed to this place from another forum, so hopefully you're a friendly bunch

Was driving past Stratstone Maidenhead 10 days ago and saw a lovely silver Z4 coupe. Immediately stopped and asked for a test drive. Loved it and was all set to buy it, but apparantly someone had rang that morning so it was already sold. I was gutted

So much so that I immediately went onto Autotrader and started looking for another one Went to see one at the weekend, liked the look of it a lot, and was offered a great tradein on my current car, so I bought it. Picking it up next Saturday, can't wait.

Currently driving a Silver E92 330Ci Msport auto, moving to a Montego Blue Z4 coupe sport auto. It has grey leather which isn't great, but I loved the montego blue. Normally I'm a straight silver/black car person, but this was really nice.

Unfortunately my wife doesn't like it, so she's using it as an excuse to get her focus upgraded. I'm thinking late E46 msport saloon, maybe 318/320i auto



I woudl like to ask those of your with kids, how you get on with booster seats in front? any issues? My kids are 8 and 5 1/2, so they're both just using the booster cushions, no backs. No issues with them in the passenger seat right? And don't need to turn off the airbag or anything? Should I get a special 'wedgy' booster cushion, as the sides of the seats are quite buckety.


anyway, happy to be here, and will post pics as soon as I can.

 

[gannet]

welcome - lovely story

I dont have kids (unless you count cats - who arent good in cars...) so cant help with you specifics...

sounds like a nice car you got there

 

[RustyZ4]

Friendly bunch, who told you that


Hi & Welcome I have a sapphire black but I love the Montego Blue,

My Kids are 15 & 19, and would take exception to a booster seat, so cant help you there

 

[AlanJ]

What an inpulse purchase - good for you! Here's a link to the current law on child seats - describes when you will need a booster etc.

http://www.childcarseats.org.uk/law/index.htm

 

[mrklaw]

thanks. Based on that link, it seems I'm fine. Just need to make sure the current seat will fit.

Was thinking to take my 8-year-old son down with me to pick it up on Saturday. Although he did say he thought a Merc SLK in the car park didn't look nice 'because the front was too long', so he might be disqualified

 

[PawnSacrifice]

Good work, sir! Lot of love for Montego Blue. Where are you getting this one from?

AlanJ - I just dug out that same link! As much to double check - I've taken younger relatives in my car with them on their booster seats... one thing though, make sure you clean off all off the sticky that they inevitably have on their booster seats (and themselves) before installing!

 

[mrklaw]

no worries, I'll be bringing along my seat protector from my previous car.

Getting it from Cooper BMW tunbridge wells. Hopefully not too many scare stories from there. AUC warranty is the main thing.

 

[AlanJ]

Good work, sir! Lot of love for Montego Blue. Where are you getting this one from?

AlanJ - I just dug out that same link! As much to double check - I've taken younger relatives in my car with them on their booster seats... one thing though, make sure you clean off all off the sticky that they inevitably have on their booster seats (and themselves) before installing!

Mine all grown up now - they dont want to be passengers anymore THEY WANT TO BORROW IT TO DRIVE! .....





NO WAY!

 

[z4alfie]

Kids love the roadster more than the coupe. 11 Year old nephew gets a smirk on his face that's great to see.

 

[GAZA62]

Welcome

Love Silver/Black combo myself but as said Montego blue is a great colour and suits the coupe nicely.

 

[PawnSacrifice]

Getting it from Cooper BMW tunbridge wells. Hopefully not too many scare stories from there. AUC warranty is the main thing.

Nice thing is if you have an AUC warranty you can always move to a better dealer! Cooper Reading are my local AUC... we fall out regularly. But, in fairness, they do get there in the end. Wouldn't have any reservations about buying from them :wink:

Was slightly worried you'd gone to Big Motoring World in Kent, in frustration, as they have very bad reviews indeed!

 

[WLH]

mrklaw, welcome to the forum...

 

[mrklaw]

Getting it from Cooper BMW tunbridge wells. Hopefully not too many scare stories from there. AUC warranty is the main thing.

Nice thing is if you have an AUC warranty you can always move to a better dealer! Cooper Reading are my local AUC... we fall out regularly. But, in fairness, they do get there in the end. Wouldn't have any reservations about buying from them :wink:

Was slightly worried you'd gone to Big Motoring World in Kent, in frustration, as they have very bad reviews indeed!

will use my local dealer. Actually got a great BMW from bapchild once. Was listed as 102k but was actually 2k! It had sat in the guys garage apparantly and bapchild just assumed it was 102k. Got it independently verified too. That was my first BMW - '98 323 saloon

 

[aquazi]

I dont have any kids myself, but my 6 yr old niece had been up front in her child seat (which has the back aswell). Her seat fitted pretty much spot on in the m sport seats. I turned the passenger airbag off by the key slot in the passengers side door frame though.

 

[PawnSacrifice]

Mine all grown up now - they dont want to be passengers anymore THEY WANT TO BORROW IT TO DRIVE! .....

NO WAY!

:lol: Let me guess... just turning it over while you're out of the country :wink:

 

[Welwyn]

Hello. Sorry, cannot help with question relating to children, nobody under 30 has sat in my car since I bought it!

But I can congratulate you on your choice of a montego blue for a coupe - lovely colour for a stunning car, but I would say that - I am slightly biased...

 

[srhutch]

Hi and welcome, think it will be pot luck with the kids seats, my twins are 5 and their seats will not fit in the Z4

 

[paddy wright]

welcome

 

[mrklaw]

picked her up this morning, been nicely prepared by the dealer. Still a little touching up needed on the drivers seat leather edging, but the dealer has passed my details on to a leather specialist who'll come out to me to repair/touch it up, so thats been looked after. There was a long scratch on the bonnet that has been dealt with and the wheels (108s I think) look in very good condition with no obvious signs of corrosion.

Drive home was interesting. I have my seat a little higher than average so I can try and see a bit more of the bonnet, but then the rear view is obscured by the top of the rear window. I'll have to lower the seat a bit over time as I get used to it. Rear visibility generally is rubbish, but the wing mirrors are excellent so that should compensate.

Its a hard/noisy little so and so too. Much stiffer feeling than my E92 msport, and the engine seems to be either revving a little higher cruising at 80, or else the noise just gets through a little more. I can see it getting a bit tiring on longer trips.

The rear parking sensor seems to beep all the time which is odd. is that a setting you can adjust?



Will get pics as soon as I get a little time.

 

[mrklaw]

oh, and the wife likes it! No idea what she was expecting, probably a roadster. But for some reason she likes the look of the coupe. Result