nfbr's 2007 Ruby Black Z4 Coupé! Blog/Build-Thread

[nfbr]

Another great post fella, keep up the good work.

But am a little confused. Before I bought my Zed, there was a lot said about failed water pumps\thermostats and the high cost of replacement. I could have sworn I read something that the high cost was due to labour, as the water pump wasnt accessible without dropping the engine off its mounts. From your pics and post, that clearly isnt the case ! So what is all this scaremongering regarding water pumps about ? I appreciate they arent the cheapest, but still they are hardly the £1000+ repair bills that some Z4 sellers were claiming. (Unless of course we are talking main stealer prices, and then it would be less of a surprise.)

Cheers
Kam

Thanks Kam I aim to please.

I think the highest price I saw banded about on here was £700 ish.
That was with a quoted figure of £440.00 for the genuine BMW fuel pump, £100 ish for the Thermostat and then £12.00 or so per 1.5 Litres of Coolant before the book times of 1.2 Hours (waterpump) plus 0.7 Hours (thermostat) then 0.7 Hours (coolant change) in labour are slapped on top.

Something I've seen a lot of in the past though with main dealers is the prices falling heavily on parts that are a common issue.
If they see a lot of a particular item fail, they tend to bottom out the retail price on the item, so that it doesn't look back on the dealers for warranty comebacks.

A good example of this is VW / Audi's 2.0CR TDI Engines. The injectors used to be around £600.00 each, but when a shed load of them started failing, they came down to as little at £180.00 a piece!

 

[enzed4]

But am a little confused. Before I bought my Zed, there was a lot said about failed water pumps\thermostats and the high cost of replacement. I could have sworn I read something that the high cost was due to labour, as the water pump wasnt accessible without dropping the engine off its mounts. From your pics and post, that clearly isnt the case ! So what is all this scaremongering regarding water pumps about ? I appreciate they arent the cheapest, but still they are hardly the £1000+ repair bills that some Z4 sellers were claiming. (Unless of course we are talking main stealer prices, and then it would be less of a surprise.)

Cheers
Kam

Perhaps they weren't talking about the Si N52 engine? Could be difficult to access on the older M54's.
Just a thought.

 

[kammy1975]

But am a little confused. Before I bought my Zed, there was a lot said about failed water pumps\thermostats and the high cost of replacement. I could have sworn I read something that the high cost was due to labour, as the water pump wasnt accessible without dropping the engine off its mounts. From your pics and post, that clearly isnt the case ! So what is all this scaremongering regarding water pumps about ? I appreciate they arent the cheapest, but still they are hardly the £1000+ repair bills that some Z4 sellers were claiming. (Unless of course we are talking main stealer prices, and then it would be less of a surprise.)

Cheers
Kam

Perhaps they weren't talking about the Si N52 engine? Could be difficult to access on the older M54's.
Just a thought.

Nope, was defo the N52, as I only looked at Z4 coupes.

Plus, there's a lot been said about the damage that could be done to the magnesium alloy head should the car overheat. Plus, I don't think the M54 engines had the electric water pump, but could be wrong on that.

 

[kammy1975]

Thanks Kam I aim to please.

I think the highest price I saw banded about on here was £700 ish.
That was with a quoted figure of £440.00 for the genuine BMW fuel pump, £100 ish for the Thermostat and then £12.00 or so per 1.5 Litres of Coolant before the book times of 1.2 Hours (waterpump) plus 0.7 Hours (thermostat) then 0.7 Hours (coolant change) in labour are slapped on top.

Something I've seen a lot of in the past though with main dealers is the prices falling heavily on parts that are a common issue.
If they see a lot of a particular item fail, they tend to bottom out the retail price on the item, so that it doesn't look back on the dealers for warranty comebacks.

A good example of this is VW / Audi's 2.0CR TDI Engines. The injectors used to be around £600.00 each, but when a shed load of them started failing, they came down to as little at £180.00 a piece!

I think you are spot on with that explanation/breakdown of costs. Still doesn't explain why one seller claimed £1100 spent on replacement water pump! But that's enough of me hijacking your thread/blog...

 

[nfbr]

I think you are spot on with that explanation/breakdown of costs. Still doesn't explain why one seller claimed £1100 spent on replacement water pump! But that's enough of me hijacking your thread/blog...

Inner City London labour rates could tip it over a grand easily I suppose.
I know Audi Dealers inside the M25 charge £240+VAT per hour as opposed to the £105+VAT per hour they charge local to me.

 

[biojo]

So, As I was saying, I swapped out all my interior bulbs for white LED ones the other day. I took some pictures during the install but haven't managed to get photos of the car all lit up at night yet.

First up was the boot light... Yep, that's right... Since I went for a Coupé, I actually get a good amount of luggage space

So, to summarise - I used
1x '264' 40-44mm Festoon Bulb
7x '501' Wedge Bulbs

Will be back with a photo of the interior all nicely illuminated when the weather is better again

Silly question but why do you seem to have a different light fitting, mines like the bellow and part numbers on-line suggest they all have same

part number 63316962013

thanks

 

[nfbr]

That's a little strange. All the ones I looked at had a regular lens like the one in my image.
Mine doesn't seem to have that tab in the middle sticking out of the back either.

 

[biojo]

that tabs where the wire plugs in,

I thought before i got the LED mine looked different.

Doesn't look like part number changed on any of coupe`s 2005 - 2008 so it is a bit of a odd one lol.

I did see some like mine but with built in leds built in and you can also get the bellow

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-X5-E7...213103?hash=item2c9d55e4ef:g:ECIAAOSwDNdVk-Ej

 

[nfbr]

Dropped my Coupé off at Scorpion Exhausts today for the up coming 3.0si cat back exhaust system development work

I miss the car already, and can't wait to see/hear the finished product.

 

[GedS]

Really kean to see/hear the results of this. I'm torn between a new exhaust or the suspension next. Money is too tight for both at the moment.

 

[nfbr]

Once it's done, feel free to nip over to my works and have a listen

 

[GedS]

Once it's done, feel free to nip over to my works and have a listen

Definitely. Keep me posted

 

[nfbr]

Here's a quick update on the exhaust development for anyone who hasn't seen the main post:
It's just over half way through the full development process so far but looks like it's coming along very nicely!

First up, Testing the position for the tailpipes and making sure they will fit nicely...

Next, Is the removal of the stock system

And that's the stock system off and on the floor...

Some silencers...

A closer shot of the underside with the exhaust removed

Sitting pretty on the ramp

Scorpion's highly skilled welder and development chap doing his thing...

Some smaller silencers...

Rear silencer with tailpipes held up in position...

Centre Section Held up in Position

A nice shot of the tailpipes sitting neatly in the rear valance

Final fit up of the Prototype System

Rather impressive is their computer controlled mandrel bending machine - Being programmed here

Loaded up and ready for work here

And doing it's job here!

and for the time being, one last picture of the silencer in position at the rear valance

 

[nfbr]

Just had a final batch of photos through from Thomas at Scorpion Exhausts:

So here's the first production system off the line ready to be fitted up to my car:

Pre-Assembled on the floor for website artwork:

A quick picture of the Z4 on the ramp next door to it's slightly larger V8 brother!

Rear Silencer:

Centre Silencer:

Centre Silencer and Front Pipes:

System all fully fitted (Rear View):

System all fully fitted (Angled View):

Needless to say, I'm over the moon with how it has all come out and I'm really looking forward to heading over there after work tomorrow to go and pick the car up!

 

[enzed4]

That is an impressive assemblage of pipework I'll bet it sounds lovely.

 

[nfbr]

12 more hours till I find out first hand!

 

[Ed Doe]

12 more hours till I find out first hand!

The suspense is killing me :lol:

 

[nfbr]

The suspense is killing me :lol:

And me! I gotta get through a day's worth of work, then sit in a Diesel Bora in traffic for 2-hours before I finally get my motor back

 

[MACK]

The suspense is killing me :lol:

And me! I gotta get through a day's worth of work, then sit in a Diesel Bora in traffic for 2-hours before I finally get my motor back

2 hours of traffic! Diesel Bora!
They not open Saturday mornings then?! oke: :rofl:

 

[nfbr]

2 hours of traffic! Diesel Bora!
They not open Saturday mornings then?! oke: :rofl:

They don't open weekends at all. Engineering trade and all
and the other thing...
My car currently has a valid MOT...
From midnight tonight, my car won't have a valid MOT...

The MOT test is booked tomorrow morning