Not a Project but...

[Andrew J]

It's took about a year but its finally done...I'm now the proud owner of a 2005 Z4 3.0i! Pictures or it didn't happen I know but haven't had chance yet (will update in due course). So its a 3.0i, sapphire black, heated seats, business stereo (not sure if these are standard fitment or not?), wind deflector, aftermarket Bluetooth connectivity with music stream functionality, 106k miles so has some age related scars but nothing drastic or rust inducing. Engine runs sweet as a nut as far as I can see and roof works too. Oh it also has a drivers side cup holder .

Plans for it: drive it! I do need to fix the drivers door as to get in you have to press the door and pull the handle. Weird but hopefully it's a simple fix. If anyone has any ideas on what the issue might be, I'd be all ears .

What I am in need of is a car cover. It will eventually go in the garage but that needs sorting so for the time being, she'll have to a drive queen. Anybody have any good recommendations for a cover? I've never used one before so I haven't the foggiest of ideas which brands are good, bad or ugly.

Anyway, looking forward to getting miles in it with the roof down even in the cold weather. Cheers.

Note: now with photos below.

Edit: I'm going to use this thread to document what I've done to the car. I'm not going to call it a project thread as I don't plan on doing many changes to the car. Famous last words, in a years time I'll have the head off and some schrick cams in it running on ITBs :lol:

 

[enuff_zed]

Congrats.
I would suggest a half cover. It will stop water ingress but not damage the paint.
The door issue is most likely a stretched cable from the handle linkage to the lock assembly.
Fairly easy fix if you have small hands.
Still waiting on those photos

 

[Mr Tidy]

Hi and welcome to Z4 ownership.

Expect to be encouraged to give your wallet a hammering!

 

[Andrew J]

Congrats.
I would suggest a half cover. It will stop water ingress but not damage the paint.
The door issue is most likely a stretched cable from the handle linkage to the lock assembly.
Fairly easy fix if you have small hands.
Still waiting on those photos

Thanks. It's funny you shoukd mention a half cover as one came with the car. I just thought a full cover woukd protect the whole thing. Are full car covers known to damage the paintwork? Standing water the issue?

Hi and welcome to Z4 ownership.

Expect to be encouraged to give your wallet a hammering!

Haha thanks. I've told myself I'll be sensible. Only time will tell!

 

[Mr Tidy]

Thanks. It's funny you shoukd mention a half cover as one came with the car. I just thought a full cover woukd protect the whole thing. Are full car covers known to damage the paintwork? Standing water the issue?

I got a full Stormforce cover with my current Z4, but the instructions said it needed to be fitted when the car was clean and dry - unlikely circumstances for a car living outside! And if I took it off on a wet day the only place I could put it was in the living room, so I sold it!

I think the issue is that however well they fit in high winds they do move about a bit which over time will cause rubbing on the tops of wings, etc.

I think I'm doing this wrong - here I am recommending saving some money. :lol:

 

[buzyg]

Nice one. Looking forward to the pictures. :wink:

 

[enuff_zed]

Congrats.
I would suggest a half cover. It will stop water ingress but not damage the paint.
The door issue is most likely a stretched cable from the handle linkage to the lock assembly.
Fairly easy fix if you have small hands.
Still waiting on those photos

Thanks. It's funny you shoukd mention a half cover as one came with the car. I just thought a full cover woukd protect the whole thing. Are full car covers known to damage the paintwork? Standing water the issue?

Hi and welcome to Z4 ownership.

Expect to be encouraged to give your wallet a hammering!

Haha thanks. I've told myself I'll be sensible. Only time will tell!

The paintwork will be fine with a layer of polish on it. The problem is water getting in through leaky door seals or building up around the roof motor due to blocked drains. A half cover prevents all that

 

[Zedebee]

+1 for a half cover. Much easier to get on and off and stow in the boot, and the don’t abraid paint on the corners in the wind. Mine is a ukcustomcovers one, c.£70 on their website.

 

[paddy wright]

Welcome along.

 

[Andrew J]

It seems the concensus is to use a half cover. I'll just keep the one that came with the car. Haven't had chance to get any decent pictures yet. Weather has been rubbish. Next on the list is car insurance. I had a look around on the forum but didn't see/probably didn't dig deep enough to see many threads concerning insurance. Currently with one of thr major players just to tidy me over dor now but would like to get an agreed valuation policy set up. I used to own a classic mini and adrian flux were the company to use but this was 15 years ago so things might have changed. Anyone have any agreed valuation policies set up?

 

[pvr]

I use Norton Insurance for agreed value for my Golf, but that is older. Premium just over £100 but you don't earn no claim bonus.

 

[Andrew J]

I use Norton Insurance for agreed value for my Golf, but that is older. Premium just over £100 but you don't earn no claim bonus.

Fantastic, thanks. I'll add them to the list.

Next question I have, is there different torque maps depending on what gear you are in? It seems to pick up better at 3k revs in 3rd than in 1st or 2nd. Just wondering whether this might be another DISA valve starting to fail or a vanos unit not sealing properly? These are two things I'd like to do in the near future for piece of mind along with a full service.

 

[Zedebee]

Next on the list is car insurance.

You should find the Z4 is pretty cheap to insure vs most other cars. If you are old enough for Saga, try them; mine is comfortably under £200 with just basic excess and protected NCD. I’m really not sure of the benefit of a “classic car” policy.

 

[pvr]

The only benefit is guaranteed value that I can think off.

 

[Andrew J]

Next on the list is car insurance.

You should find the Z4 is pretty cheap to insure vs most other cars. If you are old enough for Saga, try them; mine is comfortably under £200 with just basic excess and protected NCD. I’m really not sure of the benefit of a “classic car” policy.

It doesn't seem massively expensive so I'm fairly happy with the quote, especially given how much insurance has gone up in the last few months.

I am looking for a reliable vin decoder out there. I've tried bimmer work, mdecoder, bmwcat and a few others but all seem to fail when I put the vin into them. Anybody know of a reliable decoder at the minute?

 

[Neens76]

Welcome.
Pics yet?
I use a half cover for all the reasons enuff_zed mentions- and mine will always live outside - but having had it cut, polished and ceramic’d, a half cover is ideal.

No idea on your “pick up” issue but you do hear of people mapping them but not for anything that would get you power gains.

Enjoy.

 

[pvr]

Mdecoder works for my vin fine, 2007si.

I used it to get the paint code of my seats

 

[Andrew J]

Welcome.
Pics yet?
I use a half cover for all the reasons enuff_zed mentions- and mine will always live outside - but having had it cut, polished and ceramic’d, a half cover is ideal.

No idea on your “pick up” issue but you do hear of people mapping them but not for anything that would get you power gains.

Enjoy.

No pic just yet unfortunately. Not had chance to get the car out and take it for a proper spin. I'd read about the power dips in the torque curve so it could be that. Probably replace the DISA and Vanos anyway.

Mdecoder works for my vin fine, 2007si.

I used it to get the paint code of my seats

Vin decoders have worked for me in the past so not sure what's going on. I've not used Bimmer work before but it keeps just going on a 15 second loop countdown refresh. Is this a thing with Bimmer Work and you just have to wait it out? Been sat here for a while now to no avail.

On the plus side I think the car has been specified with headlight washers but no xenons. Fingers crossed this means I can change to xenons or LEDs with no fuss at MOT time.

 

[Mr Tidy]

I've struggled with VIN decoders for a couple of years now.

I'm pretty sure all 3 litre Z4s had headlamp washers as standard but Xenons as an option, although you don't actually need the washers for cars registered before 2009 even with Xenons fitted. But buying a pair may be expensive!

 

[Andrew J]

Congrats.
I would suggest a half cover. It will stop water ingress but not damage the paint.
The door issue is most likely a stretched cable from the handle linkage to the lock assembly.
Fairly easy fix if you have small hands.
Still waiting on those photos

When I open the door I have to simultaneously pull the handle and push the door in and then it opens. Is that typical of a stretched cable? Seems strange to have to shorten the route from the handle to the mechanism by pressing the door in to get it to open. I'm no motor fitter or mechanic so I'm more than happy to be educated on the subject :lol: .

I've struggled with VIN decoders for a couple of years now.

I'm pretty sure all 3 litre Z4s had headlamp washers as standard but Xenons as an option, although you don't actually need the washers for cars registered before 2009 even with Xenons fitted. But buying a pair may be expensive!

It's a shame they dont work anymore but I am glad its not just me. I'll keep trying and see what happens. Ah! I wasn't aware it was only post 2009, even better.

I'd seen some xenon bulbs (I think) that didn't look expensive but not sure if they'd fit in the current housing without needing extra wiring, electronics etc. I've seen some LED kits that look fairly cheap and I think they fit fairly easily so might just go that route eventually. I had a quick run out tonight and to be fair, the normal headlights weren't as bad as what I'd read on here. They aren't great by any standards but I could see where I was going so it's probably a mod for later down the line.

Speaking of mods, before I went out I did the sound generator mod. blimey this thing howls! I only took out the bulkhead foam and it's loud enough for me. Might even be too loud! It's quite boomy at motorway speeds when you just want to nip out of traffic but I'll see if I get used to it before chopping up bits of foam.