Not impressed, build quality....?

C

chezzy71

Member
Been and looked at 3 z4s today, and I'm really not impressed or inspired with build quality,,
The first car at a dealers showroom 04 plate 3.0l se 70k on the clock.. Going off my Volkswagen bora 2005
With near 200k on the clock the BMW was a mess, ( I know my bora has been looked after but with three times the miles ) leather seats that wouldnt look out of place in a scrap yard car, interior trim missing and the one that where left fitted badly, Squeeks ,rattles, moldy hood, all in all a badly presented car, The other two where ok , but only ok, build quality in general was in issue I think...... Will look at some more in the week...
i would have thought an 04 05 car with 50 to 60k on the clock be in a lot better condition than these i seen today,,, where are these built..?
 
the seats can look shabby but i have seen on here that the can be restored relatively easily with a heat gun

try and look at some newer models, go and look at some coupes
 
Taz x said:
the seats can look shabby but i have seen on here that the can be restored relatively easily with a heat gun

try and look at some newer models, go and look at some coupes
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taz these seat where past any sort of restoring, they where shocking mate,,, the other two cars where ok, but a bmw with 40 to 50k on the clock i would have thought in much better condition overall, are these built in usa...? or germany...?
 
All E85 - 86's were built in Spartenburg, South Carolina, USA.

Build quality is not the best and the seat bolsters do get a hard time some sqeaks and rattles are part of parcel of roadster ownership.

But there is no excuse for bits of trim missing or mouldy roofs that is neglect pure and simple.
 
RichardG said:
All E85 - 86's were built in Spartenburg, South Carolina, USA.

Build quality is not the best and the seat bolsters do get a hard time some sqeaks and rattles are part of parcel of roadster ownership.

But there is no excuse for bits of trim missing or mouldy roofs that is neglect pure and simple.
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yes i agree with the trim missing and mouldy hood,,, im more put off the more i look into owning one..... im really at a quandry now,,,, after owning a volkswagen for 20 years im starting to realise why....
 
well,i guess its mor a question of looking after your car than the cars beeing badly made .

shure ther are somethings that could be better built in a z ,but what car does not have their flaws.

i think when you would have been looking and driving mine you would not be so dissapointed,just go out and look at a good one owned by someone who takes care of their car!
 
sandere85 said:
well,i guess its mor a question of looking after your car than the cars beeing badly made .

shure ther are somethings that could be better built in a z ,but what car does not have their flaws.

i think when you would have been looking and driving mine you would not be so dissapointed,just go out and look at a good one owned by someone who takes care of their car!
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i do partly agree with you,, but i think i was expecting these z4s to be built better as well,,, if i had known they wasnt built in germany i might not have even looked....... i know there are lots on here from the usa, and dont meen to offend but yank cars are renowned for being poorly built.........
 
i have a 2010 golf 2.0lt diesel and a 2009 Z4 coupe

build quality i would say there is no difference, if i am going out and want to feel good i take the zed, to work i go in the golf

in terms of interior the golf is better in that it as more mod cons i.e. built in sat nav, multi cd player

for pure driving position/comfort i prefer the zed
 
Chezzy if you are still coming to see my Zed on Tuesday night you will find what a well looked after 2003 is like. I agree build quality is not the best, but once your sat in it, sport mode pressed, roof down, full tank of fuel and an open winding road ahead then who cares!
 
boblez said:
Chezzy if you are still coming to see my Zed on Tuesday night you will find what a well looked after 2003 is like. I agree build quality is not the best, but once your sat in it, sport mode pressed, roof down, full tank of fuel and an open winding road ahead then who cares!
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yes still coming to see yours mate.....
 
Don't be put off by a few shabby examples.

Once you've seen one that's been well looked after, you might think different


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
chezzy71 said:
sandere85 said:
well,i guess its mor a question of looking after your car than the cars beeing badly made .

shure ther are somethings that could be better built in a z ,but what car does not have their flaws.

i think when you would have been looking and driving mine you would not be so dissapointed,just go out and look at a good one owned by someone who takes care of their car!
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i do partly agree with you,, but i think i was expecting these z4s to be built better as well,,, if i had known they wasnt built in germany i might not have even looked....... i know there are lots on here from the usa, and dont meen to offend but yank cars are renowned for being poorly built.........
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It's not a yank car. It was engineered by BMW and built to BMW's specifications by US workers using BMW approved procedures and factory equipment from Germany. If BMW said to put the dash on with x amount of bolts and it then rattles. How would that make it an issue with the yank worker?
 
Ditto "bigdog"s post/comments....
also,it is a Roadster,and most other makes i have been in have had similar,or more,rattles.The z4 does have a few rattles/squeeks,but shouldnt be too bad.
Def worth going to see some better examples though,sounds as if u have seen a few shabby ones.

They are very big on smiles per miles;especially as u can now get a 2005 3.0i (as mine) for around 10/11k,in decent nick,and not the 33/36k they once cost ,OR an early 2003 for as little as 8/9k. Go see more,and try driving it on a twisty(dry) road...you won't be diissapointed :D :driving:
 
Let's be honest there are 2 issues here:
chezzy71 has seen some shabby examples and that's not a fair basis for a decision as those I see from forum members are without exception in great condition regardless of age, but one with 200k on I'd expect as a roadster to look a little tired.

Secondly the Z4 as a sports car it was not built to the same quality as other BMW's. no roof does make more rattles and squeaks and low car and big bolsters makes for wear.

Don't think a German car made in the US is a US car not more than a Swindon Hoda is a British car. I just sold an X5 with 100k on the clock. Unmarked interior, exterior and not a rattle or squeak. Different car for different needs.
 
cj10jeeper said:
Let's be honest there are 2 issues here:
chezzy71 has seen some shabby examples and that's not a fair basis for a decision as those I see from forum members are without exception in great condition regardless of age, but one with 200k on I'd expect as a roadster to look a little tired.

Secondly the Z4 as a sports car it was not built to the same quality as other BMW's. no roof does make more rattles and squeaks and low car and big bolsters makes for wear.

Don't think a German car made in the US is a US car not more than a Swindon Hoda is a British car. I just sold an X5 with 100k on the clock. Unmarked interior, exterior and not a rattle or squeak. Different car for different needs.
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no mate the z4 didnt have 200k on the clock my curent volkswagen bora highline has 200k on the clock, the z4s i looked at had 50k to 70k and where the same age as my volkswagen, but my bora was built better and in better condition......
im looking at some more this week and i hope im not put off them as really love the looks and engines.... but after what ive seen today i wouldnt hold my breath, might be asking to much in quality turms as most on here have said they are a little rattley..... but if thats the case im looking at other stuff, maybe a 130 or 330, as really like that 3.0l engine....
 
My error - I misread your sentence :oops:
If you are obsessed with build quality and no rattles, then you need to think of something other than soft top sports cars, of any make. That's not what these are about.
 
I've had a lot of sports cars in my life and have been driving Z4's since 2003 and for the most part IMO they are very well designed and made. I've had 3 Z4's and the only major issue that I have ever had was with the power top motor which was not properly designed to prevent water intrusion. This is a well know problem. I had this problem with my previous 2 Z4's. I am a member of a local Z series club with about 30 of the Z series cars.. About half of the cars are Z3's and the rest are Z-4's which all came out of the BMW South Carolina plant. These cars are all well looked after and many of them are well over 10 years old now and some with over 100,000 miles. They look and drive like new and never has even one broken down on a club cruiZe or trip in the past 7 years that I've been a club member.
 
bigdog said:
chezzy71 said:
sandere85 said:
well,i guess its mor a question of looking after your car than the cars beeing badly made .

shure ther are somethings that could be better built in a z ,but what car does not have their flaws.

i think when you would have been looking and driving mine you would not be so dissapointed,just go out and look at a good one owned by someone who takes care of their car!
Click to expand...
i do partly agree with you,, but i think i was expecting these z4s to be built better as well,,, if i had known they wasnt built in germany i might not have even looked....... i know there are lots on here from the usa, and dont meen to offend but yank cars are renowned for being poorly built.........
Click to expand...

It's not a yank car. It was engineered by BMW and built to BMW's specifications by US workers using BMW approved procedures and factory equipment from Germany. If BMW said to put the dash on with x amount of bolts and it then rattles. How would that make it an issue with the yank worker?
Click to expand...

its also a common fact in the volkswagen sceen that the cars built outside germany arnt as good quality wise as the cars built in germany,,,,, ( built with german parts and procedures exactly the same as your cars ) volkswagen have factorys in spain, south africa, america, and all the cars built in any of these factorys are poor build quality....... i know your all going to defend bmw its what you drive as i will defend volkwagen...
 
I wouldn't be so sure your Bora was made in Germany, if that's what your thinking esp if 5th gen.

4th Gen Bora

Assembly Bratislava,[5] Slovakia
Changchun,[5] China
Poznań,[5] Poland
Puebla,[5] Mexico
Solomonovo, Ukraine
Uitenhage,[5] South Africa
Wolfsburg,[5] Germany

5th Gen Bora

Assembly Puebla, Mexico
Changchun, China (CKD)
Uitenhage, South Africa(CKD)
Aurangabad, India (CKD)
Kaluga, Russia (CKD)
Luanda, Angola (VW/Ancar)
Algiers, Algeria (CKD; SOVAC)

But as said above it's a roadster not a luxury tank, look at an E89 if you want better interior but to me it's not the same as the original more of a GT being softer and offering more to a wider market. All IMO of course.
 
I've done 110,000 miles in Z4's and I've never had issue with build quality. The roadster had the odd rattle from time to time but I put this down to having no roof as others have already mentioned. You'll find the same issue in a Boxster as well. However the interior (including seat bolsters) held up fine with 90k on the clock. I like to take care of my cars though and that is perhaps the difference.

I've found them to be very well built, especially mechanically (which lets face it is the most important part).

There used to be a well known anecdote that the day shift at Volksburg spent 2/3 of their time correcting the night shifts mistakes!! I drove a 2011 Golf last week and is was a lovely smooth car to drive but i thought the interior quality was less impressive than the 2011 Insignia I drove this week.
 
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