Potential Noob questions...

[1970Dicko]

Hi All
I’m looking at a winter project/summer plaything/mid life crisis hobby and a Z4 is a likely addition to my drive.
I have a limited purchase budget, probably no more that £2.5k and it’s will be a strictly weekend/high days and holidays driver, so high mileage or fuel economy aren’t really a concern, but I do have a few questions for those knowledgable forum members...
1. Is there an engine variant to avoid? Or one that’s a peach?
2. Are there any inherent mechanical “issues” or Z specific quirks? (Dodgy headlamp aim, brake dis S warping etc?
3. Anywhere particularly prone to rust?
4, is there anything that MUST have been done if the car has 100k+ on it (belts, etc?)
5. Is there anything to really avoid?

Appreciate all and any answers in advance, cheers!

 

[Tinker15]

I can’t answer any of your questions as I have an E89 but the one you are looking at on the forum seems extremely good value to me.

 

[1970Dicko]

Thanks - I fear it may be sold already but that’s exactly what I’m after

 

[andystone]

Hi bud, my z4 was bought as a project. I went for the 2.5 m54 version have spent many an hour fixing her, with many more hours planned! So far I’ve replaced discs, pad, brake lines, air intake hose, serviced, front bearings and brake shield, rear springs, drop links all round, refurbished brake callipers all round, rear shocks, rtab’s plus a few small cosmetic items such as badges, gear knob and ashtray. My aim is to have her 100% perfect and next jobs are new doors, rear wings and boot. I’ve had quite an issue with rust hence replacing various things. Mine is from Scotland originally and wonder if the salt on the roads was the cause for the corrosion. Other than that everything is working.

 

[Mr Tidy]

Hi and welcome.

For that sort of budget you'll be looking at pre-facelift cars. Personally I'd be looking for a 6 cylinder one as that is one of the Z4s more unique features. There are 3 to choose from, 2.2i, 2.5i and 3.0i and as they are all the same engine just in different sizes running costs are pretty much the same whichever you get, but it does mean the 3.0is tend to be priced a bit higher!

By the time it's done 100K miles it's likely to need a cooling system refresh (rad, thermostat, expansion tank, etc.) if it hasn't already had one.

Probably a new auxiliary drive belt if it looks like it's cracking. Rear springs can snap and rear brake pipes often corrode.

Other than that roof motors are known to get drowned by water from the roof drains, and BMW charge plenty for new ones. But there are a few people on here who can relocate them into the boot and often revive sluggish ones.

Apart from that I think it's just the usual things you'd need to look out for on any car with that mileage.

Good luck with your search.

 

[buzyg]

Welcome to the forum. A decent 3.0i preface lift sounds just the ticket. Happy hunting.

 

[Cooky3]

Hi All
I’m looking at a winter project/summer plaything/mid life crisis hobby and a Z4 is a likely addition to my drive.
I have a limited purchase budget, probably no more that £2.5k and it’s will be a strictly weekend/high days and holidays driver, so high mileage or fuel economy aren’t really a concern, but I do have a few questions for those knowledgable forum members...
1. Is there an engine variant to avoid? Or one that’s a peach?
2. Are there any inherent mechanical “issues” or Z specific quirks? (Dodgy headlamp aim, brake dis S warping etc?
3. Anywhere particularly prone to rust?
4, is there anything that MUST have been done if the car has 100k+ on it (belts, etc?)
5. Is there anything to really avoid?

Appreciate all and any answers in advance, cheers!

Hi there 1970Dicko.

I have a 2.5si which I have been thinking about putting up as a winter project for someone. There is a timing chain post on her that runs to ten pages which related to a noise I found on the evening of getting the car home having bought it locally. I spent £1200 trying to rectify it with a new timing chain kit, tensioner, two new cam hubs etc without joy. I drove it through the summer 2018 without any issues - it goes as normal but just makes a noise which is noticeable at low revs. Then at the end of summer that year I left the MOT late and the test was stopped as it started to heat up on the ramp. Another post on here about that although technically it did not fail the MOT as they abandoned it. There is a post on here about a cheap fix if you know what you are doing - literally pence. The other issues to note are a corroded brake line around the rear fuel tank and a note of flickering lights which again is a cheap fix - a case of swapping the bulbs out. The rest of the car is solid and in generally decent condition. I can send you pics if you want them. I am done with it hence why it has sat on my drive for the last year (regularly charged the battery and ran it / moved it to keep brakes etc working... I would happily let you have it for reasonable money if you are interested. Its grey with a light full leather interior, cup holders, has had the roof motor relocated to the boot, has a full service history, roof drops off the key remotely etc - ex forum member car....Depends how competent you are with the spanners. As you can probably tell, I am rubbish with 'em… I will be taking a big hit on the car potentially but that's life. Let me know if interested. Cheers