Potential Z4 owner here ...

C

CabinFever

New member
Hey all,

Relatively new to all things BMW. I'm currently driving a Renaultsport Clio 197, but with shocking MPG, and an urge to own a superb roadster, i'm in the market for a Z. Firstly, has anyone any experience in the 2.5 SE? I've heard it's a peach of an engine! Also, is it all the varients that come with the sport button, or just the 3.0?

Any help would be appreciated.

Look forward to speaking to some of you soon.

Regards.
 
Welcome along :)

(Another Cliosport refugee? :? )

Get straight into a 3.0i SE if you can - not much difference in mpg, etc but a bigger difference in performance (or so everyone on here seems to say). Slight difference in insurance obviously but not greatly in a lot of cases. I'm guessing with the 197 you're getting low 20's? I previously owned a modded monaco blue ph2 172 (I'm still on Cliosport :oops:) and that managed 36mpg, and with my 3.0i SE Z4 I'm managing 30mpg over the same driving. But I know from other CS members that the 197's economy is shocking in comparison.

Not sure on your sport button Q.

Ally
 
Hi,

I have a 2003 2.5i or SE, not sure... I think they're the same thing, just BMW playing with the names at that time. Yes, it has the Sport button. Engine as you say is awesome... very tractable for a 2.5 - if you want to be lazy 5th will happily work from 30MPH upwards. Lovely over-run in second too - which really doesn't help my MPG. It feels reasonably quick... but that depends what you're used to.

So far car has proved very reliable (had it a little over 3 year)... spring went twice (common issue!) and a roof motor issue. There's loads of info on here.

Another treat, if you're coming from FWD, is the RWD... so much nicer pushing on through the corners! The DSC works really well too - lets you have a little fun sliding the back (a little bit) when you want, but always keeps things in check.

Only real downside is the firm ride - which I guess is acceptable in a proper sports car, but it does put some people off. If you look at any get them to take you for a decent test drive on less than perfect roads! That should help. Clutch isn't great and switch sport mode off if you're in traffic.

Good luck in your search!
 
PS... as Ally said, get the 3.0 if you can. Owning a 2.5 I keep wanting a 3.0 but can't really justify the upgrade!
 
Thanks for the replys gents. I am still on Cliosport ( unfortunately ) but the daily CS clique/ sheep following gets tiresome.

The reason why i'm opting for the 2.5 over the 3.0 is purely down to a dealer offering me a very good price for my 197, and just happens to have a Z4, which is pretty much fully loaded and in a very nice colour.

As nice as the grunt from the 3.0 would have been nice, the 2.5 would still give a good enough kick to raise a few smiles?

On another note - Could someone please tell me the Z4 service intervals please?

Mucho appreciated.

PS - Looks like a very friendly/informative well run forum you guys have here!
 
Hi and welcome, service intervals are distance and time based.

Distance as per most cars at @15k but depends how you drive in the following sequence

Oil, Inspection1, Oil, Inspection2, Oil, Inspection1,............

Every two years brake fluid, and every four years coolant.

That said if your not doing enough mileage then after two years the distance based service will need doing also.
 
Re 2.5 performance... more than enough really. Probably need to use the gears a little more than the 3.0, but I suspect less than you're used to. Personally, I love husteling along A roads and there I suspect the difference is nominal (longer straights aside) - they'll have the same cornering ability.

As all these things are relative to personal expereince there is only one way to tell... get down to the dealer and take a test drive! Go on. :evil:
 
Thanks again.

I take it from the minimal homework i have done, that the car as standard has run-flat tyres? Have you guys found that an aftermarket tyre works better, or are you more than happy with the run-flats?

:thumbsup:
 
CabinFever said:
Thanks for the replys gents. I am still on Cliosport ( unfortunately ) but the daily CS clique/ sheep following gets tiresome
Click to expand...
Ha, same as me then. I'm rarely on there anymore, just go on to speak to the folk I've made friends with really. There's a few others have made the jump over here too.

Take a Z4 for a test drive, it's a very different car to the Clio but not in a bad way! Can't be hustled along a backroad - particularly if it's bumpy - at the same rate as the Clio. The suspension just can't cope with the undulations in the same way as a hot hatch like the 197 (and to a lesser extent the 172).

Runflats = ruinflats :thumbsdown:

Non-runflats or an alternative brand of runflat (i.e. not Bridgestone) are the way forward.
 
2.5i isn't blistering... I wasn't hugely blown away with the 2.5Si to be honest, which has 218bhp.

The 3.0i will probably only be literally as fast as your 197 Clio outright, and a bit quicker at lower engine speeds.

Of course, it depends what you want, but I think the 2.5i will dissapoint after the 197 Clio, while the 3.0i will feel like a step across/up maybe, whilst also offering the fun roadster appeal which does count for a great deal!

Not really any difference in running costs that are worth worrying about between the two.

I think the Z4 shouldn't have been made in anything but 3.0i+ form personally... :)

Ideally I think they should have all been 3.4 Alpina engined but hey ho ;)
 
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