Prospective Owner's Questions

[iain3915]

I'm soon going to be selling my VX220 to buy an early 3.0 Z4 but I have a few questions.

1. Is there any visual way to tell from pictures if the car has the Carver audio system as I'd really like this but it seems lots of owners don't know. Also is this different to the business audio system?

2. I know the car has a timing chain that should last a lifetime but are there any expensive jobs required at particular mileages? I'm probably looking at cars in the 50k plus area.

3. Do all cars have the "Sport" Button?

4. How can you tell that there are no roof motor issues? Will pouring water down the drain hole to check it's clear be confirmation that I shouldn't worry? How do I know if the roof is going down fast enough?

5. How can I check window regulators?

6. Will I be able to see if springs are broken by looking through the wheels at them when viewing the car?

7. Was the multifunction steering wheel an option on early cars?

Any other tips for inspecting the car when viewing it would be gratefully received.

Thanks,

Iain

 

[metal licker]

Hi and welcome
Carn't help with the questions personally but for a buyers guide try looking at the link in AlanJ signature

 

[ThePenguin]

Here you go dude, should answer some questions:

http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=21281

 

[iain3915]

Thanks for the welcome guys.

That's a really useful guide that I had read but these are the questions that I had remaining.

 

[metal licker]

We're a helpful bunch on here mate,i'm sure somebody will be along with some info for you

 

[buzyg]

Make sure the inspection 2 has been done. Should be past that by 50k, but check as it could be a £1000+ depending on dealer.

The rear springs are pretty easy to see. If you want to be sure you could jack the rear up, then they are in plain view. Seller might not be too keen if you scuff the car mind you, so maybe just a look with a good tourch.

 

[Mowflow]

Hello and welcome.

1. The only visual prompt that I can think of for the carver system is if you can see the cubbys behind the seats in any pics. If they have a cover over them then the car has carver as these house the subs.

3. When I was looking I never seen a 3.0 without one. I thought it was a bit of a gimmick at first but it actually makes a big difference when driving like a loon.

6. Yes, they can be easily seen by having a quick look under the car. Look under the rear bumper if the wheel style means you can't see clearly. If they are broken they are cheap to replace so maybe negotiate price. Negotiate the price of some Eibachs or H&Rs off as a bonus.

7. Yes, I don't have one but don't miss it. My car is generally used for fun and I prefer to listen to the engine. The stereo controls are about 6inches from the wheel anyway.

Best of luck with the search. A few of the ones I looked at when I bought mine are still for sale around Glasgow. Dare say you could get a good discount on some of them now.

 

[iain3915]

That's fantastic, Mowflow. Thanks for the help.

It'll be a few weeks until I can buy as I still have not put my VX up for sale.

 

[paulgs1000]

Hope not to be stating the obvious but I keep checking the 'car's for sale' on this forum and some of them are wonderful examples that are very well cared for and maintained with all aspects which count being either sorted or checked. Many of your questions will be covered in their text.
You might do a lot worse than wait for the right car on this forum?

 

[wowser]

I'm soon going to be selling my VX220 to buy an early 3.0 Z4 but I have a few questions.

1. Is there any visual way to tell from pictures if the car has the Carver audio system as I'd really like this but it seems lots of owners don't know. Also is this different to the business audio system?

2. I know the car has a timing chain that should last a lifetime but are there any expensive jobs required at particular mileages? I'm probably looking at cars in the 50k plus area.

3. Do all cars have the "Sport" Button?

4. How can you tell that there are no roof motor issues? Will pouring water down the drain hole to check it's clear be confirmation that I shouldn't worry? How do I know if the roof is going down fast enough?

5. How can I check window regulators?

6. Will I be able to see if springs are broken by looking through the wheels at them when viewing the car?

7. Was the multifunction steering wheel an option on early cars?

Any other tips for inspecting the car when viewing it would be gratefully received.

Thanks,

Iain

Hi Iain,

what VX220 do you have n/a or turbo?? Ive had two of them before, sold mine last november to buy my z4. Miss it dearly!!!

 

[iain3915]

I've got a 2002 NA with full milltek, racing cat, Thorney stage 2 remap, Nitron single way adjustable suspension.

I adore it on a nice day. I think though that the highs are high and the lows are low. I sometimes find myself very jealous of people in a comfortable car. It has absolutely spoilt me in the handling department (combined with Toyo R888s) and it's sad to think now that probably anything I drive for the rest of my life will never handle as well!

I'd be really interested to hear how you found the transition from VX220 to Z4.

 

[Bing]

Welcome Iain

Couple of answers below :

I'm soon going to be selling my VX220 to buy an early 3.0 Z4 but I have a few questions.

1. Is there any visual way to tell from pictures if the car has the Carver audio system as I'd really like this but it seems lots of owners don't know. Also is this different to the business audio system?

2. I know the car has a timing chain that should last a lifetime but are there any expensive jobs required at particular mileages? I'm probably looking at cars in the 50k plus area.

4. How can you tell that there are no roof motor issues? Will pouring water down the drain hole to check it's clear be confirmation that I shouldn't worry? How do I know if the roof is going down fast enough?

5. How can I check window regulators?

Thanks,

Iain

1. No cubby holes behind the seat as said. Business is basic 6 speaker IIRC. Oh, and the Carver will have an amp in the boot next to the battery I believe.

2. No mileage related issues I am aware of, but a full service history to schedule is important, as you probably know.

4. Not had issues with mine, but the water pour sounds a reasonable test. That said, the motor could still be corroded, so operation of the roof is the best test - it should take about 9 or 10 secs, no struggling up or falling down very hard at the ends of the cycle... Though it will clonk a bit as it closes on the window frame anyway.

5. Honestly, just decent operation of the windows. No other way unless you can take the door card off, and all the gibbons inside...

Hope this helps, someone will correct me if I have anything wrong around the roof comment

 

[wowser]

I've got a 2002 NA with full milltek, racing cat, Thorney stage 2 remap, Nitron single way adjustable suspension.

I adore it on a nice day. I think though that the highs are high and the lows are low. I sometimes find myself very jealous of people in a comfortable car. It has absolutely spoilt me in the handling department (combined with Toyo R888s) and it's sad to think now that probably anything I drive for the rest of my life will never handle as well!

I'd be really interested to hear how you found the transition from VX220 to Z4.

I asked another forum member the same thing before i sold my vx. I personally owned two n/a vx's, pretty much standard, but i had the same tyre combo with the td alloy set up, and full set up to get rid of the understeer.

As far as the zed, i have a 2006 3.0 si. Debated getting the z4m, but cant be bothered to pay stupid money to the goverment for car tax, plus stats wise, its not that much quicker.

Handling wise the vx220 does inspire alot of confidence into the corners. U can be more aggressive on turn in, especially with nitron set up you have. Took me a while to get to grips with the zed at the limit. The m sport suspension is alot stiffer than the standard koni/eibach set up on vx220. However this does have its downfalls. Down a country lane, u can bolock a vx220, it rides bumps so well in standard form, where as i find the z4 jittery at times, and does keep u on edge. Get the zed on smooth tarmac though, its fantastic. Like any car, it take you while to learn how to drive it at the limit, im a keen trackday guy probably like most vx owners. You wont be dissapointed with z4 in handling department. I actually think the grip levels are higher than a vx, and theres no stupid initial understeer.

3.0 engine in the z4 has ample enough power. 265 bhp, 0.60 5.6 secs, 155 mph, and u can get 30 mpg all day long, similar figures to vx220 turbo/ Plus its cheap to tax. Alot of people say to buy the 3.0 instead of 2.5, as fuel economy is pretty much the same, but u have more grunt.

As far as living with the zed:

I no longer lose my change under the seat until the time comes to take the seat out to open my savings account lol

i no longer have an asthmatic blowing luke warm air through a straw at me from heater vents, blowing a volcano cloud of dust over my dashboard.

I can now take my own car to the golf club

I now have brakes that do not fade after three stamps on the pedal

I dont have to worry about having to wait for my gearbox cables to warm up to select a gear on a frosty morning

I no longer have to defrost the inside of my windscreen

I can now go through a drive through without the person in the last window wondering where the hell i am when they pass me my food

I dnt have to worry about my passenger damaging my sill getting in and out, and saying "its a bit basic in here" or "its like one of those lotus elises"



Get a z4, ditch the runflat tyres, get a set of falken 452's you can go wrong. If you dont like it, you can always buy another vx when they have the winter cull.

hope this helps fella, any questions give me a shout

ian

 

[bcworkz]

As far as no cubby behind seats and amp in boot a sign of Carver system ... Not true! These signs only mean it is not a base 6 speaker system. It could still be the mid level "Hi-Fi" system or the top spec carver "Top Hi-Fi" system. One way to tell these two apart is by the appearance of the amp. The amp on left is top hi-fi:

Supposedly another difference is the presence of equaliser settings in the carver top hi-fi: Jazz, church, concert, but I'm not 100% sure on that one.

BTW, 6 speaker owners will find 8 speaker grilles in the car, but there are no speakers behind the door grilles.

 

[iain3915]

Wowser, I was laughing out loud at that post. It's very obvious that you have owned a VX or two!

Think you've convinced me; now to sell my car.

Thanks for the clarification BCWorkz. I found a post somewhere that explains how to check the options applied at the factory using the VIN so that will probably be the best way to confirm I think.

Do you know if an iPhone can be used with the Carver setup without too much hassle?

 

[Adamski]

As far as no cubby behind seats and amp in boot a sign of Carver system ... Not true! These signs only mean it is not a base 6 speaker system. It could still be the mid level "Hi-Fi" system or the top spec carver "Top Hi-Fi" system. One way to tell these two apart is by the appearance of the amp. The amp on left is top hi-fi:

Supposedly another difference is the presence of equaliser settings in the carver top hi-fi: Jazz, church, concert, but I'm not 100% sure on that one.

BTW, 6 speaker owners will find 8 speaker grilles in the car, but there are no speakers behind the door grilles.

Thank goodness someone else knows the difference


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[micz4]

Honestly, just decent operation of the windows. No other way unless you can take the door card off, and all the gibbons

Gibbons!!! Stop monkeying around :rofl:

 

[stehanson]

Make sure the inspection 2 has been done. Should be past that by 50k, but check as it could be a £1000+ depending on dealer

I'm also a prospective buyer and wish to know what the inspection 2 consists of (generally, not specifics) and how I can tell if its been done, been looking on A trader and ebay, but no one lists specifics such as this, so need to know what to ask.

Cheers Ste

 

[Bing]

Honestly, just decent operation of the windows. No other way unless you can take the door card off, and all the gibbons

Gibbons!!! Stop monkeying around :rofl:

I had lots of gibbons in mine - I guess they went poverty spec on the e89 and just filled the doors with gubbins

Bcworkz - thanks for correcting me... I am the owner of a basic hi-fi... Either that or the gibbons nicked my door speakers and amp :lol:

 

[wowser]

Wowser, I was laughing out loud at that post. It's very obvious that you have owned a VX or two!

Think you've convinced me; now to sell my car.

Thanks for the clarification BCWorkz. I found a post somewhere that explains how to check the options applied at the factory using the VIN so that will probably be the best way to confirm I think.

Do you know if an iPhone can be used with the Carver setup without too much hassle?

lol the vx is one of a kind!! i sold mine last october, i still have people off the vx220.org asking me if its still for sale