Roof motor not working on a potential purchase.
- Thread starter Grover
- Start date
can be fixed lretty cheaply these days..sub 150 i believe so wouldn't put me off
Here's a link to a check list that should help:- https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=21281
As they have aged they do seem prone to rear brake pipes corroding. The pipes pass under the floor beneath the passenger seat inside a plastic cover, but the rear end of the cover tends to fill up with road debris which holds moisture when it gets wet causing the pipes to corrode so that's worth a look if possible.
You don't mention what age the car is, but there was a facelift in 2006 and post-facelift cars use a later generation engine (N52 instead of M54). If it is a facelift don't bother looking for the dipstick as it won't have one! You check the oil level using a button on the dash. And the facelift engine is more powerful!
The facelifts also have an electric water pump which will fail at some point, and when it does the engine will overheat within a mile or so. The issue is that new pumps cost £500 from BMW, but the same Pierburg pump can be sourced elsewhere for more like £300. The pump on my 1st Z4 failed at 60K miles (and 9 years) but my 2nd was on the original at 91K (and 13 years), so lifespan is variable. I wouldn't dismiss a car that hadn't had a new one, but it's worth bearing in mind it may happen - and if a car has had a new one that's a bonus!
Hope that is helpful.
As they have aged they do seem prone to rear brake pipes corroding. The pipes pass under the floor beneath the passenger seat inside a plastic cover, but the rear end of the cover tends to fill up with road debris which holds moisture when it gets wet causing the pipes to corrode so that's worth a look if possible.
You don't mention what age the car is, but there was a facelift in 2006 and post-facelift cars use a later generation engine (N52 instead of M54). If it is a facelift don't bother looking for the dipstick as it won't have one! You check the oil level using a button on the dash. And the facelift engine is more powerful!
The facelifts also have an electric water pump which will fail at some point, and when it does the engine will overheat within a mile or so. The issue is that new pumps cost £500 from BMW, but the same Pierburg pump can be sourced elsewhere for more like £300. The pump on my 1st Z4 failed at 60K miles (and 9 years) but my 2nd was on the original at 91K (and 13 years), so lifespan is variable. I wouldn't dismiss a car that hadn't had a new one, but it's worth bearing in mind it may happen - and if a car has had a new one that's a bonus!
Hope that is helpful.
Welcome to the forum, they can suffer from water leaks from split header tanks, oil leaks from the rocker cover gasket and or oil filter housing, worn suspension parts, broken rear springs, interior water leaks etc.
All of the above are pretty easy DIY, if your handy.
We like photos if you do take the leap, they are great cars and very addictive
All of the above are pretty easy DIY, if your handy.
We like photos if you do take the leap, they are great cars and very addictive
Gotta love this forum- great advice as always. Great for “newbies” to go looking at potential purchases with their eyes open 
