Simon's Ruby Black Z4 MC

[Beedub]

Beedub, where are you doing your oil analysis'? You see lots of guys in the US using blackstone but is there a recommended place to do it in the uk?

As we're talking issues, let's not forget the occasional problems we see with oil starvation to the top end resulting in worn cams and followers! A rare one compared to the vanos perhaps but a potentially expensive one.

As for the bearings and vanos not being that major, no, i guess they're not if you know what to look for and catch it in time. However if either goes unexpectedly you could be facing a big bill and lets face it, incorrect tolerances, shearing bolts and hubs just shouldn't happen on a premium car/engine.

Still, what are the options....Porsche and their scoring and IMS issues or perhaps a TVR (god I'd love a T350c, but I'd be forever worrying and that would spoil it for me)

Anyway, your car looks nice Simon, hope you can still enjoy it with all these tales of impending doom!

yeah tbh... when you see other manufacturer issues it is kinda minor especially if you monitor things, the vanos can be rebuilt very solidly, and the road bearings can be changed.... theirs a few other items that need normal maintenance that we should all do periodically on this high performance motor but imo its still one of the best road car engines made, that and the 2jz, rb26,

 

[simonlpearce]

Anyway, your car looks nice Simon, hope you can still enjoy it with all these tales of impending doom!

I know jesus thanks for the words of warning, though i am not too unfamiliar with all these problems you talk about as i hang about on cutters a bit as have the M3 Evo and was considering an E46 M3 but figured a Z4M Coupe was a little less chav/common these days

Thank god BMW did the right thing and put a manual box in these. Even if it is a bit notchy, it has to be better than a £2k SMG bill and broken rear subframe at another grand or so!!!

Edit : Thinking about this more, most the S54 bearing issues i have heard of seem to be when the owner has been pushing the car hard. So either out on track or driving like a loon on the road. I think for the most part it can probably be avoided if the car is driven with some respect.

 

[Z4M-2006]

Ahh

Notchy gearbox... Lol..

Try amsoil manual synchromesh fluid and remove CDV.. See how you go

 

[simonlpearce]

To be fair, i am basing my experience on the 6 spd box in my E46 330, i haven't taken delivery of the Z4 yet.

I plan on having the fluid done and fitting some storm goodies though to help the situation and as said will whip the CDV off at the same time.

 

[obikaii]

Beedub, where are you doing your oil analysis'? You see lots of guys in the US using blackstone but is there a recommended place to do it in the uk?

s we're talking issues, let's not forget the occasional problems we see with oil starvation to the top end resulting in worn cams and followers! A rare one compared to the vanos perhaps but a potentially expensive one.

As for the bearings and vanos not being that major, no, i guess they're not if you know what to look for and catch it in time. However if either goes unexpectedly you could be facing a big bill and lets face it, incorrect tolerances, shearing bolts and hubs just shouldn't happen on a premium car/engine.

Still, what are the options....Porsche and their scoring and IMS issues or perhaps a TVR (god I'd love a T350c, but I'd be forever worrying and that would spoil it for me)

Anyway, your car looks nice Simon, hope you can still enjoy it with all these tales of impending doom!

My previous car was a Tvr T350c, 4L red rose spec,bought it with just 12000 miles on,& it had a rebuild at 10000,so I thought I was safe,but alas I was wrong,it needed another rebuild at 17500 miles,I treated it with nothing but mechanical sympathy,always warmed up properly before driving enthusiastically,serviced regularly,wanted for nothing,yet I still got burned.
So by comparison I think our z4m's are very low risk,I certainly wish id bought the z4m instead of the T350,hindsight is a wonderful thing,ha ha.

 

[Beedub]

am i the only one that loves the z4ms shift action?? lol think the gearbox is great personally....

 

[LeeZ4MR]

Beedub, where are you doing your oil analysis'? You see lots of guys in the US using blackstone but is there a recommended place to do it in the uk?

s we're talking issues, let's not forget the occasional problems we see with oil starvation to the top end resulting in worn cams and followers! A rare one compared to the vanos perhaps but a potentially expensive one.

As for the bearings and vanos not being that major, no, i guess they're not if you know what to look for and catch it in time. However if either goes unexpectedly you could be facing a big bill and lets face it, incorrect tolerances, shearing bolts and hubs just shouldn't happen on a premium car/engine.

Still, what are the options....Porsche and their scoring and IMS issues or perhaps a TVR (god I'd love a T350c, but I'd be forever worrying and that would spoil it for me)

Anyway, your car looks nice Simon, hope you can still enjoy it with all these tales of impending doom!

My previous car was a Tvr T350c, 4L red rose spec,bought it with just 12000 miles on,& it had a rebuild at 10000,so I thought I was safe,but alas I was wrong,it needed another rebuild at 17500 miles,I treated it with nothing but mechanical sympathy,always warmed up properly before driving enthusiastically,serviced regularly,wanted for nothing,yet I still got burned.
So by comparison I think our z4m's are very low risk,I certainly wish id bought the z4m instead of the T350,hindsight is a wonderful thing,ha ha.

That was similar to me I got my Cerbera 4.5 with 12k miles on it and that needed a rebuild at 19k miles...a Z4M is seriously bullet proof in comparison to a TVR...the sound of the Z4M is a let down though once you have experienced a TVR I think and that is one big downside.

 

[LeeZ4MR]

am i the only one that ives the z4ms shift action?? lol think the gearbox is great personally....

I thought it was a terrible gearbox especially first to second but I only had my Z4M for a short time so I would imagine that you just get used to it and I thought the manual in my E92 M3 was fine.

 

[CornishRob]

am i the only one that ives the z4ms shift action?? lol think the gearbox is great personally....

I thought it was a terrible gearbox especially first to second but I only had my Z4M for a short time so I would imagine that you just get used to it and I thought the manual in my E92 M3 was fine.

I don't mind it at all. Bit more characterful than the perfect modern specimens!

 

[LeeZ4MR]

am i the only one that ives the z4ms shift action?? lol think the gearbox is great personally....

I thought it was a terrible gearbox especially first to second but I only had my Z4M for a short time so I would imagine that you just get used to it and I thought the manual in my E92 M3 was fine.

I don't mind it at all. Bit more characterful than the perfect modern specimens!

Yes I do agree it suits the type of car that the Z4M is but the gearbox in my TVR although very vintage felt nice and mechanical, I think with my Z4M I just really enjoy a very quick cog swap between first and second gear and the Zed just wont let you do that unless you have a serious mechanical lack of sympathy for it and it just spoilt the fun a bit for me.

I appreciate with a couple of mods it can be rectified from what I have read though.

 

[simonlpearce]

So still not picked the car up yet

However the garage called me today to apologise for the delay and informed me that it was due to the car having a cracked spring and needing some new drop links. Hopefully it will be available tomorrow.

Have to admit i was getting a little pee'd off with things taking so long an the lack of communication, but im now happy in the knowledge they are at least doing things right! Plus i was expecting to have to do a few bit of general maintenance myself so im chuffed they have done some of it for me

 

[tomscott]

TBH I wouldn't worry about the problems too much enjoy it and maintain it properly and it will be ok. Swapping out half shaft bearings at 80-90k is probably sensible under a personal service schedule, also engine mounts I would have checked but you can give them a bit of a visual check, probably swap them at anything 70+ or depending how old the car is as they are rubber so perish.

I also love the gearbox didn't find mine notchy, I like the getrags.

 

[tomscott]

As long as thats all it is :-?

 

[ChrisC85]

So still not picked the car up yet

However the garage called me today to apologise for the delay and informed me that it was due to the car having a cracked spring and needing some new drop links. Hopefully it will be available tomorrow.

Have to admit i was getting a little pee'd off with things taking so long an the lack of communication, but im now happy in the knowledge they are at least doing things right! Plus i was expecting to have to do a few bit of general maintenance myself so im chuffed they have done some of it for me

Hopefully you get it soon. But at least when you finally get the car it will just be a matter of cruising 8)

Bet you can't wait!!

 

[simonlpearce]

Finally picked it up last night and had a chance to drive it, a little bit. The journey is only 7 miles back from the dealer and admittedly most of that was pressing buttons, playing with sat nav, stereo, bt, heated seats......oh and lets not forget the sports button. From what i gather it adjusts the map to give better throttle response. I didn't fully get to try it out but in the short period it was on, it was VERY noticeable.

One other neat feature though which im loving is the built in hill start 8) I live on a silly big hill and although i am perfectly capable of doing a hill start, its neat that the car does it for me.

I'm definitely going to sort a different set of wheels after the winter months, something silver and CSL is the likely option.

One question i have is about the diff. It clunks going round tight roundabouts or bends. It was however quiet to the point of none existent once the car was up to temp so i was wondering if its just a trait of the LSD? My track car also clunks, always has done since i put the M3 diff on the car. I always thought it was in need of a rebuild, but it has never got worse and the diff works as it should so perhaps they are just noisy by nature?

Now the painful wait begins and the countdown to next month! That said i am taking the chick the blackpool next week so i might just fcuk it off and tax it anyway as it would be rude to pass up the opportunity to stretch its legs :evil:

 

[simonlpearce]

Finally picked it up last night and had a chance to drive it, a little bit. The journey is only 7 miles back from the dealer and admittedly most of that was pressing buttons, playing with sat nav, stereo, bt, heated seats......oh and lets not forget the sports button. From what i gather it adjusts the map to give better throttle response. I didn't fully get to try it out but in the short period it was on, it was VERY noticeable.

One other neat feature though which im loving is the built in hill start 8) I live on a silly big hill and although i am perfectly capable of doing a hill start, its neat that the car does it for me.

I'm definitely going to sort a different set of wheels after the winter months, something silver and CSL is the likely option.

One question i have is about the diff. It clunks going round tight roundabouts or bends. It was however quiet to the point of none existent once the car was up to temp so i was wondering if its just a trait of the LSD? My track car also clunks, always has done since i put the M3 diff on the car. I always thought it was in need of a rebuild, but it has never got worse and the diff works as it should so perhaps they are just noisy by nature?

Now the painful wait begins and the countdown to next month! That said i am taking the chick the blackpool next week so i might just fcuk it off and tax it anyway as it would be rude to pass up the opportunity to stretch its legs :evil:

 

[Z4M-2006]

The don't all do it but it's not a mega problem..

Syntrax and redline friction modifier

 

[simonlpearce]

The don't all do it but it's not a mega problem..

Syntrax and redline friction modifier

Suppose it can't hurt to change out the oil, though not a job i enjoy as the oil absolutely stinks. Managed to spill some on the lawn when doing the seals on the track car. The wife wasn't best impressed when it instantly killed and left a bald patch on the grass and stunk for the following 2 weeks :roll:

 

[Z4M-2006]

Its just had an inspection 2 though has it ??

Maybe just some redline ?

 

[ChrisC85]

Congrats! Glad you finally picked it up.

Now you can just enjoy it 8)