Some Questions About Z4 Ownership!

[propaintballa]

Hey everyone,

I've just signed up due to looking at a Z4 as a change from my 07 Fiesta ST. I've loved Z4s for a long time and this time of year seems to be a good time to pick one up! Though, I just had a few questions regarding ownership, answers to which no doubt will vary, but it would be interesting to get an idea anyway.

Firstly, Vandalism... Is it an urban myth that people decide to slash your roof? I mean, there are enough Z4s and MX5s etc with old roofs that haven't been... But would be interesting to hear people's experiences specifically with Z4s.

Reliability, from what I've read, they all seem pretty reliable, I've been looking at 2L and 2.5 models around the 2004 age for 2.5 and 2005 for the 2L.

Does anyone tend to cover their roof when they're not using the car, or just leave it to battle the elements?! I am aware of re proofing as I made my girlfriend do that when she got her new Fiat 500.

A very broad question, but what sort of mileage do people start to notice an accumulation of faults? Most of the cars I've looked at are at around 80k miles, which I am aware is still quite low for a 10 year old car, but obviously, a vehicle tends to get to a point where problems multiply with age!

Finally, I'd like to ask people about practicality, again, a very neither here nor there question. Realistically now, I don't like taking people in my back seats which makes me think a two seater will be fine. As for luggage, the only thing I do is clay shoot and the odd bike ride. Anyone with a similar arrangement, I'd like to hear from you!

Hopefully that's not too much to answer, I'd appreciate any input!

James

 

[Taz]

hi and welcome to the forum

i can't recall anybody having there roofs slashed on this forum, so hopefully it is a myth

 

[metal licker]

hi and welcome to the forum

i can't recall anybody having there roofs slashed on this forum, so hopefully it is a myth

Fairly sure there was one guy who had his slashed but think it was abroad somewhere :?

propaintballa Welcome aboard

 

[paulgs1000]

Welcome paintballa - I suppose it depends where your Zed gets left - we don't hear too much about the roof being vandalised but the odd dent from close parking and even individual incidents of deliberate scratches have been posted. It makes you become very aware of defensive parking and where you leave your Zed. It is a concern whenever I return but in 3 years it's been ok. I wouldn't let it put you off having one unless you intend leaving it out on the road in a 'dodgy' area.

The 2 litre Zed is a favourite of mine but the better buy would be a 2.5 or 3.0 litre for reliability and less hassle with engine sensors and resale.

My Zeds get left on the drive all year. I've used a half cover to protect the electric roof motor from being swamped with rain water. So far so good. There is concern that covers will mark your paint so do a search on half covers to see what others think. I use a light plastic cover (I paid £50 from Roadster Solutions) it still leaves light marks but is much less damaging than the heavier canvas types (I've tried two types and both are in the garage and will not be used again)

Your question on mileage is difficult to answer except that a cherished and well kept Zed will have issues sorted as they occur. These are capable sports cars so regular maintenance is essential such as brake fluid changes (which are quite cheap). I think (apart from the ///M version) maintenance costs are remarkably reasonable given the performance, if you use a specialist independent and stay away from dealers. So when searching for your Zed, seek out those that have had a recent service, brake renewal, fresh tyres (all of which apply to any car really but Zeds have long service intervals and may have had a harder life) and has been cherished and well looked after - they are out there so be patient. I'm amazed how my Zed (and the previous 2 litre) can be used to the full, day after day and just keeps coming back for more. Terrific performance on very little maintenance and servicing - Long service intervals!

The Zed has a surprisingly large boot - not sure if a shotgun would fit (but broken down it won't be an issue and one assembled might fit - I'm sure a forum member would meet you and you could check this out - if you're near Newcastle give me a pm)
I've also seen a member post a photo of a bike rack fitted to the back of their Zed but others will need to advise you on this. Suffice to say we do our weekly shop in ours with no concerns on boot size - just don't slam the boot onto an item higher than the sides - it's easily damaged.

Good luck with your search

 

[propaintballa]

hi and welcome to the forum

i can't recall anybody having there roofs slashed on this forum, so hopefully it is a myth

Fairly sure there was one guy who had his slashed but think it was abroad somewhere :?

propaintballa Welcome aboard

Thanks a lot! This instils confidence!

hi and welcome to the forum

i can't recall anybody having there roofs slashed on this forum, so hopefully it is a myth

Ideal! Thanks for the welcome!

Welcome paintballa - I suppose it depends where your Zed gets left - we don't hear too much about the roof being vandalised but the odd dent from close parking and even individual incidents of deliberate scratches have been posted. It makes you become very aware of defensive parking and where you leave your Zed. It is a concern whenever I return but in 3 years it's been ok. I wouldn't let it put you off having one unless you intend leaving it out on the road in a 'dodgy' area.

The 2 litre Zed is a favourite of mine but the better buy would be a 2.5 or 3.0 litre for reliability and less hassle with engine sensors and resale.

My Zeds get left on the drive all year. I've used a half cover to protect the electric roof motor from being swamped with rain water. So far so good. There is concern that covers will mark your paint so do a search on half covers to see what others think. I use a light plastic cover (I paid £50 from Roadster Solutions) it still leaves light marks but is much less damaging than the heavier canvas types (I've tried two types and both are in the garage and will not be used again)

Your question on mileage is difficult to answer except that a cherished and well kept Zed will have issues sorted as they occur. These are capable sports cars so regular maintenance is essential such as brake fluid changes (which are quite cheap). I think (apart from the ///M version) maintenance costs are remarkably reasonable given the performance, if you use a specialist independent and stay away from dealers. So when searching for your Zed, seek out those that have had a recent service, brake renewal, fresh tyres (all of which apply to any car really but Zeds have long service intervals and may have had a harder life) and has been cherished and well looked after - they are out there so be patient. I'm amazed how my Zed (and the previous 2 litre) can be used to the full, day after day and just keeps coming back for more. Terrific performance on very little maintenance and servicing - Long service intervals!

The Zed has a surprisingly large boot - not sure if a shotgun would fit (but broken down it won't be an issue and one assembled might fit - I'm sure a forum member would meet you and you could check this out - if you're near Newcastle give me a pm)
I've also seen a member post a photo of a bike rack fitted to the back of their Zed but others will need to advise you on this. Suffice to say we do our weekly shop in ours with no concerns on boot size - just don't slam the boot onto an item higher than the sides - it's easily damaged.

Good luck with your search

Awesome, thank you for the insightful response! That's a big help, for sure. At home the car will be on a drive but whilst I'm in Plymouth it won't be, which is why I had my concerns! Unfortunately, I'm nowhere near your neck of the woods!

Regarding the roof, should I be looking for one that has had the motor replaced/moved? I feel that if it hasn't been done then it's a matter of when it breaks!

I'm seriously anal about my car as it is, parking on the far side of car parks, always parking on the end of bays if I have to, you name it!

 

[Marlon]

Hi and welcome. I wouldn't hold out for one that has had its roof motor replaced, thats just restricting your choice far too much. The facelift cars from 2006 onwards have their motors sealed so are less likely to fail. Not sure what your budget is though - the later Zeds, particularly the 3.0si's, are more expensive. When you find a Zed if you can find out a little about the cars history and whether it has been garaged, and the kind of annual mileage and obviously its service history, then you are hopefully reducing your potential future problems. 80k plus miles shouldn't be an issue if the cars been looked after.

 

[mr wilks]

Seen more roof's damaged from cats than vandal's so wouldn't worry on that front
2.0s are tempting due to the sheer volume for sale & relatively cheap prices but i would hang back for a 6 cylinder & doubt you will regret the decision
As said above , bought wisely these Zs cover miles with little to be concerned about other than routine stuff which for performance on offer can be surprisingly cheap on parts
Best wishes in your search & feel free to post up any possibles

 

[buzyg]

Welcome to the Forum. Love the Fiesta ST.

I never heard of a Zed getting it's roof slashed & I also work in Plymouth. Mind I don't take my Zed to work much. They are reliable cars on the whole. The roof motor location does seem to be a poor design and there are several on hear that have failed. I think it's gets noticed all the more because it's not cheap to fix. Several reports of Nave screens not working also. But the Nav is so bad I've left mine shut.

Good luck hunting and keep us up to speed. :wink:

 

[propaintballa]

Hi and welcome. I wouldn't hold out for one that has had its roof motor replaced, thats just restricting your choice far too much. The facelift cars from 2006 onwards have their motors sealed so are less likely to fail. Not sure what your budget is though - the later Zeds, particularly the 3.0si's, are more expensive. When you find a Zed if you can find out a little about the cars history and whether it has been garaged, and the kind of annual mileage and obviously its service history, then you are hopefully reducing your potential future problems. 80k plus miles shouldn't be an issue if the cars been looked after.

Ahhh, I doubt I'll be looking at recent as I only have around 5-5.k to spend! The decision on the 2L or 2.5 was primarily because the 3.0 seems to carry a premium, as you'd expect! Good to know that 80k shouldn't bring with it anything too daunting. I've seen a few with 130k on for sale still commanding quite a price.

Seen more roof's damaged from cats than vandal's so wouldn't worry on that front
2.0s are tempting due to the sheer volume for sale & relatively cheap prices but i would hang back for a 6 cylinder & doubt you will regret the decision
As said above , bought wisely these Zs cover miles with little to be concerned about other than routine stuff which for performance on offer can be surprisingly cheap on parts
Best wishes in your search & feel free to post up any possibles

Sounds good to me! I'm also quite prepared to do the usual work myself as I have done on all of my cars, to save labour costs!

Welcome to the Forum. Love the Fiesta ST.

I never heard of a Zed getting it's roof slashed & I also work in Plymouth. Mind I don't take my Zed to work much. They are reliable cars on the whole. The roof motor location does seem to be a poor design and there are several on hear that have failed. I think it's gets noticed all the more because it's not cheap to fix. Several reports of Nave screens not working also. But the Nav is so bad I've left mine shut.

Good luck hunting and keep us up to speed. :wink:

Oh right! I'll have to keep an eye out! Are there any preventative measures you can take to protect the motor before something was to go wrong (Aside from covering the roof).

As for navigation, I don't think any of the models I have looked at have that as an option, so that's not an issue!

 

[paulgs1000]

Regarding the roof, should I be looking for one that has had the motor replaced/moved? I feel that if it hasn't been done then it's a matter of when it breaks!

I'm seriously anal about my car as it is, parking on the far side of car parks, always parking on the end of bays if I have to, you name it!

The roof motor is a known problem in the Zed, it seems like a bit of a lottery as to whether your motor lasts or not. There are roof channels that allow any water that falls into the housing at the back of the roof, (where the motor is located) to flow out just in front of the rear wheels. Do a search on drain channels and you'll see that these are easy to check - the problem is they can get blocked and then the electric motor sits in a puddle of water and corrodes. Having this replaced at dealers can be over £1000 but there are many places and individuals now offering to replace them for £500-£600. Although it wouldn't make sense to hold out for a Zed where the motor has been replaced, if you do find a Zed you like and it has a new motor, then it's a bonus.

Sounds like you have the right parking attitude for Zed ownership :lol:

 

[propaintballa]

Regarding the roof, should I be looking for one that has had the motor replaced/moved? I feel that if it hasn't been done then it's a matter of when it breaks!

I'm seriously anal about my car as it is, parking on the far side of car parks, always parking on the end of bays if I have to, you name it!

The roof motor is a known problem in the Zed, it seems like a bit of a lottery as to whether your motor lasts or not. There are roof channels that allow any water that falls into the housing at the back of the roof, (where the motor is located) to flow out just in front of the rear wheels. Do a search on drain channels and you'll see that these are easy to check - the problem is they can get blocked and then the electric motor sits in a puddle of water and corrodes. Having this replaced at dealers can be over £1000 but there are many places and individuals now offering to replace them for £500-£600. Although it wouldn't make sense to hold out for a Zed where the motor has been replaced, if you do find a Zed you like and it has a new motor, then it's a bonus.

Sounds like you have the right parking attitude for Zed ownership :lol:

Ah, an expensive lottery, my favourite! Are there any tell tale signs you know of? Dodgy noises, speed etc?

Speaking of tell tale signs... VANOS... An issue to be concerned about?

 

[paulgs1000]

Ah, an expensive lottery, my favourite! Are there any tell tale signs you know of? Dodgy noises, speed etc?

Speaking of tell tale signs... VANOS... An issue to be concerned about?

Dodgy noises and speed are two of the symptoms - you could do with listening and operating a roof a few times as all the noises and sluggish responses will initially be a worry. :lol:

Pressing the button to open the roof needs constant pressure, release the pressure a little and the operation will stop and you'll think there's something wrong. Then there's a slight pause and the windows drop a little before a noise which opens the locks and the roof strains slightly and begins to pull back. Constant noise during this stage and the roof folds away with a slight rise in the tone of the noise which stops a little time after the roof is down. Keep your pressure on the button and after another pause, the windows will rise to the closed position.

Closing the roof you have to apply pressure on the button and keep it on. The side windows will drop a little and then there's an initial windup noise just before the roof starts to move and then the roof begins to lift until it slams into the top of the screen, then a slightly lighter noise as the locks operate. The noise stops but the operation doesn't stop there as, keeping your finger on the button, the windows will rise (unless one was open already), then the blinking red light goes out as the operation has finished.

You'll see the red light blinking if you haven't operated the button sufficiently long enough for the full operation to cycle through - if you don't know this you'll think there's a fault. Until you get used to it you'll think there's a problem. Just re-press the button 'till the light goes out.

After you've used it a few times you'll get to know how it sounds and works but I think most folk report either no movement with the roof, or slow movement to a partial closure or no movement at all when there's a problem - it's never happened to me (and I drop my roof all the time when I'm in the Zed).

Interestingly, a mate of mine has just bought one of those flexible snake camera things which can go down past the roof and see whether there's water there and see the state of the motor (the ones that fail look like they've been at the bottom of an ocean rusting up for years!)

My roof was replaced under warranty and the dealer sent me a photo of my roof motor (I was going to pay to have new one fitted but it was not needed as mine looked brand new) Here's the photo:



Don't know about Vanos - someone should be able to help you on the forum

 

[propaintballa]

Dodgy noises and speed are two of the symptoms - you could do with listening and operating a roof a few times as all the noises and sluggish responses will initially be a worry. :lol:

Pressing the button to open the roof needs constant pressure, release the pressure a little and the operation will stop and you'll think there's something wrong. Then there's a slight pause and the windows drop a little before a noise which opens the locks and the roof strains slightly and begins to pull back. Constant noise during this stage and the roof folds away with a slight rise in the tone of the noise which stops a little time after the roof is down. Keep your pressure on the button and after another pause, the windows will rise to the closed position.

Closing the roof you have to apply pressure on the button and keep it on. The side windows will drop a little and then there's an initial windup noise just before the roof starts to move and then the roof begins to lift until it slams into the top of the screen, then a slightly lighter noise as the locks operate. The noise stops but the operation doesn't stop there as, keeping your finger on the button, the windows will rise (unless one was open already), then the blinking red light goes out as the operation has finished.

You'll see the red light blinking if you haven't operated the button sufficiently long enough for the full operation to cycle through - if you don't know this you'll think there's a fault. Until you get used to it you'll think there's a problem. Just re-press the button 'till the light goes out.

After you've used it a few times you'll get to know how it sounds and works but I think most folk report either no movement with the roof, or slow movement to a partial closure or no movement at all when there's a problem - it's never happened to me (and I drop my roof all the time when I'm in the Zed).

Interestingly, a mate of mine has just bought one of those flexible snake camera things which can go down past the roof and see whether there's water there and see the state of the motor (the ones that fail look like they've been at the bottom of an ocean rusting up for years!)

My roof was replaced under warranty and the dealer sent me a photo of my roof motor (I was going to pay to have new one fitted but it was not needed as mine looked brand new) Here's the photo:

Don't know about Vanos - someone should be able to help you on the forum

I went to see one the other day and it pretty much made all the right noises that you have described! Not that I have any intention of buying that particular car, good to know that I can relate what I heard and what you have told me to any other cars I look at!

As you say, I had a go at holding the button and stopping and it behaved in the manner you have described, though I had to put the windows up myself, maybe I didn't wait long enough!

 

[propaintballa]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-Z4-2-5-2003MY-Roadster-/171918298888?hash=item2807210f08:g:YHIAAOSwu4BV6BeC

What are people's thoughts? I'm not a fan of the wheels but they can always be changed!

 

[Marlon]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-Z4-2-5-2003MY-Roadster-/171918298888?hash=item2807210f08:g:YHIAAOSwu4BV6BeC

What are people's thoughts? I'm not a fan of the wheels but they can always be changed!

Looks like the original run flat tyres and wheels - you are right to want to swap them. The adverts is lacking in interior pictures, I just wonder what condition the seat bolsters are in etc. Also looks like it doesn't have a full service history. Low miles though - probably worth a look if its local.

 

[mr wilks]

For a 5spd 2.5 it wouldn't be cheap enough if you were happy with the wheels & buying with the idea of changing them definitely means you should hold back for a better specced 3.0 (with 18s) for similar money
I appreciate the 75k may be a draw but sometimes better cars are out there with not much more miles on
Have you seen this one off a forum member ?

http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=41&t=82296

Yes 103k but cheap as a bag of chips on Blackpool front :wink:

 

[propaintballa]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-Z4-2-5-2003MY-Roadster-/171918298888?hash=item2807210f08:g:YHIAAOSwu4BV6BeC

What are people's thoughts? I'm not a fan of the wheels but they can always be changed!

Looks like the original run flat tyres and wheels - you are right to want to swap them. The adverts is lacking in interior pictures, I just wonder what condition the seat bolsters are in etc. Also looks like it doesn't have a full service history. Low miles though - probably worth a look if its local.

That's what I though regarding the interior pictures, upon posting I called to see if they could send me more but there was no answer It's about 30 miles away, but will definitely wait to see some more interior pictures before I go and have a look!

 

[propaintballa]

For a 5spd 2.5 it wouldn't be cheap enough if you were happy with the wheels & buying with the idea of changing them definitely means you should hold back for a better specced 3.0 (with 18s) for similar money
I appreciate the 75k may be a draw but sometimes better cars are out there with not much more miles on
Have you seen this one off a forum member ?

http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=41&t=82296

Yes 103k but cheap as a bag of chips on Blackpool front :wink:

I have indeed seen that and is hugely attractive, plus I kind of like the colour, albeit, not as much as I like Black, Grey or Blue. The only downside is the trek up to Manchester really as I'm in Devon/Dorset.

 

[firebobby]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-Z4-2-5-2003MY-Roadster-/171918298888?hash=item2807210f08:g:YHIAAOSwu4BV6BeC

What are people's thoughts? I'm not a fan of the wheels but they can always be changed!

Same colour as mine

 

[mr wilks]

I have indeed seen that and is hugely attractive, plus I kind of like the colour, albeit, not as much as I like Black, Grey or Blue. The only downside is the trek up to Manchester really as I'm in Devon/Dorset.

Its jolly on the train & enjoy the drive home ive been all over the country for various cars & always enjoy the pick up / drive home part
Don't miss a good car at a great price for the sake of a days travel