Terminology Questions

[supra98]

Hey everyone. I have had my car for going on two months and I read the forums here with some regularity but I have a couple newbie questions.

Every thread seems to contain pre/post facelift questions. How can one determine if the car is a pre or post facelift?

People also mention E89, E## blah blah, what is a 2007 3.0SI roadster?

There are random mention of 108's in terms of rims. I googled them but they come up with more then one design. So what essentially are 108's?

And any other terms you guys are accustomed to using that may not be familiar to new owners would be appreciated

Love the forums though!!!

Thanks for the help.

Here is a pic to help:

 

[daveg]

Welcome!

Your car is post facelift - but with aerokit front bumper and sills. Can't see the back but if you have a valence then that is too. Facelift is from 2006 on.

108's are the style of wheels you have, staggered 18". E85 is your generation of Z4, the new one is E89:

http://www.bmw.co.uk/bmwuk/index/?seriesID=Z4&bodyID=E89_RO

Sure some more people will be along with further info.

 

[PawnSacrifice]

E89 = 2009 onwards folding hardtop
E85 = roadster
E86 = coupe

Your wheels are 108s, split rim alloys.

Easy way to tell a facelift car (2006 onwards), it has clear indicators in the headlights (like yours). Pre-facelift have orange lenses for the indicators. Also, the brake lights are round on the pre-facelift cars.
EDIT: It is not the case with your car, but there was a short period of time in 2005 where pre-facelift cars were fitted with clear indicator lenses in the headlights. Doesn't affect the answer to your question, but there for completeness.

Other main one to know are the engines - M54 is pre-facelift / N52 is post facelift.

Your car also has the aero body kit - aero front bumper, side skirts and carbon rear diffuser - looks really good and quite rare to see the entire kit on a facelift car. Other bits you may not know - your seats are M Sport seats (very desirable) and you'll have the M Sport steering wheel as well - thicker than the standard wheel. Also, if you hear people talking about suspension, yours is the MSport setup, which is a 15mm drop from the standard setup.

Seriously though, if you're not sure just ask

EDIT: 10 minutes late! What Daveg said - less faffing about when posting obviously required on my part.

 

[WLH]

Here you will find the various BMW wheel types...

http://felgenkatalog.auto-treff.com/?felge=1070

Here is a picture of a facelift Z4 on the left from the front. Notice the difference in the fog lights.
The picture on the right is the back end view of an ///M roadster and all the facelift models had those different shaped tail lights.
The ///M roadster only had the clear center brake light. All other models are red.

 

[supra98]

E89 = 2009 onwards folding hardtop
E85 = roadster
E86 = coupe

Your wheels are 108s, split rim alloys.

Easy way to tell a facelift car (2006 onwards), it has clear indicators in the headlights (like yours). Pre-facelift have orange lenses for the indicators. Also, the brake lights are round on the pre-facelift cars.

Other main one to know are the engines - M54 is pre-facelift / N52 is post facelift.

Your car also has the aero body kit - aero front bumper, side skirts and carbon rear diffuser - looks really good and quite rare to see the entire kit on a facelift car. Other bits you may not know - your seats are M Sport seats (very desirable) and you'll have the M Sport steering wheel as well - thicker than the standard wheel. Also, if you hear people talking about suspension, yours is the MSport setup, which is a 15mm drop from the standard setup.

Seriously though, if you're not sure just ask

EDIT: 10 minutes late! What Daveg said - less faffing about when posting obviously required on my part.

Great info.
Now you mention the suspension being the MSport. Does this mean that I dont have the springs that everyone talks about breaking so frequently (and even has its own dedicated thread)?

 

[PawnSacrifice]

Now you mention the suspension being the MSport. Does this mean that I dont have the springs that everyone talks about breaking so frequently (and even has its own dedicated thread)?

Sorry, it's something that BMW don't seem to get right (or whoever makes them for BMW), it affects all Z4s. Others beside the Z4 too - first heard of this from friends with early E46 M3s whose springs snapped.

Being a facelift car you have the more robust roof motor, so shouldn't have any issues there

If you haven't already check out Andy's Official Forum FAQ - a sticky in General Z4 discussion. A good read.

Was only by chance that I noticed, but happy birthday :bday:

 

[pvr]

You mean "insulated motor", don't think it is more robust ...

First facelift with aerokit I have ever seen.

 

[PawnSacrifice]

You mean "insulated motor", don't think it is more robust ...

:lol: I thought I wouldn't mention how the motor was less likely to fail in case I got it even slightly wrong and would instead simply state that the unit was more robust. I think the OP got the point. But, I realise you have pedanticalness issues, so I will satisfy myself that that was the only thing that stood out.

Just for that... my next post if your fault