The Finnish shed. '06 Z4 Coupe
- Thread starter Micke
- Start date
Finland
Skirts are on, should have come with them from factory. Over the moon with how they look. Paint looks great. Sorry for the crappy pic in a dark garage, will take some when the weather is better.
It was fun to have a couple of mates talk crap and have a laugh while putting them on
It was fun to have a couple of mates talk crap and have a laugh while putting them on
North West Surrey
Micke said:
I couldn't agree with you more!
I've had two E46 Compacts and the Sport had totally different sill covers, bumpers and even front foglights to the SE, so BMW should have done the same with the E85/86s. Even Ms didn't get them. :?
Trackday went well, did some laps and had fun. Vantaa Circuit is a rather small track but it’s local and probably will not be the last time there.
Was there around 9 to set everything up and left around 18 after packing all the stuff and leaving the place as we got it in the morning.
Was there around 9 to set everything up and left around 18 after packing all the stuff and leaving the place as we got it in the morning.
Not much going on here. On Friday evening took it to a local car event and on Saturday to another one. Otherwise just driving around and enjoying.
Around 2 months of driving left before winter storage, I still have some things on the to do list:
- repair aircon
- replace engine mounts
- replace rear top mounts
Will have to order the parts soon, hopefully wrenching motivation will still be there
Around 2 months of driving left before winter storage, I still have some things on the to do list:
- repair aircon
- replace engine mounts
- replace rear top mounts
Will have to order the parts soon, hopefully wrenching motivation will still be there
After being away for few weeks it was time to get some minor stuff sorted out. Front bumper holder, the one that goes under the bonnet, was looking horrible. For some reason it was badly rusted, even a clean and a coat pf paint did not make it better.
For a while was looking for a new one, just to be told that it’s NLA. As second hand parts around here are rare, I got one from abroad and already installed it.
Another thing to sort out was the phone that the car came prepred for, a Nokia 6230i. As the cradle was there, I got a used phone, put a new battery and sim card in and now it’s working. Small detail but I like it.
And today in the morning it was in for the MOT as it was due. Window washers were not working so it failed on that. My fault for not checking the basics, just assumed that everything was ok. Quick trip to a BMW shop, got a pump they had in stock and back to the station to show that now it’s working. Got the paperwork and now it’s road legal for the next 12 months.
For a while was looking for a new one, just to be told that it’s NLA. As second hand parts around here are rare, I got one from abroad and already installed it.
Another thing to sort out was the phone that the car came prepred for, a Nokia 6230i. As the cradle was there, I got a used phone, put a new battery and sim card in and now it’s working. Small detail but I like it.
And today in the morning it was in for the MOT as it was due. Window washers were not working so it failed on that. My fault for not checking the basics, just assumed that everything was ok. Quick trip to a BMW shop, got a pump they had in stock and back to the station to show that now it’s working. Got the paperwork and now it’s road legal for the next 12 months.
Not many weeks left until the planned winter storage.
Last couple of weeks starting the car has been a lottery. Since I have bought it it has been a tad lazy. Last week for the first time the starter would not turn but finally managed to keep it going. I have now ordered a new Denso unit (same as installed from factory) and will replace that when ot arrives, hopefully without taking the inlet manifold out.
I also have a magnetic clutch and a bearing for the ac compressor, fingers crossed that will cure the issue of the compressor not engaging. And finally also waiting in the box are some rear top mounts together with new bump stops and dust covers waiting to be installed before storage.
Last couple of weeks starting the car has been a lottery. Since I have bought it it has been a tad lazy. Last week for the first time the starter would not turn but finally managed to keep it going. I have now ordered a new Denso unit (same as installed from factory) and will replace that when ot arrives, hopefully without taking the inlet manifold out.
I also have a magnetic clutch and a bearing for the ac compressor, fingers crossed that will cure the issue of the compressor not engaging. And finally also waiting in the box are some rear top mounts together with new bump stops and dust covers waiting to be installed before storage.
What better to do during a day off? Wake up early and work on the car To be honest, I have been putting off the wrenching due to lack of motivation. But I finally got a grip of myself and decided that todat was the day.
Few weeks ago I managed to buy a set of Delphi coils for a good price to replace the Bosch units that were on the car and with a stamp from 2009.
I was not getting any faults or similar so it was more of a preventative maintenance item. To my surprise, new coils eliminated some very slight stutteeing when cold. So that was a nice bonus!
The next task I was not looking forward was the starter motor. Since I have bought the Z4, it was a tad lazy to start (starter turning slowly few first turns). I first replaced a battery to see no improvement. The motivation came when one day the starter did not want to turn at all. Ordered a Denso unit (according to RealOEM Denso made the original starter).
After swapping the coils, it was time to tavkle the starter using @lucasxdiniz DIY instructions. Very helpful and made life easier. Even with the brake booster (LHD car) there was plenty of space to work on without taling the intake manifold out.
Work ongoing
Old Bosch and new Denso starter
Not in the picture are the new starter volts that I also replaced.
After putting it back together the change in starting is very noticeable. Now slow cranking, starts in a split second
For Sunday I have booked a garage with a lift to sort the rest of the things for this year, more about those later.
To be honest, I have been putting off the wrenching due to lack of motivation. But I finally got a grip of myself and decided that todat was the day.Few weeks ago I managed to buy a set of Delphi coils for a good price to replace the Bosch units that were on the car and with a stamp from 2009.
I was not getting any faults or similar so it was more of a preventative maintenance item. To my surprise, new coils eliminated some very slight stutteeing when cold. So that was a nice bonus!
The next task I was not looking forward was the starter motor. Since I have bought the Z4, it was a tad lazy to start (starter turning slowly few first turns). I first replaced a battery to see no improvement. The motivation came when one day the starter did not want to turn at all. Ordered a Denso unit (according to RealOEM Denso made the original starter).
After swapping the coils, it was time to tavkle the starter using @lucasxdiniz DIY instructions. Very helpful and made life easier. Even with the brake booster (LHD car) there was plenty of space to work on without taling the intake manifold out.
Work ongoing
Old Bosch and new Denso starter
Not in the picture are the new starter volts that I also replaced.
After putting it back together the change in starting is very noticeable. Now slow cranking, starts in a split second
For Sunday I have booked a garage with a lift to sort the rest of the things for this year, more about those later.
Last edited:
Gothenburg
As I mentioned in an earlier post, I had booked a garage with a lift for today to get the rest of things for this year done. Unfortunately the lift was not 100% so I only was able to replace the rear top mounts together with bump stops and dust covers and installed some strut top plates.
The current suspension (Bilstein B12) was installed ~3 years ago by the previous owner. Can’t really understand why the top mount and rest have been reused as they have seen some better days. They had a stamp from 2006 so still were the original ones installed in Spartanburg…
Other still original part was the expansion tank. No problems with it but they seem to start leaking sooner or later. I replaced it with a Mahle unit. As the coolant hoses were disconnect, I replaced the round gaskets from inside the hoses with some made from viton. A popular mod from the e46 guys.
As the boot was already partially disassembled, I took the rest of the part off to give them a clean. He previous owner had an oil related incident and it annoyed me a lot that many of the parts were oily.
also found some clips that someone forgot to install while installing the suspension…
The current suspension (Bilstein B12) was installed ~3 years ago by the previous owner. Can’t really understand why the top mount and rest have been reused as they have seen some better days. They had a stamp from 2006 so still were the original ones installed in Spartanburg…
Other still original part was the expansion tank. No problems with it but they seem to start leaking sooner or later. I replaced it with a Mahle unit. As the coolant hoses were disconnect, I replaced the round gaskets from inside the hoses with some made from viton. A popular mod from the e46 guys.
As the boot was already partially disassembled, I took the rest of the part off to give them a clean. He previous owner had an oil related incident and it annoyed me a lot that many of the parts were oily.
also found some clips that someone forgot to install while installing the suspension…
What brand for top mounts and bump stops did you go with?
I have bought the parts for replacing the rear shocks, but haven't got around doing the job yet. I planned going for Lemförder top mounts, but they were out of stock everywhere. I bought Febi top mounts and bump stops to use with B4 shocks (and existing M-sport springs).
Did all the plastic trim pieces in the boot come apart easy? I guess that is almost more than half of the actual job?
I have bought the parts for replacing the rear shocks, but haven't got around doing the job yet. I planned going for Lemförder top mounts, but they were out of stock everywhere. I bought Febi top mounts and bump stops to use with B4 shocks (and existing M-sport springs).
Did all the plastic trim pieces in the boot come apart easy? I guess that is almost more than half of the actual job?
Same here, looked for Lemförder top mounts but unavailable everywhere. Ended up buying Corteco mounts. As for the bump stops I bought a set of Bilstein bump stops. The old ones were quite used but I’ve seen worse.
The plastics came out nicely, just take your time and have some trim removal tools as they come in handy. Once the plastics are out, the actual job is easy and does not take much time.
The plastics came out nicely, just take your time and have some trim removal tools as they come in handy. Once the plastics are out, the actual job is easy and does not take much time.
Finally got all the required parts for the 2026 suspension refresh. The B12 that is on the car os few years old so it will stay as is. I have already replaced the rear top mounts, have to do the same on the front with a set of Lemförders I got. Also have the spring rubbers to replace as one is missing…
In the box are the earlier mentioned top mounts and all rear suspension bushes. I got Lemförder where it was available. As for the polybushes, those are for the rear subframe and the diff.
As I don’t have the space to do it, I will have to take it somewhere but that is something for 2026. Now the parts can marinate for several months before being installed. Winter storage is coming…
In the box are the earlier mentioned top mounts and all rear suspension bushes. I got Lemförder where it was available. As for the polybushes, those are for the rear subframe and the diff.
As I don’t have the space to do it, I will have to take it somewhere but that is something for 2026. Now the parts can marinate for several months before being installed. Winter storage is coming…
Hi Micke. Re your plan to put in polybushes to the subframe and diff, I have powerflex in mine and found a substantial increase in harshness and road / diff noise. The indy I used a few years ago couldn't get the correct oem ones at the time (existing ones shot and car in bits) so we went with the Powerflex. They would be fine on track but I find them a bit much for normal road use. I am now about to change them back again to the original rubber. I know some people on here find them fine but you might want to try one first if you can as it is a big job to change again if you don't like them. Polybush might be better than Powerflex but I've not tried them.
Thanks for your input @Spriteracer
I think non rubber bushings have always been a hot potato, some people praising them and other hating them. I’ve had a substantial amount of Powerflex bushes in my previous car but it was track oriented so I knew it would be harsh. The red one’s in picture are made by Strongflex are supposed to be of similar stiffness as the OEM bushes. They also do some harder variants (similar to Powerflex) but did not want to go with those as it’s mostly a toad car with few laps here and there during the summer.
If the bushes are too harsh that’s a good excuse to take the whole rear end off once more and install a diff while in there. I’d call that a sign
I think non rubber bushings have always been a hot potato, some people praising them and other hating them. I’ve had a substantial amount of Powerflex bushes in my previous car but it was track oriented so I knew it would be harsh. The red one’s in picture are made by Strongflex are supposed to be of similar stiffness as the OEM bushes. They also do some harder variants (similar to Powerflex) but did not want to go with those as it’s mostly a toad car with few laps here and there during the summer.
If the bushes are too harsh that’s a good excuse to take the whole rear end off once more and install a diff while in there. I’d call that a sign
My wife gets fed up with me parking miles away in car parks, usually with all the Porsche and other BMWs. Or refusing to park at all!