The 'mod' question?

[Bing]

I agree it is possible to go totally overboard. I'd like some aero skirts (if there are any left when I have the cash ) and some M wheels. The only other things I would do externally are have the front bumper re-sprayed, and swap bootlids with srhutch :wink:

You want my aero skirts as well then :wink:

I might never fit them, but had to get them before they became obsolete.

Now THAT's just wasteful - why are they not fitted ??? That said, if they are ever for sale and I haven't bought any...

 

[a11y]

the mods I do are under the banner of 'OEM+'. In other words would or should BMW have built the car this way. Would a non expert know any aspect was not factory. If it fails those tests then I won't do it.

Agree 100% on this - that sums up sensible modding for me. I like to make my car my own to distinguish it from others, but I don't like it looking too far from original. Modifications should give the appearance that that's how the car came from the factory.

e.g.

Yes: Clear-indicator headlamps on a pre-facelift (OK because they're a feature on facelift cars hence don't look out of place)

No: Barry-boy 22" chromed spinner rims :thumbsdown:

 

[gov]

After 25 years of running classics like Alfas, MGs and Stags etc as my toys I swapped in to the Z4, mostly because I wanted something that could be relied on to get home whilst providing the special feeling of a pretige sports car. With classics originality is paramount and much prized so I'm always concerned when I see people spending a fortune modd'ing their Z4, particularly the cosmetics, why I ask? the Z4 is great looking car anyway.

My Z4 just a god intended complete with retro turbines (becoming rare) and tank aerial

I do genuinely appreciate the art in a nicely modd'ed car but I'm generally anti-mods unless there is a practical point to it or the whole ensemble is very well executed. It's just my humble opinion (and I know it may upset some) but cosmetic mods can look OK on newer cars but get 'naffer' as the car gets older, sort of a bit try-hard and potentially chavvy even? A really clean, well prepp'ed and original example of any older prestige car always looks good, as soon as I see facelift or after-market mods on any car it's an immediate turn-off.

So no I wouldn't bother modd'ing personally, it puts me off buying as the first thing I'd do is change things back, I CBA to quibbling about mods with insurance companies and with the Z4 rapidly approaching the 10 year modern classic marker I think modd'ing an early original is a mistake. In a couple of years people will start looking for pre-facelift bumpers and lights to swap back to standard so don't get rid of them yet

Or am I way off on all this?

Agree with you totally - I love originality but everyone to their own !

I will say that a red M roadster does stand out from a normal Zed and doen't need any tarting up to look awesome.

My 3.0 zed looks almost identical to yours apart from a different shade of silver.

 

[Ewazix]

Nice example Gov mines Sterling Grey, but looking at my lenses compared to yours mine need a buff to clear them... see there's always something to do without modd'ing

 

[RichardG]

I'm with most of the others and agree to a certain point. As I've stated many times before I'd never modified a car in any way since the mid 80's when I learnt to drive and even then it was only putting a radio Cassette in.
This forum has a lot ot answer for as I have done things I never knew I needed or wanted and the Zed is currently under going even more changes as we speak, however I have had my Zed for 8 years now and did nothing for the first 5 years. I think it's fair to say I get more pleasure out of it now than I did when I drove it off the forecourt new and the mods, this forum and the great friends I have met through it are the main reason for this.

PS actually undid one mod the other day and removed the stubby, strangely my radio now picks up radio stations again.

 

[Anonymous]

Modding..
My car, will do what I want to it, care little for other peoples thoughts on my car and don't give a crap about resale value, If I did give a crap I wouldn't drive it coz the extra miles I put on it devalue it, using the door handle de values it, sitting in the leather devalues it, Mods like eibachs and poly bushes improves the ride and handling, should I sacrifice that for the sake of caring what the next owner thinks. I appreciate that there are those who tut and shake their head because it is not OEM but then if I kept it OEM I would be buying new BMW snap happy springs every year at vastly overinflated prices.

 

[Adamski]

Horses for courses. All down to opinion I reckon.

I like the OEM style look, so if it passes the OEM look test, I usually like.

Have to admit, there's nothing better looking than a low slung car with agressive stance. Mine will be lowered at some point

 

[Anonymous]

Modding..
My car, will do what I want to it, care little for other peoples thoughts on my car and don't give a crap about resale value, If I did give a crap I wouldn't drive it coz the extra miles I put on it devalue it, using the door handle de values it, sitting in the leather devalues it, Mods like eibachs and poly bushes improves the ride and handling, should I sacrifice that for the sake of caring what the next owner thinks. I appreciate that there are those who tut and shake their head because it is not OEM but then if I kept it OEM I would be buying new BMW snap happy springs every year at vastly overinflated prices.

Finally someone with a different view. some of you lot won't even change the washer bottle fluid to another make

 

[TINO]

Great mine is the same as it was made no need to add

 

[Dreamer]

I think the biggest change we're seeing now is almost 'modding from the dealer' or 'the Mini effect'
The dark wheels and tints have just become an acceptable part of car aesthetics now due to this, even viper stripes to an extent

Most of the modded cars i see on here are like mine, E85's with facelift OEM parts installed to freshen them up to near 2009 looks.
I dont think thats particularly offensive and is a cheap way of keeping your car new to your eyes. I like to think my car looks more like a 'special edition' rather than modded.

 

[ZermattV]

The Theme with mine was to add to the Aero kit and M seats already installed the look of a 3.0 Z4 Msport , not a Z4M copy but something similar to the current MSport/ S line treatments.

Hence the MFSW, ZHP and 107s and clear OEM fronts.

As the car is maldives the black lens suits them better than the chrome.

 

[Gremlin500]

An interesting post.
I can see both sides of the argument, but isn't the z4 just a mass-market car and around in such huge numbers it'll be decades before it becomes a classic? I see nothing wrong with a few tasteful mods, isn't that what the OEM's do anyway?

I prefer to enjoy my car the way I want it now, not to preserve it for some collector in 30 years' time, but each to his own, I guess.

 

[Gremlin500]

An interesting post.
I can see both sides of the argument, but isn't the z4 just a mass-market car and around in such huge numbers it'll be decades before it becomes a classic? I see nothing wrong with a few tasteful mods, isn't that what the OEM's do anyway?

I prefer to enjoy my car the way I want it now, not to preserve it for some collector in 30 years' time, but each to his own, I guess.

 

[a11y]

An interesting post.
I can see both sides of the argument, but isn't the z4 just a mass-market car and around in such huge numbers it'll be decades before it becomes a classic? I see nothing wrong with a few tasteful mods, isn't that what the OEM's do anyway?

I prefer to enjoy my car the way I want it now, not to preserve it for some collector in 30 years' time, but each to his own, I guess.

Yes it's a mass-produced car and it's going to be a while before it ever becomes considered a classic, but that doesn't mean an original version won't be desirable in a few years time. Use something like E46 M3's or Honda Civic Type R's or Citroen Saxo VTs's as an example: original versions are significantly sought after compared to modified versions. I think that's the way the Z4 will go in the short-term, but could be wrong...

 

[Anonymous]

I know which I'd prefer,



And it started life as a 2004 2.2.
but he's put that badge on it, how very dare he.....
the 'M' badge police will be along soon, hang on, I hear their siren now - 'tut tut, tut tut, tut tut'


You can keep your old school 'gingercators'.

 

[Ewazix]

I know which I'd prefer,




You can keep your old school 'gingercators'.

Hate it :wink:

 

[Lightning87]

i'm already in to the modding. and i just have the car little over 2 years now, on the moment i'm doing oem mods. but hopefully i'm changing my front to a hamann one, maybe something else but hamann has a 75 % of becoming my new front bumper.

i'm also trying to get hold of a couple of M seats for not to much money, a mf or M steering wheel.

believe the first year your mind says no you don't need to mod it, but after some time.....


you'll get hooked up.

 

[Mowflow]

I bought a slightly older car with a few bits I wasn't keen on simply because I wanted to modify it OEM+ style. I did this because the car is a bit of a hobby for me, I enjoy doing the work. I counted a "modding fund" into my purchase price and chose this one because the other car I looked at was near perfect and therefor I probably would have been bored with it after 3 months (happened with my last 2 cars).

 

[Beedub]

Cheers guys I'm glad the post was received as it was intended, I'm not knocking modd'ed cars and love the work people like beedub and tomscott have done with theirs, maybe it's a plea for subtlety and a pause before 'uprating' to later styling parts just for the sake of it 8)

Beedub's ESS supercharged and performance modified beastie

this picure just confirms whats everyones saying.. these cars NEED the aero side skirts, cant believe how much difference they make....



Re the ops Question, im my case did i go to far???? yes. do i regret it??? no... i look forward to giving it to my son one day.... i never intended to go as far as i did.... now its seems pointless to stop.... i cant however look at the reciept book though....... lol.

 

[Beedub]

I know which I'd prefer,



And it started life as a 2004 2.2.
but he's put that badge on it, how very dare he.....
the 'M' badge police will be along soon, hang on, I hear their siren now - 'tut tut, tut tut, tut tut'


You can keep your old school 'gingercators'.

gorgeous.... i actually think the ///M badge wasnt needed, not because its not an //M but more because it think in looks terms its one of the nicest z4's ever, not to keen on the drop though, suspension needs to travel to work properly, i prefur function over form, but this example is beautiful imo...