Thinking of leaving z4 ownership after only 6 months

[Kiowan]

I used to have an Impreza, handled nicely, was comfortable but ultimately not that inspiring. It was from the Subaru that I turned to BMWs, a 3 series then a 5 and now the Z4 (with several other cars in between including a 5.7 litre Trans Am). The Z4 is the least practical car I have owned (excluding the Pontiac...) but it's the one i've kept the longest and would say i'm happiest with, it's been 2 years now and i'm looking to sell it but only because I can't afford the fuel costs with my commuting despite 28.8mpg average from a 3litre manual. I find it the most comfortable BMW yet, something i've suffered with my previous two was the drivers seat seems offset from the pedals so you are twisted, Z4 doesn't suffer this, is enough room for the seat to lean as far back as I want but the rear bulkhead may be an issue for the rude bois who want to be laying down while driving (thought they usually can't afford a Z4 so drive hatchbacks). I've removed the big foam bit from the sound generator and love the noise yet you only get it when on the throttle so isn't an issue on a motorway. As for luggage, I personally think for a 2 seater soft top the boot is massive. It kinda sounds like from what you've said that a 2 seat soft top or coupe is just not in any way suited to the things you need from a car.

E46 330D coupe for me next, gonna miss the Z4 though.

I should also point out that the Z4 is the BMW with the worst build quality i've encountered, things have broken and fallen off including, rear springs, washer covers, glovebox handles, rear brake light. Can tell it was built in America, thankfully dealer prices on replacements haven't been extortionate but I think given the incidence rates on all these faults it's the least impressive BMW so far in terms of build quality, when it's all in one piece though it's a very good car.

 

[Georgio]

I was a bit 'anxious' about driving the zed in the ice and snow, especially after being spoilt by my Celica that actually did better in the slippery stuff than my X5, but I'm pleasantly surprised,especially after today's commute to work and back.
So nearly a year in and no plans to dead the zed as it were... :roll:

 

[bigdog]

There really aren't that many sub $100k cars out there that would have brakes straight off the showroom floor capable of doing any serious track work. The Zed just like MOST cars were not designed for the track. It's a street car that "can" be modified for track day use. As per the gross tonnage of stuff you can't carry around. Shame on you for not looking in the rear before you bought it. And buy some bloody snow tires. I drive mine up a 10-15 degree drive with a stop at the top of the steep drive. I have been stuck zero times. But then I have winter tires on.

For Kiowan, I take exception at your made in America comment. The Zed was built in America according to plans, processes and robotic machines APPROVED by BMW Germany. If BMW told a yank factory worker to put three screws in the dash instead of six. How is that the fault of the guy that put in the screws. If it was built in a shoddy manner. You can point your boney finger in the direction of Munich HQ engineering department.

 

[Anonymous]

Wow, I'm very impressed by the responses that I've had to this post. When I typed it I was in a funny mood and venting off with the luxury of no one cutting in and stopping the flow. Having re read the post it does come off as over critical and i agree with most of the responses. As I said though very impressed by the standard of response. No abuse just plain simple advice and opinion about the issues that i raised.

Not running run flats. Changed them in my first week of ownership.
My two sided view on the noise was not clear so :- Love the engine sound, hate the tyre / road noise
My objection to the boot was not lack of space but the fact that when i put a bag in it my sat nav and radio controls stop working.
I accept that a road cars brakes are not designed for track abuse but i expected better with the high temp fluid and racing pads. I did the same with my e36 M3 and it took the abuse from 2 drivers all day long (open pit) then drove home so i was expecting the same.
I also accept that a road car should be set up to under steer but again i was hoping for more especially with a ride that bad it should at least corner well. (that sounds unfairly harsh again. the car does handle very well on the road)
Yes I should have bought the Z4M and not the si but i wanted the auto and lower running costs.

I cant remember the other points brought up off the top of my head so I might address them in another post.

I still love my Z4 but out of all the BMW's that i've owned, 8 in total (2x e30,3x e36,1x e46,1x e34,1x e32) i think its the worst built. The quality just doesn't seem to be there some how. I can't put my finger on it. The materials are good, the engineering is good but that tactile sense of quality doesn't seem to be there. I put this down to weight saving when i bought the car because of its sporty style.

The more I think about it and right about it the worse my opinion seems to be and yet I STILL LOVE MY Z4!

I would love the V8 M3. As a car it ticks all the boxes but its not pretty like the Z.
I will keep it for the summer and take it around Europe but come autumn it will be time to change I think.

PS Must still love it as I just spent £60 on black kidney grills for it! HA HA...

 

[ESP]

I had a scooby WRX, loved it for the same reasons (+ I love turbo cars!) at first.
I got SOOOO feed up of the SHITE interior and everyone thinking i was a Massive drug dealer Chav, i Sold it.
(The bloke that bought it off me WAS a Massive drug dealer Chav)

Oh and the seats in a Scooby will Annoy the hell out of you with in a month
DONT DO IT!! :telloff:

 

[shawna]

Awd cars are great for hill climbs.

You could always start a new hobby/sport.

And they can be picked up cheaply too.

You obviously then won't turn up at the party with a muddy car.

You will then realize you need a proper car.

 

[aquazi]

{"]Sell it and buy an M3 <runs for cover>

I owned both for a while (Z4MC and E46 m3) It won't address all your issues but does cover the following:

* Amount of space to carry stuff
* has LSD
* Loads of room to put the seat back
* You can get 5 people in it
* The seats are softer
* better brakes

In addition it'll be faster than your Z4. The main difference between the Z4MC and the M3 was the M3 felt a lot more 'cosy' inside, the Z4 felt a lot more sporty, ride was a lot more firm etc.

This actually makes a lot of sense to me.

If i needed a better ride and 5 seats but with some bmw pedigree thats what i would probably do.

Still wouldnt be as good in the snow as a scoobie, but then the extra comfort and power more then makes up for it.

 

[bigdog]

It's loud, harsh and can't cary much stuff.
So you in fact did complain about the boot size.

You're tone in your OP was a rather harsh "i hate this car" tone. At least. That's how I perceived it. So of course you might get a bit of blowback. I myself have had very few issues. Save the click in the rear that was fixed by a bit of lube to the diff. input shaft.

I guess I'm able to look at the Zed in a pragmatic way. At least mostly. I look at where it was intended to fit within the market. Then try hard to not think of it as something that it's not. But. That's easier said than done. For me. The biggest issue with MY Zed has always been the fact that I have to work the car hard to just keep up with a Golf GTI. But I have to stop and think that the Golf GTI is the top of the heap for the VW badge. My 3.0si isn't the top for BMW. The Zed M would clearly out do the GTI.

I have a bigger issue with Kiowan's US built post than yours. Do I think the reliability/ build quality problems within the British or American auto industry are a result of the workers? Hell no. They were and are a result of the top brass ordering the engineers to cut corners, Use a few less bolts here and there. I would call it. Just enough engineering by the bean counters. So in this case. Crap rolls directly up hill to the top management's offices.

 

[domsz4]

surely the z4 will out do a golf gti?

 

[ZermattV]

I had a mk 5 golf Gti and a z4 3.0- driven in different environments - I would say the zed was quicker off the mark than the golf but the brakes on the golf were much sharper. The zed was more fun but in terms of covering big distance on mixed roads motorways and mountain roads the Golf was much better it was boringly good .drove from the south west of France to Faro in Portugal in a day in the golf and it was such a simple car to drive - I understand what big dog means.

 

[bigdog]

Not to change the subject. But concerning the Golf GTI vs. Zed 3.0si. They are close enough that should a Zed driver be just a slight bit slower to react. Then it becomes a challenge to make that up. I guess what I mean to say. Is that when you look at the Zed. Any Zed. And look at a Golf GTI. One would assume that the Zed would be substantially faster. Both cars are closer in performance than looks would dictate. And yet they are far apart in cost to buy and insure, maintain, And practicality. Yet I would have a Zed over a Golf GTI. The Golf is a vanilla car. The Zed is the banana split.

 

[domsz4]

i guesd when you think about it alot of the hot hatches are 200bhp+ and a similar weight so performance is bound to be similar.

i guess its down to what you want to be in. for me i like the roadster appeal sitting at the back with a long bonnet low in the car rather than the more sit up type of position i expect you get in a hot hatch. it comes from owning the westy. also have no kids.

concerning the OPs comment on a lack of space, no you cant get a whashing machine in it but the boot on this car is massive. i would say easilly the size of a fiesta boot. my mate with a toyota MR2 always comments on the size saying its huge compared to his.

 

[z4tastic]

Yup, +1 on the hot hatch comments, you can get a 200 BHP Renault Clio, it can probably (at least) keep up with E85 as well. Mind you, would you want to own one? You hear of and see the odd you tube video of hot hatches running all over more prestige make / models, but again would you want to own one? (It is a banana split indeed)

Me, I have been right through the cycle (a few times), [1] Buy a sports car. [2] Love it. [3] Decide it's not practical. [4] Sell it for some sort of hot-hatch / coupe hybrid. [5] Realise it's just not the same (no matter how good it is). [6] Repeat the cycle.

There is only one solution and that it to have more than one car. I have (for me anyway) the perfect setup: Z4 and VW Golf GTDi MK5. Unless you are going to go the M3 / M5 route having two cars is a very good and affordable option. I think many on here have that. Solves the fuel costs, 5 seats, practicality argument in one go.

The second car doesn't have to be expensive, plenty of reliable sheds kicking around at reasonable prices.

 

[Kiowan]

I have a bigger issue with Kiowan's US built post than yours.

I think you've missed the fact that my remark about being able to tell it was built in the US was tongue in cheek. American cars tend to have a very sturdy but mechanical build quality IMO but shoddy trim materials, fixings and electronics, the Z4 is very similar (except for some poor mechanicals too) hence the comment. Of course it is built to the German design and the Americans have no influence over what materials or methods are used. Main point was, it's not built very well for a BMW.

 

[goon]

I have a bigger issue with Kiowan's US built post than yours.

I think you've missed the fact that my remark about being able to tell it was built in the US was tongue in cheek. American cars tend to have a very sturdy but mechanical build quality IMO but shoddy trim materials, fixings and electronics, the Z4 is very similar (except for some poor mechanicals too) hence the comment. Of course it is built to the German design and the Americans have no influence over what materials or methods are used. Main point was, it's not built very well for a BMW.

Quite true interior trim quality especially the plastic panels etc are of a poor renault like material.

 

[corsaire77]

Sorry about the traction.

Somehow, out there in snowy Warsaw, I manage with my bald summer tyres. I pack a snow shovel in the boot, switch off the driver's aids (no power cut-off), and just make do. The only thing to avoid is deep snow, but it is rare anyway.

Could not agree more on the understeer, though.

As for the audio issue, it must be a trifle, a wire pressed by the floor lining. A negligible DIY, I'd say.