Two months into Z ownership..

[abzthemanc]

So bought my Z in August a 3.0 pre facelift (04 plate), two months of ownership in and have not driven it half as much as I would have liked but still been so so much fun, even with fairly budget tyres. I'll probably replace with PS4s when due.

I'm essentially using it as my daily now. The boot has been surprisingly resourceful!

Im currently averaging 18mpg around town and about 30mpg when taking on the motorway, maybe slightly higher... is this par for the course?

There have been no major issues to be honest so generally very happy however I have identified a few niggles here and there. If you have any advice or pointers to existing threads on similar issues then would be very grateful!

• Roof used to open from key, doesn't appear to now... not an issue at all, but now sometimes when I open the driver door, instead of the window just going down a few cm, it goes all the way down...and back up again following closing the door... livable but annoying and unnecessary wear on the window motor for my liking

• Airbag light is on - new sensor required or something else to try first? Do i need a code reader to clear the light?

• The hard covering for the back of the drivers seat.. has come loose and doesnt stay put... i wanna fix it back on to the seat.. any tips? Couple of dabs or glue be ok or is there a better solution?

• Got the small stubby aerial and radio reception is a bit ropey at times... (Or i could have forgotten how bad it was in a car that is > 15 years old...) is it worth changing the aerial?

• There's some small areas of rust I've identified, a couple of hints of it under a couple of wheel arches, and the boot pistons have a bit more, from the water draining through. Want to address these, any tips? For the piston is it just a case of sand/remove what rust I can and paint over?

• Loving life using a CD player again after so long! However, for improved SQ should I first replace the HU or replace speakers instead?

• Getting squeaky steering at parking speeds, is this anything to be wary of or needing lubc=ricant, is it normal for this age of car?

Its gonna be used throughout winter and will be parked outside in the Manchester rain, is it worth in one of those half covers, covering the roof only? It makes me sad seeing the roof wet! I envy the luxury but also cannot fathom tucking it away until next spring, although financially it may be a sensible idea!

Got my first service booked in at Darren Wood in Stockport, but next year may attempt doing it myself.

 

[bigwinn]

Hi mate

Glad to hear one of these great cars is getting used for what its designed for: being used!!!

A few thoughts from me

MPG may improve if you replace your VANOS seals- I have seen a noticeable improvement on all 4 cars I've done this on: maybe 2-3 mpg but still there.

I had a similar issue with the roof/windows which I fixed by stripping the window switch but that was fiddly- maybe try to reset your window trap- a search on here shows the procedure

Airbag light- get the code read to see the issue, clear it to see if it recurs take it from there

Seat back- probably worth getting the seat out as its a contortionist job otherwise (and make sure you read how to do that without triggering the airbag light!) once out you can properly screw the back in place- I did half measures and ultimately it took 2 decent screws to sort once and for all!

Aerial issue- check the connections first but if its a bit iffy chances are if you stick a whippy on it will improve- I noticed a difference. Plus with a whippy you'll look cool. Stubby infers you are a deviant.

Boot pistons- I replaced two sets from ebay recently for £15 posted- well worth it to get some power back into the boot opening!

Squeaky steering, I had similar recently on the black car- I popped off the gaitor from the steering rack and regreased with copper slip as it was bone dry- all sorted!

Get these niggles sorted and you'll be away!

Stuart

 

[Sidewaze Samm]

sometimes when I open the driver door, instead of the window just going down a few cm, it goes all the way down...and back up again following closing the door...
This can happen if the remote is pressed twice before opening the door (it's an option that can be coded on or off) Very handy if you need to get in/out of the car in a tight parking space.

Airbag light is on - new sensor required or something else to try first? Do i need a code reader to clear the light?...
Get the codes read first, but clearing the light can't be done by just any code reader - probably leave it to Darren Wood

The hard covering for the back of the drivers seat.. has come loose and doesnt stay put... i wanna fix it back on to the seat.. any tips?...
Use the search tool on the forum and you'll come across some threads on this (including one I contributed to)

Got the small stubby aerial and radio reception is a bit ropey at times...
What waveband - I may be wrong, but pretty sure the wing-mounted antenna is for AM, with the one for FM being behind the rear bumper.

Getting squeaky steering at parking speeds, is this anything to be wary of or needing lubc=ricant, is it normal for this age of car?...
Don't know, but need to find out as my son's zed does it too!


Oh, and don't forget some photos of your new ride! :camera:

 

[DMike]

• Roof used to open from key, doesn't appear to now... not an issue at all, but now sometimes when I open the driver door, instead of the window just going down a few cm, it goes all the way down...and back up again following closing the door... livable but annoying and unnecessary wear on the window motor for my liking

Welcome aboard and hope you get everyhing sorted.

A worn key fob battery could prevent opening the roof, or some other transmitters interfering - so far I’ve experienced this happening near a certain korean brand car at company’s parking lot, ages ago living near a building site where lorrys’ controls for hoists interfered, and once when my garage door opener went kaput.

The window thing is probably a separate phenomenon and normal: Pressing the open button twice will activate comfort access, which will lower the windows when opening the door and rise them when once the door is closed. Helps marginally at tight parking spots.

 

[Mr Tidy]

It sounds like you are really enjoying your Z4, which is exactly as it should be!

Fortunately I'm no longer working so my cars don't get driven around town or in rush hours if I can possibly avoid them. I had an E46 325ti with the same M54 engine as your car and over the 3+ years I had it I got an average of over 32mpg even with a heavy right foot sometimes!

Plenty of good advice already, but it might be worth checking the health of your battery. BMWs often suffer from electrical glitches when the battery is on its' last legs.

This thread might offer some help regarding the stereo:- https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=127881&p=1820904&hilit=stereo+upgrade#p1820904

 

[Redmex]

I'm so glad I don't live in the city getting 18 mpg, I'm a month in with the same 3.0 and getting 29.5 mpg and that's me enjoying the sound above 3000 rpm
I must get the suspension looked at as mine feels well used at the front end, seems to want to wander about especially the nearside where there is slight play in the ball joint
Great cars to have and drive, I do like my 2.0 four cyl but the 3.0 sound ,power and torque is so much better

 

[abzthemanc]

Cheers all for the responses so far.

Learn something new everyday, turns out I do have comfort access coded, makes a lot more sense now!

The ropey radio reception is mostly AM/MW but sometimes noticeable on FM too. Looks like a whippy it is! The connections I need to check, is that on the back of the audio unit?

Replacing piston arms seems the far better option as have noticed them getting stiff of late!

 

[Rockhopper]

Your MPG is dreadful and nowhere near where it should be. check the rubber intake boot for splits. Buy a C310+ code reader as well.

 

[abzthemanc]

Your MPG is dreadful and nowhere near where it should be. check the rubber intake boot for splits. Buy a C310+ code reader as well.

Well this is promising. The only way is up it seems. It's getting serviced next month so will get them to take a look while they are at it, if I don't get a chance before hand.

 

[Rockhopper]

My mpg went from 24 to 30 just by changing the intake boot. It’s only £30 and an easy diy job. Mines an auto as well and it’s doing 30 around town.

 

[thecremeegg]

Like others have said, MPG seems low! Mines averages around 31 with a lot of local driving

 

[abzthemanc]

Wow I'm seriously getting short changed there, it did feel a poor return tbh, so hopefully it's something I can get sorted. Would replacing DISA also improve MPG? Is this also a DIY job?

 

[abzthemanc]

Had it serviced, and all looked in order in engine bay no cracks in the intake boot, and nothing else showed up on diagnostics...

Fair bit of corrosion underneath (scottish car) but apart from that all ok.

 

[abzthemanc]

Hi mate

Glad to hear one of these great cars is getting used for what its designed for: being used!!!

A few thoughts from me

MPG may improve if you replace your VANOS seals- I have seen a noticeable improvement on all 4 cars I've done this on: maybe 2-3 mpg but still there.

I had a similar issue with the roof/windows which I fixed by stripping the window switch but that was fiddly- maybe try to reset your window trap- a search on here shows the procedure

Airbag light- get the code read to see the issue, clear it to see if it recurs take it from there

Seat back- probably worth getting the seat out as its a contortionist job otherwise (and make sure you read how to do that without triggering the airbag light!) once out you can properly screw the back in place- I did half measures and ultimately it took 2 decent screws to sort once and for all!

Aerial issue- check the connections first but if its a bit iffy chances are if you stick a whippy on it will improve- I noticed a difference. Plus with a whippy you'll look cool. Stubby infers you are a deviant.

Boot pistons- I replaced two sets from ebay recently for £15 posted- well worth it to get some power back into the boot opening!

Squeaky steering, I had similar recently on the black car- I popped off the gaitor from the steering rack and regreased with copper slip as it was bone dry- all sorted!

Get these niggles sorted and you'll be away!

Stuart

Do you have a link to the Boot pistons you bought please?

Cheers!

 

[bigwinn]

Hi mate

Glad to hear one of these great cars is getting used for what its designed for: being used!!!

A few thoughts from me

MPG may improve if you replace your VANOS seals- I have seen a noticeable improvement on all 4 cars I've done this on: maybe 2-3 mpg but still there.

I had a similar issue with the roof/windows which I fixed by stripping the window switch but that was fiddly- maybe try to reset your window trap- a search on here shows the procedure

Airbag light- get the code read to see the issue, clear it to see if it recurs take it from there

Seat back- probably worth getting the seat out as its a contortionist job otherwise (and make sure you read how to do that without triggering the airbag light!) once out you can properly screw the back in place- I did half measures and ultimately it took 2 decent screws to sort once and for all!

Aerial issue- check the connections first but if its a bit iffy chances are if you stick a whippy on it will improve- I noticed a difference. Plus with a whippy you'll look cool. Stubby infers you are a deviant.

Boot pistons- I replaced two sets from ebay recently for £15 posted- well worth it to get some power back into the boot opening!

Squeaky steering, I had similar recently on the black car- I popped off the gaitor from the steering rack and regreased with copper slip as it was bone dry- all sorted!

Get these niggles sorted and you'll be away!

Stuart

Do you have a link to the Boot pistons you bought please?

Cheers!

Take your pick!