Why can't i find a good Z4 tuning firm on the web? (UK)

S

sherlock

Member
 Salisbury
I have just trawled through the web for 2 hours, (yes I know its sad on a Friday night), but I want to talk to a well regarded Z4 tuning specialist in the Uk, ideally in the south. I want to personalise my new Z4 3.0 Si with;


  • induction kit but cant find one other than for the 2.0 & 2.5 litre models
    exhaust system
    lowered springs
    possible remap

can anyone recommend one please as I can't find one?

Regards
 
Have you spent 2 hours on specialist sites of another kind :?

Google - UK search: BMW + tuning = lots of hits!

Some tuners don't make parts for the N52 engine... although the exhaust should be fine at least. Hung jury on induction kits.

I'm going to be getting some work done by A-L Tuning... hopefully have positive feedback in a couple of weeks. Depends where you are "in the south", they're in Berkshire and Hampshire.

Otherwise you may want to grab a copy of Performance BMW, a few articles and loads of ads!
 
Theres loads to be honest, for mapping try CA Automotive, A-L Tuning and DMS International to name but 3. CA Automotive are in Paulsgrove nr Portsmouth and will also take care of the rest of your requirements, MStyle in Romford is another 'one stop shop' there are a few others who specialise in BMW's and if they can map a 3 series and have a set of rollers then they should be able to do a Z4, most don't advertise the fact though, not much call for it I guess.
Induction kits include GruppeM and K&N, there's mixed opinions on the benefits of these, when I had my car remapped I was told just to make sure there was a clean filter element and not to bother with an induction kit or even with an oil coated K&N. I've used them in the past on various 3 series (Alpina's and M cars) and had good figures, those were DaveF kits and he doesn't do a Z4 version.
Exhaust systems include Eisenmann, Remus, ACS etc etc and you can't really go wrong with Eibach Pro-springs and Koni shocks on the suspension front, unless you want to get serious and get coilovers.
 
i dont think having an si you are going to notice any benefit from altering an already good car except from the exhaust
 
I have been to MStyle for my old E46. As Davespeed3 said i'd imagine any place which can tune an E46 3 series should be able to sort out a Z4 - they are practicaly the same cars, in different shells.

I have also been looking at getting som Eibach springs fitted - however i'll need to ditch the run flats first - as its harsh enough as it is.
 
Loving the irony of the OP's username and not being able to find anything online :D

Only jesting Holmes! :wink: As the above really. Any place can sort you out with lowering springs and they're relatively easy for anyone to fit. Eibach are probably the best option for the Z4 (but I'm biased as that's what I have).
 
What's the saying? "no s**t Sherlock"!!! Great comments guys. My key problem was finding someone who worked on E85 engines. I am not even sure other than 3.0 si what model my engine is as many of the sites refer to 3.0 pre 2003 cars. You need to give me time to learn about these Z cars (it makes me smile as the z cars music is the anthem at my footy teams ground, Everton), as I have only had one for 3 days.

I also need to be realistic that coming from the v8 M3 I don't try to hard to build an m3 frm my Z4 :-)

ok, so what I am hearing is induction kit - forget, exhuast - yes and suspension yes. I was on eBay last night and bought the most important mod I am likely to do , I bought a bumble sting stubby aerial :-)

I live near Southampton so the company in Portsmouth might be getting a call on Monday.

Ta
ps. I hate run flat Tyres as they are too hard also so if I change the Tyres should I get new suspension plus lower springs?
 
I've made the move from runflats to normal tyres and fitted Eibach Pro springs (-15mm from the sport suspension height, 30mm from regular Z4 height) at the same time so I didn't really have an opportunity to test the ride on Eibachs/runflats combo. I would say to search for Eibach as there's a lot of info on here about them, but basically the majority love them. I think they're better than standard: more initial ride comfort (although that could be the tyres) but less roll in corners. Only issue is running out of suspension travel on very bumpy B-roads when travelling "quickly".

I've changed some of the suspension bushes for poly ones too and that's made a nice difference to the directness of the steering more than anything: it just settles into a corner marginally better IMO (although again that could be due to the alignment setup I had done at the same time...).
 
Ta. I know what you mean about bumpy roads as the ride on the z4 is even harder than my M3 and that has 19" rims on. With all these damn pot holes on the road at the moment I might even wait a few months. Saying that z4s with 30mm lowered struts look so much better
 
''I live near Southampton so the company in Portsmouth might be getting a call on Monday.''

I Live over on the edge of the New Forest, we've used Bartley BMW for years, for servicing, repairs & MOT's etc. Dermot the owner is a good lad and knows his stuff. DMS International is about a mile away, they're good for mapping but expensive ( £600+ for a bespoke map = 250bhp ) CA Automotive are well known and have a good reputation, they'll be able to sort you out with all you listed.
If you see a silver Z4 with a hardtop ( for the next few weeks ) or an estoril blue clubsport, you could wave, I won't wave back as I need the one arm I still have to keep the car on the road :roll:
 
The N52 engines all facelift in the Z4 2.5/2.5si/3.0si are all valvetronic engines and there is no throttle body as the is on the M52 engines, this is one reason why the tuning options are limited (from what I have read).

Yes a lot of the mechanicals are the same as the E46, but not the N52 engines, you best option for more power is a ///M
 
Hi Davespeed. Will do, I am in a 56 midnight blue cabrio. Will look out for you. I am in whiteparish north or Romsey.
 
I wouldn't make any mods as you have suggested, except maybe the exhaust.

Lowering isn't ideal because of the cars geometry kinematics, generally makes it more understeery.

Induction kit will probably cost power, and since it's valvetronic it won't really give that induction noise you are after vs the noise generator anyway (noise generator mod is better than any induction kit silliness for noise imo)

Exhaust might be worth it, but the 3.0Si sounds damn good standard imo, bit more sporty/rorty than the 3.0i.

Remap, can't really get much more and you want a good tuner who REALLY knows the engine to do it right. Considering DINAN nor ESS remap these it suggests there isn't much to find.


I'd get non-rft as suggested, and just make sure everything on there is up to good OEM new quality first.

Modding a NEW car to you before you even know what it should be like standard, and not even knowing it well at first, seems a bit nuts :D

Dave
 
sherlock, I've been looking at this a fair bit recently... here's a few thoughts...

Firstly, as Dave said, I'd get to know the car a little better first... certainly lose the run flats and see how it feels then. The suspension is pretty good but to my mind it loses an edge with the softer (better!) tyres. You may want to consider H&R anti-roll bars. Eibachs are a good way to go with suspension as they are designed to work with the standard shocks, whereas others need matching to aftermarket shock absorbers. Other thing, well for me, would be to get the alignment done by a specialist, opinion seems to be to find someone with a Hunter (brand) alignment machine - www.alignmycar.co.uk to find a centre.

You need to be really careful with the induction kit, I've spoken to a couple of specialists, and they can lose power. But, it seems that for a remap to work you need a decent induction kit and possibly exhaust system. Adding those parts on their own the ECU (with oxygen meter etc) will adjust the fuelling to zero out the changes. Conversely a remap on its own is likely to achieve little.

Who are the chaps in Portsmouth? I'm having some work done by A-L Tuning, Mike's been really good so far, although they haven't done anything yet. It is the sister company to CA Automotive. And from the CA web site also have some connection to MStyle. And as far as I can tell A-L / CA are the UK distributors for Eisenmann.

Your plans sound interesting, please keep us posted and try and collect some data along the way :thumbsup:
 
Thanks guys it's really good to get the feedback (good forum).

The company in Portsmouth is C A Automotive so linked into AL as you though, I assume.

I am thinking that the steering and exhaust are my priorities. I feel that the mixture of run flats(which I had on my 535d Motorsport were the same in that there is good response from the input of the wheel, to much maybe, but at the cost of very little feel which I think a mixture of Tyres and new dampers may help. Secondly the exhaust. I think the current on is ok but I have had loads of convertibles before and think the whole experience much better when top down to hear a more throaty bubbly exhaust note. To be honest the sound of an open top car is equally important to performance, especially if the underlying performance is ok which with my 3.0 Si. Is ok.

Anyway a call to the guys in Portsmouth will help my thinking also.

Cheers
 
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