Z4 and ferry crossings

[gov]

I've only ever had a problem once getting onto a ferry and that was the Isle of Wight ferry a few years ago my car is very low , and there was no way I was getting onto the upper deck!!! just asked to be put on the lower deck with all of the coaches much better loads of room no parking right up against another car millimetres from yours I've done this a couple of times now and it's so much better than on the car deck

Sounds like you used Red Funnel from Southampton to East Cowes - they routinely put low vehicles on the lower deck - I remember when I brought my zed over after I bought it I didn't even have to ask - they do pack you in on the upper deck so it's a lot safer to be with the lorries and coaches

 

[pvr]

When I had my 3.0, I changed the tyres to non run flats. Much, much better.

The M already had non run flats so no issue there.

 

[Obs-Com]

Thanks guys for all the re assurance.
On a related sort of note, do you all go over there with run flats or just normal tyres.
The reason I ask is that have looked at z4 with really crap makes and mixtures of tyres and although Good tread, she did not handle well.
Therefore would have to buy 4 new tyres anyway so potentially could get run flats but again have read they are not that good(other than if you have a puncture I suppose).
Again would appreciate your wealth of knowledge and so glad I joined this helpful forum.
Gareth

There has been plenty of debate regarding runflats on here in the past and most people believe they are crap. The view seems to be if you have a tyre that's a runflat - its no good (harsh-ride poor handling-poor grip-cracked wheels). For many, their experience on runflats is from many years ago from when they were first introduced and to be fair, they were crap!

Runflats have developed significantly over the years and post 2012 the compound on Bridgestone Runflats is significantly different/better than before. The ride is much better as is the grip and no worries re cracks due to changes in side wall structure. Granted, the Adaptive Suspension in mine does make a significant difference in ride quality on runflats and in comfort mode it a very comfortable long distance tourer. I'm also happy with the grip available in sports mode when my driving is a little more spirited. I recently changed my rear Bridgestone Potenza Runflats having covered 16000 miles from new and was pretty happy with this given the power on tap in the 35is. I had no hesitation putting the same rubber back on again.

I go over to Europe a couple of times a year and never had an grounding issues and there's usually plenty of wine in the car and a full tank on the way home!

 

[Mark555]

My mates TVR is lower then a smack heads nostrils and he got on. Nowt to worry about

 

[MACK]

Thanks guys for all the re assurance.
On a related sort of note, do you all go over there with run flats or just normal tyres.
The reason I ask is that have looked at z4 with really crap makes and mixtures of tyres and although Good tread, she did not handle well.
Therefore would have to buy 4 new tyres anyway so potentially could get run flats but again have read they are not that good(other than if you have a puncture I suppose).
Again would appreciate your wealth of knowledge and so glad I joined this helpful forum.
Gareth

There has been plenty of debate regarding runflats on here in the past and most people believe they are crap. The view seems to be if you have a tyre that's a runflat - its no good (harsh-ride poor handling-poor grip-cracked wheels). For many, their experience on runflats is from many years ago from when they were first introduced and to be fair, they were crap!

Runflats have developed significantly over the years and post 2012 the compound on Bridgestone Runflats is significantly different/better than before. The ride is much better as is the grip and no worries re cracks due to changes in side wall structure. Granted, the Adaptive Suspension in mine does make a significant difference in ride quality on runflats and in comfort mode it a very comfortable long distance tourer. I'm also happy with the grip available in sports mode when my driving is a little more spirited. I recently changed my rear Bridgestone Potenza Runflats having covered 16000 miles from new and was pretty happy with this given the power on tap in the 35is. I had no hesitation putting the same rubber back on again.

I go over to Europe a couple of times a year and never had an grounding issues and there's usually plenty of wine in the car and a full tank on the way home!

I think the problem with Runflats is they are compromised by design, the need to runflat and have sidewalls hard enough (unflexing) that are capable of carrying the weigh of a vehicle.
As a result even the newer stuff, although probably a bit better than earlier generations is still never going to match the performance/comfort of their not runflat equivalent, whoose technology will also be improving generation on generation.
Its a shame motorists are never normally given the chance to try back to back a runflat michelin/goodyear/bridgestone and the equivalent non runflat michelin/goodyear/bridgestone. If we were I think virtually all would opt for the non runflats.

Porsche and the BMW M Division demonstrates this quite well. At around the same time ordinary BMW's were moving to runflats for space/emission savings etc both Porsche and the M Division also opted to ditch the spare. But both went with the can of goo and compressor solution and still do. No offence to folks running and swearing by runflats, but I think this tells you all you need to know about runflat tyres!