Z4 FORUM HISTORY

[TOMGREEN413]

Hi Guys,
I was looking to see if I could find something about the history of the forum, when was it founded, by who, any back stores to the founding "fathers ", it's probably just me (or maybe not) but I find it interesting and important to know the background to these things,.
For those who founded this forum I'd like to say thank you for creating such a wealth of information and community, you should feel very proud.
Kind regards Tom

 

[buzyg]

Click on the members tab. It's all there. The Boss is at the top of the list and several of those early members are still around chatting.

 

[TOMGREEN413]

 

[sp3ctre]

Hey,

I created the forum in 2007 in place of a successful forum called z4um.com. I was a member of their community at the time when the forum went belly up overnight. Apparently the owner didn't have a backup and was unable to restore. I offered assistance but got no reply. In the interim I setup this forum with a view to keeping the community together until such time z4um was back, but that never happened. Over time we got busier and busier and the rest, as they say, is history.

We've gone through several redesigns and many moderators who have come and gone (except wondermike, we can't seem to get rid of him, LOL). Hard to think we've been going since 2007 really.

 

[enuff_zed]

[ref=#105289]sp3ctre[/ref], We could go on and on, but to put it simply................
THANK YOU

 

[sp3ctre]

[ref=#105289]sp3ctre[/ref], We could go on and on, but to put it simply................
THANK YOU

You're welcome... it's been an interesting ride, that's for sure... infrastructure has had to grow and have learned a lot along the way. Lots of interesting personalities have come and gone over the years (some are missed, some not so much )

Be interesting to see where the next few years takes us

 

[inkey$]

Yeah, I agree. Thanks sp3ctre. I've been on an off of here for the past 13 years and too-many-zeds, and at one point (30s/pre-kids) used to be on here almost the entire day most days.

When I joined, my second hand 3.0 at the time was only 5 years old and relatively fresh. Then there were the ///Middle years, and this is my Modern Classic phase. This most recent experience is interesting because these cars could now be 20 years old and there's a great community of people willing to help, advise, break/supply and in a proactive friendly way - something not at all common across the various car forums out there.

 

[enuff_zed]

Lots of interesting personalities have come and gone over the years (some are missed, some not so much )

Hmmm, maybe I should pretend to go, then sneak back to see what was said??? :roll:

Out of interest, I know you ask for donations, and I have put a bit in, though probably not enough.
How much are you out of pocket each year?
Whilst I understand that people like you do this for the good of the community, it would be interesting to know how we could help more?
Must be ways to raise funds and have fun at the same time?

NB. If you don't answer I will understand that you're actually raking it in.

 

[sp3ctre]

Lots of interesting personalities have come and gone over the years (some are missed, some not so much )

Hmmm, maybe I should pretend to go, then sneak back to see what was said??? :roll:

Out of interest, I know you ask for donations, and I have put a bit in, though probably not enough.
How much are you out of pocket each year?
Whilst I understand that people like you do this for the good of the community, it would be interesting to know how we could help more?
Must be ways to raise funds and have fun at the same time?

NB. If you don't answer I will understand that you're actually raking it in.

LOL, I wouldn't call it raking it in... on a good month we break even. Problem is hosting costs have risen quite sharply over the last few years but the traffic on the forum has remained quite steady. Also, since we started hosting image uploads, you can imagine how that grows over time, as none of them are ever deleted.

We get the odd donation but not like the early days, although with cost of living what it is now it is totally understandable that forum donations go to the bottom of the list, and that's one of the reasons I am not asking... people need to prioritise their families.

All I will ask is where possible people exclude our site from ad blockers... that is one small thing people can do for us if they aren't donating. It won't earn us much but "every little helps", as they say! I don't want to be one of those forum admins who are constantly "rattling the tin", so I'll leave it there

 

[pvr]

I joined the original Z4um when I ordered my first 3.0 in 2003, indeed a different place to some extend as there was a massive EU and USA crowd as well.

I am still in contact with the chap who ran it, when the domain and database went in 2007, he had family issues in Asia and went there with the forum not so much on his priority list.

On both forums, there have indeed been some interesting events. We have also seen this forum as a dating site and I even attended a wedding

 

[craig3.2]

Hey,

I created the forum in 2007 in place of a successful forum called z4um.com. I was a member of their community at the time when the forum went belly up overnight. Apparently the owner didn't have a backup and was unable to restore. I offered assistance but got no reply. In the interim I setup this forum with a view to keeping the community together until such time z4um was back, but that never happened. Over time we got busier and busier and the rest, as they say, is history.

We've gone through several redesigns and many moderators who have come and gone (except wondermike, we can't seem to get rid of him, LOL). Hard to think we've been going since 2007 really.

Yes,it's changed a fair bit over the years,in terms of owners/more keyboard warriors as time went on,but in the main,the majority are still a decent bunch
If it wasn't for this Forum, I wouldn't have met many many people who I now class as friends, nor would I have had lots and lots of very enjoyable z4 forum meets that myself and others have organised over the years.
It has been one of the best forums on the net for a while.
Pity the traffic on it is less these days, given the amount of z4 FB pages that have sprung up in recent years.
I have donated in the past too, via giving people things for ,,"free", if they make a donation to the forum,so hopefully they have.
I will make a donation again soon,in person this time, rather than through giving folk tickets to car shows,etc.

Keep up the good work,Jim

 

[enuff_zed]

Lots of interesting personalities have come and gone over the years (some are missed, some not so much )

Hmmm, maybe I should pretend to go, then sneak back to see what was said??? :roll:

Out of interest, I know you ask for donations, and I have put a bit in, though probably not enough.
How much are you out of pocket each year?
Whilst I understand that people like you do this for the good of the community, it would be interesting to know how we could help more?
Must be ways to raise funds and have fun at the same time?

NB. If you don't answer I will understand that you're actually raking it in.

LOL, I wouldn't call it raking it in... on a good month we break even. Problem is hosting costs have risen quite sharply over the last few years but the traffic on the forum has remained quite steady. Also, since we started hosting image uploads, you can imagine how that grows over time, as none of them are ever deleted.

We get the odd donation but not like the early days, although with cost of living what it is now it is totally understandable that forum donations go to the bottom of the list, and that's one of the reasons I am not asking... people need to prioritise their families.

All I will ask is where possible people exclude our site from ad blockers... that is one small thing people can do for us if they aren't donating. It won't earn us much but "every little helps", as they say! I don't want to be one of those forum admins who are constantly "rattling the tin", so I'll leave it there

Well without you keeping it going I would not have learned as much as I have. I also would not have had the satisfaction of feeling I have helped others.
Finally, I will admit that selling parts to forum members has kept my wife's E85 on the road and therefore it is only fair to give something back.
Donation just made, with thanks.

Hopefully others will vote with their Paypal too.

 

[TOMGREEN413]

Thanks for sharing, maybe some day I'll have the pleasure of meeting some of you. I'd be happy to donate occasionally. ( sorry but I'm very un techy...so much so it drives my wife to distraction) ....your need to spoon feed me......how does one donate..

 

[Pondy]

I'm very un techy...so much so it drives my wife to distraction) ....your need to spoon feed me......how does one donate..

Just post a cheque made out to 'C.ASH' and send it to the address I've PMed you. I will deal with the rest for you. No thanks needed, we all like to help in any way we can!

 

[Mr Tidy]

TOMGREEN413 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 09, 2023 7:50 pm
I'm very un techy...so much so it drives my wife to distraction) ....your need to spoon feed me......how does one donate..
Just post a cheque made out to 'C.ASH' and send it to the address I've PMed you. I will deal with the rest for you. No thanks needed, we all like to help in any way we can!

Or if you want it to get there here's a link:- https://z4-forum.com/forum/app.php/donations

Which reminds me it's time I made another donation given how useful I have found the forum, and how much time I seem to spend on here. :lol:

I've bought and sold quite a few bits and pieces on the forum including several sets of wheels. I also sold both my previous Z4s and found my current one here!

 

[TOMGREEN413]

 

[Pondy]

Also, since we started hosting image uploads, you can imagine how that grows over time, as none of them are ever deleted.

I tried to delete some photos from a post a few weeks ago. All the text deleted but the .jpeg files wouldn't delete. They remained even though I deleted the files from the post. :?

 

[Worcester_spoon]

Been lurking for 12 years and 2 E85s. This forum is responsible for making me spend far too much money on parts (supercharger was the last impulse purchase made on here…), but love the community, knowledge, and history. Just discovered I can make a monthly automatic donation via PayPal, which I’ve just set up. Worth every penny. Thanks Jim.

 

[sp3ctre]

Been lurking for 12 years and 2 E85s. This forum is responsible for making me spend far too much money on parts (supercharger was the last impulse purchase made on here…), but love the community, knowledge, and history. Just discovered I can make a monthly automatic donation via PayPal, which I’ve just set up. Worth every penny. Thanks Jim.

Thanks very much, that is very generous and much appreciated. Glad we have so many long-standing members still around

 

[tiglon]

Great community and resource, refreshing lack of d!ckheads!

Yes, this forum has encouraged me to spend quite a lot of money on car stuff that i probably dont need (no regrets!), but it's also been invaluable reading others' experiences and having others share their knowledge with me.

Yeah there's a cost of living crisis, but I for one wouldn't object to a polite reminder any time there's a funding shortfall.