Z4MR should it stay or should it go?

[AndyT]

Morning all.

I find myself in a situation I never thought I’d find myself in.

I’ve recently purchased a genuine Full BMW Service history ZMR with BMW Comprehensive warranty which it’s had since 2013. Covering only 46k miles and is in great condition. Having 4 brand new tires, I’ve also had both rear springs replaced, new discs & pads all round and an inspection II service all carried out at BMW and with the warranty/breakdown have peace of mind, all it needs is the alloys refurbing and possibly some new badges.

To make the car how I want I was looking to get an RPI exhaust, carbon intake, possibly lowering springs / coil overs and a few other tasteful (in my eyes) mods which could easily add up to £5k+

This is where the issue is, when I purchased the car it was with the full intention of keeping indefinitely but ideally the next 10+ years of doing circa 6k a year in it hence investing in a lower mileage and getting all the work done. A month after buying it looks like I’m going to be diagnosed with Ménière’s disease, this is a condition effecting the inner ear causing a number of things but the main problem one being vertigo which is reportable to the DVLA, and there is a high likely hood they will either temporarily or permanently take my license.

I’m torn because part of me wants to enjoy the car until they make a decision but to do so I really want to do the mods as it just isn’t where I want it to be, but I know these will hurt the resale value if I do need to sell and won’t get my money back, or should I restore the wheels to standard colour buy genuine bmw badges rather than the slightly updated ones I really want and leave the suspension alone. There’s a slim chance I’ll be able to keep driving but if they say no I’ll have to stop driving immediately so won’t easily be able to do anything with the car and could sit there un driven until it sells

I have three choices as far as I see:
1. Do the wheels and badges and advertise
2. Do the wheels and badges and keep until I know, but then may be harder to sell as won’t be able to take prospective buyers out in it, plus is likely to be winter so even harder to find a buyer
3. Do all the mods and enjoy and cross my fingers that all’s ok (but my lucks never that good)

If I do sell, I know I’ll not find another Z4M in as good a condition again if I should get my license back as I looked for over 2 years to find this one, and if prices keep rising I won’t be able to afford to either. But I just find I’m not enjoying the car as I know it’s not where I want it to be and don’t really want it just sat in the garage either not being used.

Even while writing this I’ve swapped my mind about 5 times on what I should do, at the very minute I’m thinking to do the bits and possibly get it fully detailed and dry store it until next summer and see what happens, but then I’ll need to buy a Carcoon or similar as my garage is not great at the minute.

I would appreciate any feedback or If anyone’s gone through anything similar?

Andy

 

[Simon 3.2M]

I’d say do the mods if you can afford to Andy and thoroughly enjoy the car - it is highly likely you will easily sell any mods ie coilovers, carbon air etc quickly on the forum. As long as you keep the original parts you’ll get most of your money back.

I had every intention of keeping my MR standard however, it now sits on KWv3s, BMW motorsport calipers, 19 CSLs and I recently fitted a Gruppe - all will sell quickly if I decide to sell the car on.
As we know from recent events, we only live once so enjoy every minute.

 

[Ewazix]

I wouldn't jump in to either submitting to a diagnosis or doing anything rash because,
a) Diagnosis of Ménière’s disease isn't reliable, it's a diagnosis by elimination and probability, but other far more common, temporary and treatable conditions have the same symptoms.
b) isn't necessarily as bad as you are fearing even if it's correct
c) Ménière’s disease is NOT itself a "notifiable condition" to DVLA as explained in this authoritative British Medical Journal article which I won't paraphrase as they have worded it carefully https://www.bmj.com/content/349/bmj.g6544/rr/799624

About ten years ago I had investigations for possible Ménière’s disease, it turned out more likely to have been a stubborn repeated case of Labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis which passed with time and anti-inflammatory, anti-biotic and anti-sickness/dizziness medication (the latter did prevent driving for about weeks). The point is that no definitive diagnosis was made and doesn't really matter, seeking the best treatment and getting on with life in the meantime is far more productive than looking to limit yourself. Worst case, I have an acquaintance who has lived with Ménière’s disease now under control for two decades who drives performance cars and largely lives as normal and a one-legged mate who ran a marathon (but he is a bit crazy ) Enjoy owning/modd'ing the car it will give you something positive to focus on.

Get well

 

[AndyT]

I wouldn't jump in to either submitting to a diagnosis or doing anything rash because,

Thanks for the detailed breakdown especially with someone with experience. I’d read the article previously when the ENT first mentioned Ménière’s which was only a month ago (a week after buying the Z4)

Unfortunately or fortunately depending which way you look at it, The ENT specialists have ruled everything else out over the last few years through MRI, CT Scans, balance tests and more but all the symptoms match, especially as the vertigo is the latest symptom to manifest. Apparently the specialist just wants to confirm with one more hearing test at the hospital before making the official diagnosis of Ménière’s.

Unfortunately it’s the Vertigo which as it happens is the least of my issues is the one that’s DVLA notifiable which is why it’s not been a concern until recently, I’ve had several bad attacks which at the moment I’m getting warning signs of so don’t drive at all when feeling off but they seem to be on the increase

Strange how you’re allowed to keep driving even after you’ve notified DVLA until they make a decision.

 

[Ewazix]

I wouldn't jump in to either submitting to a diagnosis or doing anything rash because,

Thanks for the detailed breakdown especially with someone with experience. I’d read the article previously when the ENT first mentioned Ménière’s which was only a month ago (a week after buying the Z4)

Unfortunately or fortunately depending which way you look at it, The ENT specialists have ruled everything else out over the last few years through MRI, CT Scans, balance tests and more but all the symptoms match, especially as the vertigo is the latest symptom to manifest. Apparently the specialist just wants to confirm with one more hearing test at the hospital before making the official diagnosis of Ménière’s.

Unfortunately it’s the Vertigo which as it happens is the least of my issues is the one that’s DVLA notifiable which is why it’s not been a concern until recently, I’ve had several bad attacks which at the moment I’m getting warning signs of so don’t drive at all when feeling off but they seem to be on the increase

Strange how you’re allowed to keep driving even after you’ve notified DVLA until they make a decision.

It sounds like you are in good hands and approaching things sensibly. The flip side of my view that it's important to get on as much as possible, is that it's also not helpful to feel bound or trapped something just because we've invested time, money and emotional attachment to them (same could be said of partners/spouses I guess, but I'm not going there! :lol: ). Only you know what you are comfortable doing with the Zed, if it's going to be an enjoyable diversion keep it, if it feels like an encumbrance let it go.

 

[RedUn]

If it's on your mind and you sound fairly confident that you'll be heading towards less driving, I'd do the wheels and sell it.

Keep hold of the money and if in a year or so it's looking OK again, just buy another

 

[Mr Tidy]

That's a really difficult position you are in Andy.

I can't really add anything to the good advice already posted, but whatever you decide to do I wish you all the best.

 

[inkey$]

That's a really difficult position you are in Andy.

I can't really add anything to the good advice already posted, but whatever you decide to do I wish you all the best.

Same sentiments. Sounds like really tough times, so hope things work out for you.

 

[buzyg]

Always hard to put yourself in some one else shoes. If money is no issue then do the mods and enjoy the car as much as you can, if that;s for 3 months or 30 years. If money is a concern then keep the car as it is with just the cosmetic changes and enjoy it until you know how your diagnosis progresses. Either way I would keep enjoying the MR. You can sit on board while others test drive it. Selling a healthy MR is not about to become a problem.

Hope it goes well and your still enjoying the car for years to come. But only time will tell, so enjoy today.

 

[tiglon]

Feel for you, awful situation. Depends on how much you need the money - if it was me, and I could afford to, I would do the mods, make it my dream car and enjoy the hell out of it while I can.

 

[bjd]

If I'm right (plate ends in URU), I owned this car from 2013 - 2021 and it's a solid base for modding on

However I'm sorry to hear of your difficulties and I can sympathise. The modified reversing sensor was due to my hearing loss. I went through a spell of dizziness which I seem to have grown out of so perhaps hold off the mods, keep the car and see how it goes?

 

[AndyT]

If I'm right (plate ends in URU), I owned this car from 2013 - 2021 and it's a solid base for modding on

However I'm sorry to hear of your difficulties and I can sympathise. The modified reversing sensor was due to my hearing loss. I went through a spell of dizziness which I seem to have grown out of so perhaps hold off the mods, keep the car and see how it goes?

It’s an amazing example, and like the reverse sensors and felt a bit like kismet as seemed perfect for me, and your servicing routine was the best Id seen by a mile, most had 5-8 years between oil services but were still classed as full bmw history somehow, so your every 2 years or less was an amazing find. Then the fact you’d kept the bmw comprehensive warranty going was amazing and the icing on the cake.

I’m finding it a hard decision, but looking like I may let it go to a new home as just seems a waste to mod such a good example or not use it moving forward (I have done about 1500 miles in the last 2 months ), I couldn’t even bring myself to change the colour of the wheels which I wanted to but just looks so original, I even put a stubby aerial on and changed it back