Add another "new" Z4 owner to the list

[RecycledTeen]

Bumper removed, cleaned up, and lower grill has been swapped. Quite a different sized opening, plus bunch more holes (for interchangeability I suppose). Amazing how nice a simple refresh of said part looks along with all 16 fasteners securing it (compared to 3 holding old one on LOL).





Touch up paint applied and car is in detail shop getting a full makeover. Those will be the next pics...

[R1robot]

Did you get tired of driving a manual transmission?

[RecycledTeen]

^ haha, no, not exactly. Let's just call it keeping the Mrs happy (auto = so she can drive it).

[3point0]

Originally Posted by Dave 19103

^ haha, no, not exactly. Let's just call it keeping the Mrs happy (auto = so she can drive it).

+1, and you know what they say: "happy wife = happy life"

That's how I ended up in a 3.0 auto and not an M

[Huz-Z]

If these cars had smaller four cylinder engines producing around 150 horsepower, manual transmissions would be a must. But with a 6 cylinder - 3 litre engine and over 200 horsepower, an auto is not bad at all, particularly if it makes both you and the missus happy.

[RecycledTeen]

Originally Posted by 3point0

+1, and you know what they say: "happy wife = happy life"

That's how I ended up in a 3.0 auto and not an M

^ Bingo!

Originally Posted by Huz-Z

If these cars had smaller four cylinder engines producing around 150 horsepower, manual transmissions would be a must. But with a 6 cylinder - 3 litre engine and over 200 horsepower, an auto is not bad at all, particularly if it makes both you and the missus happy.

^ Double Bingo! That was a must for a 2009 Miata I had = a true blast to drive with a stick. With the Z4 3.0 auto, flooring it always seems to put a discernable on my face just the same.

Got her detailed recently (the car, not the wife); clay, a little wet sanding, paint correction, polish, and wow - what an improvement! Probably hasn't had that done to it for it's entire life. Not perfect, but paint looks "like new" and that's saying a lot for a 10+ yr old car. Had to re-apply touch up to a few spots but shop said they'll work those out when I bring it back in a couple of weeks.

Interior transformation almost complete; just need to address pax seat sensor and install another little goodie or two... (it's like getting a "new" used car again).

[RecycledTeen]

(and the mods continue...)

Had some free time tonight to do the much anticipated wheel swap.

Before:



During (running a couple wires for retrofit):



After:



Man that thing is beefy - mucho better. And so nice to not have to reach ALL the way to the radio to adjust volume / channels anymore.

[3point0]

Originally Posted by Huz-Z

an auto is not bad at all, particularly if it makes both you and the missus happy.

Exactly, we traded in our previous car for the Z and that was another german 2 door convertible, except that one was rear engined and turbo. It was tiptronic too.

Problem is with only 41HP on tap, our diesel smart just had to be bagged to keep up with cyclists let alone traffic.

[Huz-Z]

Dave - your car looks great!!!

How much trouble was it to swap the wheel? I had the dealer install mine because I was worried I would make a complete mess of things. I suppose you are going to tell me that it was dead easy!

[RecycledTeen]

Huz, thanks man. And um, yeah, it was pretty much a straight-up swap, 30 mins tops including a 15 min wait with battery disconnected. Took me just over an hour because I took my time to properly install a "retrofit" so the audio controls would work. All DIY fully documented in this forum and over at z4-forum.com.

[RecycledTeen]

10 month update. Nothing to report, other than it's been a long freakin' winter (even down in these parts). 70 yesterday, snowing now and dropping to 16 tonight. I know our comrades up north are like, yeah, yeah, yeah. BUT...

Seriously looking to get into an E89 next and so putting her up for sale to help make that possible (FS Ad ON HOLD - local buyer? - but will more than likely be parting out).

[Vanne]

Wow mate, very bloody nice what you've done to the car mate. Hope you don't sell her and go for an e89, how about a late model e86 coupe with an M instead ; )

Mate seriously, you've done great work to the car and thanks for detailing the upgrades with pics. I have to d o the windscreen trim panel aswell, once I cannot get some more cash towards the car without the missus noticing it >; )

But seriously, please do test drive an m roady/coupe before purchasing the e89. Can't wait to see what you get up to next mate. Oh and btw, I love the auto boxes too, my old z3 had a auto box and that was also a heap of fun.

[RecycledTeen]

Thanks, Vanne - yes, got her all sorted out and she runs great. Just ready to move on to the next gen (has always appealed to me since introduced especially in this combo):



Considered (and drove) an M but would like something newer (with retractable hardtop, DCT, warranty, etc.) and in the absence of an E89 M, the 35is comes close enough so that's what I'm leaning towards (used, of course).

[Vanne]

I hear ya mate, pls do let us know what you get even if you do move camp to the e89.

[Psychodo]

Originally Posted by Dave 19103

Thanks, Vanne - yes, got her all sorted out and she runs great. Just ready to move on to the next gen (has always appealed to me since introduced especially in this combo):



Considered (and drove) an M but would like something newer (with retractable hardtop, DCT, warranty, etc.) and in the absence of an E89 M, the 35is comes close enough so that's what I'm leaning towards (used, of course).

I'll be curious yo hear what your impressions are compared to the E85.
Is it hard to let go after putting so much work in? Your car is beautiful btw.

[Huz-Z]

[QUOTE=Dave 19103;13967651]Huz, thanks man. And um, yeah, it was pretty much a straight-up swap, 30 mins tops including a 15 min wait with battery disconnected. Took me just over an hour because I took my time to properly install a "retrofit" so the audio controls would work. All DIY fully documented in this forum and over at z4-forum.com.[/QUOTE

My car is an automatic with paddle shifters. As I recall, the guys at the shop were scratching their heads for a bit trying to figure out what to do to mount those. I think they ended up having to drill a couple of holes to mount the paddles to the M wheel. In retrospect, I'm glad I got them to do this as I would have made a muck of it.

[Huz-Z]

Originally Posted by Dave 19103

Thanks, Vanne - yes, got her all sorted out and she runs great. Just ready to move on to the next gen (has always appealed to me since introduced especially in this combo):



Considered (and drove) an M but would like something newer (with retractable hardtop, DCT, warranty, etc.) and in the absence of an E89 M, the 35is comes close enough so that's what I'm leaning towards (used, of course).

No denying that this is a fine looking car!

[RecycledTeen]

^^ Yes, indeed it is, was what initiated my case of Z4itis in the first place.

BTW, if things go right, this is the next horse I'm working on getting into stable:

[RecycledTeen]

Originally Posted by Psychodo

I'll be curious yo hear what your impressions are compared to the E85.
Is it hard to let go after putting so much work in? Your car is beautiful btw.

Absolutely! But in some ways, its like paying it forward, giving someone else the opportunity to enjoy it further (which is why I don't get too attached to cars! LOL) - and thanks man!

Originally Posted by Huz-Z

In retrospect, I'm glad I got them to do this as I would have made a muck of it.

Yeah Huz, there's some things best left to the "experts"

-------

As I prepared to sell her off, knocking out an oil change and performing a PSI (Pre-Sale Inspection), discovered a valve cover gasket leak, so... (one less item eliminated from any future concern). Nice to see everything looks good under there @ 50k.

[Huz-Z]

Originally Posted by Dave 19103

^^ Yes, indeed it is, was what initiated my case of Z4itis in the first place.

BTW, if things go right, this is the next horse I'm working on getting into stable:

Nice! 35is, right? 2011?

[RecycledTeen]

Couple of last pics of the Zed before she's off to new owner. Had shop do some final detail for me recently and as luck would have it, was there on same day as part of a local news station's story on Spring cleaning and detailing of cars.





Note the decal on the window

[chickdr]

So after all the work and updates how much did you get for the car? Do you have a 35is in mind, or still looking?