Z4 M Roadster ('08) accessories, gadgets and other toys

[Beamer3]

I am a gadget nut and tend to buy alot of accessories for my car. The car is Alpine white with red interior, and has the premium package, heated seats, alarm sytstem, and lo-jack,but no Nav (the technology changes so fast I decided an outboard Garmin would be best). This is my weekend car, my every day car is an '09 i550

So far I bought the lift jack (feel naked without one, yes I know I don't have a spare tire), triangle emergency reflector, an oil can (bottle actually) zippered velcro bottle holder, Escort radar dector*, ///M tire valve caps (silly I know), M/// license plate frames (why not?), ///M key chain, and most recently covers to hide the top mechanism when the top is down (gives a cleaner look when spending the day touring al fresca), radar detector* and Garmin GPS* and a BMW medical kit. Let's not forget the Z4 scale model (they do not make an ///M). Also have the car cover and battery cigarette tighter trickle charger (plugs through the cigarette light receptacle). Everything is from BMW except (*).

I wonder if anyone can tell me anything I missed?

Are there any other nuts out there?

This is just for fun but thanks for your input.

[Hawkeye]

You missed the stubby antenna (Mangowalk on ebay), and the ZHP lighted shift knob (starscream) and the M sticked shift boot (also starscream).

Plus some people have installed a homelink adapter for their garage doors.

[caseysc]

I like the first aid boxes that go under the seats, stubby antenna, the LeatherZ console, the Roadster Solutions windscreen, and the BMW valve stem caps.

[Starscream]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

You missed the stubby antenna (Mangowalk on ebay), and the ZHP lighted shift knob (starscream) and the M sticked shift boot (also starscream).

Plus some people have installed a homelink adapter for their garage doors.

thanks for the plug

you can also do ///M logo Strut tower covers, M logo oil cap (both under hood mods, I have some pics of these, check out the cosmetic section and look for my thread)

If you have an iPod you can look at a Dice Silverline,
If you can hold of one a Reinhold module, (love mine)

Painted reflectors, blackout grilles (personal choice, I for one don't like the blackout theme)

I'm sure there is more!

[jamboMR]

We really are all just big babies huh

[ZStig]

what about that storage thing you attach under your trunk lid?

[Beamer3]

Originally Posted by caseysc

I like the first aid boxes that go under the seats, stubby antenna, the LeatherZ console, the Roadster Solutions windscreen, and the BMW valve stem caps.

I did get the ///M logo valve stem covers.

[Beamer3]

Originally Posted by Starscream

thanks for the plug

you can also do ///M logo Strut tower covers, M logo oil cap (both under hood mods, I have some pics of these, check out the cosmetic section and look for my thread)

If you have an iPod you can look at a Dice Silverline,
If you can hold of one a Reinhold module, (love mine)

Painted reflectors, blackout grilles (personal choice, I for one don't like the blackout theme)

I'm sure there is more!

There are many stub antennas shown, do you know the part number? (The reception of stubby antennas will be less than the longer one.) Does the BMW assist radio use that antenna too?

[Beamer3]

Originally Posted by caseysc

I like the first aid boxes that go under the seats, stubby antenna, the LeatherZ console, the Roadster Solutions windscreen, and the BMW valve stem caps.

I checked out (and returned) BMW's windscreens. One had boots that fit over the roll bars, but ugly and hard to use. The other windscreen that inserts between the roll bars comes with replacment roll bar covers (that have the insertion slots). They only come in silver, thus making my ///M look like a regular Z4, so that went back too. Any other thoughts?

[caseysc]

Originally Posted by Beamer3

There are many stub antennas shown, do you know the part number? (The reception of stubby antennas will be less than the longer one.) Does the BMW assist radio use that antenna too?

Here's the 4" model I bought. No loss of reception.

http://www.bimmian.com/MNA/Z4

There are cheaper models sold on several ebay sites.

As to BMW Assist, here is a quote from the Technician Training Manual:

"The rod aerial is a common part from the E46 convertible. The aerial is designed for AM/FM reception and additionally features an integrated telephone aerial. The rod aerial is mounted on the rear left side panel. The aerial amplifier is screwed to the aerial from below. The rod aerial consists of the aerial rod, aerial head and aerial base with integrated aerial
amplifier.

The E85 features aerial diversity for the higher grade radios. Aerial diversity comprises following components:
- Rod aerial with amplifier
- FM aerial in bumper
- FM aerial amplifier
- Aerial diversity
The aerial amplifier and aerial diversity are fitted in the rear left of the luggage compartment. The second FM aerial is located on the rear left in the bumper.

The GPS aerial is located in the middle of the roof frame behind the interior lamp."

[vdubb2bmw]

Originally Posted by Beamer3

I did get the ///M logo valve stem covers.

FYI, the M logo valve stem caps is a different metal from the valve stem causing a chemical reaction call rust. Some folks had to cut and replace their valve stems.

[Ron Stygar]

Originally Posted by vdubb2bmw

FYI, the M logo valve stem caps is a different metal from the valve stem causing a chemical reaction call rust. Some folks had to cut and replace their valve stems.

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...31&postcount=1

[Ron Stygar]

http://www.unofficialbmw.com/images/...mcapsabs-1.jpg

http://www.unofficialbmw.com/images/...mcapsabs-2.jpg

[Hawkeye]

I have slight loss of signal with my flexible 3" stubby from Mangowalk, but I pretty much never listen to radio and it was <$10 and it looks OEM.

Yes, there are a lot fo cosmetic mods you can do, and if you try and do them all, it will start costing a pretty penny

I really like my trunk liner, since I sometimes put messy stuff in my trunk and don't want to get it all dirty.

[M_Six]

The short antenna just screws on in place of the OEM one, right? No need to replace the base?

[caseysc]

Originally Posted by M_Six

The short antenna just screws on in place of the OEM one, right? No need to replace the base?

That's correct, Mark.

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by caseysc

That's correct, Mark.

Thanks. Time to go order one. Got the wind deflector installed. Works very well and looks great. Got the LeatherZ short shift ordered, too. It's slowly coming together.

[Beamer3]

Mark, which windscreen did you get, how much $ and how does it attach? Can it be stored on the trunk lid like the BMW model? Thanks, George

[M_Six]

I got the acrylic one from Bavauto. Pretty sure it's the same one as the Roadster Solutions version. It was just a tad cheaper because of shipping and I already had an account at Bavauto, so I bought it there. The center part was a piece-o'-cake to install. The pieces within the hoops took a bit of work, but using a screw driver to ease open the slots a bit helped.

[GP20]

I must be the only one here who's extremely anal about adding any sort of extra weight in my M. I almost hesitated putting the rubber trunk liner and rubber floor-mats in the car, and will switch back to the much lighter carpet floor-mats during the dryer months. I think I have a minor (or medium) case of OCD. I just always have to know that my car's running the most efficiently possible and I'm geting the best gas mileage.

[caseysc]

Originally Posted by GP20

I must be the only one here who's extremely anal about adding any sort of extra weight in my M. I almost hesitated putting the rubber trunk liner and rubber floor-mats in the car, and will switch back to the much lighter carpet floor-mats during the dryer months. I think I have a minor (or medium) case of OCD. I just always have to know that my car's running the most efficiently possible and I'm geting the best gas mileage.

I understand. I'm a little OCD on my car too, just in a diferent way. Can't stand for mine to be dirty, inside and outside. We all have our priorities...

[M_Six]

I was pleasantly surprised today when I hit 31.5 MPG highway at 75MPH. I'm psyched when I can hit 20MPG in my X5. Nice to have power *and* good mileage.