Road Trip with my son

[bdejong11129]

Finally found a Z4 that I like, has the options I want and fits my budget. Decided to take the opportunity to take my son(11 years old) on his first road trip.

We live in North Carolina and the car is in Dallas Texas so we are going to fly out there and then take a few days to drive back home. So subscribe now and enjoy the ride with us. Yes its a week away but we are super pumped....

Figured I would start this post and we will update it as we move along on our trip. Right now we are scheduled to head out on Sept 30. Since it is about a thousand miles we plan on taking two or three days to make the trip. Mostly depending on how well the boy takes to driving on the highway for hours on end.

Here is a quick pic of the car as it sits now.
2003 Z4 3.0i, Sport,Premium,Conv,Auto, one owner and been in Dallas its while life.

Now to me it looks like the previous owner changed out the headlights and the side markers to the newer clear versions. Correct me if I am wrong, but the 2003 should have come with the orange signals in the headlights as well as the side markers.

[Finnegan]

Sounds like fun! Enjoy.

[em2b96p]

correct orange everything. also no auto down passenger windows, no steering wheel audio/phone controls, and no express open top.

have a safe flight and drive

congrats!

[MetMan]

Actually, both windows are auto-down but the passenger window lacks the auto-up feature.

Enjoy the trip!

[CFoote]

Nice! If you don't mind, what did you end up paying and how many miles? Yes, it looks like the previous owner changed out the headlights and turn signals which is great, those headlights are not cheap at all.

Enjoy the trip and make it 3 days, that way you can enjoy and not make it a race...

[bdejong11129]

Originally Posted by em2b96p

correct orange everything. also no auto down passenger windows, no steering wheel audio/phone controls, and no express open top.

have a safe flight and drive

congrats!

On the steering wheel audio controls, that is what I thought as well but this car has that feature to. It is one of the very few 2003 cars I found with every feature available. Forgot that it had heated/memory seats as well. I may ask to see if they can record a video of the top operation. I like the speed of the newer models, but they were out of my price range.

[inTgr8r]

Congrats on the purchase and enjoy the time with your son.

Trust me, your son will NEVER forget this time.
I had a similar experience with my dad at that age and it is one of the memories that I treasure most.

[acvr4]

With the steering wheel radio controls - you sure it's not an early 04 model? I'm pretty sure that all 03 didn't have that - unless the previous owner swapped it
Have a safe an enjoyable trip - your son should have a blast.

[CFoote]

Originally Posted by bdejong11129

On the steering wheel audio controls, that is what I thought as well but this car has that feature to. It is one of the very few 2003 cars I found with every feature available. Forgot that it had heated/memory seats as well. I may ask to see if they can record a video of the top operation. I like the speed of the newer models, but they were out of my price range.

He is talking about the ability to hold down the unlock button on the remote and put the top down (express-top). All of the things he mentioned are nice little features, but nothing that would stop me from buying a car that I liked by any means...

Go enjoy your car

[bdejong11129]

The car has a build date or 06/03. I am certain that the previous owner changed a lot of the goodies because even the tail lights are different.

Here are the tails. Like I said, this one caught my eye because while its an 03 it ahs some of the changes that I appreciated about the later models. While I knew that I could change them later on any car I like this one becasue someone else aready has.

[SteveInfante]

Nice find. Enjoy the drive back. It took me about 15 hours of driving to get from Columbia to Dallas.

[BU Z4]

Its still on ebay
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/One-O...item563f7fc27c

[bdejong11129]

Originally Posted by BU Z4

Its still on ebay
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/One-O...item563f7fc27c

Good find...I actually found it through Cars.com. On the lots site they have it listed as pending..First thing I checked after sending the deposit!! Finaly check is due upon delivery.

Looks like I am going to be in your town next week. Where is a good reasonable place to stay and get a nice, but not expensive steak dinner?

http://1552.ecarlist.com/web/1552/ve...03-BMW-Z4-3.0i

[GP20]

LMAO@the relocated 3.0i badge. The previous owner must have really wanted people to know he was driving the "bigger engine" model.

[Huz-Z]

That's a dandy car! Congratulations on getting it. Those are my favorite wheels for the Z4. I may have try to get a set one of these days!

Enjoy!!!

[GP20]

Make sure you get the car inspected before you buy. The headlight upgrade were about a $3.5K modification. Not everyone would throw $3.5k to upgrade their headlights. Some just request their bodyshops to order newer styling headlights after they have a frontal damage.

[BU Z4]

Originally Posted by bdejong11129

Looks like I am going to be in your town next week. Where is a good reasonable place to stay and get a nice, but not expensive steak dinner?

Try "Texas de Brazil", I drove Durham-Dallas about 4 yrs ago, 16 hrs drive (I-85 and I-20), sleeped at Tuscaloosa, AL. Drove from 5 am to 1 pm in two days.

[BU Z4]

Originally Posted by GP20

Make sure you get the car inspected before you buy. The headlight upgrade were about a $3.5K modification. Not everyone would throw $3.5k to upgrade their headlights. Some just request their bodyshops to order newer styling headlights after they have a frontal damage.

Not everyone goes to BMW dealer and purchase new lights, its easy to find them on ebay for less than $700 and DIY.

Plus it has 05 tails, and clear side lens, and 04 and up steering wheel!

[bdejong11129]

Originally Posted by GP20

Make sure you get the car inspected before you buy. The headlight upgrade were about a $3.5K modification. Not everyone would throw $3.5k to upgrade their headlights. Some just request their bodyshops to order newer styling headlights after they have a frontal damage.

I did call the dealership that was reported on the carfax where it was purchased and where it had the majority of its service done. The service advisor there was a very nice guy and went over the service history with me on the phone. The car was singel owner and it carried the extended warranty until July of 09. So if he went through the expense of the extended waranty he may have gone through the expense of the lighting change.

The steering wheel is a real mystery. I am itching to find the old owner and talk to him.

There was no history of any accidents. Knowing how some of us are (me included) we at times do things to the cars that are in no way justifyable but we do them anyways. From what I have read through searching the changing of the headlights and side markers is fairly popular. And what good owner would not change the tails as well so it all looks "right".

Now the 3.0i badge....That I did not see, you know how it is when you are looking at a new car through the "lust eyes". Its the main reason I alwasys have a friend of mine look things over to make sure I am not blinded by my own love of the car. We will address the incorrect placement of the badge when we get home. A good carefull use of fishing line and some polish will correct that one in a jiffy...

[bdejong11129]

Originally Posted by Huz-Z

That's a dandy car! Congratulations on getting it. Those are my favorite wheels for the Z4. I may have try to get a set one of these days!

Enjoy!!!

I hear that, I love these rims. they were in the top 5 of my required options list. I think they fit the Z4 as good as the M-Pars fit the older E34 cars. Just plain sexxyyy....

[007MCoupe]

Definitely subscribed. I'll be driving from San Angelo (west and south of dallas) to east tennessee this winter. probably be driving a lot of the same roads. can't wait to see your pics and hear (read) your tales!!

HAVE FUN!!!

[WhoU4]

Originally Posted by bdejong11129

Finally found a Z4 that I like, has the options I want and fits my budget. Decided to take the opportunity to take my son(11 years old) on his first road trip.

Here is a quick pic of the car as it sits now.
2003 Z4 3.0i, Sport,Premium,Conv,Auto, one owner and been in Dallas its while life.

Awesome! You'll enjoy the car a ton. Have a fun and safe trip, just get ready for "Come on Dad... Floor it"