New owner here M roadster

[vasaline]

Hello everyone,

picked up a m roadster over the weekend. Black with imola red interior. What a fun car to drive! This is my first manual car as well and when I drove it home it was my 3rd time driving a manual.

My front end has some rock chips and was wondering if anyone here have a clearbra on. I wad thinking of getting one but not sure if it would be a waste of money since the paint already has some chips.

[Hawkeye]

I would probably wait for a repaint to get a clear bra, unless you can live with a few chips and just don't want it getting any worse.

Congrats on the car, quite the car to learn to drive stick with though.

[jmillet]

Originally Posted by vasaline

Hello everyone,
picked up a m roadster over the weekend. Black with imola red interior. What a fun car to drive! This is my first manual car as well and when I drove it home it was my 3rd time driving a manual.
My front end has some rock chips and was wondering if anyone here have a clear bra on. I wad thinking of getting one but not sure if it would be a waste of money since the paint already has some chips.

If your paint has rock chips then don't bother with a clear mask (3M Scotchgard or Venture Shield) until you get it re-painted. The chips will show through clear mask and look worse than they did before.

[vasaline]

Thanks for the input guys. I will probably wait for it to get worse then. Don't want to respray the front end just yet as it isn't that bad.

I'm still learning to drive a manual... My shifts are not as smooth especially from 1st to 2nd. Hopefully i will get better

[chickdr]

Originally Posted by vasaline

Thanks for the input guys. I will probably wait for it to get worse then. Don't want to respray the front end just yet as it isn't that bad.

I'm still learning to drive a manual... My shifts are not as smooth especially from 1st to 2nd. Hopefully i will get better

Clear bra's are great(if you have a pristine nose as others have said). You may want to look into having the CDV removed for smoother shifts....

[jrich4411]

What do y'all recommend for a clear bra?

[Hughbert]

Congratulations on the new ride. The ///M is a blast to drive.

[jmillet]

Originally Posted by jrich4411

What do y'all recommend for a clear bra?

3M Scotchgard if you don't mind some orange peel (matches BMW orange peel paint) or Venture Shield (owned by 3M) if you want a smooth finish that doesn't match BMW orange peel paint

[Nate2046]

Originally Posted by vasaline

I'm still learning to drive a manual... My shifts are not as smooth especially from 1st to 2nd. Hopefully i will get better

I'd been driving manuals for 20 years before I got this car and it still took me a while to get used to the clutch in this car. Its especially touchy on the 1-2 shift. People will tell you to get the modified CDV but I've found it just takes a little time to get used to, you'll get the hang of it.

Congrats on the purchase And I can't believe nobody's said it yet put post up some pics! Sounds like a cool color combo, not sure I've seen it before.

[vasaline]

The one thing that bothers me is that when shifting to 2nd I hear a clunk. Not sure if this is normal or is just myself sucking at shifting. Seems like others are having the same problem on this forum.

Will post pictures as soon as i can.

[Hawkeye]

I found with this car I get smoother shift at higher RPMs and it helps if I load the clutch.

There should not be a clunk as far as I am concerned... perhaps you are letting the clutch out too early/fast or do not have it engaged all the way?

[G80indy]

Originally Posted by vasaline

The one thing that bothers me is that when shifting to 2nd I hear a clunk. Not sure if this is normal or is just myself sucking at shifting. Seems like others are having the same problem on this forum.

Will post pictures as soon as i can.

Please do post those pics! ....and welcome!
Removing the CDV helps this a lot.
You may want to consider throwing some Redline MTL in the gearbox as well. Depends on if you're still in warranty. Change those fluids.

The beauty of the M is you only 'need' a few mods.
the ones i have done:
1. CDV removal
2. Strut tower brace [lots of debate on this one/ may noit be necessary ]
3. Stubby antenna
4. 3M film
5. AFE Performance Air Filter - ProDry S

[krnnerdboy]

congrats on the purchase! I remember going for my first test drive in this car. I had to apologize to the salesman and assure him I knew how to drive a manual he understood

[blender]

I'm guessing you got a z4MR-- congrats!!

FYI The Z3MR is officially designated as the "M Roadster" by BMW and therefore by most knowledgeable aftermarket vendors and car-saavy print media.
Attachment 358700
This can be a real source of confusion for non-car-saavy types like Insurance Providers, some cops, parking authorities, generic repair garages, tire stores, etc. It actually affected my premiums by $300 yearly when I corrected them about the make/model. Apparently the z4 is deemed marginally safer than the z3 by AAA.

Anyway, in my experience referring to the car as a "z4m" greatly reduces confusion.

[chickdr]

Originally Posted by rcleme05

I'm guessing you got a z4MR-- congrats!!

FYI The Z3MR is officially designated as the "M Roadster" by BMW and therefore by most knowledgeable aftermarket vendors and car-saavy print media.

This can be a real source of confusion for non-car-saavy types like Insurance Providers, some cops, parking authorities, generic repair garages, tire stores, etc. It actually affected my premiums by $300 yearly when I corrected them about the make/model. Apparently the z4 is deemed marginally safer than the z3 by AAA.

Anyway, in my experience referring to the car as a "z4m" greatly reduces confusion.

Interesting. The window sticker from my 06 Z4MR says "2006 M Roadster". Nothing about it being a Z4 at all. The car also doesn't have a Z4 designation anywhere. Only ///M badges. I do see many of them with Z4 floor mats(which I think is a mistake by the dealership- they should have the ///M mats).

[Huz-Z]

Originally Posted by chickdr

Interesting. The window sticker from my 06 Z4MR says "2006 M Roadster". Nothing about it being a Z4 at all. The car also doesn't have a Z4 designation anywhere. Only ///M badges. I do see many of them with Z4 floor mats(which I think is a mistake by the dealership- they should have the ///M mats).

Oh dear. Its obviously one of those cheap Mexican (hence the "M") knock-offs of the real BMW Z4-M that have been circulating around the country for a while now. I'll help you out and give you $500 for it.

[vasaline]

Hmmm maybe I should take it into the dealer for the clunk issue. The clunk seems to not occur when I drive it harder and shift faster. Car just had inspection done as well.

Haven't driven with the top down yet but will do so as soon as I get better at driving it.

[Blind32]

Congrats, and welcome. I also hope to be an owner soon. I have my deposit on it, just waiting to dot the i's and cross the t's.

[crfine88]

Great color comb.

Now bring on the photos

[vasaline]

Originally Posted by Blind32

Congrats, and welcome. I also hope to be an owner soon. I have my deposit on it, just waiting to dot the i's and cross the t's.

You will definitely love it and I came from a e46 as well. Much more satisfying to drive.

Pictures will be up soon...

[blender]

Originally Posted by rcleme05

I'm guessing you got a z4MR-- congrats!!

FYI The Z3MR is officially designated as the "M Roadster" by BMW and therefore by most knowledgeable aftermarket vendors and car-saavy print media.
Attachment 358700
This can be a real source of confusion for non-car-saavy types like Insurance Providers, some cops, parking authorities, generic repair garages, tire stores, etc. It actually affected my premiums by $300 yearly when I corrected them about the make/model. Apparently the z4 is deemed marginally safer than the z3 by AAA.

Anyway, in my experience referring to the car as a "z4m" greatly reduces confusion.

==========
So I had to call BMW North America regarding another issue, and I asked them to run my Z4M vin. The woman answering the line referred to it as a "2006 M Roadster", so I stopped her and asked her to clarify the difference between the Z3 "M Roadster" and the "Z4 M Roadster".

She went away and I got to listen to some nice hold music for awhile.

She eventually came back on the line and informed me that BMW "Recycled the name" (her words) because the Z3 ended production in 2002 [true] and the Z4 design replaced the Z3.

Consequently, your hypothetical 2002 Z3-based S54 convertible and your 2008 Z4-based S54 convertible have exactly the same Official BMW designation of "M Roadster". Despite being completely different cars, built six years apart, based on two completely different chassis, with completely different equipment.

It's A TRIUMPH OF MARKETING ! I guess they were out of common sense at the cafeteria that day.

Anyway, I stand corrected about the names. I will go sit in the corner now.

[vasaline]

Been driving the car for a week already and getting better at driving it. While driving I noticed that when shifting from 1st to 2nd, i need to use a bit more pressure gettig it into 2nd gear. Don't know if I'm overracting and that it is normal.