New Z4 M Coupe owner in Australia

MBan · 07-24-2018, 07:04 AM

I’m now a member of the Z4 owners club, so thought I would introduce myself and my car.

I’ve been thinking about buying a Z4 M coupe since around the middle of last year. There actually aren’t many cars that meet my criteria:
- non-turbo
- rear wheel drive
- relatively compact
- not a convertible
- manual transmission

After reading and watching everything I could find about the M coupe, percolating options in my mind and making comparisons to a couple of other options (E46 M3, 987 series 2 Cayman S), I really made my choice in April. The problem was, I had never seen one ‘in the flesh’ let alone driven one.

I also hadn’t seen any for sale in my State, so it looked likely that any car I found would be a 5 hour flight away.

The prospect of putting a deposit on a car I might not even fit in (I’m 188cm) was a roadblock for me.

With the chance of driving one seeming slim, I posted on these forums, asking what the headroom was like in the coupe.

The advice I received was great but better yet, a local member offered to show me his car - huge ‘thank you’ to Digby!

This confirmed my thoughts on the car (Digby’s is a beautiful example and sounds soooo good) but finding one was still going to be an issue. Apparently only around 100 came to Australia and the last few good ones advertised online had sold in a matter of days.

After one false start with a car that had a dubious past, I received a text one evening from Digby. There was a nice example for sale through the local BMW car club.

I jumped on it the next morning and after having my ‘credentials’ checked by the BMW car club president (thanks again to Digby for vouching for me) and being interviewed by the owner (not quite but it felt like it), the deal was done a couple of weeks ago.

Unfortunately, I’ve had to put the car into storage for a couple of months while I finish building a new house but I had a good drive on Saturday morning before putting it away. There is much more to learn about the car and I can’t wait until I have it again.

A few pictures are below. Sorry about the dappled shade - I was a bit short of time when I took the pictures.

schobyb · 07-24-2018, 07:14 AM

Nice looking car, congrats!

Punisher3.0si · 07-24-2018, 10:20 AM

Congrats and welcome to the club!

StickMon · 07-24-2018, 11:12 AM

Congrats and Welcome!

That said, I just heard on the radio this morning that you don't actually exist.

MBan · 07-24-2018, 06:09 PM

Thanks for the welcome 🙂

StickMon - that article puts me in a bit of an existential loop; if I can read the article and question if I exist, then surely I must exist?

WhatTheFetch · 07-24-2018, 06:46 PM

Congrats.. Enjoy the Ride! Great color combo!

Digs · 07-24-2018, 07:29 PM

Congrats! Glad it all worked out, this is a lovely example

Do you mind telling us how many kms it’s travelled? Or rather how FEW kms since the number is so incredibly low.

Huz-Z · 07-24-2018, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MBan

Thanks for the welcome 🙂

StickMon - that article puts me in a bit of an existential loop; if I can read the article and question if I exist, then surely I must exist?

To Z or not to Z? Zat is ze question!

Welcome !!

MBan · 07-24-2018, 11:44 PM

Haha, I wasn’t going to mention the km. If I decide to make any modifications to it, I don’t want to get criticised for ruining a museum piece!

26,000km is the number. I put 100km on it on Saturday morning, which totally blew out the car’s average km/day

MBan · 07-24-2018, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Huz-Z

To Z or not to Z? Zat is ze question!

Welcome !!

And, ‘I Z, therefore I am’.

Digs · 07-25-2018, 12:10 AM

Haha don’t worry about that, these guys love some mods! Lots info here on exhausts and wheel fitments. Try not to let the mod bug bite too hard!

Some great TiAg cars on here, look up Dubsesd, Cargriff, Milamookie, Mirko, 3002 tii. I’m sure there’s more.

Finnegan · 07-25-2018, 02:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MBan

Haha, I wasn’t going to mention the km. If I decide to make any modifications to it, I don’t want to get criticised for ruining a museum piece!

26,000km is the number. I put 100km on it on Saturday morning, which totally blew out the car’s average km/day

Welcome! Your quest was successful, what a beauty, and so few kms!

I can't think of anyone here who is going to say you ruined a museum piece. We might keep stock parts (mine are labeled and in containers) but we love mods. And DIYs! Enjoy the car!

First mod ditch the cdv if the bugger is still in.

garz747 · 07-25-2018, 07:44 PM

Lookin good! These cars have aged amazingly well. Im only at 27000kms lol. Still breakin her in.

MBan · 07-26-2018, 12:20 AM

Thanks, all.

I’m going to get to know the Z a bit more before deciding on any significant mods but the CDV is going the first chance I get. I’d forgotten how annoying it is after changing it out pretty early on my E82.

Wheels are also a ‘must do’ for me. Reducing unsprung mass is one of the best value for money modifications, in my opinion. I’ll be posting up a question or two in the definitive wheel thread.

racerbruce · 07-26-2018, 10:03 AM

Welcome and nice choice!
Z4M's are simply awesome.

Took the Red Roadster out at 530 am this morning and traveled east on I-90 with the cruise control set at 80 mph and then through the Cascade Mountain foothills for a one hour joy ride.

MBan · 07-26-2018, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garz747

Lookin good! These cars have aged amazingly well. Im only at 27000kms lol. Still breakin her in.

It seems there’s a few low km/mike cars around.

Are you in Australia (sorry if your signature has that info - i’m On my phone)?

KevinM · 07-27-2018, 12:45 AM

Congratulations!

Efthreeoh · 07-27-2018, 07:10 AM

Your first mod should be to move the steering wheel to the correct side.

07-24-2018, 07:04 AM	#1
MBan First Lieutenant 166 Rep 358 Posts Drives: BMW Z4M Coupe Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Perth, Western Australia iTrader: (0)	New Z4 M Coupe owner in Australia I’m now a member of the Z4 owners club, so thought I would introduce myself and my car. I’ve been thinking about buying a Z4 M coupe since around the middle of last year. There actually aren’t many cars that meet my criteria: - non-turbo - rear wheel drive - relatively compact - not a convertible - manual transmission After reading and watching everything I could find about the M coupe, percolating options in my mind and making comparisons to a couple of other options (E46 M3, 987 series 2 Cayman S), I really made my choice in April. The problem was, I had never seen one ‘in the flesh’ let alone driven one. I also hadn’t seen any for sale in my State, so it looked likely that any car I found would be a 5 hour flight away. The prospect of putting a deposit on a car I might not even fit in (I’m 188cm) was a roadblock for me. With the chance of driving one seeming slim, I posted on these forums, asking what the headroom was like in the coupe. The advice I received was great but better yet, a local member offered to show me his car - huge ‘thank you’ to Digby! This confirmed my thoughts on the car (Digby’s is a beautiful example and sounds soooo good) but finding one was still going to be an issue. Apparently only around 100 came to Australia and the last few good ones advertised online had sold in a matter of days. After one false start with a car that had a dubious past, I received a text one evening from Digby. There was a nice example for sale through the local BMW car club. I jumped on it the next morning and after having my ‘credentials’ checked by the BMW car club president (thanks again to Digby for vouching for me) and being interviewed by the owner (not quite but it felt like it), the deal was done a couple of weeks ago. Unfortunately, I’ve had to put the car into storage for a couple of months while I finish building a new house but I had a good drive on Saturday morning before putting it away. There is much more to learn about the car and I can’t wait until I have it again. A few pictures are below. Sorry about the dappled shade - I was a bit short of time when I took the pictures. Attached Images
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07-24-2018, 07:14 AM	#2
schobyb Private 15 Rep 66 Posts Drives: 06 Z4M Roadster; 2012 Cayenne Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Central Ohio iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 BMW Z4MR [0.00]	Nice looking car, congrats!
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07-24-2018, 10:20 AM	#3
Punisher3.0si Second Lieutenant 28 Rep 204 Posts Drives: 2007 E86 manual Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Illinois iTrader: (0)	Congrats and welcome to the club!
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07-24-2018, 11:12 AM	#4
StickMon My other car is on Mars 636 Rep 3,124 Posts Drives: 2006 MR Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Lo-Cal iTrader: (1)	Congrats and Welcome! That said, I just heard on the radio this morning that you don't actually exist. __________________ Warning: May contain traces of nuts.
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07-24-2018, 06:09 PM	#5
MBan First Lieutenant 166 Rep 358 Posts Drives: BMW Z4M Coupe Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Perth, Western Australia iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the welcome 🙂 StickMon - that article puts me in a bit of an existential loop; if I can read the article and question if I exist, then surely I must exist?
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07-24-2018, 06:46 PM	#6
WhatTheFetch Private First Class 93 Rep 158 Posts Drives: 07 Z4 M Coupe Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: La Quinta, California iTrader: (1) Garage List 2019 Bullitt [0.00] 2015 BMW M3 [0.00] 2018 Camaro 1SS 1LE [0.00]	Congrats.. Enjoy the Ride! Great color combo!
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07-24-2018, 07:29 PM	#7
Digs Second Lieutenant 133 Rep 274 Posts Drives: Z4M Coupe Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Perth, WA iTrader: (0)	Congrats! Glad it all worked out, this is a lovely example Do you mind telling us how many kms it’s travelled? Or rather how FEW kms since the number is so incredibly low.
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07-24-2018, 11:44 PM	#9
MBan First Lieutenant 166 Rep 358 Posts Drives: BMW Z4M Coupe Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Perth, Western Australia iTrader: (0)	Haha, I wasn’t going to mention the km. If I decide to make any modifications to it, I don’t want to get criticised for ruining a museum piece! 26,000km is the number. I put 100km on it on Saturday morning, which totally blew out the car’s average km/day
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-25-2018, 12:10 AM	#11
Digs Second Lieutenant 133 Rep 274 Posts Drives: Z4M Coupe Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Perth, WA iTrader: (0)	Haha don’t worry about that, these guys love some mods! Lots info here on exhausts and wheel fitments. Try not to let the mod bug bite too hard! Some great TiAg cars on here, look up Dubsesd, Cargriff, Milamookie, Mirko, 3002 tii. I’m sure there’s more. Last edited by Digs; 07-25-2018 at 02:16 AM..
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07-25-2018, 07:44 PM	#13
garz747 Captain 286 Rep 679 Posts Drives: 07 Z4MC 01 330i 18 X3 M40i Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	Lookin good! These cars have aged amazingly well. Im only at 27000kms lol. Still breakin her in.
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07-26-2018, 12:20 AM	#14
MBan First Lieutenant 166 Rep 358 Posts Drives: BMW Z4M Coupe Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Perth, Western Australia iTrader: (0)	Thanks, all. I’m going to get to know the Z a bit more before deciding on any significant mods but the CDV is going the first chance I get. I’d forgotten how annoying it is after changing it out pretty early on my E82. Wheels are also a ‘must do’ for me. Reducing unsprung mass is one of the best value for money modifications, in my opinion. I’ll be posting up a question or two in the definitive wheel thread.
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07-26-2018, 10:03 AM	#15
racerbruce Brigadier General 3854 Rep 3,004 Posts Drives: 21 X3 & 13 335is E93 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Seattle iTrader: (1)	Welcome and nice choice! Z4M's are simply awesome. Took the Red Roadster out at 530 am this morning and traveled east on I-90 with the cruise control set at 80 mph and then through the Cascade Mountain foothills for a one hour joy ride. __________________ Racerbruce
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07-27-2018, 12:45 AM	#17
KevinM Brigadier General 2936 Rep 3,286 Posts Drives: 2002 M5;2007 M Coupe;2020 M2C Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Tucson iTrader: (0) Garage List 2020 M2 Competition [10.00] 2007 E86 M coupe [8.38] 2002 E39 M5 [9.00]	Congratulations! __________________ 2020 F87 M2C Hockenheim Silver/MT 2002 E39 M5 Sterling Gray/Caramel 2007 E86 Z4M Coupe Silver Gray/Black 2021 Kia Telluride (hauler)
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07-27-2018, 07:10 AM	#18
Efthreeoh General 17303 Rep 18,727 Posts Drives: The E90 + Z4 Coupe & Z3 R'ster Join Date: May 2012 Location: Virginia iTrader: (0)	Your first mod should be to move the steering wheel to the correct side. __________________ A manual transmission can be set to "comfort", "sport", and "track" modes simply by the technique and speed at which you shift it; it doesn't need "modes", modes are for manumatics that try to behave like a real 3-pedal manual transmission. If you can money-shift it, it's a manual transmission. "Yeah, but NO ONE puts an automatic trans shift knob on a manual transmission."
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