Considering a Z4MC - Roadtrip to pickup

[winnipegz4m]

Hey Everyone - new here, but not new to BMW - I drive an e46 330 ZSP today. I've been looking to pick up a Z4MC and have found one. Difficulty - its a 1200 mile drive across a disconcerting amount of Canadian wilderness.

The Z4MC I found has ~40,000 miles on it, and looks to be in good condition, but I have no service history for it. Current owner has had it 2 years, and has had no major work done.

My 330 purchase was similar - long road trip to retrieve. I could get this car shipped but I really enjoy the drive, particularly across the north shore of the canadian great lakes, which is some truly beautiful driver's highway. When I bought the 330i, the PPI (by a bmw dealer in Toronto) was clean, but I had both a failed wheel bearing and a failed alternator that stranded me and made it a complicated return home.

So - I could get this Z4MC shipped, but I *really* want to do this drive.

I'm familiar with the common gotchas on the M54, but I could really use everyone's advice re: e85/6's and what you think I should get done before a big drive with a new-to-me vehicle and motor. Right now, here's what I'm thinking based on my M54 / E46 experience...

• New wheel bearings
• New alternator
• Replace all belts
• Besian VANOS seal rebuild
• Do S54s have a DISA valve? I don't see a DISA kit on GAS
• Change all fluids and filters
• Test / replace Alternator
• Test / replace battery
• Complete cooling system overhaul / flush

The car in question is very low mileage, but its 11 years old, and I intend to drive it hard for those 1200 miles, so I don't want anything to catch me by surprise...

Your input, advice and experience would be very appreciated!

[paulromi]

I would change out all the fluids, and test and replace the battery. The rest of your list inspect and only do if required. I purchased a low km car last fall and thats what I did. I was concerned driving to Edmonton to pick up from Calgary just in case I got stranded but all is still good and my level of trust for my Z4 has increased to take it anywhere without concern.

[wdb]

If the car has been driven regularly I'd just get in it and drive. It's not even 10 years old and the mileage is hyper low.

[Eau_Rouge111]

I'd do the 1800km trip with a grin on my face and do the return trip with an even bigger grin on my face. I'd love a reason to do an 1800 km trip in my Z4mC through Canadian wilderness...

3 yrs in my car...ZERO mechanical issues....46500km on it..3000 km a yr average

[winnipegz4m]

paulromi Eau_Rouge111 wdb --- thank you for the feedback!

[Lucky1]

Originally Posted by Eau_Rouge111

I'd do the 1800km trip with a grin on my face and do the return trip with an even bigger grin on my face. I'd love a reason to do an 1800 km trip in my Z4mC through Canadian wilderness...

3 yrs in my car...ZERO mechanical issues....46500km on it..3000 km a yr average

Damn thats low. I'm doing 10K kms every summer on my Z4MR.

[David70]

Would get AAA/CAA with long towing option and just go get it and drive it home. Pretty cheap club and it gives you a number to call if you get stranded (not likely but a chance).

[deemo319]

Will you remember the truck that delivers it? Hell no!

Will you remember the cross-country road trip in your M Coupe? Hell yes, and like forever. That's how bonds are forged.

Will you have the opportunity and time to do this sort of trip in the future?

Would it be an adventure? Oh yes.

Would you learn about how the car drives, noises it makes, how it feels on straights, how the front end bites and then rotates on curves? Every mile you would learn something new about it.

What will you learn about yourself on this sort of trip? Just you and the car getting to know each other after the introduction.

And would you start to trust the car, forget about something unforeseen happening and just drive the car as it was intended and smile as you get closer to home?

Take the trip. You only live once.

[ZeD4Mr]

Just do it. These car are quite reliable. get your PPI done. Check your battery and bring your credit card. You'll be fine...

[Daemonblitz]

Originally Posted by winnipegz4m

• New wheel bearings

I would not worry about wheel bearings unless you are actually hearing bearing noise, do you mean rod bearings? If so I would run an oil analysis first and take it from there.

[gnx]

Originally Posted by Daemonblitz

I would not worry about wheel bearings unless you are actually hearing bearing noise, do you mean rod bearings? If so I would run an oil analysis first and take it from there.

Have the rod bearings done, sooner rather than later for peace of mind.

Also, check the engine mounts, that was an issue back in the days when these cars were new. The bolts could snap, a lot of us replaced them with thicker ones, can't remember size though.

[mainsoda]

I bought my Z4M Coupe and did the road trip. Read about it here if you are interested -->

http://www.jefjamdesign.com/ARCC/index.html

[DukeofAlexandria]

What the hell are you talking about...

Straight 6 M54 motors (and by extension the N52 motors for non-M's) are stupid reliable.

Just fly out and do the damn road trip.

If the car is in good condition, you should have no issues. Get a $80-130 PPI from a local mechanic shop that specializes in European cars, and if it comes back fine then just drive it.

40K miles is pretty low and nothing usually goes wrong with these in that time span. I drive out to purchase cars all the time.

One point to note though - 1200 miles is quite a bit, my usual cutoff for new used vehicles is 1000 mile max. Just something to consider if you don't want to add on more miles to the vehicle.

-M

[winnipegz4m]

Hey Everyone - thanks very much for your insight and encouragement!

PPI went well. Biggest finding was H&R rear springs were both cracked. So - before flying out to drive it home, I am...

- Replacing all 4 rotors (were ready for it)
- Replacing belts (serpentine etc)
- Doing all fluids (trans, diff, oil, coolant)
- Replacing H&R springs at all 4 corners with Eibachs (on bilstein dampers)

The springs are of course not easy to get quickly, so I'm going to be racing the snow in October by the time its ready to go.

But - its definitely getting driven, and October is a great time to drive the north shore of the great lakes -- limited traffic, dry roads ---- wide open and fast. Can't wait.

Cheers all - I'm looking forward to joining this forum "for real" once I have it in hand!

Just turned in my 2003 330i for a Mercedes GLK 350, so I need to redeem myself...

[winnipegz4m]

Originally Posted by mainsoda

I bought my Z4M Coupe and did the road trip. Read about it here if you are interested -->

http://www.jefjamdesign.com/ARCC/index.html

Great read - thank you! And gorgeous car!

[DukeofAlexandria]

Originally Posted by winnipegz4m

Hey Everyone - thanks very much for your insight and encouragement!

PPI went well. Biggest finding was H&R rear springs were both cracked. So - before flying out to drive it home, I am...

- Replacing all 4 rotors (were ready for it)
- Replacing belts (serpentine etc)
- Doing all fluids (trans, diff, oil, coolant)
- Replacing H&R springs at all 4 corners with Eibachs (on bilstein dampers)

OK, super confused. You had a PPI completed, why would you get all these items done - it hasn't even hit the 50K mark nor the 60K mark (where it's recommended)...!?

I just feel that a lot of wasted money, especially for rotors that are still good.

-M

[winnipegz4m]

- Rotors weren't good - fronts wouldn't pass safety, rears would but were close
- Belts were showing some age
- Fluids - just preventative
- Springs - both rears were broken - I wanted to switch to Eibachs anyway for a more street friendly ride

Originally Posted by DukeofAlexandria

OK, super confused. You had a PPI completed, why would you get all these items done - it hasn't even hit the 50K mark nor the 60K mark (where it's recommended)...!?

I just feel that a lot of wasted money, especially for rotors that are still good.

-M

[DukeofAlexandria]

OH, sorry. You didn't specify about the rotors and I was like "WHAT!?!? WHY!?!?!" haha.

Just didn't want to see you waste money to do all that if they were still good haha!

Good luck and have fun with the drive!

-M

[winnipegz4m]

Haha - for sure! The rotors are SUPER EXPENSIVE, so I didn't make that decision lightly. The former owner and I split the cost of the rotors, as the rears didn't "need" to be replaced, so it was a bit more manageable.

Cheers!

Originally Posted by DukeofAlexandria

OH, sorry. You didn't specify about the rotors and I was like "WHAT!?!? WHY!?!?!" haha.

Just didn't want to see you waste money to do all that if they were still good haha!

Good luck and have fun with the drive!

-M

[PDXFactory]

I'm in the same boat...just joined up here since I'm on the hunt for a Z4MC. Sounds like you already have things fairly well sorted out with the PPI. Did you bring the car home yet? With the super low production numbers on these cars...I expect to have to go some distance for one!

As long as the fluids are up to date and the tires are in good shape, I'd usually not hesitate to drive any car with low miles across the country! I've only been stranded once in my E46 M3...also due to an alternator failure. I'd just get a AAA (CAA?) membership, bring a credit card, and roll out!

[winnipegz4m]

Hey PDXFactory - I'm expecting to pick it up two weeks from now and do the drive - CAA membership and credit card are in hand - we'll see how it goes, but I'm expecting smooth sailing! And - a good experience learning the vehicle and enjoying it on some incredible driving roads.

Good luck w/ your search! Take a look at Bring a Trailer:
https://bringatrailer.com/search/z4/
None there right now, but high quality listing when they come through.

Originally Posted by PDXFactory

I'm in the same boat...just joined up here since I'm on the hunt for a Z4MC. Sounds like you already have things fairly well sorted out with the PPI. Did you bring the car home yet? With the super low production numbers on these cars...I expect to have to go some distance for one!

As long as the fluids are up to date and the tires are in good shape, I'd usually not hesitate to drive any car with low miles across the country! I've only been stranded once in my E46 M3...also due to an alternator failure. I'd just get a AAA (CAA?) membership, bring a credit card, and roll out!

[winnipegz4m]

Just to finish off the thread - mission accomplished! Picked it up in Sudbury Ontario, and drove back to Winnipeg, Manitoba - ~2,000 KM in two days. No problems - smooth sailing! Gorgeous Z4M Coupe in Alpine white - immaculate condition inside and out.

Has a few mods:

• Bilstein B6 dampers
• Eibach springs (I had them installed before pickup to replace broken H&Rs)
• AFE intake

Prior to departing I had a bit of work done:

• New rotors and pads at all 4 corners
• Eibach replacement of H&R springs that were cracked
• All new belts
• New fluids - brake, diff, trans, oil, power steering
• Oil change
• Crank seal

So - I'm very happy to officially be in the Z club!