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  • Buyers guide

    Does anyone know of a good buyers guide for the Z4M? They're looking quite bargainy at the moment and I'm up for a change...

    Thanks!

  • #2
    Originally posted by breezer View Post
    Does anyone know of a good buyers guide for the Z4M? They're looking quite bargainy at the moment and I'm up for a change...

    Thanks!
    I've had mine for 16 months now and there doesn't seem to be any major problem reported on the forums. The bearing shell issue for the early S54 engines was sorted long before the E85/86 came on the scene. Just make sure that the servicing record is correct and in order. I think that the OEM suspension is terrible but with some mods I've transformed the handling/ride. They are great cars.
    /// Exdos ///
    "Men who try the impossible and fail spectacularly are infinitely superior to those who reach for nothing and succeed" --Napoleon Bonapart

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    • #3
      Cool, thanks Exdos. I've looked around and had come to a similar conclusion - aside from breaking rear springs, these things seem pretty reliable.

      Munich Legends have warned me against getting one, but I really do like them...I need to test drive a couple though to make sure.

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      • #4
        Originally posted by breezer View Post
        Cool, thanks Exdos. I've looked around and had come to a similar conclusion - aside from breaking rear springs, these things seem pretty reliable.

        Munich Legends have warned me against getting one, but I really do like them...I need to test drive a couple though to make sure.
        What was their logic for warning you off of one?
        2002 '52 S54 - Titanium Silver with 18" BBS LMs, AP Racing BBK, KW V3, H&R anti roll bars & ACS flippers (previously 2000 'X' S50 - Arctic Silver)

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        • #5
          Mainly the handling - they said it's too stiff, and thus really skittery on poor quality roads, which unfortunately covers almost all of the UK's tarmac...

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          • #6
            Originally posted by breezer View Post
            Mainly the handling - they said it's too stiff, and thus really skittery on poor quality roads, which unfortunately covers almost all of the UK's tarmac...
            They are correct. The OEM suspension is terrible but it can be improved considerably with a good adjustable aftermarket suspension. It was always my intention to do this before I bought mine. I fitted AC Schnitzer Racing suspension and it's transformed the car. I've just fitted some Vibra-Technic Engine Mounts and they've taken the handling to a new level - amazing!
            /// Exdos ///
            "Men who try the impossible and fail spectacularly are infinitely superior to those who reach for nothing and succeed" --Napoleon Bonapart

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            • #7
              Originally posted by exdos View Post
              They are correct. The OEM suspension is terrible but it can be improved considerably with a good adjustable aftermarket suspension. It was always my intention to do this before I bought mine. I fitted AC Schnitzer Racing suspension and it's transformed the car. I've just fitted some Vibra-Technic Engine Mounts and they've taken the handling to a new level - amazing!
              Cool! That's good to know, thanks. How have the Engine mounts helped? Are they necessary, or just a nice to have?

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              • #8
                Originally posted by breezer View Post
                Cool! That's good to know, thanks. How have the Engine mounts helped? Are they necessary, or just a nice to have?
                When the car is being pushed hard, downshifting can occasionally be difficult, with denial of certain gears. Nobody seems to know why this happens, but when you install the V-T engine mounts, there's a transformation to the feel and handling of the front of the car, where it feels completely "as one", because the horizontal movement of the engine is virtually impossible with the engine mounts. Consequently, the car turns much more sharply and the gearlever feels as though it's now working with a gear box in a fixed position. It's a great mod which is just beginning to catch on.
                /// Exdos ///
                "Men who try the impossible and fail spectacularly are infinitely superior to those who reach for nothing and succeed" --Napoleon Bonapart

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                • #9
                  That's awesome, thank you. That idea hadn't come up in my research at all. Is a CDV delete still a good option too?

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                  • #10
                    Originally posted by breezer View Post
                    That's awesome, thank you. That idea hadn't come up in my research at all. Is a CDV delete still a good option too?
                    I've not really found the CDV to be a problem, although the clutch can be a bit "different" when you first drive a Z4M. Having said that, I actually removed my CDV 2 days ago whilst I was changing the engine mounts because I needed to remove the undertray to do the mounts. I can't say I noticed any difference without it.
                    /// Exdos ///
                    "Men who try the impossible and fail spectacularly are infinitely superior to those who reach for nothing and succeed" --Napoleon Bonapart

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                    • #11
                      Exdos - is the suspension that bad generally or just when pushed? My other half loves the Z3M but feels she should have a Z4M to 'balance the garage'. Neither of us drive our cars aggresively and the Z4 would be bought mainly on looks. Your thoughts appreciated.

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                      • #12
                        Originally posted by NottsLad View Post
                        Exdos - is the suspension that bad generally or just when pushed? My other half loves the Z3M but feels she should have a Z4M to 'balance the garage'. Neither of us drive our cars aggresively and the Z4 would be bought mainly on looks. Your thoughts appreciated.
                        Let me put it this way: I couldn't live with an OEM Z4M, particularly if I didn't drive it aggressively, because the ride from the OEM suspension is grossly uncomfortably when in ordinary use and with no benefit to performance when pushing on. The Z3MC's suspension is at least very comfortable in ordinary use.

                        The rear springs of the Z4MC are made of 19mm diameter wire: that's the same thickness as the Z3MC's rear ARB! Since the ride is largely determined by the rear suspension, this means that you feel every bump in the road at any speed, and I find such suspension very uncomfortable and it gives me pain across my shoulders and neck. That's simply not right.

                        Likewise, the front springs are made from 11mm diameter wire, so the front end is quite reactive to lifting on acceleration and diving on braking. Therefore the steering becomes light on acceleration making it very imprecise, especially when overtaking on rural A&B roads when you have to cross the camber in the road, and there can be a tendency to "squirrelling" under hard braking.

                        Go and try one for long enough on some rural roads and you'll see what I mean.
                        /// Exdos ///
                        "Men who try the impossible and fail spectacularly are infinitely superior to those who reach for nothing and succeed" --Napoleon Bonapart

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                        • #13
                          What's engine noise and vibration/harshness like with the new mounts?

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                          • #14
                            Originally posted by c_w View Post
                            What's engine noise and vibration/harshness like with the new mounts?
                            The only difference is the very slightest of vibration at idle, otherwise no difference. I doubt if a passenger would notice.
                            /// Exdos ///
                            "Men who try the impossible and fail spectacularly are infinitely superior to those who reach for nothing and succeed" --Napoleon Bonapart

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                            • #15
                              That sounds pretty good, I supposer the inherent smoothness of the engine helps.

                              I find on my car 2nd to 3rd can be awkward on track coming out of a tight corner, engine mounts are probably past their best though but I'd never thought about aftermarket stuff due to possibility of extra NVH.

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