After three RenaultSports.....

[gex23]

After the R26 i'd finally had enough of french hot hatch ownership - it was never ending trouble!

Been after a soft top for a few years, the choice was between S2000 and Z4 0 but the S2K had a ludicrous tax band (after 06), and insurance rates - so much so my current insurance company classed them all as imports and wouldn't insure me (that's with 11 years NCB!).

So I was left looking for a Z4, had to be manual and a facelift with the revised engine and with a decent spec list - as LONG as it wasn't black ......

Swapped the OEM aerial for a shorter variant :

[/URL]20140528_121539 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr[/IMG]

Spec as follows :

Black
21k (only covered 100 miles in the last 2 years!)
3.0si
Manual
Comfort Pack, cruise control, heated electric seats, xenons, two tone nappa leather

It's an approved BMW car so has BMW warranty for a year which I fully plan to extend next year!

 

[Pep]

Lovely car dude, got one of these on my to own list.
How does it sound?

 

[Matthew]

Nice! You gona get some Z4M wheels?

That was my plan if I'd have kept the Z4.

 

[not normal dan]

Lovely cars these, a friend of mine had a 3.0ltr of similar spec.

Was a great car to drive, he took it a tour of Europe without any bother.

Only grief he had was with the roof motor/pump which I replaced due to a blocked drain hole.

Great looking example you have though bud, enjoy

 

[gex23]

Lovely car dude, got one of these on my to own list.
How does it sound?

Cheers man - it sounds very 'creamy' not brash like something like an R32.

Nice! You gona get some Z4M wheels?

That was my plan if I'd have kept the Z4.

Cheers! I dislike the Z4M wheels tbh, thinking some BBS CH with eibach springs.

Lovely cars these, a friend of mine had a 3.0ltr of similar spec.

Was a great car to drive, he took it a tour of Europe without any bother.

Only grief he had was with the roof motor/pump which I replaced due to a blocked drain hole.

Great looking example you have though bud, enjoy

Thanks man.

Yeah the roof motor seems to be a 'common' problem - the warranty covers this luckily!

Cheers man, love it.

 

[not normal dan]

Cheers man - it sounds very 'creamy' not brash like something like an R32.



Cheers! I dislike the Z4M wheels tbh, thinking some BBS CH with eibach springs.



Thanks man.

Yeah the roof motor seems to be a 'common' problem - the warranty covers this luckily!

Cheers man, love it.

Yeah tbh it was a bad job, the whole roof and pump comes off in under a couple of hours.

You have any more plans for it?

 

[gex23]

Lovely car dude, got one of these on my to own list.
How does it sound?

Nice! You gona get some Z4M wheels?

That was my plan if I'd have kept the Z4.

Lovely cars these, a friend of mine had a 3.0ltr of similar spec.

Was a great car to drive, he took it a tour of Europe without any bother.

Only grief he had was with the roof motor/pump which I replaced due to a blocked drain hole.

Great looking example you have though bud, enjoy

Yeah tbh it was a bad job, the whole roof and pump comes off in under a couple of hours.

You have any more plans for it?

Very little in all honesty - possibly a weighted gear knob, some wheel bolt covers and then paint work correction / quartz coating!

 

[not normal dan]

Very little in all honesty - possibly a weighted gear knob, some wheel bolt covers and then paint work correction / quartz coating!

Yeah I don't blame your there the sort of car that don't need any modifications.

My mate just had some csl staggered reps and that was about it.

He also had a detachable hardtop which was nice

 

[Sargara]

My housemate has the E85 2.5 variety (pre-facelift) and took it to Powerflow for a custom exhaust, id recommend it

 

[Bubbles]

Done the sound generator mod? Adds a nice sound in the cabin, good engine choice and spec!

 

[Steven103]

Looks nice.

Are these fun & engaging to drive? Or does it just feel like a really low and small 130/330 with a bit less comfort?

 

[gex23]

Yeah I don't blame your there the sort of car that don't need any modifications.

My mate just had some csl staggered reps and that was about it.

He also had a detachable hardtop which was nice

Yeah, if I replace the wheels it'll be for a set of BBS CH coupled with a subtle drop on eibach springs. The plan for now though is just to enjoy it.

My housemate has the E85 2.5 variety (pre-facelift) and took it to Powerflow for a custom exhaust, id recommend it

A bit OTT for me, doesn't suit the car (IMO anyway) - may go for the back box silencer bypass at some point.

Did you sell the 250 dude?

Done the sound generator mod? Adds a nice sound in the cabin, good engine choice and spec!

I've seen that mentioned but unsure what it entails?

Thankyou, only covered 100 miles in the past 2 years!

Looks nice.

Are these fun & engaging to drive? Or does it just feel like a really low and small 130/330 with a bit less comfort?

I've not really driven it as such, more the commute to work right now. I love the driving position though, and the noise

 

[Herr Flick]

100 miles in 2 years?? No ta.

 

[gex23]

100 miles in 2 years?? No ta.

Yeah - thanks for that input.

 

[Thrust-Rated]

Looks nice! I really like these but doubt i would fit in one
Saying that, I manage in the Clio.....

 

[Sargara]

A bit OTT for me, doesn't suit the car (IMO anyway) - may go for the back box silencer bypass at some point.

Did you sell the 250 dude?

I have to admit, its noisy but the straight 6 sound makes up for it.
http://www.mrtyre.com/microsites/mansfield/ Mr Tyre Mansfield was the place that made the Power flow system if your interested. The guy was sound as I went with him to drop the car off. They pretty much made it bespoke as the off the shelf silencer was too boomy so they sent away for a custom back box with dual tips.

Yeah 250 has gone to free up funds for a looming wedding. I'm back to the rattle and squeak Mk2 Clio's again

 

[aucky]

Rob

 

[Ian_182]

Nice looking car and a very punchy engine.

Is this the 265bhp one ???

 

[gex23]

Yeah 250 has gone to free up funds for a looming wedding. I'm back to the rattle and squeak Mk2 Clio's again

Sounds like you've got your priorities right though!

Nice looking car and a very punchy engine.

Is this the 265bhp one ???

Thankyou. Yes it's the 265bhp variant

 

[Scrooge]

I really like this! Lovely choice!

I reckon BBS CH's will look great but CSLs even better?

Done do the sound generator thing (all it entails is removing a piece of foam) you think it sounds great then all of a sudden you realise it's a mono-tonal drone of shitness that makes you want to rip you ears off!

The exhaust bypass is supposed to be better but I haven't experienced that myself tbh.

I really like the weighted gearknob in Rob's too, made the gear change lovely!

 

[C.J]

Why only 100miles in 2 years?

 

[Herr Flick]

Yeah - thanks for that input.

You're welcome.
I'd just rather a car that has been used.

Looks nice tho.

 

[gex23]

So, I ordered some pressed metal number plates and exhaust tips (Machine Monkey special) this week - plates arrived today .


Old vs new :

DSC_0094 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr

And fitted :

DSC_0100 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr

DSC_0104 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr

 

[_Tom]

I don't get why people still fit illegal metal plates. Plain UK plates ftw.

Lovely car btw.

 

[gex23]

Cheers.

 

[Gareth]

I don't get why people still fit illegal metal plates. Plain UK plates ftw.

Lovely car btw.

This tbh, they don't even look good.

 

[gex23]

This tbh, they don't even look good.

Each to their own.

They have BSAU standard, manufacturer and postcode on them and as reflective as stock plates along with correct spacing and sizing.

Full paint correction planned this next week, and the paint will be protected with Opti-Coat 2.0.

 

[Gally]

Weird choice with the plates but i've become a massive Z4 fan. Like me and Rob experienced recently, me with the TT and him with the Z4, they're not that expensive but to the uninitiated they carry an expensive look. Big fan!

 

[_Tom]

They have BSAU standard, manufacturer and postcode on them and as reflective as stock plates along with correct spacing and sizing.

Pressed plates are still illegal even with the BSAU stamp im afraid.

 

[Gareth]

Atleast they aren't German style.

 

[Gally]

Any reason for Opti-coat mate?

 

[cat171]

I like the car, but prefer the dealer plates.

 

[gex23]

Pressed plates are still illegal even with the BSAU stamp im afraid.

In that case i'll get some clean non pressed plates ordered then!

Atleast they aren't German style.

Not my thing.

Any reason for Opti-coat mate?

Wanted a semi-permamant coating that I can treat as another clear coat and apply waxes / BSD QD on top of. A bit nervous about applying it though.

Also it's one of the most resistant coats to water etching, which, with the hard water around here and minerals in rainwater is a nightmare on a black car.

I like the car, but prefer the dealer plates.

Cheers.

 

[Matthew]

As gally said, I used to love the looks i got with the top down.

Makes you look baller for lemonade money.

 

[gex23]

As @gally said, I used to love the looks i got with the top down.

Makes you look baller for lemonade money.

Yeah I love it with the top down!

Paid top end for it at 12850, but got all the spec I wanted plus low mileage

 

[gex23]

Replaced the OE exhaust tips :

DSC_0138 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr

DSC_0140 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr

DSC_0141 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr

DSC_0143 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr

 

[Matt W]

You can see the inner bit, so it's obvious they are just cosmetic. Tidy car otherwise.

 

[gex23]

You can see the inner bit, so it's obvious they are just cosmetic. Tidy car otherwise.

So were the stock ones - they've since been adjusted a touch further out so can't see the inner section as easily.

Weighted aluminium gearknob ordered.

 

[eo52vug]

Nice car buddy thats the same engine as my 130i its so flexible power pretty much everywhere and really good on fuel for a 3.0 .

 

[gex23]

Winter mode : Engaged

DSC_0004 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr

DSC_0009 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr

DSC_0012 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr

Sealed with Dlux :

20141110_141939 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr

Forgot to dress the tyres.