Z4MC - First problemette

[jezzaaa]

Chaps - has anyone else who's got a Z4C had a fairly quiet but distinct knocking/rattle sound coming from underneath the front of the car when driving over lumpy roads? It's going in for it's 1200 mile oil service on Weds so am going to take it up with the dealer...but I'm really expecting them to tell me they can't hear it and found nothing wrong.

Cheers,
J.

[DoctorD]

It is the engine braces (the two diagonal black ones). Take out a socket wrench and give them a tweak, then ask your dealer to torque them to the correct settings when you next see them. It's a common Z4M problem, mine did it but hasn't done so since I torqued them up correctly.

[jezzaaa]

Thanks DD...I will try it.

Obviously I won't be getting a strut brace now that Derin says it doesnt make any difference! ;-)

[jezzaaa]

Car's gone in today to have it's 1200 mile (well, 1600 mile!) oil change service and I've asked the to look at it for me...mentioned Steve's advice below so hopefully they will get it sorted.

Cheers,
J.

[DoctorD]

Let us know what happens.

[jezzaaa]

Hi Steve - ok, it's been in and they've tightened everything up. It's definitely alot better than it was...but it still makes that dull clunking sound when on really rough roads (i.e. the cobbles in New Town, Edinburgh) or over pot holes...there are some shocking pot holes in Edinburgh! But overall I think it's ok and nothing to worry about. Took it up to the red line yesterday for the first time....she really goes! ;-)

Thanks again for your advice.

Quick question - I know you've put your CSL wheels and strut brace on. I will at some point do the strut brace but don't really want to change the wheels....I quite like the way it looks as it is. Do you think the PS2s on the standard rims will make alot of difference?

Cheers,
J.

[DoctorD]

Yes, the CSL wheels are just for show, the real change comes from ditching those first generation Continentals for the PS2s. You should be able to get them in the same size as you have now.

My other suggestion for the rattling noise is one of two things, and I am pretty sure it will be one of these; either a loose wheel-bearing which your dealer needs to tighten or a loose anti-roll bar drop link. Those are the usual villans if you've ruled out the engine braces.

[jezzaaa]

Hi Steve - ok thanks again for the advice...I'll ask them to look at them.

Re the tyres, cool....suits me fine.

Ta,
J.

[jezzaaa]

Steve - I know you've done PS tyres on yours...have you had experience of Pirelli P Zero Rossos? They're ALOT cheaper than the PS ones!

Cheap skate that I am!

J.

[DoctorD]

I do have experience of the P Zero Rossos and they're cheap for a reason in my book. I actually prefer the P Zero Corsa (which are track biased tyres) or the P Zero Nero.

The reason I like the PS2s is that it has two compounds; the inner one which is a more typical hi-performance material (for wet conditions) and the outer few inches of tread which uses the same material as in the Michelin Cup track tyre. So, you get the best of both worlds. Tremendous grip levels, together with best in class rain performance. The only tyre that was better in the rain was the Goodyear GSD3 F1, but they weren't as good in the dry. Apart from those two, nothing seemed to have such a broad range of talents.

The other factor I like is that this performance doesn't fade away so rapidly as the tread wears down. So you get more life out of the tyre. I always found that the P Zero's were good when new, but were quite different when they were down to 3-4mm of tread.

If I was looking at a cheaper alternative to the PS2, then I would be choosing between the Goodyear F1 or the P Zero Nero.