My midlife crisis purchase; E86 BMW Z4 Coupe
Discussion
Court_S said:
Sorted my insurance tonight and had a pleasant surprise for once and actually added a few extras because it was so cheap. £328 all in and I have £38 cash back to come back as well. Result.
That's good going Sam!I've gone from £418 to £650 - zero changes (no points/no claims/25 years driving); could not get it lower anywhere; had some companies refuse to quote. Absolutely mental...
d_a_n1979 said:
That's good going Sam!
I've gone from £418 to £650 - zero changes (no points/no claims/25 years driving); could not get it lower anywhere; had some companies refuse to quote. Absolutely mental...
I thought so too. I've gone from £418 to £650 - zero changes (no points/no claims/25 years driving); could not get it lower anywhere; had some companies refuse to quote. Absolutely mental...
My automatic renewal was almost double (it was the most competitive last year). I’ve never understood the random number generator that insurance companies use.
Court_S said:
d_a_n1979 said:
That's good going Sam!
I've gone from £418 to £650 - zero changes (no points/no claims/25 years driving); could not get it lower anywhere; had some companies refuse to quote. Absolutely mental...
I thought so too. I've gone from £418 to £650 - zero changes (no points/no claims/25 years driving); could not get it lower anywhere; had some companies refuse to quote. Absolutely mental...
My automatic renewal was almost double (it was the most competitive last year). I’ve never understood the random number generator that insurance companies use.
AF wanted close to £1300
![laugh](/inc/images/laugh.gif)
Lowest on the usual sites was £1200
All that for a 4 pot diesel that does max, 5k miles a year and sits locked away on the drive the rest of the time...
![rolleyes](/inc/images/rolleyes.gif)
d_a_n1979 said:
I was told by Howdens (used to be A-Plan) that if my car was a 'modified' 325i they'd have isured it, but seeing as it's a diesel; they wouldn't quote... That, I do not get, at all!
AF wanted close to £1300![laugh](/inc/images/laugh.gif)
Lowest on the usual sites was £1200
All that for a 4 pot diesel that does max, 5k miles a year and sits locked away on the drive the rest of the time...![rolleyes](/inc/images/rolleyes.gif)
It’s absolutely bonkers isn’t it? I couldn’t believe it when my modded 335i was a chunk cheaper to insure than the 330i. Odd. AF wanted close to £1300
![laugh](/inc/images/laugh.gif)
Lowest on the usual sites was £1200
All that for a 4 pot diesel that does max, 5k miles a year and sits locked away on the drive the rest of the time...
![rolleyes](/inc/images/rolleyes.gif)
Court_S said:
It’s absolutely bonkers isn’t it? I couldn’t believe it when my modded 335i was a chunk cheaper to insure than the 330i. Odd.
I tried to change over my 530i insurance of a 3 litre barge to a 1.6 suzuki swift sport and they wanted to increase it from the C~£420 to £957 - with a £95 admin fee, despite me doing it myself over their website portal... They pull it out of their arses don't they!Edit: dont laugh at my new car
axel1990chp said:
I tried to change over my 530i insurance of a 3 litre barge to a 1.6 suzuki swift sport and they wanted to increase it from the C~£420 to £957 - with a £95 admin fee, despite me doing it myself over their website portal... They pull it out of their arses don't they!
Edit: dont laugh at my new car
You always get shafted when you change car part way through a policy. £95 admin fee is a pisstake though. Edit: dont laugh at my new car
Nothing wrong with a Swift Sport. They’re cool little things.
I finally made a start on fitting the centre console trim which is actually a s
t load of work. There are an awful lot of parts to remove. The trim itself is screwed in place with a load of torx screws. The entire centre console needs to be removed which means removing;
![](https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/171413/202406128108118?resize=720)
![](https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/171413/2024061281114?resize=720)
The many torx screws
![](https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/171413/202406128114262?resize=720)
Under the centre console there was 18 years of dusty crumbs and other detritus
![](https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/171413/20240612811881?resize=720)
![](https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/171413/202406128120457?resize=720)
This was all cleaned as were any bits that could be seen with the trim removed.
Wrapped trim in place ready to be fitted.
![](https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/171413/202406128126374?resize=720)
I made decent progress getting it all refitted but ran out of light so will finish it quickly tomorrow morning and take some pictures.
![](/inc/images/censored.gif)
- gear knob and gaiter
- gear surround trim
- ashtray
- panel with heated seat and DTC switches
- handbrake grip, gaiter and arm rest
- centre section of rear storage area
- knee pads
The many torx screws
Under the centre console there was 18 years of dusty crumbs and other detritus
This was all cleaned as were any bits that could be seen with the trim removed.
Wrapped trim in place ready to be fitted.
I made decent progress getting it all refitted but ran out of light so will finish it quickly tomorrow morning and take some pictures.
d_a_n1979 said:
Bluddy'ell Sam! Didn't realise it was such an invasive job!
Just replied on the BMW General chat section; it looks spiffing
Yeah, it’s an absolute ball ache. Even the dash trim is really. It’s not like any of my previous BMW’s where it’s basically a push fit. Just replied on the BMW General chat section; it looks spiffing
It was worth it though.
The headlights on my car were pretty poor. I tried to take some pictures but they didn’t come out that well.
![](https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/171413/202406184614544?resize=720)
![](https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/171413/202406184617538?resize=720)
So I decided to try and improve them last night. Masked up, ready for sanding.
![](https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/171413/202406184626621?resize=720)
With some 800 grit wet and dry, there was a lot of yellow running off. I then went over them with 1200 and 3000 grit before polishing them with my DA. Once it was all cleaned up, I sprayed them with some Meguiars UV protection.
The sun didn’t make taking pictures easy, but there is an improvement.
![](https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/171413/202406184638054?resize=720)
![](https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/171413/202406184646255?resize=720)
So I decided to try and improve them last night. Masked up, ready for sanding.
With some 800 grit wet and dry, there was a lot of yellow running off. I then went over them with 1200 and 3000 grit before polishing them with my DA. Once it was all cleaned up, I sprayed them with some Meguiars UV protection.
The sun didn’t make taking pictures easy, but there is an improvement.
The little Z4 has be scratching my head a bit at the moment.
Last night I decided to change the CCV to see if that would reduce the current oil consumption. My drive isn’t covered in oil so as pointed out by GPM, it’s most likely getting burnt. I had a CCV kit in the garage which was originally intended for the 330i, but because my oil consumption is higher I take priority!![hehe](/inc/images/hehe.gif)
Getting ready to start removing covers etc.
![](https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/171413/202406205131834?resize=720)
Beauty covers off, airbox and intake pipes removed. Things are starting to get disconnected and I’m labelling the plugs / connections as I go to avoid missing something.
![](https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/171413/20240620514066?resize=720)
![](https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/171413/202406205143232?resize=720)
Son enough, the intake manifold was loose but getting the oil return pipe free was a pain because the insulation on the CCV blocked access to tyre squeeze clips.
![](https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/171413/202406205151005?resize=720)
With a bit of swearing, it was soon free so I could removed the intake manifold. What instantly stood out was how much cheg there was in the return pipe.
![](https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/171413/202406205158196?resize=720)
![](https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/171413/202406205160052?resize=720)
Old CCV ready for removal.
![](https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/171413/202406205163723?resize=720)
And removed, next to the new one.
![](https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/171413/202406205166145?resize=720)
New one booted into place with new gaskets on the manifold.
![](https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/171413/202406205169984?resize=720)
Then it was time to put it all back together.
![](https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/171413/202406205173918?resize=720)
![](https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/171413/202406205175406?resize=720)
I was feeling quite happy / smug at this point because I’d sorted a few little things that weren’t quite in the right place, I assume after the starter motor was replaced but this is where it all went wrong….I started the car and it sprung into life, spluttered and stalled. The engine management light came on. Tits. At this point the light was fading so I went inside for a beer.
I came back to it this morning, checking connections etc. The plug for the small DISA didn’t look like it was all the way home some out came the airbox and intake again. A bit of faffing with the red rubber seal and it was plugged in like it should be. I checked all of the other connections and started the car minus the airbox and it was fine. Peachy.
Patting myself on the back, I chucked in the intake, plugged in the MAF and then started rage car….spluttered and stalled. Unplugged the MAF and it started / idled OK.
On the face of it, it sees, like the MAF has died / got damaged but I don’t see how be it was safe in the airbox. My only other suspicion is the new oil return pipe because it was dead easy to disconnect it from the CCV but would a vacuum leak from there make the car stall?
I’ve spoken to my local Sytner and got a quite for an OE MAF…..£359 with discount! I definitely don’t want to start firing the parts cannon so am going to try the MAF from the 330i tonight to see if it runs with that. If not, I might clean out the old return pipes fit that and see what happens.
I’ve tried to read the codes by Carly is being a turd. It gets to 90% on the scanning and then freezes. I’ve removed and reinstalled the app but it’s still not working.
Last night I decided to change the CCV to see if that would reduce the current oil consumption. My drive isn’t covered in oil so as pointed out by GPM, it’s most likely getting burnt. I had a CCV kit in the garage which was originally intended for the 330i, but because my oil consumption is higher I take priority!
![hehe](/inc/images/hehe.gif)
Getting ready to start removing covers etc.
Beauty covers off, airbox and intake pipes removed. Things are starting to get disconnected and I’m labelling the plugs / connections as I go to avoid missing something.
Son enough, the intake manifold was loose but getting the oil return pipe free was a pain because the insulation on the CCV blocked access to tyre squeeze clips.
With a bit of swearing, it was soon free so I could removed the intake manifold. What instantly stood out was how much cheg there was in the return pipe.
Old CCV ready for removal.
And removed, next to the new one.
New one booted into place with new gaskets on the manifold.
Then it was time to put it all back together.
I was feeling quite happy / smug at this point because I’d sorted a few little things that weren’t quite in the right place, I assume after the starter motor was replaced but this is where it all went wrong….I started the car and it sprung into life, spluttered and stalled. The engine management light came on. Tits. At this point the light was fading so I went inside for a beer.
I came back to it this morning, checking connections etc. The plug for the small DISA didn’t look like it was all the way home some out came the airbox and intake again. A bit of faffing with the red rubber seal and it was plugged in like it should be. I checked all of the other connections and started the car minus the airbox and it was fine. Peachy.
Patting myself on the back, I chucked in the intake, plugged in the MAF and then started rage car….spluttered and stalled. Unplugged the MAF and it started / idled OK.
On the face of it, it sees, like the MAF has died / got damaged but I don’t see how be it was safe in the airbox. My only other suspicion is the new oil return pipe because it was dead easy to disconnect it from the CCV but would a vacuum leak from there make the car stall?
I’ve spoken to my local Sytner and got a quite for an OE MAF…..£359 with discount! I definitely don’t want to start firing the parts cannon so am going to try the MAF from the 330i tonight to see if it runs with that. If not, I might clean out the old return pipes fit that and see what happens.
I’ve tried to read the codes by Carly is being a turd. It gets to 90% on the scanning and then freezes. I’ve removed and reinstalled the app but it’s still not working.
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