My midlife crisis purchase; E86 BMW Z4 Coupe

[Court_S]

Mr Tidy said:

It is a major undertaking, but the parts do exist from early E9*s and Z4Ms that had Hydraulic PAS.

I had a 123d with EPAS before I got my first Z4 and like you say the 1 Series set up was much better. But as they didn't get EPAS until the 2007 facelift they got a more refined installation - Z4s basically had EPAS designed in 2003!

I doubt the first EPAS is as and as the the system in the very latest cars which seems to get worse with each iteration. The steering in the G20 I had last year for a week was dire.

[Court_S]

GTPork said:

Congratulations on the Z4.

I’ve owned a total 3 Z4 Coupes over the years. 2 x 3.0si and 1 x M Coupe. Just something about the shape that’s like nothing else on the road. If I had the room I’d have another one in a heartbeat

Thanks.

They still look really unique, possibly more so because they were never replaced like the roadster was. On the surface they’re unique as well (e.g. most of the interior is bespoke to the Z4).

[Court_S]

Gallons Per Mile said:

That's madness. He doesn't have an issue but reported you anyway?

Meanwhile, your car is looking lovely. You always make them so brilliantly clean and tidy. Shame about the kerb incident but I couldn't really see the issue in the pic before you cleaned up the scratch...

Sorry, I meant the chap from the council who sent me the letter.

I think I know who it was who complained; a busy body at the end of the road who seems to thrive on causing issues and has been banned from the village shop. She commented a few times on the noise my 335i made on start up and another chaps Mustang.

Cheers, hoping to get it detailed properly next weekend. I was going to wait to for my painted wheels until then but I’m just about to go and get them. Im not very patient….

They’re either going to look bhin’ or awful

[Court_S]

Gallons Per Mile said:

Ah, I see! She sounds like she just needs to be ignored in that case. Carry on, chap! Looking forward to pics of shiny wheels and car

She most definitely is, awful woman who seems to thrive on causing trouble.

[Court_S]

GTPork said:

I just remembered that last year I contacted the chap who bought my Z4M off me to see if he still had it and wanted to sell. No answer. Shame it was a beauty

That looks ace. That’s definitely my favourite angle of the car.

[Court_S]

I didn’t end up doing anything with the suspension today.

I had planned to start last might but the weather put an end to that. We picked up this little monster this week who seems to do a really good of wasting time (and keeping us sleep deprived).



I also had a text message to say that my wheels were ready for collection, so I was distracted with that too.

Since I had easy use of the 330i, I headed over to pick them up. I was initially a bit shocked because they’ve tuned out a bit more gold that I was expecting (I chose a colour from an online catalog). I did have a bit of an ‘oh st’ moment unloading them at home. It turns out that it’s quite a hard colour to take pictures off with most of them looking very OTT.

First job was to hose them down and give them a few coats of Alien Magic ceramic wheel spray.



Then it was time to start fitting them….I’m still stting myself at this point.



I started to feel better about it once I saw the gold against the paint. It’s definitely darker / bolder than I expected but I think it works. It was time to pop out for a few better pictures which turned out harder than I thought because looking back, some of them are very yellow.











Despite being bolder than I’d envisaged (I was thinking more Porsche gold than Ferrari gold) I do like them. The 261’s look better than the 108’s and another unexpected plus is that the car drives much nicer on Good Years than the awful Dunlop’s it came with.

I have one day of leave left, which I’ll take next Friday and hopefully I’ll be able to sort the suspension.

[Court_S]

bodhi said:

Will admit they do look very bright in the wheels only picture up against the wall, but on the car I reckon they look spot on - and a refreshing change from the CSLs these normally end up on.

That was my first thought too….they were even more outrageous under the harsh florescent lighting at the paint place. I’m also well aware that the colour will be very marmite.

[Court_S]

B'stard Child said:

I like that a lot - I was a bit unsure until I saw them on the car

The 261 wheel style looks fine on the car



















[small]You are hopefully prepared for the "what sort of Subaru is it" questions

There is definitely a Subaru vibe going on which I wasn’t aiming for.

The 261’s seem to be one of the few wheel designs other than CSL’s that suit these and they’re much easier to clean.

[Court_S]

d_a_n1979 said:

They look well Sam... I'm not sure on the pop of the colour, if that makes sense? More quieter/more satin I think would work really well... They're very gold I'd say

But the contrast to the cars colour works really well...

At the end of the day if you're not happy; you can always get them redone

I reckon you'll soon settle with them

It definitely works better in the flesh than in photos. It was really hard to capture the actual colour on my phone which seems to make them very yellow.

It’s a strong colour but I think it works with the paint and with the shape of the car.

[Court_S]

bodhi said:

That's because 261s are the wheel choice of champions

Will admit I'd only seen them on a roadster when I suggested them, but they look brilliant.

I think they’re an underrated design. They look grand in the 1 series hatch too (the guy I bought them from has them on a 130i….clearly a man of fine taste).

A friend of mine has them on his coupe and I basically copied him after everyone shot down the 17’s that I liked.

[Court_S]

Gallons Per Mile said:

Sorry Sam, I'm not a fan of the colour but I do like the style of those wheels. Fair play for trying something different

Fair enough, I knew it was going to be a marmite colour as soon as I saw them ti be honest.

The design suits the coupe well though.

[Court_S]

curvature said:

I think they look good.

I’ve also got a coupe which currently has Pirelli P Zero’s on but is due a front tyre change so interested to hear your views on both the Dunlop and Goodyear tyres.

I’ve just put Dunlop Sportmaxx on my son’s Mito and the fitter reckoned there was nothing between the above brands being owned by the same company.

I’m currently torn between sticking with Pirelli or maybe Michelin but as the car has done under 1000 miles in the past year not sure if the expense to change all four is worth it.

Cheers

I really don’t like the Dunlop’s but I don’t know if that’s just because they drop off once worn maybe. I generally seem to get on with the Asymmetric tyres having run them on my wife’s 125i, my 335i and her current 330i.

If you don’t mind the Pirelli’s and don’t do huge miles, I’d be tempted to stick with them and just do the fronts.

[Court_S]

Mr Tidy said:

I think those wheels look great, and the colour works well on a dark blue car.

It makes a pleasant change to see an E86 that doesn't have CSLs or CSL Reps!

Cheers, thanks.

They do divide opinion but I’ve been surprised at some of the people who were positive about them like my in laws.

CSL’s look great on these but I wanted to try something different.

[Court_S]

axel1990chp said:

+1 sam, looked a little too bright individually but I think on the car they really pop! Bravo for giving it some! Not messing about on this car are ya

Thanks.

I’m just trying to tick as many jobs off as I can then I can enjoy it. Drove it again last night and there’s a noticeable improvement on these tyres. Hopefully the suspension bits will get it even bette once fitted.

[Court_S]

cerb4.5lee said:

Your dog looks gorgeous Sam.

Plus I absolutely love how brave you've been with your wheels too.

Cheers Lee - she’s like my little black and white shadow. I can’t go or do anything without her following or getting cross that I’m not there.

The wheels are a bit braver than I hoped for but they work (for me).

[Court_S]

Jhonno said:

Wheels work well..

Had issues with Dunlops on my ex's Z4 also, cured by going to Contis. My E46 loves Goodyear Asymmetrics also.

Thanks, I’m really happy with them to be honest. The more I see the car, the more I looked them (design and colour).

It’s driving so much better in the Good Years. Fingers crossed new wishbones and RTAB plus droplinks will get it sorted further.

[Court_S]

Gad-Westy said:

I'm afraid I fall on the other side of the marmite opinion here. Not a fan of the wheels at all but the rest of the car is great so I'll let you off. Still keep browsing these in the classifieds....

That’s fair enough, totally get that they’re not for everyone.

They’re cool little cars in my opinion, the more I drive it the more I’m finding myself falling for its charms. There are flaws but the charms outweigh them I think.

[Court_S]

Jhonno said:

Drove a Z4M Coupe at the time of my ex deciding between an E89 28is and the Z4M.. Sadly she went E89, the Z4M was mega. For her though the auto/convertible top swayed it.

I liked the E89 I had a go in albeit a mapped 35i. The 28is wouldn't hold a candle to the Z4M for me personally.

[Court_S]

The V778 finally arrived from the DVLA, so I’ve got my old plates back (I tried to take them off the 335i but the DVLA said I couldn’t do it electronically, so they were left on the car but the guy who bought it transferred them back to me).

I also debadged the front wings last night for a slightly cleaner look.



Both front wings have been polished too (I’m having to do it in stages due to time constraints which is annoying).

[Court_S]

IAche said:

Wheels are looking much better in this pic than the one you sent me.

I may do something similar with my F11.

I think they look even better in the flesh.

I reckon you cod get away with a bronze on the land barge.