Update on gerald's successor

[Gerald-TVR]

One or two people have expressed an interest in how I have been getting on with Gerald’s successor.

Well – firstly I’m not a 100% certain I had the correct decision in going for an Z4 over a Z3. I MIGHT have been better going for a late Z3 rather than an early Z4 but I just loved the design. I think it’s a marmite car you either love the design or hate it. BUT , and it’s a major BUT, the car is a completely usable everyday car, no messing about coming out to play on a good day just lives on the drive and is good to go.

So why do I wonder if the Z3 might have been better. I have only driven a Z3 for a short while but I think it was a ‘sharper’ car to drive, more responsive and more a sports car. The Z4 is much more ‘laid back’ and more a boulevard cruiser.

Having said all the above I still think the car was (and is) a great choice. I went for a 3ltr manual which has (or had when new) 231 horses under the bonnet, is limited to a maximum of 155 mph and will get to 60 in 5.9 seconds. So it goes like stink!!

Creature comforts are well taken care off, electrically adjustable memory (drivers only) seats which position themselves according to which key you use to unlock. Air conditioning which is also a very good heater and a radio/CD player which you had hear. Gone is the wonderful exhaust note, to the delight of the neighbours, but doesn’t sound too bad. Electric windows which go up and down on demand and you don’t have the feeling that they are going to expire halfway. A hood which is electrically driven and can be put up or down either on buttons on the dashboard or from the remote central locking which also allows you to open the boot remotely.

The boot can take three quite large cases and is perfect for weekends away with SWMBO.

Performance wise its very good with the power going through a six speed gearbox but the clutch has a ‘clutch delay valve’ which slows gear changes but does protect the transmission.

Heated, electrically driven door mirrors which have a prefect view behind and work well with the glass heated rear window. Also the windscreen is rain sensitive so will control the wipers so they only wipe when necessary. The screen washer will actually wash the screen and, to my great delight, I have a pair of Darleks which pop up from the front bumper to wash the headlights. The lights can be controlled automatically or you can override manually. Strange to see them go on and off without intervention.

There were some issues when I bought the car which had come to light when I had the car checked, prior to purchase, buy the local BMW dealer. The hood motor was dead and needed replacing (enabled me to get a large discount on the purchase price) and then had it replaced by a BMW independent specialist for half the dealer quote. The car needed a brake fluid change, an oil service, new disks and pads at the front and a rear broken spring replaced. Both the spring and the hood motor regular faults on the Z4. The car came with a complete BMW service history which has enabled me to take out a complete BMW mechanical warranty for only £450 .

Power steering is a great boon as is the ‘sport’ button which tightens up both the steering and throttle response.

I have found a useful online forum for support but it isn’t the great community on this forum and some of the comments make my hackles rise – particularly when they refer to the BMW lane on the motorway!! But there is lots of talk about front indicators and converting from amber to clear!!!

So in summary was it a good move, on balance yes it was. It has enabled us to go to two cars which will be a cost saving and gives me an enjoyable drive. Doesn’t have the ‘posing’ power of Gerald and isn’t as exciting to drive but it will more than do for the twilight years of my motoring.

So good luck to all on here, have a great TVR year and hopefully I will see you all at various meets!!!!!!

[ttraynor]

Norman,

The car looks fantastic, I have been looking at Z3/Z4 for awhile now and was going to buy one as my every day car, there seems to be plenty about. Did you buy yours from a dealer or private. Those I have been looking at all look in good condition and most have service history. I ended up buying the wife a new car, Focus so I have to make up my mind on keeping the S or selling it and getting a Z3/4. If I do decide to sell the S, where would you advertise and what would you look out for when buying a Z3/Z4?

Good luck with your new car and stay in touch.

Tom

[ttraynor]

Norman,

The car looks fantastic, I have been looking at Z3/Z4 for awhile now and was going to buy one as my every day car, there seems to be plenty about. Did you buy yours from a dealer or private. Those I have been looking at all look in good condition and most have service history. I ended up buying the wife a new car, Focus so I have to make up my mind on keeping the S or selling it and getting a Z3/4. If I do decide to sell the S, where would you advertise and what would you look out for when buying a Z3/Z4?

Good luck with your new car and stay in touch.

Tom

[Longers]

Glad it's working out well for you Norman. I've not driven either the Z3 or Z4 but on looks (to me anyway) you've made the right choice

ttraynor said:

If I do decide to sell the S, where would you advertise

PH Classifieds...?!

[Chingers]

Glad you're enjoying the delights of BMW driving; I'm certainly enjoying the Z3 I'd just picked up when you came down to collect the S in the summer. I'd be interested in the forum you referred to as Zs don't seem to get a look in here on the BMW forum and the best I've found outside is zroadster.net which isn't a patch on the S series forum here.

[Griffinr]

Know what you mean about the BMW forums, ventured on there myself to try and sort a problem with my lads 3 series.
Nice looking car though despite being a BMW. If you get S withdrawl symptons you can always drop round and take mine out for a spin, providing you bring it back of course.

Rob.

[phillpot]

Hi Norman, good to hear the hoods all sorted. Hope you're putting a few miles on it and enjoying everyone of them




(its wrong colour and not a Beemer but best I could do !)

[Gerald-TVR]

ttraynor said:

Norman,

The car looks fantastic, I have been looking at Z3/Z4 for awhile now and was going to buy one as my every day car, there seems to be plenty about. Did you buy yours from a dealer or private. Those I have been looking at all look in good condition and most have service history. I ended up buying the wife a new car, Focus so I have to make up my mind on keeping the S or selling it and getting a Z3/4. If I do decide to sell the S, where would you advertise and what would you look out for when buying a Z3/Z4?

Good luck with your new car and stay in touch.

Tom

Hi Tom would agree with Longers that PH Classifieds is certainly one of the best places, then TVR Car Club website and eBay. I fyour not in a rush just try PH first for a while.

I bought the car from a local trader with a high milage but a full BMW service history and spent £200 have the car checked by local BMW dealer so I knew exactly what I was getting. If you go for a Z4 a full service history is essential and a good thing for a Z3 but they are not quite as complicated. I would suggest your drive both well before you are in the market. The first Z I drove was a 3 advertised on PH and was an absolute cracker but I wasnt ready to buy and it was the first car i drove so had no yardstick to measure against. It wasnt until later having seen a few I realised what a super car it was.

I would restrict my search to 3 Ltr car as the smaller engines, especially the four pots are somewhat pedestrian. If you look for a 4 then check the hood motor and budget for a replacement as they all seem to go (like the S chassis) check the rear springs again they all seem to break at some time or another otherwise what you would normally check eg mayo under the oil filler etc.

Also look at the service indicator, oil service not too bad, inspection I is a bit ouch and inspection II big ouch. But the cost can be lowered by going to an Independant BM specialist. Drawback is if you have a BMW warrenty either on a dealer bought car or as an insured addon from BMW servicing MUST be at a BMW dealer. Other repairs can be at an indy but must use BMW parts. BMW have a high opinion of their cars and will provide a comprehansive warranty as long as the car has done less than 100k miles. and will provide a drive warranty irrespective of milage! I entered 930k miles into the quote calculator in error and they would be happy yo provide driveline cover!!

Two good sites to check out are http://www.z4-forum.com/ and http://www.zroadster.net/forum/portal.php

Edited by Gerald-TVR on Tuesday 24th January 21:29

[Gerald-TVR]

Chingers said:

which isn't a patch on the S series forum here.

Havent found anything like this forum cant we extend it to cover BMW Z's????

[Gerald-TVR]

Forgot a few bits, Cruise Control, DSC (dynamic stability control / traction control), run flat tyres and on board tyre pressure indicator, electronic boot open (can be done off the key fob) and first aid kit under passenger seat (big enough for a minor war)

[ewan221]

Gerald-TVR said:

Havent found anything like this forum cant we extend it to cover BMW Z's????

Try
www.zroadster.net

I found this a good forum when I had my Z3 and Im pretty sure plenty of Z4 chat on it as well

[Griffinr]

Gerald-TVR said:

electronic boot open (can be done off the key fob)

Got one of those on the S