BoxClever's new Z4 - probably not for the purists!

[BoxClever]

You'll probably have seen my Z3 recently on these pages, I've had it about a month and have been loving it. I'm BMW through and through for the last 25 years yet never even sat in a Z before, let alone driven one. And my 16V is awesome. And it has now been a gateway drug for me as I've just bought a Z4 to daily and the Z3 is hopefully off to pastures new soon (see the for sale section!).

This is my 53 plate 2.2SE manual in sterling grey with black leather, as you can see it polishes up well. I love the massive wheels but the car does have an identity crisis... the guy I bought it from preferred the Alpina badges and had nearly changed every logo on the car - just the side repeaters and he'd have been finished. I quite like the Alpina badges so they can stay for now, but it'll probably be put back to blue and white soon.

It's on 127,000 miles and was MOTd on Monday with no advisories, and it drives really well. Anyway, here are a couple of pictures for you and no doubt I'll be bugging Z4 owners soon for some advice!! My second Z and again this was retrieved from South Wales!!!

 

[bertiejaffa]

Very nice - enjoy !!

 

[t-tony]

Why not for the purist? That rare Sterling Grey, what’s not to like? Looks very nice to me.

Tony.

 

[BoxClever]

Why not for the purist? That rare Sterling Grey, what’s not to like? Looks very nice to me.

Tony.

Thanks Tony, didn't know Sterling Grey was rare, that's nice. What I meant about not for the purists were the big wheels and the Alpina badges, but I've never been an OEM freak so I'm OK with them.

 

[backseateducation]

Lovely looking car

 

[Paul Rice]

Sterling grey rarity an on going joke, out of four E85's at this weekends Doncaster show 3 are Sterling grey
Sterling was the initial launch colour so lots of brochures posters etc showed the colour and how the angular lines show up so effectively in the sun light or even under street lamps. So lots of them about was later replaced by space grey a similar colour.

The one in the middle the E89 in space grey was also available on face lift E85 / E86

 

[t-tony]

Thanks Tony, didn't know Sterling Grey was rare, that's nice. What I meant about not for the purists were the big wheels and the Alpina badges, but I've never been an OEM freak so I'm OK with them.

Yes, as @Paul Rice said it’s a bit of an in joke I started when I had my Sterling Grey E85, personally I think it suits Z4 well. As for the badges some ///M owners think that when they bought an M model they purchased the right to all badges for ever. What are the wheels, 19s?

Tony.

 

[Z Victor 1]

Looks very nice @BoxClever, it's your car so have it the way you want it. Mind you those wheels look like kerb magnets! Careful parking needed.

 

[OhioZ4]

Its your car , do what you want with it !

 

[BoxClever]

Thanks guys, I will always do what I want with my cars so don't worry!! And thanks for letting me in on the sterling grey joke!! But it is a great colour!

The wheels are 9.5x19 on 255/35 rear and 8.5x19 on 225/35 front - they fill the arches nicely even though i think the car could benefit from being a bit lower. They definitely attracts kerbs, I have the proof on each wheel from the previous owner!! I'll get them sorted at some point.

The roof doesn't always lock down - something I'll need to look into but otherwise I'm loving it, and it doesn't go too bad for a 2.2

 

[t-tony]

I like it as is and as you can tell I always like to personalise my car. Always have.

Tony.

 

[Nodzed]

You'll probably have seen my Z3 recently on these pages, I've had it about a month and have been loving it. I'm BMW through and through for the last 25 years and never even sat in a Z before, let alone driven one. And my 16V is awesome. And it has now been a gateway drug for me as I've just bought a Z4 to daily and the Z3 is hopefully off to pastures new soon (see the for sale section!).

This is my 53 plate 2.2SE manual in sterling grey with black leather, as you can see it polishes up well. I love the massive wheels but the car does have an identity crisis... the guy I bought it from preferred the Alpina badges and had nearly changed every logo on the car - just the side repeaters and he'd have been finished. I quite like the Alpina badges so they can stay for now, but it'll probably be put back to blue and white soon.

It's on 127,000 miles and was MOTd on Monday with no advisories, and it drives really well. Anyway, here are a couple of pictures for you and no doubt I'll be bugging Z4 owners soon for some advice!! My second Z and again this was retrieved from South Wales!!!


View attachment 228251View attachment 228253

I wouldn't worry about the badges, even the genuine Z4 Alpina didn't have any Alpina badges on the outside of the car. If you like them leave them on.
Nice car BTW

 

[BoxClever]

So @Paul Rice - I'm guessing the EJR plated car is yours? Looks great on those wheels, and I love your front lip. Can you tell me what it is as I might like one for mine.

Thanks

 

[Paul Rice]

Yep the plates been with me a while its a family thing P8, P80 & P88EJR. When i got the car thought about changing wheels as they were badly kerbed and dull silver. Had them powder coated shadow grey with lots of fleck wouldn't change them now think they really suit the car. the front lip possably my biggest bargain off ebay. Protects the bumper and looks the part IMO

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[BoxClever]

Yep the plates been with me a while its a family thing P8, P80 & P88EJR. When i got the car thought about changing wheels as they were badly kerbed and dull silver. Had them powder coated shadow grey with lots of fleck wouldn't change them now think they really suit the car. the front lip possably my biggest bargain off ebay. Protects the bumper and looks the part IMO

Universal Car Lip Skirt Protector Rubber Splitter Front Bumper Spoiler Side 2.5M | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Universal Car Lip Skirt Protector Rubber Splitter Front Bumper Spoiler Side 2.5M at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.

www.ebay.co.uk

If i were wanting to put standard wheels back on this car then I'd go for yours, they are a great design.

And wow, I wasn't expecting you to say the front lip was a universal protector strip - it looks properly good! Thanks, I'm about to spend a tenner on the bay on that! Will post results!!