Dear community,
- Thread starter iasin
- Start date
Welcome to the forum!
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2016
- Points
- 231
- Model of Z
- Z3M Imola and Z4 (e89)
Hi and welcome from me too. What flavour of Z4 are you thinking of?
Tony.
Tony.
Hi Tony
That's a good question am at start of my journey into this. So I'll keep an open mind to begin with, open in essence I have a dislike to flashy new electric cars is my other starting point.
Community, please suggest any pitfalls looking to buy a used Z4.
Thanks Tony!
That's a good question am at start of my journey into this. So I'll keep an open mind to begin with, open in essence I have a dislike to flashy new electric cars is my other starting point.
Community, please suggest any pitfalls looking to buy a used Z4.
Thanks Tony!
Are you talking E85/6 (2003 to 2008), or E89 (2009-2016, or G29 (2019- present)?
Engine size?
Each generation is very different to the others.
M54 only in the very early E85s (convertible). The E86 is the coupe and didn't have the M54 IIRC. Not many 2.2 E85s about, as they didn't make them for long. Later E85/6 had the N52 engines (2.5 and 3.0l).
E89 had N52 (23i and 30i) early on until about 2011. Most are 4 pot turbos N20 or N54 3.0l twin turbo.
to the Forum.
Hi guys. He's a good friend who works at the same company as me, but is not particularly knowledgeable when it comes to cars… I will have a chat to find what exactly they are looking for, but meanwhile, can we provide the pros and cons of particular Z4 models?
I am not going to contribute, since my preference is for the Z3 models… I've no idea what the Z4's best options should be.
I am not going to contribute, since my preference is for the Z3 models… I've no idea what the Z4's best options should be.
I only know about the E85 (2003-2008) from info gleaned from the Z4 forum as never owned one. Others will be more qualified.
I have had two E89s and the consensus with them is this IMO:
They are generally more 'grown up' to drive than the E85. Heavier, more GT than sportscar but are much more refined and 'modern' feeling. They have a folding hardtop roof which makes them good for year round use, but the roofs are very, very complicated and can be costly if they go wrong. Personally the only problem I have had is microswitches in the rear which cost pennies and an easy DIY fix!
Early 6 cylinder engines (N52) are reliable and good for high mileages if looked after. Those were fitted to the 23i (2.5 litre) and 30i (3 litre).
The 4 cylinder 2 litre turbo (N20) was available almost through the entire production. It came in three variants; 20i, 28i and later as a very detuned 18i. The engines are all identical, except the mapping from the factory. The 18i and 20i can be cheaply and reliably remapped to 28i figures and beyond (250bhp and 320nm). They are good engines but there is a slight question mark over camchains, as these can wear prematurely.
The highest performance engine in the E89 was the N54, a 3 litre 6 cylinder twin turbo (not to be confused with a 'twin scroll' turbo which the N20 uses). This was in the 35i and range topping 35is. Big power and speed but there are major question marks over reliability with the N54, as they have a nasty habit of breaking very expensive components (like turbos and fuel pumps, etc). Great fun when they work, though!
I have had two E89s and the consensus with them is this IMO:
They are generally more 'grown up' to drive than the E85. Heavier, more GT than sportscar but are much more refined and 'modern' feeling. They have a folding hardtop roof which makes them good for year round use, but the roofs are very, very complicated and can be costly if they go wrong. Personally the only problem I have had is microswitches in the rear which cost pennies and an easy DIY fix!
Early 6 cylinder engines (N52) are reliable and good for high mileages if looked after. Those were fitted to the 23i (2.5 litre) and 30i (3 litre).
The 4 cylinder 2 litre turbo (N20) was available almost through the entire production. It came in three variants; 20i, 28i and later as a very detuned 18i. The engines are all identical, except the mapping from the factory. The 18i and 20i can be cheaply and reliably remapped to 28i figures and beyond (250bhp and 320nm). They are good engines but there is a slight question mark over camchains, as these can wear prematurely.
The highest performance engine in the E89 was the N54, a 3 litre 6 cylinder twin turbo (not to be confused with a 'twin scroll' turbo which the N20 uses). This was in the 35i and range topping 35is. Big power and speed but there are major question marks over reliability with the N54, as they have a nasty habit of breaking very expensive components (like turbos and fuel pumps, etc). Great fun when they work, though!
- Joined
- Nov 25, 2012
- Points
- 178
- Location
- Newport, South Wales,UK
- Model of Z
- Z3 M43 1.8 (1999) and Z4 E85 2.5 (2003)
Welcome aboard hope you find a good Z4.
Update your User details with Location and model of car when you find one so we know where you are and what you have got, since we are Worldwide it assists us answering any questions you post.
Personally I have a 1.8 Z3 and a 2.5 E85 Z4, prefer the looks of the Z3 but like the power of the Z4.
I do visit the Z4 Forum as well as this Forum, both full of info and well worth joining both.
Update your User details with Location and model of car when you find one so we know where you are and what you have got, since we are Worldwide it assists us answering any questions you post.
Personally I have a 1.8 Z3 and a 2.5 E85 Z4, prefer the looks of the Z3 but like the power of the Z4.
I do visit the Z4 Forum as well as this Forum, both full of info and well worth joining both.