Sics Consolidated Faded Moderns Thread - 2004 BMW Z4 2.2 & 2005 BMW 330i

[SiC]

Had a poke around on this wheel speed sensor. Disconnected it as I wanted to double check that the abs module isn't playing silly buggers. 
The connector box was absolutely packed with dirt. I don't think it's ever been disconnected.

Wheel speed reading went to 0kmh. Reconnecting it also still kept it at 0kmh. 
Am I confident this has fixed it? Not really. NorfolkNWeigh mentioned it stayed off for 50miles the other day until it pinged on. Tbh for £25 to get a genuine Bosch sensor, I might just parts dart one on anyway.

 
Next was to wash it. Slightly delayed as my neighbour (whom loves BMWs) came over for a chat. It's been sat under a tree so covered in bird shite and tree detritus. I hoovered out the scuttle area too.


 
Great thing about modern paint is how well it scrubs up.

 
I really need to put the number plates back on. Looks dodgy as hell without them. 
Even though they are a similar age, it's quite striking the design differences between the Z4 and the 3 series. You can see some of the language in there but they are very different. Especially against modern designs where every one looks the same from the front.

[BusmansHoliday]

Are you going to jetwash the engine bay so you can see any oil leaks ?

[SiC]

Are you going to jetwash the engine bay so you can see any oil leaks ?

I think it would make my driveway look like the aftermath of Exxon Valdez if I did that. Just peering in the engine bay shows it's caked in oil.

Don't worry, I won't be writing a strongly worded email to the previous owner.

Standard old BMW innit.

[BusmansHoliday]

Are you going to jetwash the engine bay so you can see any oil leaks ?

I think it would make my driveway look like the aftermath of Exxon Valdez if I did that. Just peering in the engine bay shows it's caked in oil.

Don't worry, I won't be writing a strongly worded email to the previous owner.

Standard old BMW innit.

Just be careful of those cattlegrids if you head south west with it....

[SiC]

MOT day

Emissions are my biggest concern. Handbrake might need further adjustment but I think it'll pass.

[SiC]

That was quick!

Nearly 5k miles in a year since last MOT. Not bad effort from all the recent previous owners on here/AS.

[SiC]

So far I've bought:

 - Rear left caliper

 - Rear pads

 - Both handbrake shoe backplates

 - Replacement Airbag ECU

 - Air conditioning panel (which I didn't end up needing as I miss diagnosed)

That works out as £192.62 (£20 of which is that air con panel). Not bad for a 20yr old BMW. Basically mostly rear brakes which are always apparently a sore point on older BMWs anyway. So if not now, it wouldn't be long before it was needed anyway given the age.

Purchase price, parts and 12 months fresh MOT basically brings me to £1450. Still a really cheap little 6 cyl convertible.

It might be a bit of a 6footer to 10footer but its good fun to drive and I love the lack of worry that such a cheap, slightly shabby car brings. 

Honestly, how long is left that you can pick up a relatively lightweight, small straight-6 convertible that makes a great sound for that sort of money? I don't think it will be much longer left we can bask in this sort of shite.

I might not own it forever (tempted to spend out more for a 3.0 and I'm fickle with cars anyway) but right now I'm loving blatting around the old crock.

[Eddie Honda]

That works out as £192.62

How many times... ?viewtopic.php?p=290247#p290247

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Honestly, how long is left that you can pick up a relatively lightweight, small straight-6 convertible that makes a great sound for that sort of money? I don't think it will be much longer left we can bask in this sort of shite.

E85's will be around for years yet. Like Z3's, they are still too numerous to be really valuable. Emissions regs might make them very expensive to tax and kill values.

But after yours came the E89. A better car? Well yes, as long as it's new. When they are old you are into E90 and F Series tech. Footwell modules, £250 keys, chronic water leaks on the metal folding roof (that's why they have reverted to proper fabric roofs now) plus the awful N20 engine. This four pot turbo 2.0 was fantastic when new but now it's an absolute liability. Not just the inevitable timing chain, but the crank thrust washers falling out and the crank machining into the block, oil filled with alloy swarf destroying everything.

Of course they don't all do this but this modern German stuff (well, 08 ish onwards) is bound to bite you on the arse at some point.

[SiC]

Honestly, how long is left that you can pick up a relatively lightweight, small straight-6 convertible that makes a great sound for that sort of money? I don't think it will be much longer left we can bask in this sort of shite.

E85's will be around for years yet. Like Z3's, they are still too numerous to be really valuable. Emissions regs might make them very expensive to tax and kill values.

But after yours came the E89. A better car? Well yes, as long as it's new. When they are old you are into E90 and F Series tech. Footwell modules, £250 keys, chronic water leaks on the metal folding roof (that's why they have reverted to proper fabric roofs now) plus the awful N20 engine. This four pot turbo 2.0 was fantastic when new but now it's an absolute liability. Not just the inevitable timing chain, but the crank thrust washers falling out and the crank machining into the block, oil filled with alloy swarf destroying everything.

Of course they don't all do this but this modern German stuff (well, 08 ish onwards) is bound to bite you on the arse at some point.

They are the type of car that is treasured more than say a 3-series where they get worked to death and discarded.

But do you reckon the E85 will last as long as the Z3? I don't know much about the Z3 but the E85 (especially the pre facelift) seem very shonky electrically and then not easy to fix for the average person or even specialists doesn't want to get involved. That airbag module for example, Dealers will only fit new but they're NLA. You can put them second hand from other E-series cars (mine was from an E65) but it seems most specialists don't want to do such things. There is a chap I need to meet in Bristol to flash a replacement on after his failed 2yrs ago and couldn't get it through an MOT.

Also a lot of stuff seems to be going NLA on them. From cruise stalks to even that final stage blower "resistor". I guess not helped by the amount of them being broken making genuine parts isn't economical. Do BMW put this stuff back in production in time as they become classic?