(Soon to be) New Coupe Owner w/ Questions

[jmk01010]

Hi, all:

Been following this forum for some time. Probably will be purchasing an '07 M Coupe next week. It's gray over black, 25K miles, one previous owner, appears to be in great shape, going to dealer for a pre-sale inspection. Carfax is clean. Body, interior, engine bay are all immaculate. Drove it yesterday and put down a deposit. Car felt very tight, no rattles or squeaks. I've owned a "99 M Coupe for some time, but the '07 is completely different...

It appears to have a November '06 build date. Cars first shows up on a California BMW dealer lot in January '07, but doesn't sell until December (w/ only 70 (!) miles on it), so it probably sat for some time. Should I worry about this? Black driver side door trim shows a small bit of fading.

As I said, this is a completely different beast from the '99. I've read about the CDV, and I had a really hard time shifting smoothly. Along with this, when you let off the gas, the rpms drop immediately. I'm sure I'll get used to all this, and I'll probably do the cdv delete, but does this seem normal? Also, the sound... at higher rpms like a coffee can full of nails (for lack of a better description). Normal?

I welcome your comments and thanks in advance.

Mark

[evoq007]

Off topic, but where are you in MA?

[jmk01010]

I'm near Sturbridge.

[SCHMOUPE]

My 07 is November 06 built. So the car just came off warranty. Mind telling how much you are paying for it? The only few things I would worry about are the engine mount bolts. Mine were replaced twice under warranty. Once by me and once by the prev owner. Other than that, the car is a blast. and +1 on the rough shifts. I think I will be doing the CDV delete this summer.

[jmk01010]

shakib: Thanks for the input. It's my understanding that the warranty is good til December '11 (four years after it was first registered). I hope that's true. The engine mount bolts I've read about, and will make sure the dealer checks these when it goes in for the pre-sale inspection. Does everything else I asked about make sense? Do you still love your car?

[jmk01010]

shakib: They're asking $30K.

[SCHMOUPE]

Originally Posted by jmk01010

shakib: Thanks for the input. It's my understanding that the warranty is good til December '11 (four years after it was first registered). I hope that's true. The engine mount bolts I've read about, and will make sure the dealer checks these when it goes in for the pre-sale inspection. Does everything else I asked about make sense? Do you still love your car?

True on the warranty. Mine was registered a few weeks after the build date so I am out of warranty. Do I still like the car? tough to say... I freaking love it. It puts the biggest grin on my face
you can go lower than 30 tho. I bought mine around this time last year for 29 so I think there is some wiggle room for you.

[jmk01010]

Thanks... we'll see after the inspection. Am I right about my noise and the "tough to drive smoothly" comments?

[Z4Murder]

Originally Posted by jmk01010

shakib: Thanks for the input. It's my understanding that the warranty is good til December '11 (four years after it was first registered). I hope that's true. The engine mount bolts I've read about, and will make sure the dealer checks these when it goes in for the pre-sale inspection. Does everything else I asked about make sense? Do you still love your car?

yep you're in the same situation as me. december 06 build date, december 07 sold date. warranty goes till december of this year. although im sure i'll void out alot when i do my gears and headers this summer lol.

[Pheonix]

Originally Posted by jmk01010

I'm near Sturbridge.

I am from south of Hartford, CT so maybe we will run into each other.
BMW usually has pretty crappy paint finish (i.e orange peel). However, their paints are very durable and should not fade. Check and see if the car has been resprayed (it wont show up on any report, carfax if the owner did not have any claim)
Anyhow, good luck and welcome to the Z4 community.

[esqu1re]

OP, my car has the same rattle sound at high RPMs coming from the exhaust at high rpms---although I do have an aftermarket exhaust.

[SCHMOUPE]

Originally Posted by jmk01010

Thanks... we'll see after the inspection. Am I right about my noise and the "tough to drive smoothly" comments?

not too sure about the can of nails comments. If it sounds odd and you should know this coming from another S54 engine, have the dealer inspect the Vanos unit. I am not too familiar with the signs and symptoms but thats one thing you have to look out for

[jmk01010]

I have a "99 with the S52 engine, so I don't know how this car is supposed to sound or drive. Just wondering what's normal and/or acceptable.

[Pheonix]

Too bad the weather isnt nice enough for me to take my car out of storage yet (as i would have no problem let you test drive my car and compare). There is definitely a distinct/unique "rattling" from the S54 engines. Not sure how i could describe it! You will probably get use to it after awhile (or get after market exhaust and mask it off as i have SS X-pipe and Race Cans

[jmk01010]

Thanks, Pheonix. I'm pretty sure it's not doing anything out of the ordinary, and it will be checked out by the dealer, but even with my '99, most of the dealers have no idea how our cars are supposed to drive or sound. I don't know how many times I've brought it in and the tech or service person will say something like, "Wow... never seen one of those before." Not good.

[jmillet]

Originally Posted by jmk01010

Hi, all:

SNIP
As I said, this is a completely different beast from the '99. I've read about the CDV, and I had a really hard time shifting smoothly. Along with this, when you let off the gas, the rpms drop immediately. I'm sure I'll get used to all this, and I'll probably do the cdv delete, but does this seem normal? Also, the sound... at higher rpms like a coffee can full of nails (for lack of a better description). Normal?

I welcome your comments and thanks in advance.

Mark

I drove a 2000 E36/8 Z3 M Coupe prior to buying my 2007 Z4MC.


I'm still suffering from seller's regret as Z3MC was such a high-strung car to drive on the track. The Z4MC is much more civilized and predictable hence less fun on the track.

I have 31,000 miles on my Z4MC and, while the S54 engine with its mechanical rather than hydraulic valve lifters is noisier than the S52 engine, it shouldn't sound like a can of nails at high RPM.
At 24,000 miles the car is due for an Inspection I which includes checking and adjusting valves. The S54 engine is also prone to have VANOS issues.
These are two things I'd have checked prior to buying the car.

[Quickid]

Originally Posted by jmk01010

............I've read about the CDV, and I had a really hard time shifting smoothly. Along with this, when you let off the gas, the rpms drop immediately. I'm sure I'll get used to all this, and I'll probably do the cdv delete, but does this seem normal? Also, the sound... at higher rpms like a coffee can full of nails (for lack of a better description). Normal?

I welcome your comments and thanks in advance.

Mark

I had the CDV removed and it still took me a while to get the shifting right. The rpm dropping quickly was messing me up and what worked for me was applying a very light pressure on the gas pedal while shifting.

I'd be concerned with the "can of nails" sound you're hearing. I don't hear anything close to that in my MCoupe.

[jmk01010]

Thanks, Jim. Will do.

[BTM]

I'd get an autocheck report on it as well, but I wouldn't worry about it sitting on the lot for a while. And since it was sold nearly a year later, given it wasn't a dealer demo, I think you get an extra year on the warranty. It's still 4yrs/50k, but it starts at the car's in-service date, not it's production date, so check on that as well.