2003 BMW E85 Z43.0i SMG

[TransAm]

My baby

She's just had her 4th birthday and has covered 17,000 miles only!

Keys are on the bonnet in the picture, the 'proof'... :wink:

Optional extras: 18" Epsilloid Alloy Wheels, SMG (SSG Sequential Shift Gearbox), Xenon headlamps, Storage pack, Park Distance Control, Heated seats, Hi-Fi Speaker System, 6CD Changer, Wind Deflector, Auto-Dim Int Mirror.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y206/transam2001/Z4003.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y206/transam2001/Z4002.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y206/transam2001/Z4001.jpg

[gis]

Nice mate,bloody low mileage for 4 years.when you gonna bring her back this way to tackle these roads,lol.gotta watch out though i just got done for bloody speeding :x

[TransAm]

Lots of nice roads in Warwickshire.

She's been up to Preston as I have mates there of course.

Next time I come up I will let you know and we can have a mini JW funrun :wink:

[gis]

cool yea gimme a shout mate.hopefully then you will hear me coming as there is a chance my car could have a full Milltek system on it,lol

[TransAm]

Cool - They do those for Skodas and they sound pretty good.

On the subject of Fiestas, I am well impressed with how Jon's project has come along this year, I was reading the blog last weekend.

The paint work looks amazing.

Right I am off to find a post office in a bit ;)

Yes we are O/T but it's my thread so people just chip in with any old carp as you see fit :mrgreen:

[gis]

lol yea a bit OT,but still,your right about jons fiesta it looks great,the paintjob wasnt cheap either,lol the engine is a special thing aswell

[Zot09]

Nice ride! I know a lot of people don't like the styling of the Z4, but I love it. Have fun and be safe.

[acmarttin]

Would you mind writing up a mini-review of the SMG gearbox? I've been considering getting a pre-owned Z4 as a future vehicle and have so far only been considering the 6-speed. I'm not looking for anything too technical, but there's lots of stop-go traffic here and I've been wondering if the SMG is fun to drive as a substitute for a sore left leg.

[TransAm]

Sounds like a very good Z4, with all the option and gadjets I would get myself! :D

Any photo of the wheels? I'd like to see which 18in wheels you're talking about...

Sure...

http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/8942/40632064wj1.th.jpg (http://img142.imageshack.us/my.php?image=40632064wj1.jpg)

http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/7263/40496206rt4.th.jpg (http://img142.imageshack.us/my.php?image=40496206rt4.jpg)

A better interior shot...

http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/3299/80114179wm2.th.jpg (http://img264.imageshack.us/my.php?image=80114179wm2.jpg)

Would you mind writing up a mini-review of the SMG gearbox? I've been considering getting a pre-owned Z4 as a future vehicle and have so far only been considering the 6-speed. I'm not looking for anything too technical, but there's lots of stop-go traffic here and I've been wondering if the SMG is fun to drive as a substitute for a sore left leg.

Sure. Part of the reason I got this car is that I live in the second largest city in the UK now...


Regarding the SMG transmission...it really is the best of both worlds, in my mind.

It is basically a 6 speed manual transmission with an electro-hydraulic actuator which operates the clutch for you. No doubt ZfrkS62 can tell you more about the technology than I can, as he is a BMW technician. Alternatively, google it.

It changes gear quicker than I ever could, especially in 'sport' mode. On normal Z4's the sport button firms up the steering and increases throttle response. On the SMG it makes the shifting happen quicker.

I have owned a steptronic (automatic with torque converter) Z3 3.0i previously and this SMG gearbox is so much better than the automatic gearbox.

SMG blips the throttle on downshifts, rev matching the engine like a racing driver can double de-clutch in a manual transmission car. This in itself 'sold' the car/SMG system to me! I am a child at heart!

Because there is no torque converter the fuel economy is no worse than a conventional manual transmission.

When traffic is heavy or I am feeling lazy I can just put the stick into 'D' mode and it acts like an automatic. SMG in auto mode doesn't seem to change gears at the wrong time either, like mid-corner. The steptronic on the Z3 used to do this occasionally and it was annoying.

The only other thing is that the car will roll backwards on a hill at tickover RPM, unlike an automatic. Useful when reversing like in a manual car when on a hill where you can let it roll backward by just dipping the clutch pedal and not actually have to engage the throttle.

Quite honestly, the one key thing stopping me from buying a Z4M (other than £) is the fact that SMG is not available.

I hear that the VW/Audi DSG system is even better than my SMG system...

[ae86_16v]

Awesome pick up TransAm. I actually had the chance to drive a 3.0i 6sp last year and it is definitely a great ride. Chassis was improved by miles over the old Z3 as you probably know.

And the Ellipsoid wheels are great too. One of the few cars that "Flame Surface" actually works well. :D

Congrats!

[acmarttin]

Cool, thank you! Those were exactly the sorts of things I wanted to hear. Sounds like that will be a very attractive option as my sig. other prefers an automatic and I prefer a manual. I LOVE your car dude. I have always thought those wheels suited that car better than any other I have ever seen. After market or stock.

Thanks again for the info!

[TransAm]

Yes, AC, those wheels are the best for the Z4 in my opinion also. A lot of the 330ci's in the USA have a similar style of wheel, but not quite the same as this, I always admired those when I saw them on 2001-2002 E46s. I hope you know the type I am referring to. Anyway, the 5 spoke bolted rims (see pic) seem to be a much more popular upgrade here in the UK, but they were a more expensive option and tend to corrode quite quickly. Probably a bit easier to clean than mine though.

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/645/compositestar18alloysql0.th.jpg (http://img296.imageshack.us/my.php?image=compositestar18alloysql0.jpg)

I might get some better pictures today, I shall be washing the car in a little while and giving it a wax.

So much easier to clean than a sedan, there is half as much work to do!! :lazy bastard smiley:


Thank you all for the compliments too, I got the car in April 2007 and it had only 9900 miles on it then. It's just been a busy year so taken me ages to get round to getting a pic sorted.

I had an E46 330d SE before, but I never got around to taking a custom pic. Basically the diesel version of the 330i, a bit less bhp but a lot more lbft (204hp, 302lbft). Difficult to drift as the turbo kicks in and before you know it you are far more sideways than you wanted to be. Which led to some brown trouser moments, fo' sho'... :oops:

[79TA]

looks like fun

[TransAm]

Sure is, TA.

Maybe I should get a vid or two, y'all can see what I mean about the downshifting.

It blips on the upshift too if you are at high revs and keep your right foot down. I tend to ease off the gas when it shifts in everyday driving though...I want to get some life out of the clutch... :lol:

This would increase the smiles per mile...

http://www.koperformance.com/BMW/turbo_superchargers/ESS/ess_e85_z4_3.0i_supercharger/ess_e85_z4_3.0i_supercharger.htm

[RC45]

Nice car you got there mate. Sounds like a fun ride :)

[TransAm]

Cheers RC and well done in the rugby 8)

I dont have any problem getting the power down in 4th though ;) :lol: :lol:

[ZfrkS62]

nice to see you finally got your wits about you and got something sporty 8)

The SMG's are great, i just wish more sales dorks got their info right when they sold them. They explained it too much like an automatic and didn't explain you have to be smooth and light on initial accelerator application to get the thing to roll smoothly off the line. The system WILL slip the clutch. It's not an off/on kind of thing.

I think you may need to rig up a james bond style license plate switch decive to evade those pesky speed cameras :wink: