Topic: Girlfriend's new-to-her Z4

[mmret]

Long story short, $185 of parts (blasted UPS brokerage charges!) and $185 of labour later, the wobble is gone. Replaced with aftermarket solid rubber bushings instead of the pricey OEM fluid filled ones. It seems to have tightened things up nicely.

I suspect the 1.8hrs of labour they charged me was on the high side (this is at an indie mechanic...dealer wanted $300 plus a mandatory $200 alignment afterwards...urgh), but I can't be sure. Still on the lookout for the right indie mechanic in Markham/RH.

In my experience 1.8 hrs sounds right. It takes longer to replace the bushing only than the whole arm. When I had PU bushings installed on my E46, it took the shop approx. 5 hours to do it. It was their first time and fortunately I didn't have to pay for all of that time. The estimated time was two hours, IIRC.

Did you find any issues with harshness on the PU bushings?

[rrocket]

Long story short, $185 of parts (blasted UPS brokerage charges!) and $185 of labour later, the wobble is gone. Replaced with aftermarket solid rubber bushings instead of the pricey OEM fluid filled ones. It seems to have tightened things up nicely.

I suspect the 1.8hrs of labour they charged me was on the high side (this is at an indie mechanic...dealer wanted $300 plus a mandatory $200 alignment afterwards...urgh), but I can't be sure. Still on the lookout for the right indie mechanic in Markham/RH.

In my experience 1.8 hrs sounds right. It takes longer to replace the bushing only than the whole arm. When I had PU bushings installed on my E46, it took the shop approx. 5 hours to do it. It was their first time and fortunately I didn't have to pay for all of that time. The estimated time was two hours, IIRC.

Did you find any issues with harshness on the PU bushings?

PU bushings are always harsher.   A trade off for them lasting forever.  Other things you might hear is them squeaking.  Just keep them lubed up....

[mmret]

Just took it out for another drive. Had enough of it. The whole car vibrates at 110+ and it hurts my back.

OEM bushings are on their way, expense be damned.

[rrocket]

Just took it out for another drive. Had enough of it. The whole car vibrates at 110+ and it hurts my back.

OEM bushings are on their way, expense be damned.

Take a deep breath, Sally.  Relax.   

You've been living too cushy methinks....

[mmret]

Just took it out for another drive. Had enough of it. The whole car vibrates at 110+ and it hurts my back.

OEM bushings are on their way, expense be damned.

Take a deep breath, Sally.  Relax.   

You've been living too cushy methinks....

I get enough stress from trading these damn markets. Don't need more.

If everything fails I'm showing up at your doorstep with my car and its ills.

[rrocket]

I get enough stress from trading these damn markets. Don't need more.

Shouldn't have bought a German car then.....

[mmret]

I get enough stress from trading these damn markets. Don't need more.

Shouldn't have bought a German car then.....

Ironically its also the Germans and their steadfast stinginess that's causing issues right now.

[Turbo Bob]

I get enough stress from trading these damn markets. Don't need more.

Shouldn't have bought a German car then.....

Ironically its also the Germans and their steadfast stinginess that's causing issues right now.

I don't think they should bail out the Greeks.  They evaded taxes for years, let them fix their own problems.

[mmret]

I get enough stress from trading these damn markets. Don't need more.

Shouldn't have bought a German car then.....

Ironically its also the Germans and their steadfast stinginess that's causing issues right now.

I don't think they should bail out the Greeks.  They evaded taxes for years, let them fix their own problems.

Its never that simple my friend. Europe made a deal with the devil: each other. Now its time to deliver the goods!

[Turbo Bob]

I get enough stress from trading these damn markets. Don't need more.

Shouldn't have bought a German car then.....

Ironically its also the Germans and their steadfast stinginess that's causing issues right now.

I don't think they should bail out the Greeks.  They evaded taxes for years, let them fix their own problems.

Its never that simple my friend. Europe made a deal with the devil: each other. Now its time to deliver the goods!

That's why we stayed out of the Euro, frickin' ridiculous idea...

[huota]

Long story short, $185 of parts (blasted UPS brokerage charges!) and $185 of labour later, the wobble is gone. Replaced with aftermarket solid rubber bushings instead of the pricey OEM fluid filled ones. It seems to have tightened things up nicely.

I suspect the 1.8hrs of labour they charged me was on the high side (this is at an indie mechanic...dealer wanted $300 plus a mandatory $200 alignment afterwards...urgh), but I can't be sure. Still on the lookout for the right indie mechanic in Markham/RH.

In my experience 1.8 hrs sounds right. It takes longer to replace the bushing only than the whole arm. When I had PU bushings installed on my E46, it took the shop approx. 5 hours to do it. It was their first time and fortunately I didn't have to pay for all of that time. The estimated time was two hours, IIRC.

Did you find any issues with harshness on the PU bushings?

No, can't say I did. I do have some occasional, very slight vibration in the steering wheel, but I doubt that the PU bushings are the root cause of the problem.

[Turbo Bob]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHh3ykPQEl4

 

[rrocket]

I get enough stress from trading these damn markets. Don't need more.

Shouldn't have bought a German car then.....

Ironically its also the Germans and their steadfast stinginess that's causing issues right now.

EXCELLENT story in VF about this:  http://www.vanityfair.com/business/features/2011/09/europe-201109

[Sir Osis of Liver]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHh3ykPQEl4

 

"Feckin' Greeks! They invented gayness you know!"

 

[mmret]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHh3ykPQEl4

 

"Feckin' Greeks! They invented gayness you know!"

 

Hah. Where's Leonidas now!

[mmret]

So I'm just thinking...


Since the Z4 is now a summer only toy....why shouldn't it be more like this?


http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=p&car_id=286619043&dealer_id=65687001&car_year=2007&systime=&doors=&model=BMWROAD&search_lang=en&start_year=2007&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&search_type=both&distance=0&min_price=&rdm=1332606598521&drive=&marketZipError=false&advanced=y&fuel=&keywords_display=&sownerid=67719&lastBeginningStartYear=1981&end_year=2013&showZipError=y&make2=&certified=&engine=&dma=CHICAGO_C1&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&body_code=0&isFlashPlugin=true&transmission=&default_sort=priceASC&max_mileage=&color=&address=60181&sort_type=priceASC&max_price=&make=BMW&seller_type=b&num_records=25&cardist=126&standard=false

[1TSX]

So I'm just thinking...


Since the Z4 is now a summer only toy....why shouldn't it be more like this?


http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=p&car_id=286619043&dealer_id=65687001&car_year=2007&systime=&doors=&model=BMWROAD&search_lang=en&start_year=2007&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&search_type=both&distance=0&min_price=&rdm=1332606598521&drive=&marketZipError=false&advanced=y&fuel=&keywords_display=&sownerid=67719&lastBeginningStartYear=1981&end_year=2013&showZipError=y&make2=&certified=&engine=&dma=CHICAGO_C1&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&body_code=0&isFlashPlugin=true&transmission=&default_sort=priceASC&max_mileage=&color=&address=60181&sort_type=priceASC&max_price=&make=BMW&seller_type=b&num_records=25&cardist=126&standard=false

Trade her in. 

[vdk]

I love the engine in that thing...

[aquadorhj]

I thought ur z4 was auto? Does mz4 come in auto?

[mmret]

Yes
No

Auto made more sense when we got the Z4. Manual makes more sense now.