Well I can hardly believe it, but I am now coming up to my first year of ownership of my '07 Z4M. Bar two minor faults when I first got the car (which got repaired on warranty) , I've had 12 months of really straightforward ownership. Between Poppa and I, we've put about 5000 miles on the car, which is nearly double what I was clocking up in my 2 previous cars.
Even with my spinal problems, the way I have to sit in my "M" , has allowed me to keep pressure off my damaged lumbar area and yet be supported by the really awesome sports seats. So much so I've managed to do some really long day trips in the car, with no negative impact once I got out!
Every time I take my car out, I come back even more in love with it and just in awe at how well it drives. The car feels so well put together, with no rattles and the car feels tight, with no play on any of the controls, even with 100,000 miles just passed and 12+ years since it was first registered. When I was active with e30's, the gear linkages would feel so loose and sloppy, that is became an art to use the box smoothly. I had this happen with all 4 of my e30's, yet my e85 is nothing like that. The only negative I have is due to corrosion on my wheels causing my right front to leak about 6-8 PSI every two weeks or so. I really want to get some new wheels as I don't like the 5 spoke "M" wheels, yet I don't have the funds for some new wheels. I really want to put a set of the classic style Alpina wheels on, which I've been told is not ok to do on an "M" car, on other forums and websites. The Michelin Cup Sports tyres I have are a few years old now and are at a point where I want to replace them. I will eventually be changing over to Falkens, which I've had one every car I've owned since 2007!
After having to sell my Impreza P1, which I had modded so much, I never thought I would love a car as much, yet the Z4M-R has proven to be just as addicting as JDM turbo cars. While two very different animals, they both have really managed to find a place in my heart (and my fecking wallett). I'm really glad I have been able to experience an S54 with a manual 6 speed, as Poppa's E46 M3 Cab, had the SMG box, which I never warmed to. One really pleasant surprise has been how well the Z4M has dealt with the really shitty roads around Oxford/Oxfordshire. I think one reason why I have been able to do some big round trips in a day, is thanks to how well the car handles the bumps and great motorway car. (Yet with Sport sharpening the throttle response that car is savage on B roads!).
Going on from the negatives of Oxford towards cars and people who love car culture, my folks and I are most likely going to be moving into Kingsthorne, near Hereford around January. We're all going to look at an amazing house for sale there, that has been on the market for a while and we've got a builder meeting us, to help sort out a plan to make it easier to walk up the driveway on foot. My folks have seen the house already, so it's my time for seeing it in person, even though I gave my OK. The difference in prices here in Oxford to Kingsthorne are eye watering. We will be moving to a much nicer setting, with a bigger house that is up for sale for about 48% of the price to Oxford. With both my folks now retired, it's good we can move to an area where the cost of living is much lower, which means my folks will have a good buffer of funds to make retirement easier on them. If I am finally able to get the last excess weight off, I should be getting a spinal stimulator, which is my best chance at getting back to work. Thankfully, as I am a computer tech, there are jobs all over the region for someone like me and most of my close friends left Oxford a long time ago, as they couldn't afford the high housing costs. As an extra bonus, I will be getting my own dog, which will help me build up more activity and get fitter and fitter.
It's going to be odd for me to try and find car meets and local clubs, but with so many big places within easy reach, I am hoping that I will be able to find regular meets going on from the spring of next year. Also, no where on earth can be as anti-car as smegging Oxford, so it will be nice not to have to deal with OCC every again.
Anyway, I am so happy with my Z4M-R and I will only replace it for a Z4M-C , which might be possible next year!
Regards,
Felix!
Even with my spinal problems, the way I have to sit in my "M" , has allowed me to keep pressure off my damaged lumbar area and yet be supported by the really awesome sports seats. So much so I've managed to do some really long day trips in the car, with no negative impact once I got out!
Every time I take my car out, I come back even more in love with it and just in awe at how well it drives. The car feels so well put together, with no rattles and the car feels tight, with no play on any of the controls, even with 100,000 miles just passed and 12+ years since it was first registered. When I was active with e30's, the gear linkages would feel so loose and sloppy, that is became an art to use the box smoothly. I had this happen with all 4 of my e30's, yet my e85 is nothing like that. The only negative I have is due to corrosion on my wheels causing my right front to leak about 6-8 PSI every two weeks or so. I really want to get some new wheels as I don't like the 5 spoke "M" wheels, yet I don't have the funds for some new wheels. I really want to put a set of the classic style Alpina wheels on, which I've been told is not ok to do on an "M" car, on other forums and websites. The Michelin Cup Sports tyres I have are a few years old now and are at a point where I want to replace them. I will eventually be changing over to Falkens, which I've had one every car I've owned since 2007!
After having to sell my Impreza P1, which I had modded so much, I never thought I would love a car as much, yet the Z4M-R has proven to be just as addicting as JDM turbo cars. While two very different animals, they both have really managed to find a place in my heart (and my fecking wallett). I'm really glad I have been able to experience an S54 with a manual 6 speed, as Poppa's E46 M3 Cab, had the SMG box, which I never warmed to. One really pleasant surprise has been how well the Z4M has dealt with the really shitty roads around Oxford/Oxfordshire. I think one reason why I have been able to do some big round trips in a day, is thanks to how well the car handles the bumps and great motorway car. (Yet with Sport sharpening the throttle response that car is savage on B roads!).
Going on from the negatives of Oxford towards cars and people who love car culture, my folks and I are most likely going to be moving into Kingsthorne, near Hereford around January. We're all going to look at an amazing house for sale there, that has been on the market for a while and we've got a builder meeting us, to help sort out a plan to make it easier to walk up the driveway on foot. My folks have seen the house already, so it's my time for seeing it in person, even though I gave my OK. The difference in prices here in Oxford to Kingsthorne are eye watering. We will be moving to a much nicer setting, with a bigger house that is up for sale for about 48% of the price to Oxford. With both my folks now retired, it's good we can move to an area where the cost of living is much lower, which means my folks will have a good buffer of funds to make retirement easier on them. If I am finally able to get the last excess weight off, I should be getting a spinal stimulator, which is my best chance at getting back to work. Thankfully, as I am a computer tech, there are jobs all over the region for someone like me and most of my close friends left Oxford a long time ago, as they couldn't afford the high housing costs. As an extra bonus, I will be getting my own dog, which will help me build up more activity and get fitter and fitter.
It's going to be odd for me to try and find car meets and local clubs, but with so many big places within easy reach, I am hoping that I will be able to find regular meets going on from the spring of next year. Also, no where on earth can be as anti-car as smegging Oxford, so it will be nice not to have to deal with OCC every again.
Anyway, I am so happy with my Z4M-R and I will only replace it for a Z4M-C , which might be possible next year!
Regards,
Felix!
