Interlagos Z4M Roadster - The Spicy Meatball

[GazHyde]

Couple of chores to sort out today, first off the power steering pump has been failing for some time and making a howling noise. As usual you know something is wrong, but until you change the part you don't realise quite how bad.

First off finding a replacement part put me off, going on Realoem it suggests it's a Z4M only part. Remember that only the Z4M's have hydraulic power steering, all other models have electric

PN 32417837884

Looking at various sources for OEM replacement something around £5-600.

@Lee did some digging on my behalf and found that the E46 M3 used the same PS pump, PN 32412229679. This part number is also common to the S54 Z3M. Essentially this pump seems to be for the S54 engine, just a different and unlinked part number to the Z4M. Really odd that Realoem misses that link, but it's a straight fit with no modification including the brackets.

This made life a little easier locating replacement parts, and Quarry Motors on eBay happened to have one from a 2003 M3. Straight in the basket and delivered next day!

I'm not going in to the process because Pelican Parts have a full pictorial how to on the following link.

BMW Z4-M Power Steering Pump Replacement | 2003-2006 | Pelican Parts DIY Maintenance Article

See how to replace the power steering pump, and bleed it too.

www.pelicanparts.com

It's a fairly straightforward, although we had a couple of delays caused in separating some of the connectors. Nothing serious though. Worth noting that the power steering fluid that came out was a nasty sludge. Replaced the PS fluid with Motul Multi HF Synthetic Multifunctional CHF Central Hydraulic Fluid from Opie Oils.

With the old pump off turning the pulley you could feel the bearing in side crunching. Suffice it to say the power steering is now almost silent

Having given the old pump a look over this already appears to be a replacement going on the date circled.

 

[GazHyde]

Second chore of the day was a change of the diff oil. Following the diff refurb carried out with the subframe I always planned to use the oil we filled it up with as a flush after 2k miles, car now on just under 126k

This time round I chose Motul Gear Competition 75w-140 Fully Synthetic Racing Transmission & LS Differential Oil from Opie Oils because that's what they have on their site. Looking through the specs it already has friction modifier in it, so saves the effort of mixing it in myself.

Not going in to the process as it's simple stuff. I jack the rear passenger side up which leans the diff to the drain side to help it drain out, and left it to drain for a while. It was drained in to a clean bowl to inspect for anything out of place and nothing ominous lurking in it.

Now it's been refurbed, flushed and filled with fresh oil I shall leave it alone. Probably change it every couple of years, but other than that should be good.

 

[peteslag]

Second chore of the day was a change of the diff oil. Following the diff refurb carried out with the subframe I always planned to use the oil we filled it up with as a flush after 2k miles, car now on just under 126k

This time round I chose Motul Gear Competition 75w-140 Fully Synthetic Racing Transmission & LS Differential Oil from Opie Oils because that's what they have on their site. Looking through the specs it already has friction modifier in it, so saves the effort of mixing it in myself.

Not going in to the process as it's simple stuff. I jack the rear passenger side up which leans the diff to the drain side to help it drain out, and left it to drain for a while. It was drained in to a clean bowl to inspect for anything out of place and nothing ominous lurking in it.

Now it's been refurbed, flushed and filled with fresh oil I shall leave it alone. Probably change it every couple of years, but other than that should be good.

Hi Gaz. How much fluid do you need? I read somewhere that it is 1.1 litres (which would be annoying as they only seem to sell it in 1 litre tubs!).

 

[GazHyde]

Hi Gaz. How much fluid do you need? I read somewhere that it is 1.1 litres (which would be annoying as they only seem to sell it in 1 litre tubs!).

I bought 2 litres, and it seemed to be around 1.2ish litres used. As you say frustrating to have to buy 2, when it's only just over.

 

[Brian H]

Second chore of the day was a change of the diff oil. Following the diff refurb carried out with the subframe I always planned to use the oil we filled it up with as a flush after 2k miles, car now on just under 126k

This time round I chose Motul Gear Competition 75w-140 Fully Synthetic Racing Transmission & LS Differential Oil from Opie Oils because that's what they have on their site. Looking through the specs it already has friction modifier in it, so saves the effort of mixing it in myself.

Not going in to the process as it's simple stuff. I jack the rear passenger side up which leans the diff to the drain side to help it drain out, and left it to drain for a while. It was drained in to a clean bowl to inspect for anything out of place and nothing ominous lurking in it.

Now it's been refurbed, flushed and filled with fresh oil I shall leave it alone. Probably change it every couple of years, but other than that should be good.

If your was anything like mine it would have been stinking…..

 

[t-tony]

Diff. oil is very smelly.

Tony.

 

[GazHyde]

If your was anything like mine it would have been stinking…..

Yeah it was pretty nasty smelling, getting used to it these days with how many diffs we crack open.

 

[GazHyde]

Something I've been contemplating on and off is getting Bluetooth streaming setup in the car. There are a whole host of solutions to this, of which I've tried a few. One I've been assuming is a horrible idea is fitting a single DIN head unit to replace the oddly shaped standard BMW Business unit. I'd expected the plastic conversion kits to be bad, and honestly wasn't surprised they are a poor fit. That all said it does have a distinct advantage if you completely ignore the poor fit and quality in that I have somewhere to stick a phone mount on the dashboard. Having leather dash panels and not wanting to damage them, and now that even contemplating touching your phone will land you in solitary confinement at her majesties pleasure.

I kind of hate this, but with the loan of a quality Alpine head unit (thanks Lee) just the increase in audio quality is worth putting up with it. Streaming both music and audio books sounds great now (before anyone mentions it, I don't want a pop up screen unit) I've got my eye on a couple of more retro period style head units as I don't want the dashboard to look like a disco at a wedding reception.

Having the phone mounted at least obscures the awkward fit to some degree, so for now it's staying (I realised that I stuck it on skew afterwards). It's a function over form decision. I've ordered a different brand facia to see if that fits better, but my guess is it will be just as bad. I've got an idea on how to make things fit a little better, the vents are missing some foam that helps them to sit slightly further back.

Plan is to install a flush mount battery voltage meter in the panel on the right side.

 

[Althulas]

Considered trimming the fascia with some thin foam and leather/Leatherette to make it blend in better? Hopefully the next one is of better quality, nice that there are some solutions out there so you can have the option to upgrade the stereo .

 

[GazHyde]

trimming the fascia with some thin foam and leather/Leatherette

I've considered a few things like that, but honestly unless it's vinyl wrap thin then it's going to make the poor fit more pronounced. The best solution I can come up with is to reduce the thickness by sanding it down to remove some of the high spots and then have it sprayed to blend it in better with the vents (the spraying I'll need to outsource). It's injection moulded plastic so shouldn't put up too much of a fight...

 

[Nodzed]

Something I've been contemplating on and off is getting Bluetooth streaming setup in the car. There are a whole host of solutions to this, of which I've tried a few. One I've been assuming is a horrible idea is fitting a single DIN head unit to replace the oddly shaped standard BMW Business unit. I'd expected the plastic conversion kits to be bad, and honestly wasn't surprised they are a poor fit. That all said it does have a distinct advantage if you completely ignore the poor fit and quality in that I have somewhere to stick a phone mount on the dashboard. Having leather dash panels and not wanting to damage them, and now that even contemplating touching your phone will land you in solitary confinement at her majesties pleasure.

I kind of hate this, but with the loan of a quality Alpine head unit (thanks Lee) just the increase in audio quality is worth putting up with it. Streaming both music and audio books sounds great now (before anyone mentions it, I don't want a pop up screen unit) I've got my eye on a couple of more retro period style head units as I don't want the dashboard to look like a disco at a wedding reception.

Having the phone mounted at least obscures the awkward fit to some degree, so for now it's staying (I realised that I stuck it on skew afterwards). It's a function over form decision. I've ordered a different brand facia to see if that fits better, but my guess is it will be just as bad. I've got an idea on how to make things fit a little better, the vents are missing some foam that helps them to sit slightly further back.

Plan is to install a flush mount battery voltage meter in the panel on the right side.
View attachment 216681

Stick an ///M badge on it, it will look super cool then.

 

[GazHyde]

That it. That's the update.

 

[Nodzed]

£20 for a non M

 

[GazHyde]

£20 for a non M

Standard E85/6/9 part - hope yours doesn't fail soon

 

[Jack Ratt]

Hang onto all those "patinered" parts and sell them to that bloke on Salvage Hunters

 

[GazHyde]

Front end rebuild parts ordered today:

• Front discs. They are floating 345x28 used on the E46 M3 CSL so, ouch!
• EBC Yellowstuff pads
• Meyle HD control arms
• Powerflex front wishbone rear bush (offers additional +0.5° of caster aimed at offering greater precision with improved geometry)
• Inner / outer tie rods - after a bit of research I've managed to figure out Meyle HD parts for a third of the price of OEM.
• Meyle drop links

Following on from that will be a full geometry check. Obligatory write up to follow in the next few weeks.

 

[Dino D]

^Someone getting it ready for some proper driving

 

[peteslag]

Front end rebuild parts ordered today:

• Front discs. They are floating 345x28 used on the E46 M3 CSL so, ouch!
• EBC Yellowstuff pads
• Meyle HD control arms
• Powerflex front wishbone rear bush (offers additional +0.5° of caster aimed at offering greater precision with improved geometry)
• Inner / outer tie rods - after a bit of research I've managed to figure out Meyle HD parts for a third of the price of OEM.
• Meyle drop links

Following on from that will be a full geometry check. Obligatory write up to follow in the next few weeks.

This car is begging for a track day . Great setup.

 

[GazHyde]

^Someone getting it ready for some proper driving

This car is begging for a track day . Great setup.

I can neither confirm nor deny that this may or may not be related to any track related activity in the near future....

 

[peteslag]

I can neither confirm nor deny that this may or may not be related to any track related activity in the near future....

If you fancy meeting up for a track day let me know, I've always got something in the pipeline.