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I joined this group a number of years back and the support, discussion and knowledge provided here has been invaluable, yes we have the odd enthusiastic discussion but this really is a very good community. A perfect example of this happened recently. I bought an E70 X40d and it was located in Auckland ; with Covid lockdowns occurring I was struggling to find a way to get the X5 back to Wellington. Pramod came to the rescue; he helped get the X5 picked up and bought back to Wellington for less than an airfare and diesel; and there was nothing in it for him he was just helping out. Pramod for those that dont know is really good with programming, he can sort and re program keys as well as code your DME, he is a BMW enthusiast and a really nice guy. Thanks Pramod, I really appreciate your help.

Shameless

A tune well deserved in my opinion 👍

On Saturday, I reached a turning point with the relationship I have with my Z4MC. And wanted to share this moment with fellow car peeps as trying to explain this to my girlfriend was pointless and involved lots of yawning and eye rolls 😂 So up until Saturday, I was still on the fence about my Z4 M Coupe (or Moupe as my GF calls it). After selling my beloved E46 M3 over two years ago (which I had a spent a lot of time and money bringing back up to near mint status - shout out to HellBM and OCD for helping with that), I bought an F80 M3. This was an amazing car but I never really fell in love with it. It looked the part, had performance up the wazoo, but it never had any soul. I missed what the E46 M3 was - analogue, visceral, and raw… After waiting for over a year with a saved search for another E46 M3 in Trade Me (and having my cheeky offer to the purchaser of my old M3, to buy it back with extra $$$, refused), I turned my search to something else. This is when I found my Z4MC. I knew of this car in roadster form, but I didn’t know much about the coupe version. So after a bit of research, decided that this would make a good replacement for my E46 M3. Especially given it is manual, has the same high revving and beautiful sounding S54, and shares a lot of parts from the E46 M3 and M3 CSL (basically a bit of a parts bin M). But it wasn’t all good news. After purchasing it…I just wasn’t sure I’d made the right call. I mean, compared to the E46 M3, I think it looks odd and borderline ugly in places (particularly the droopy front end). It also doesn’t drive the same - it’s very twitchy, not as composed, and suffers from understeer. My first few drives of it didn’t leave me with a feeling of excitement or elation. However… 6 months in (and many many weekend drives) I have come to understand and LOVE this car. As mentioned, it’s not as poised as the M3, so the biggest thing I had to get used to was that you can’t drive into a corner hot - it’s more of a slow-in/fast-out car. This took some time to get used to, but once I learned this, I found that the turn-in on the Z4MC is incredibly accurate and the car feels so planted (provided you turn TC off). Also, after changing the tyres from the OE spec to 10mm wider all round, this has removed some of its twitchiness (this was originally done because I hated the aesthetics of the factory spec with Michelin PSS’s on the front but the handling improvement was a silver lining). Additionally, it feels like a proper little sports car. You sit low and slung so far back (the bonnet is huge - and I once had a 3.0L Z3). There is a sense of occasion every time I remove the cover and disconnect the battery charger. The side profile, rear, and rear three quarters look incredible (the front is still a little weird but I’m getting used to it). And, no surprises, the S54 is sublime (even if the ZF transmission doesn’t feel quite as good as the Getrag in the M3). It sounds better than my old M3 (and 1000% better than the F80) and the odd interior styling has grown on me too (though I have always loved that go-kart-like steering wheel). So I finally think I can sleep at night now without waking up in cold sweats regretting the sale of my E46 M3. I think this Z4MC will have a home in my garage for a long time… Attached are some pics from Saturday (up South Head - which still remains my favourite road in Auckland after Woodcocks and Monument).

Funny - I initially came across him on an Nz Honda’s forum post

Yeah pretty much why i bought one even though ill never fully sold on the their looks. Performance more than enough around town if in given their weight and reasonable output. Auto isnt too bad at all shifting wise once its had a fluid change and adaption reset.

Great choice, used to know Scott through the Honda scene a few years ago. His attention to detail is second to none.

SGT performance in Henderson - Scott did a great job - was $500 but a lot of work given the overspray etc. picked him, seemed a good balance between the elite ($$$) detailers and the cheap Facebook amateurs.

Should be martin @BreakMyWindow MP0WRD

Who'd you go to see and how much was it ? Looks great !

@promo we're playing your tune mate 🙂

Got a pro to do it, I believe it was a wash, clay, 1st heavy compound for scratches and overspray then 2nd finer polish - e.g ‘2 stage correction’

^ that’s pretty much the plan, I’ve always liked the practicality of the 318ti compact with the hatchback you can carry quite a bit. Easily fits 4 wheels for example Also a big fan of the performance of the M44 engine, have only owned 1 previously which didn’t need any work so its a first time experience for me with this one. Only flaw with this car is the 4 speed auto box, revs a bit high when cruising on the motorway but it is what it is.