What to inspect before I take delivery of my Z4

[TurboHank]

Hey guys,

My Z4 is about to arrive at the dealer in about 2 weeks. I was wondering what are some areas of the car I should inspect and check before taking delivery of the car.

Thanks,

Hank

[Rubber Ducky]

Look for scrapes, scuffs, other boo boos. If it's black, assess swirls. But give the dealer a chance to fix cosmetics if there's an issue.

Owner manual etc., cup holder, y-cable if you have iPod/enhanced sound system.

Perhaps operate the top through a couple cycles.

Make sure you understand the break-in rules.

Meet your Service Advisor.

Turn down all dealer-installed options, paint protection, extended warranties, etc.

Know whether or not you want tire/wheel insurance before you go in (threads here and many other places on pros and cons.)

Or just wing it - will probably turn out the same.

[teagueAMX]

Say No to "Can we fill your tires with 100 percent nitrogen?"

Keep in mind that normal air is 78 percent nitrogen anyway. Consumer reports tested normal and 100 percent nitrogen filled tires for a year (see link below). During that time their tires lost 1.3 pound less (2.2 vs 3.5), but they had to refill their anyway. Furthermore, the tires were simply sitting outside and do not to appear to mounted on cars nor used in regular service, which likely would have nullified any difference. Couple things to keep in mind: 1) how do you make sure you got rid of the normal, 78 percent nitrogen air, so you can put in 100 percent nitrogen air, and 2) what happens if you need to refill your tire and you don't have a 100 percent nitrogen air compressor nearby? Here's a couple of links the debunk the fad.

http://blogs.consumerreports.org/car...nitrogen-.html

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/...instead-of-air

[dwagner00]

Originally Posted by teagueAMX

Say No to "Can we fill your tires with 100 percent nitrogen?"

I would say the answer should be "I don't care" (assuming they're not charging you for this)

Keep in mind that normal air is 78 percent nitrogen anyway. Consumer reports tested normal and 100 percent nitrogen filled tires for a year (see link below). During that time their tires lost 1.3 pound less (2.2 vs 3.5), but they had to refill their anyway. Furthermore, the tires were simply sitting outside and do not to appear to mounted on cars nor used in regular service, which likely would have nullified any difference. Couple things to keep in mind: 1) how do you make sure you got rid of the normal, 78 percent nitrogen air, so you can put in 100 percent nitrogen air, and 2) what happens if you need to refill your tire and you don't have a 100 percent nitrogen air compressor nearby? Here's a couple of links the debunk the fad.

http://blogs.consumerreports.org/car...nitrogen-.html

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/...instead-of-air

Yep, it's a nonsense fad, but if you can refill a nitrogen filled tire with normal air, it just doesn't matter one way or the other.

[erichui]

nothing major, but 1 of the LED of the brake light in the boot wasn't working for me... and I had to take it back to replace it..

[SHADOW4]

Originally Posted by TurboHank

Hey guys,

My Z4 is about to arrive at the dealer in about 2 weeks. I was wondering what are some areas of the car I should inspect and check before taking delivery of the car.

Thanks,

Hank

I didn't remember what was said or done deliveryday! I didn't see anything. It's too much to check everything that day. I had planned to take a lot of pictures/video and check that and check this, but everything was like a christmasday for 6 years old kid! I just smiled like an imbecill.

Take the car and make an appointment with the service advisor at an later day.

First week i was in the clouds, but now i have started to write up snags/questions for the service advisor whom i will meet next week.

[Memphis1]

Originally Posted by TurboHank

Hey guys,

My Z4 is about to arrive at the dealer in about 2 weeks. I was wondering what are some areas of the car I should inspect and check before taking delivery of the car.

Thanks,

Hank

mostly quality of paint and interior cleanliness, completeness of your options, don't be afraid to just stay at the dealership nitpicking at your car if your CA rushes. It's a new car not a 100 yr old house.

[juhap]

Bring a friend. Tell him to check the car like it's his. You'll be too happy to think straight.

[richard in NC]

Originally Posted by Rubber Ducky

Look for scrapes, scuffs, other boo boos. If it's black, assess swirls. But give the dealer a chance to fix cosmetics if there's an issue.

Owner manual etc., cup holder, y-cable if you have iPod/enhanced sound system.

Perhaps operate the top through a couple cycles.

Make sure you understand the break-in rules.

Meet your Service Advisor.

Turn down all dealer-installed options, paint protection, extended warranties, etc.

Know whether or not you want tire/wheel insurance before you go in (threads here and many other places on pros and cons.)

Or just wing it - will probably turn out the same.

Good post. You did forget floor mats. They should be comped by the dealer if not delivered with the car. I would also make sure you/they have the time to go over iDrive if equipped, pair a cell phone, enable Sat radio if equipped, register the BMW assist, check tire pressures, set the dealer programmed options (don't recall what's left on the Z4), and show how to set the user programmable options (DRLs, auto lock, unlock options, 3 blink signal, etc).

[teagueAMX]

Originally Posted by dwagner00

I would say the answer should be "I don't care" (assuming they're not charging you for this)

Yep, it's a nonsense fad, but if you can refill a nitrogen filled tire with normal air, it just doesn't matter one way or the other.

Totally agree. The assumption was that the dealer wants to tack that on to the sticker price.

[teagueAMX]

Originally Posted by juhap

Bring a friend. Tell him to check the car like it's his. You'll be too happy to think straight.

LOL

[TurboHank]

Thanks for all the answers guys. What should be a reasonable amount of miles on the car when it arrives at the dealership?

[MDLFCS]

I would say less than 10 miles would be fine.

[BlueZ4AZ]

Try to get the car under indoor lighting where you can really see the finish on the paint.

When I picked up my car they already had it sitting in their delivery area under bright indoor lights. I saw two very fine, but small (2" long) scratches on the back trunk I asked them to buff out. They had to buff it twice to totally remove the scratches.

[Rubber Ducky]

Originally Posted by richard in NC

Good post. You did forget floor mats. They should be comped by the dealer if not delivered with the car. I would also make sure you/they have the time to go over iDrive if equipped, pair a cell phone, enable Sat radio if equipped, register the BMW assist, check tire pressures, set the dealer programmed options (don't recall what's left on the Z4), and show how to set the user programmable options (DRLs, auto lock, unlock options, 3 blink signal, etc).

All good...

[MDLFCS]

I am wondering, what dealer programmed options are there in the Z4s?

[Rubber Ducky]

Originally Posted by MDLFCS

I am wondering, what are dealer programmed options are there in the Z4s?

Am not aware of any...

[tranquility]

What is the break-in for the Z4? My sales said there is no such thing, just avoid the redline.

[Silver-Bolt]

I prefer to view the finish in sunlight. Do not sign off if it is wet. Rain and water drops are great at hiding paint issues. Look and the underside of the front spoiler for scrapes. Test drive it before signing the paper.

[H-Doc]

Originally Posted by tranquility

What is the break-in for the Z4? My sales said there is no such thing, just avoid the redline.

The manual has the info. Keep it under 100mph and below 4500 rpm for the first 1200 miles.

The most important thing is to vary the speed and RPMs as much as possible. Quick accelerations are likely good for the car, as they help get things seated- at least that's how I understand it. When mine was new (a month ago), I took it out for a weekend to the mountains and drove it on some nice twisties- which helped vary the speeds nicely, but not a place I had to worry about topping 100mph (did have to keep an eye on the tach, however). On the highway home, I didn't use the cruise control much- but when I did, I would make a point to change the speed every few minutes and to go through the gears manually (I have a DCT) from time to time to keep the RPMs varied.

Actually went back there this weekend, post break-in. My car is now a month old (yesterday) and I passed 3000 miles on the way home last night. Better park it for a bit...

[teagueAMX]

+1

Good advice H-Doc

Originally Posted by tranquility

What is the break-in for the Z4? My sales said there is no such thing, just avoid the redline.

You want to avoid sustained high speed or high RPM because they generate a lot of heat. The various parts are "green" (like fresh wood, not environmental) and it's good to allow them a number of moderate heat and cool down cycles to avoid warpage. Short RPM bursts are good for the engine because the break-in takes the engine throughout the entire range of operation. Like H-Doc says, keep an eye on the tach because it not car speed but engine speed that counts.

As some will tell you, another thing is to seat your breaks properly. Someone recently posted in the forum about their brakes squeaking. So on the one hand you treat you car with kid gloves, but on the other hand don't be afraid to abuse your brakes (somewhat ). Nothing fixes them better than taking the car out to a low traffic area and haul it down from speed quite rapidly several times in succession. Get it up to speed, slam the brakes, then take off right away (don't sit still), get it up to speed, . . . etc. Do that 4 or 5 times.

[tranquility]

Thx 4 the advice. I just read that part in the owner's manual. 2,000kms seems so far away!