by Otto » Wed Sep 23, 2009 4:15 pm. Mine is another case of notchy and binding steer when a Z4 gets hot. Bought a pretty red '05 Z4 2.5 w/ 40k miles from Lithia VW in June. Car was out of manufacturer's warranty, but Lithia sold it with their own 60 day/3000 mile backing. Within the first week I realized the steering was not right. I was looking at the E46, probably a 2001 knowing it is the same as the E85 essentially. In the process, I learned of the dreaded subframe issue in which look at video!! the entire rear of the car has structural cracks. Logically, I began wondering if this is something that has been reported in the Z4. Five steps to buying a BMW Z4 E85/E86. Buying Guide Get yourself a big-performance BMW Z4 for small change. What to pay. Scruffy running four-cylinder Z4s can be found for £1500. Decent examples come in at £3000, with £4000 buying an excellent one. £3000 is the starting point for a nice non-M six-cylinder roadster. Buy on condition. Some of the best cars of the era use the N52 engine, which includes the massively popular BMW Z4, as well as the X3, X5, the 3 series, and 5 Series. The reliable N52 paves the way for the E85 Z4 to become a future classic, with its distinct design, bargain price, and thrilling performance. 2004 BMW Z4 2.5i with 105k miles. Intermittent no crank, no click, lights bright (no dimming), no start issue. Sometimes it works after a few tries, sometimes it doesn't work for a whole day. Recent events before the issues: - Replaced factory amplifier with OEM amplifier. - Attempted to replace factory head unit with aftermarket head unit It seems like it would be a permanent fix. Here is the narrative: "Z4 Sticky Steering Fix. There is an eccentric ring between the steering column and steering column electric motor. That eccentric ring is there to adjust the play/distance between worm gear (electric motor) and spur gear (steering column). It's going to the dealer next week to have everything fixed, but I'm interested in thoughts on the prob (& cost). The wipers work normally, but after a short while on (~30 seconds) they just stop in the middle of the windshield. I can't turn them back on or off. The only way to fix it is to restart the car then the wipers work, until they stop Good." - Roll window back up, and release switch. - Open door. Marvel at the downward motion of the window. Repeat on other side, if you like. And an optional additional step: - Brag to wife about how you "re-programmed" your Z4's windows. Make it sound highly technical, and terribly difficult. uNR61sZ.

bmw z4 e85 common problems