Difference between Z07, Z8 US Spec, Typical Problems, Accessories, Z8 Euro Spec, Alpina and My Car

[Routineer]

Z8 LISTS

This can be helpful in knowing the car, and in buying a car.


WHAT’S DIFFERENT ABOUT THE Z07 SHOWN IN TOKYO in 1997

No Ragtop Version
Windshield Wipers Fit Closer to Hood
Smaller Cockpit Opening - no convertible top storage bin
Removable Hardtop with “Gurney” Bubbles in Roof
Different Rear Deck with Fairing For Open Cockpit Config
Toneau Cover Snap Posts for Open Cockpit Config
Single Bolt Wheel Mounts with Cotter Pins
Exposed Latching Gas Cap
Chrome Trunk Opening Handle
Front Turn Signals Integrated into Headlight Assembly
One-Piece Front Bumper Cover With Smaller Lower Grill
One-Piece Rear Bumper Cover
Fog Light & Reverse Light Not Made to Look Similar
Larger Steering Wheel with Thinner Rim & Smaller Hub
Four Sets of Spokes for Steering Wheel
Inside Mirror Mounted on Center Rod
Inside Door Handles Integrated Into Door Panel
Five Point Racing Harnesses
Different Seat Design
Different V8 Motor - Not M62
Different Instrument/Gauge Design


COMMON PROBLEMS TO Z8s & APLINA ROADSTERS

Noisy VANOS Valve Train (Z8 Only)
Fogged Headlights
Detached Seat back
Blackening of inside mirror
Domed Strut Towers*
Hood vs Fender Alignment (possible Frame Damage)*
Presence (or absence) of Performance Package Upgrade
Neon Tail Lights (Incl. Brake Lights/Turn Signals)*
Neon Front Turn Signal Lights
LED Side Marker (Gill Vent) Lights
Stuck Glove Box Door
Condition of Hardtop (Esp. Rear Corners, Glass)
Convertible Top Retraction Fold Strings
Multi-Information Display Operation (AM/FM/CD/GPS)
Delamitation of leather on upper dashboard*
Pitting (or cracks) in Windshield
Air conditioner condensation leaks from console area*
Seat heaters inoperable
Inoperable butterfly on Heater/AC Vent Directors
Failed gas struts for trunk lid
Clogged radiator/AC condenser
Broken oil filler cap


Z8 ACCESSORIES (for cars Delivered by BMW NA Dealers)

Hardtop
Hardtop Stand
Hardtop Cover
Special Wrench for Locking Hardtop to Body
Plastic Covers for Hardtop Interior Mounts
Leather Key Case
Four Keys
2 Remote Control Keys
1 Valet Key
1 Wallet Key
Boot/Cover for Convertible Top When Retracted
Windscreen (Goes between Roll Hoops)
Windscreen Carrying Bag
Front License Plate Frame
Motorola “Flip” Cell phone (with operating manual, obsolete)
Tool Kit
Glove Compartment Flashlight
First Aid Kit
Cup holder (outer and inner piece, US cars only)
Owner's Manual & Warranty Book
Battery Trickle Charger (shipped separately)
Coffee Table Book (shipped separately, with VIN Plate)
2 Racing Helmets (from complimentary driving school)
Helmet Bag (from complimentary driving school)
2 3/4 Length Coats (from complimentary driving school)
Mobility Kit (shipped separately, 12v compressor, tire sealant)
1:18 Scale Kyosho Z8 Model (given by some dealerships)


THINGS THAT ARE DIFFERENT ON A EURO Z8

No miles per hour on speedometer (only kilometers)
No "Unleaded Fuel Only” marking on fuel gauge
Has convex side mirrors with guidelines
No rear side marker lights
Different rear license plate recess area
Different Air Bag calibration (US Congress Idiot law)
Amber signal lights above the red brake lights (more to that story)
No trickle charger nor mobility package (gifts from BMW NA)
No driving school nor related goodies (gifts from BMW NA)
VIN starts with "AF..." (not "AH...")
Reflective Hazard Triangle (illegal in US)
No emergency release for luggage compartment (?)
No Cupholder! (Wasser trinken während der Fahrt ist verboten!)


THINGS THAT ARE DIFFERENT ON AN ALPINA ROADSTER

20” Alpina Wheels
Different Tires (not run flats)
Different Suspension Tuning
Different Motor (Alpina-tuned version of X5 V-8)
Automatic (Torque Converter) Transmission
Transmission gear indicator on dashboard
Different steering wheel, with shift buttons
Different interior leather and trim pieces
Blue background on dashboard instruments
Side mirrors match body paint (not chrome)
Alpina badge on upper rear bumper
Serialized xxx/555 Alpina badge between seats


MODIFICATIONS DONE TO MY Z8

Performance Package (Chromed)
Painted Brake Calipers Silver
Short-shift kit from UUC
Bent Windshield Arms to be Closer to Hood
Reversed positions of Speedo & Tach
Elimination of Clutch Engage Delay Valve
Installation of Switched Power Socket in Cabin
Installation of Switched Power for Radar Detector
Installation of Un-switched Power Socket in Trunk
LED Running Lamps in Front Headlight Assemblies
iPod Nano Installed in Passenger-side Ashtray
Euro Convex Rear View Mirrors with Guidelines


PEOPLE I’VE LET DRIVE MY Z8

Mike Dietel - Instructor at Nurburgring and holder of their best BMW CCE driving school score
Reed Davis - My coach at 'Ring, and Attendee of 34 Three-day Schools
Alex Scroppo - 'Ring Veteran who’s so fast that it’s scary
Nerces Mavelian - 'Ring veteran who I used to coach, now he coaches me
Bahman Moghadam - 'Ring veteran, and my driving partner for 5 three-day 'Ring schools
Monica Moghadam - Car gal, drove 1 lap of 'Ring, track school veteran, and Bahman’s wife
Pat Arnold - Classic BMW Z8 service advisor and expert on all things Z8
Mark Shrayber - My Daughter's First College Boyfriend, now a limo company owner
Christian Schmidt - Fellow Z8 owner, former International Z8 Club board member, and aficionado/restorer of fine vehicles
Randy Eisenbach - BMW M 5/6 driving school partner, neighbor and longest-known friend
Betty Peck - Car gal, drove 1 Lap of 'Ring, winner of "Bootleggers Turnaround" contest at BMW track school, and, oh, by the way, my wife.

If you have any additions, corrections or contradictions, let me know (updated 4/12/14 18:10 CDT)

[///M Blitz]

Wow, very comprehensive and very helpful. The only thing I'd add is the car cover matching the hardtop cover (did I miss it on the list?). I know not everybody got one, but a number of us did and the dealers were supposed to provide them.

Because my car was a European/Tourist delivery, it also came with the trunk hazard triangle and a driver's seat mounted fire extinguisher.

[boomster]

Very comprehensive list! One correction I would suggest is you seem to indicate Alpinas did not receive Coffee Table Books, which is not the case.

Bill

[Z-acht]

Very helpful list! Some additions

Eu car:

Vin number starts with AF
no Battery Trickle Charger
no emergency release luggage compartment
no driving school equipment
no mobility kit
Hazard triangle
Kyosho 1:18 model

In general:

Was the protective cloth for the rear window part of the delivery and why have EU en US cars a different calibration of the airbags?

[ron's rocket]

Your modifications..."Bent windshield wiper arms to be closer to hood". How did that work?

[macfly]

Good post, you inspired me to update our list as it was pretty old.

[Routineer]

The wipers on the Z8 were straight off the 7 series of the day. Grease Monkey (who had 2 Z8's, with full Dinan pkg. done to one car) made a jig or fixture or process that re-formed the wiper arms so that they would be lower on the windshield. Pandaman and I sent our wiper arms all the way to Montana, Grease Monkey did the "re-forming" (bending) and sent them back. Now they tuck away more neatly.

[Routineer]

I'll update my post with your Euro car differences. Didn't realize Euro buyers got a 1:18 Kyosho model. I think the hazard triangles are actually illegal in the US - makes me want one even more.

[Z-acht]

Didn't realize Euro buyers got a 1:18 Kyosho model.

But it was a "special" model in the color of your car, which differs from the commercial one by a hardtop and a license plate with "BMW Z8".

[Routineer]

From Wikipedia: "ECE airbags are generally smaller and inflate less forcefully than U.S. airbags, because the ECE specifications are based on belted crash test dummies."

Let me finish this thought: US Spec airbags are over-powered and might unnecessarily injure you because their specifications are based on tests with unbelted crash test dummies. You know - dummies like the Congressmen that passed the law, except with more sensors and better information processing capability.

[Z8Mania]

Nice list.

As a further info, the phone that originally came with the Z8s (USA at least) was the Motorola CPT7000. This was replaced by CPT8000 at some point.

[Routineer]

That phone should have been called the Moto D.O.A 2G Phone. Lowly 3G was spec'd the same month that the Z07 was shown in Tokyo in '97. I was was in Tokyo that week but had to work late on network planning, and couldn't get by the auto show to see the hit of the show.

My company stopped shipping 2G gear before BMW started shipping Z8s in 2000. Nowadays, 2G radios are being stripped off the cell towers on the same tower-monkey climb in which the carriers install the 4G/LTE gear.

Car makers will never be accused of keeping up with the telecom industry.

TDMA Flip phones were cool - in '97. Part of my "tech junk drawer" is the center console of my Z8. But it's OK now - thank God for giving us Bluetooth.

[tomfakes]

One note: I have an early Canadian car that has the Euro speedo - no MPH.

Good lists though!

[Routineer]

I think I saw a Canadian car back in the day with the US-plate cut-out in the rear bumper cover (ala US cars), but no rear side marker lights (ala Euro.)

[Z-acht]

No emergency release for luggage compartment (?)

The rear window cover was delivered with the EU car but I am not sure if it was part of the US delivery

The initial cellphone which was delivered with the EU car was the Motorola Startac. In 2002 it was replaced with a Motorola ?????

[Z8Mania]

If you have the phone still inside the car, please remove it (or just remove the battery) as the battery can leak and if it does it will corrode things that don't like it.

Yes before BT was the way we connected phones to cars, the compatible phones were few and far in between. Thats just because the auto makers have to really test the phones and hence there was always a lag. Not so much anymore. It never really bothered me. I just drove the car.

[Routineer]

I'll add rear window cover to Euro Z8 accessory list.

When would that trunk release be needed. I'm thinking Z8 owners are way past sneaking people into the drive-in theaters (what, you say?), but generally kind enough to let them out. Maybe it ought be called the "I'm kidnapped but I'm not dead yet and I'm gonna get outta here" release.

[Z-acht]

When would that trunk release be needed. I'm thinking Z8 owners are way past sneaking people into the drive-in theaters (what, you say?), but generally kind enough to let them out. Maybe it ought be called the "I'm kidnapped but I'm not dead yet and I'm gonna get outta here" release.

It can be handy if you take now and than a nap in the trunk

[harvey2]

Canadian Z8

This was my experience and understanding of what was included in a Canadian-spec Z8. I understand that BMW Canada is not a part of BMW NA, so BMW NA gifts were not included.
A Canadian Z8 is built as a US Spec with exceptions noted below and with standard market-specific items including:
S442A Cup Holder
S645A BMW US Radio
S672A CD-changer 6 disc
S845A acoustic belt warning
S853A English language version
S876A radio frequency 315 MHz (remote control key)
S992A license plate mounting type North America

Canadian cars were equipped with these factory options:
S548A Kilometer-calibrated speedometer
S818A Battery master switch
L838A National Version Canada (not sure what this includes)
S896A Daytime driving light switch (keeps headlights on when driving)
S925A transport protection package (may be same as US version?)

I was told by my dealer that these items are not included in Canada:
No trickle charger
No mobility package
No protective cloth for rear window
No hardtop stand or cover
The dealer also claimed that the cellphone was not included, but after I obtained proof from BMW Canada that it was, the dealer relented and supplied the phone. With this experience behind me I wondered whether I should have received the hardtop stand, but had no word from BMW Canada corporate that it should be and later on I purchased one from a board member at a very reasonable price so didn’t care anymore.

Although I received a letter offering the Driving Experience it was prohibitively expensive and I did not attend, electing to attend local BMW Club driving schools instead.

I did indeed receive:
- The book (shipped months after purchase)
- CPT7000 phone (shipped months after purchase)
- Cup holder
- Same set of 4 keys as US owners
- Leather convertible-top boot cover, with storage bag
- Wind reduction screen for between seat headrests, with storage bag
- Front license plate frame mounted on bumper (no option here in BC)
- Tool Kit and first aid kit in trunk compartment
- Owner's Manual & Warranty Book in leather pouch
- A gift from my salesman of a Z8 model 1:32 metal (by Gate)
- Nav CD (shipped months after purchase)
- BMW music CD