CDR_UK

They just said the Z4 was better at the limit. I can believe that - the new Z convertible weighs more than 1700Kg in GT spec! I don't know the weight of the Z4, but I guess it's at least 200kg lighter! I think if they'd compared the Z4 with the Z coupe - things would have been different.

Can't stand the understeer at relatively low speeds on track. This is partly down to the weight - the worst thing about the Z is the fact that its a lardass!. The fact that we still get a tape deck is rediculous! Everything else is is great or acceptable.

The MY07 Z is 1,603Kg for the basic version and 1,623Kg for the GT version according to european specs! Add a couple of kilos for the UK version (down to the folding mirrors and alarm system). That's one heavy mother! BTW, these weights are according to EU norms, which include a 90% fuel tank, and 75Kg for a passenger and luggage. BMW always quote weights according to this formula. A MY05 Z is 1,525Kg for the basic version and 1,545Kg for the GT version, though I'm not sure if this is according to EU norms or not. An M5 or M6 is extremely light compared with the Z in terms of what's packed inside (equipment, size, not to mention a 5.0 V10 )

Looks fantastic!

Nice cars! Not a fan of the splitter, but the seats If your Z is still in Japan, just give it to powerhouse amuse, and pay them to sort it out - they are arguably the best NA tuner for the Z, and as far as i know - the only tuner to get almost 360bhp out of an NA Z without using a stroker kit: http://www.webamuse.co.jp/

I reckon it looks ok, especially if it was in a decent colour with the shadowline window trim. Then there's the performance - should be spot on, and with good and simple tuning potential. The brakes also look like they could be decent. Finally there is the quality - which is sure to be fantastic. I will definitely test drive one. I'm a bit dissapointed that it only weighs 40kg less than a 335i though. The 2007 Z is 1603kg for the base model, and ~1630 for the GT version - too lardy for a two seater coupe!

cool! can't wait to see pics of them on your car!

That was a great long weekend! A pity I didn't to get to chat with you Steve - or maybe go for a few laps together. Ah well - next time! I did get to go out for a pax lap in an evo fq360 driven by a ring instructor mindblowing! He also came for a few laps in my Z - amazing! I also bumped into ~20 350Z / drivers spectating at Brunchen on the Monday - it was surreal, I just parked my car, and was looking in the rear view mirror - realising - oh... theres another Z, and another, and another.... Then Spa on the Tuesday was fantastic too... can't wait to go again!! I took quite a few pics: Nurburgring 27-05-2007 Nurburgring 28-05-2007 Spa 29-05-2007

I'll arrive late saturday afternoon, and stay until mid monday afternoon - then over to Spa, for the track day on tuesday. See you there! BTW - Please don't bring any typical british weather with you

I always stay in www.am-tiergarten.de - it's very close to the track entrance, and the rooms are modern and clean (which my wife likes), and the price is relatively ok. Also the famous Pistenklause restaurant is underneath the hotel, so walking back to the room after several german beers is not a problem.

Ring taxi is only on the weekends, and is probably already fully booked If you were going a few weeks earlier I take you round in my Z. Anyway - it should be really quiet during the week - just go for a gentle lap in your car - you will be fine, and it will be the best driving experience of your life!

Fantastic

Saw this in the metal last Friday and it looks amazing! IMO the bonnet bulge on the new Z looks even better than the 2003-2006 bonnets in the metal!

These are active since autumn last year between Geneva and Lausanne there are ~15 cameras! Get an inforad GPS camera detector though, and your covered for the whole of europe

I'll be there 26-28th, then at Spa on the 29th with the MLR: http://www.lancerregister.com/showthrea ... did=139511 See you there!

I will probably be up for it - would be great to meet up with some other Z enthusiasts and not need to speak in a foreign language . However it's quite far from Geneva, and so depends if there will be a track event at Spa or not - I've been to Spa enough times not to want to go again unless it's for a track day . Nurburgring is always interesting and I will come just for that - but only if it's open to the public on those days

I also have these pads, tjey are already bedded in from the factory, but in the instructions that came with them, they do recommend doing around 20 medium forced stops from a medium driving speed. They are referring to the procedure to be followed on a circuit since they are racing pads - s o you interpret medium how you like;) . Be careful in the cold weather coming up to stop lines or give ways - they may not have quite as good initial bite (whilst cold) as the original ferrodo pads that you took out.

It depends on what you're looking for, and how long you have. Purely for driving on some good roads - you might as well just head for the Alps. You could get to Lucerne for a bit of tourism, then Interlaken, and then pass by Gstaad, Verbier, Chamonix, and then through the Jura to Dijon (v nice roads - where clarkson took the veyron on top gear) and pick up the French motorway to get back to Calais. That would take a few days though. It's getting into a mission journey once you start going from Germany to Switzerland. Personally I'd recommend just taking a look around Germany. The city of Trier is 1 hour south from the ring - and very nice for tourism (the oldest city in Germany). If people were bringing their other halves - this is a good place to spend some time.

I'll be up for part 1 and 2, but Neuchatel is pretty boring - though i'd be passing by on my way back to geneva.

yes - as stated in all car manuals. Same as your supposed to check tyre pressures when the the tyres are cold - big question is how do you get to a garage without heating the tyres - teleport? normal operating temperature is usually assumed to be when the radiator cooling fan cuts in - this can happen whether it's idling or your driving along (unless you fitted a nismo thermostat). Checking the oil on the 07 HR engine looks a whole lot easier now that they moved the dipstick though.

Because when the oil is cold, it is thicker, taking up less volume. By waiting 15 mins the warm / thin oil will have drained back to the sump, and you will get a true reading. If your oil level was at halfway on the dipstick when cold, and you fill it to the max level - there is a chance that when the oil is at operating temperature that you will be above the max level - essentially meaning that you have overfilled Nissan and other car manufacturers tell you in the user manuals to check the oil level when the oil is at operating temperature for a reason Anyway, my point was just to explain how I check the oil (following the recommended procedure) and still manage to get a reading on the dipstick without problems

I check mine like this - works every time: - After the engine has reached operating temp, park on flat ground, and shut of the engine. - After 15 minutes, pull out the dipstick and wipe clean with a cloth. - Re-insert the dipstick, and immediately remove it again (using your left hand) - as soon as it is half way removed grab the middle of the dipstick (using the cloth) with your right hand (this steadys the dipstick and stops oil from getting where it shouln't), and continue to remove the dipstick completely and tilt it horizontal - hey presto you can read it. If you check it when cold, it's easier, but you won't get a true reading since the oil is thicker. whether the difference is worth bothering about is up to you.

I also have the Tokico D-Specs and RSR Ti2000 springs - great setup! I got them from Ebay from RaceOptions (who don't seem to list them anymore - maybe you could contact them and ask?)... anyway they were shipped immediately with a tracking number, and I received them in 4 days to Switzerland.

Perfect! - At nightime it blocks the lights of the car behind, so you don't even need to flip the rear view mirror