How Important is Build Date on Z4M Coupe?

[LHB]

I have an Excel spreadsheet that has the build date of most of the Z4M Coupes and Roadsters that were manufactured for the NA market, along with color, options packages, etc.

1) I've been looking at cars with build dates that span 11/2006 to 5/2008, all of which are MY 2007-2008 cars. Aside from the old stories about "never buying a car that was built on a Monday" is there any particular reason to be concerned about a car with a later or earlier build date? I'm thinking up all these bizarre scenarios regarding how depressed the people who manufactured the cars might have been at the end of the run, or how clueless they might have been at the beginning.

2) Some of the VIN numbers on the Excel Spreadsheet I have (which no doubt many zpost forum members have seen) are followed by "######" where the build date should be. Any idea why the build date might be absent in these cases?

As always, thank you all for your observations and opinions!

[Ubermensch]

I can't really provide any useful insight towards bullet 1, but for number 2 try resizing the columns in Excel. My copy of that spreadsheet had the same problem and I believe that's how I fixed that.

[MIKe86]

when you select the cell the date shows up at the top where you can edit on the bar

[inTgr8r]

Originally Posted by Ubermensch

I can't really provide any useful insight towards bullet 1, but for number 2 try resizing the columns in Excel. My copy of that spreadsheet had the same problem and I believe that's how I fixed that.

Correct, when Excel can't display all the data due to column width, it fills the space with ######

To auto resize the column, double click on the dividing line between two columns.

e.g. col." D|E" d. click on the |

[epbrown]

Originally Posted by LHB

I'm thinking up all these bizarre scenarios regarding how depressed the people who manufactured the cars might have been at the end of the run, or how clueless they might have been at the beginning.

I doubt the cars were much different than the X3s and X5s they were already building, and as far as being depressed - the factory didn't close and lay off a bunch of people; they still build the X3, X5, and X6 there, and will likely do the X1 if it's made.

[Blind32]

They all had to pass QA. Just buy one

[AWM3]

After 3 years of reading posts by owners of the different year models, I haven't seen any significant difference either positive or negative between production dates. If you do not want tire pressure monitors inside the wheels, you have to buy a 2006. There were a few color changes and if you are looking for one of the rare colors that may limit the year selection. The broken engine mount bolts might have been mostly 2007 model year cars, but that hasn't been conclusively proven, and the bolts can be easily replaced.

[LHB]

Thanks for the advice. The Excel spreadsheet is now showing production dates for all cars.

On the other hand, the thread about broken and/or worn camshaft gear bolts in the Vanos unit in the 2006 M's makes me wonder. It seems that this was not an uncommon problem with 2006 MY M3's. But again, it would seem like build date would be more important than model year, since it's obvious that they changed the bolts at some particular point in production. I wonder when this was, or if it is a chronic problem that even affects the s54's that are in the Z4M's as opposed to the e46 M3's.

Getting your dealership to check this out just for "peace of mind" would be a helluva lot more difficult than getting engine mount bolts replaced. It looks like at least a 3 hour job for an expert mechanic just to check them out, and would be far beyond my ability as a DIYer.

[AWM3]

Loose cam bolts have been reported on two cars only. It does not seem to be a common problem on Z4Ms.

[aerobod]

Originally Posted by epbrown

...and will likely do the X1 if it's made.

The X1 is in production and on the roads in Europe, seen a dozen or so on the roads in the UK in the last few days.