Product Test: Chipex Paint Chip Repair System

by Ainsley Jacobs

When my C-package 1993 Mazda Miata was totaled in a head-on collision (caused by another driver on the wrong side of the road) in November of 2016, I was devastated and didn’t know how I could ever replace the car that I loved so much.

2006 E85 Z4M — This car was a total steal!

A year and a half later, after much deliberation and searching, I lucked out and found an absolutely pristine 40,000-mile 2006 BMW Z4 M Roadster at a killer price. The car was located in Sacramento, California, and being that I’m in Atlanta, Georgia, I bought it sight-unseen. I had driven non-M E85 Z4s before (a 3.0si Coupe at the Nurburgring in 2012 and a 2.5i on a test drive during my recent search) and liked the car a lot, but always felt it needed more power. So, when my baby arrived in April of 2018 and I hopped in for the first drive, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the M delivered everything I felt the standard Z4 had been lacking.

2006 E85 Z4M Interior — Considering this car’s age, it likely was a garage queen. But I know it did at least one track day!

My new-to-me Z4M absolutely exceeded all of my expectations. The Imola Red exterior, complemented by the black-on-black carbon fiber interior, was absolute perfection. The legendary 3.2L S54 VANOS engine had plenty of power (especially when compared to my previous Miata’s diminutive 1.6L engine), the massive cross-drilled brakes were awesome, and the car’s suspension and handling were spot-on. The six-speed gearbox was also a nice upgrade over my former five-speed, and I fell head-over-heels in love with the car.

Z4M through Turn 7 at Road Atlanta — I didn’t waste any time getting my new M-car out on track!

Like any reasonable car enthusiast would do, the first thing I did after receiving the car was to register for an HPDE. Conveniently, JZilla Track Days was hosting an event at Road Atlanta, only 40 minutes from my house. I signed up for the waitlist for the June event, kept my fingers crossed, and found out a few days before that I had gotten a spot! A quick trip to Gran Turismo East in Atlanta for a tech inspection confirmed my baby was ready, and I drove up to the famous road course bright and early on Friday morning ready to rock. Six sessions later, I was thoroughly sweaty and exhausted, but smiling from ear to ear and I couldn’t have been happier with how the car performed.