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Hello
-
- Newbie
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Wed Jul 14, 2021 11:37 am
Hello
Hi all,
I have decided to treat myself to a weekend car.
Not looking to spend much because it will litterly do about 2k a year.
In an ideal world 3.0.
I have been lurking around the classifieds and reading historical post. Can't for the life of me fathom out why some are fetching 50% more than others.
I'm probably going to continue to lurk until the summer is over and the premium should reduce, then snap one up from a forum member .
I'm in West Yorkshire, 30 mins from Huddersfield and 45 mins from Manchester. Are there any specialist local to me?
I will start with the questions very soon.
Craig
I have decided to treat myself to a weekend car.
Not looking to spend much because it will litterly do about 2k a year.
In an ideal world 3.0.
I have been lurking around the classifieds and reading historical post. Can't for the life of me fathom out why some are fetching 50% more than others.
I'm probably going to continue to lurk until the summer is over and the premium should reduce, then snap one up from a forum member .
I'm in West Yorkshire, 30 mins from Huddersfield and 45 mins from Manchester. Are there any specialist local to me?
I will start with the questions very soon.
Craig
- jabber
- Lifer
- Posts: 3138
- Joined: Mon Jul 05, 2010 9:23 am
- Location: Hampshire
Hello
Hi and welcome the prices seem to have gone crazy recently but price difference is usually spec, condition, mileage and service history
Z less again
14 E89 Z4 2.0 msport grey gone now
10 E89 Z4 3.0 Black auto now. Very sadly gone
Gone 04 E85 z4 3.0 Maldives blue smg
14 E89 Z4 2.0 msport grey gone now
10 E89 Z4 3.0 Black auto now. Very sadly gone
Gone 04 E85 z4 3.0 Maldives blue smg
- sars
- Lifer
- Posts: 7040
- Joined: Sun Feb 21, 2010 11:37 am
- Location: East Yorkshire
Hello
Hello and welcome, are you looking at an e85 (2002-2008) or e89 (2009-2016)? Good luck with the search
Gorgeous SFR Z4 M40i
Gone 2017 Iridium SL400, 2015 435d xDrive Convertible, 2012 E350 CDi Convertible, 2010 DSB Z4 sdrive30i, 2008 Audi A4 Cabriolet, 2006 Phoenix Yellow Z4 2.5Si, 2003 Saab 9-3 Convertible
Gone 2017 Iridium SL400, 2015 435d xDrive Convertible, 2012 E350 CDi Convertible, 2010 DSB Z4 sdrive30i, 2008 Audi A4 Cabriolet, 2006 Phoenix Yellow Z4 2.5Si, 2003 Saab 9-3 Convertible
- Ole gits rule
- Lifer
- Posts: 4566
- Joined: Sat Oct 24, 2020 5:49 pm
- Location: Pont-y-Pwll
Hello
Hello and welcome to the forum.
Going to be a lot of variables in your search but one will come along that meets your requirements and budget
Going to be a lot of variables in your search but one will come along that meets your requirements and budget
M4 Vert in Yas Marina Blue
2011 23i M Sport Highline in Alpine White with Smart Top installed - Gone but not forgotten.
2011 23i M Sport Highline in Alpine White with Smart Top installed - Gone but not forgotten.
- sars
- Lifer
- Posts: 7040
- Joined: Sun Feb 21, 2010 11:37 am
- Location: East Yorkshire
Hello
If your budget can stretch to a facelift then the 2.5si @ 215 hp or 3.0si @ 261 hp are peachy
Gorgeous SFR Z4 M40i
Gone 2017 Iridium SL400, 2015 435d xDrive Convertible, 2012 E350 CDi Convertible, 2010 DSB Z4 sdrive30i, 2008 Audi A4 Cabriolet, 2006 Phoenix Yellow Z4 2.5Si, 2003 Saab 9-3 Convertible
Gone 2017 Iridium SL400, 2015 435d xDrive Convertible, 2012 E350 CDi Convertible, 2010 DSB Z4 sdrive30i, 2008 Audi A4 Cabriolet, 2006 Phoenix Yellow Z4 2.5Si, 2003 Saab 9-3 Convertible
- Mr Tidy
- Legend
- Posts: 23852
- Joined: Wed Jul 02, 2014 12:18 pm
- Location: North West Surrey
Hello
Hi and welcome to the forum Craig.
If you have the budget to spend a bit more the way prices have been lately with limited use like you plan you'd probably get your money back anyway.
One of the most desirable features are the M-Sport seats, but they were a rarely specified option on pre-facelift models and change hands for £600/700 or so. Facelifts came with SE or Sport trim and M-Sport seats were standard on the Sport models, but E85 3.0Sis aren't common which is why the 2.5Si can be a good option as it has nearly as much power as the pre-facelift 3.0i and it easier to find - just avoid the facelift
2.5i as it's considerably less powerful than the Si.
Anyway good luck finding the right car.
If you have the budget to spend a bit more the way prices have been lately with limited use like you plan you'd probably get your money back anyway.
One of the most desirable features are the M-Sport seats, but they were a rarely specified option on pre-facelift models and change hands for £600/700 or so. Facelifts came with SE or Sport trim and M-Sport seats were standard on the Sport models, but E85 3.0Sis aren't common which is why the 2.5Si can be a good option as it has nearly as much power as the pre-facelift 3.0i and it easier to find - just avoid the facelift
2.5i as it's considerably less powerful than the Si.
Anyway good luck finding the right car.
Coupes because stunning!
Current - Silver Grey MC, Imola Red heated Nappa & carbon trim. Aeros, H & R Coil-overs, 224s, OE Strut brace, Nav, cup-holders, DSP Hi-Fi, pdc, cruise, MFSW, no CDV! E90 330i daily
Gone - Montego Blue
Gone - Ruby Black
Current - Silver Grey MC, Imola Red heated Nappa & carbon trim. Aeros, H & R Coil-overs, 224s, OE Strut brace, Nav, cup-holders, DSP Hi-Fi, pdc, cruise, MFSW, no CDV! E90 330i daily
Gone - Montego Blue
Gone - Ruby Black
-
- Member
- Posts: 628
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 2:09 am
- Location: New Zealand
Hello
Welcome to the forum, lots of info on here. There is more choice in the UK than here in NZ and I settled on an early 3.0 i manual E85 and certainly no regrets as a ‘hobby’ car. Slightly down on power than the si but really it is a good honest workhorse with few issues and easy to work on if you are so inclined. There are well documented roof motor issues if in the original position due to water ingress but a fairly easy job to relocate the roof motor to the boot.
A good maintenance / service history is more important than low mileage IMO, buy on condition. Good hunting.
A good maintenance / service history is more important than low mileage IMO, buy on condition. Good hunting.
2003 Toledo Blue 3.0 E85 Manual
2008 Volvo V50 - Dog Car
2020 Kia Sportage GT - Her Indoor’s Car
1995 Dakar Yellow M3 E36 Race Car - Sold
2009 Vauxhall Astra VXR - Sold
2003 350Z well modded - Sold
1992 911 RS - Sold and still in mourning
2008 Volvo V50 - Dog Car
2020 Kia Sportage GT - Her Indoor’s Car
1995 Dakar Yellow M3 E36 Race Car - Sold
2009 Vauxhall Astra VXR - Sold
2003 350Z well modded - Sold
1992 911 RS - Sold and still in mourning
-
- Newbie
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Wed Jul 14, 2021 11:37 am
Hello
I clearly need to look into models more! Thanks for the direction.Mr Tidy wrote: ↑Wed Jul 14, 2021 9:04 pm Hi and welcome to the forum Craig.
If you have the budget to spend a bit more the way prices have been lately with limited use like you plan you'd probably get your money back anyway.
One of the most desirable features are the M-Sport seats, but they were a rarely specified option on pre-facelift models and change hands for £600/700 or so. Facelifts came with SE or Sport trim and M-Sport seats were standard on the Sport models, but E85 3.0Sis aren't common which is why the 2.5Si can be a good option as it has nearly as much power as the pre-facelift 3.0i and it easier to find - just avoid the facelift
2.5i as it's considerably less powerful than the Si.
Anyway good luck finding the right car.
- Mr Tidy
- Legend
- Posts: 23852
- Joined: Wed Jul 02, 2014 12:18 pm
- Location: North West Surrey
Hello
You can never do enough research! I didn't do much before I bought my first one, but got lucky.
But I knew exactly what I wanted the next 2 times!
If it helps here is a photo of the standard seats (BMW call them Sport seats for some reason).
The M-Sport seats look like this - they are the ones fitted to the post-facelift Sport models (facelift was in 2006).
All 3 litre models had electric seat adjustment with 3 memories as standard - which is handy if anyone else might be driving it, although I keep mine to myself.
Coupes because stunning!
Current - Silver Grey MC, Imola Red heated Nappa & carbon trim. Aeros, H & R Coil-overs, 224s, OE Strut brace, Nav, cup-holders, DSP Hi-Fi, pdc, cruise, MFSW, no CDV! E90 330i daily
Gone - Montego Blue
Gone - Ruby Black
Current - Silver Grey MC, Imola Red heated Nappa & carbon trim. Aeros, H & R Coil-overs, 224s, OE Strut brace, Nav, cup-holders, DSP Hi-Fi, pdc, cruise, MFSW, no CDV! E90 330i daily
Gone - Montego Blue
Gone - Ruby Black
-
- Newbie
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Wed Jul 14, 2021 11:37 am
Hello
Stop tell me about all the lovely option .
My budget started off at £1500 for an MX5. Then I realised they are all rot boxes for that money .
So I upped it to £3000 which put Z4 as an option.
Then I start reading the forum and looking at the budget again .
My budget started off at £1500 for an MX5. Then I realised they are all rot boxes for that money .
So I upped it to £3000 which put Z4 as an option.
Then I start reading the forum and looking at the budget again .
- enuff_zed
- Lifer
- Posts: 14790
- Joined: Wed Oct 26, 2016 11:05 am
- Location: Attleborough, Norfolk
Hello
Hello and welcome.
Yes your budget restricts you, but I picked up a 53-plate 2.5i last year for £2500 for the wife.
It was on 98k at the time and had a few minor blemishes, but ran well.
Over the last 18 months I've gradually fettled various bits, some necessary and some as future insurance.
The wife has been out and about in it constantly, to the extent that I have to book it from her to do any work on it!
I would not let high mileage put you off. Get a 6-cylinder and they seem to run for ever, and sound lovely too.
Be patient, and realise you may need to do a bit of work to get exactly what you want, but your budget should see you out and about in a decent Z, enjoying the experience while you gather the pennies for the next improvement.
Good luck.