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Looking to buy a used Z4 for the first time - advice needed!
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- Newbie
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Looking to buy a used Z4 for the first time - advice needed!
Hi there,
Looking for some advice as I look to purchase my first Z4 - hopefully I have come to the right place!
I’m currently looking at a 20i M Sport, around the years 12-14.
I have a couple of viewings booked in, including of this one (attached pics) on Sunday.
I think it looks amazing - but I have a few concerns - namely the darkened rear lights, windows, and it looks to have been de-badged of the Z4 on the back.
As I’m new to the Z4 world - I wondered if there was a way of gauging what is factory and what May he aftermarket/what may have been altered?
Understand this is a minefield but hopefully you understand where I’m coming from!
Cheers,
Ross
Looking for some advice as I look to purchase my first Z4 - hopefully I have come to the right place!
I’m currently looking at a 20i M Sport, around the years 12-14.
I have a couple of viewings booked in, including of this one (attached pics) on Sunday.
I think it looks amazing - but I have a few concerns - namely the darkened rear lights, windows, and it looks to have been de-badged of the Z4 on the back.
As I’m new to the Z4 world - I wondered if there was a way of gauging what is factory and what May he aftermarket/what may have been altered?
Understand this is a minefield but hopefully you understand where I’m coming from!
Cheers,
Ross
- Attachments
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- 7C6B6422-F062-4133-9F00-B463957E4645.jpeg (99.68 KiB) Viewed 793 times
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- 3541F373-FF33-480C-815B-868623F38173.jpeg (145.75 KiB) Viewed 793 times
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- Lifer
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Looking to buy a used Z4 for the first time - advice needed!
Welcome ..many opinions offered here..plus advice
When looking at E89s of that age mileage, service/MOT history and BMW factory options are key determinants. It’s got it’s OE whippy
Tinted glass / rear lights may point to a boulevard cruiser…no bad thing…
Of course in the flesh the truth comes out..posting high quality pictures allows armchair pundits to proffer views..
Many folks de-badge their Z4s. Both rear and I see on this sides..
N20 powered E89s pre 2015 have a chequered cam chain history.
When looking at E89s of that age mileage, service/MOT history and BMW factory options are key determinants. It’s got it’s OE whippy
Tinted glass / rear lights may point to a boulevard cruiser…no bad thing…
Of course in the flesh the truth comes out..posting high quality pictures allows armchair pundits to proffer views..
Many folks de-badge their Z4s. Both rear and I see on this sides..
N20 powered E89s pre 2015 have a chequered cam chain history.
We choose to go to on with this endeavour at this time and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard…
A very modified Atacama Yellow 35is
A very modified Atacama Yellow 35is
- mr.tourette
- Lifer
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Looking to buy a used Z4 for the first time - advice needed!
All that you are mentioned are mods.. It also looks debadged on the wings.. Not an uncommon mod.. Not sure if its an LCI car but it also has LCI indicators which are a nice touch, the tricolour grills are also easily removable.. There's nothing in the two pics that is unduly concerning imho
if its got tits or tyres..its trouble
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Looking to buy a used Z4 for the first time - advice needed!
Thanks both, appreciate that. Like you say, will have a good look around on Sunday and report back.
Never truly know until you get behind the wheel and have a poke around.
Excuse my ignorance - what’s LCI? Apologies if that is a dumb question haha
Never truly know until you get behind the wheel and have a poke around.
Excuse my ignorance - what’s LCI? Apologies if that is a dumb question haha
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- Lifer
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Looking to buy a used Z4 for the first time - advice needed!
If you’re set on the 4 pot turbo, Google N20 cam chain. I’d budget circa £1k to have the required bits replaced to avoid the risk of the engine eating itself at some point.
It’s not an easy ‘do at home’ job as a number of specialists tools are required
It’s not an easy ‘do at home’ job as a number of specialists tools are required
Alpina Roadster S Lux no. 204 (1 of 15 uk cars in Alpina Blue)
Previous Z4’s :E89 30i, E89 20i, E85 3.0Si (X4) E85 3.0i, E86 3.0 Si, E85 2.5si, E85 2.5i
Previous Z4’s :E89 30i, E89 20i, E85 3.0Si (X4) E85 3.0i, E86 3.0 Si, E85 2.5si, E85 2.5i
- tiglon
- Senior Member
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- Location: Essex
Looking to buy a used Z4 for the first time - advice needed!
Welcome to the forum.
The rear window and back-halves look tinted, as do the rear light clusters and rear central brake light - all of that will be aftermarket as will the debadging. All easily reversed if you'd prefer it standard.
Black front kidney grill is not standard, but could be genuine BMW as they did make them in black.
M Sport stripes on the front grill are aftermarket too. Again, all of that is easy and cheap to revert if you wish.
The black side indicators are almost certainly painted, BMW have only ever offered them in chrome.
To me it looks quite tastefully done. If I were you I'd try to find out if it's been remapped or if there are any other non-visual mods.
The rear window and back-halves look tinted, as do the rear light clusters and rear central brake light - all of that will be aftermarket as will the debadging. All easily reversed if you'd prefer it standard.
Black front kidney grill is not standard, but could be genuine BMW as they did make them in black.
M Sport stripes on the front grill are aftermarket too. Again, all of that is easy and cheap to revert if you wish.
The black side indicators are almost certainly painted, BMW have only ever offered them in chrome.
To me it looks quite tastefully done. If I were you I'd try to find out if it's been remapped or if there are any other non-visual mods.
2014 E89 35is Valencia Orange 788M wheels (M2 Competition), E90 M3 control arms, Eibach Pro Kit Springs, MHD Stage 1
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Looking to buy a used Z4 for the first time - advice needed!
Thanks all. Re the cam chain, does it happen around a certain mileage as a general rule? Or is it an age thing?
To be honest from the pics, I really like how it’s been done.
Any red flags I should particularly look out for other than the obvious?
To be honest from the pics, I really like how it’s been done.
Any red flags I should particularly look out for other than the obvious?
- rdm05z4
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Looking to buy a used Z4 for the first time - advice needed!
Welcome! While I am not familiar with this model. As mentioned, a good maintenance history is important. What I would do is beside this site google the make, model, and year for any known major issues. Cars can be polished on the outside but have issues under the skin. Also maybe a member here if in the area can go with you to look the car over? Whatever you decide good luck.
2005 3.0i Manual, Sterling Gray Metallic Sport suspension, heated seats, top line Business Cd radio
2007 Nissan Maxima -Silver-Auto
2009 VW Wolfsburg Jetta-Black-6sp manual
2007 Nissan Maxima -Silver-Auto
2009 VW Wolfsburg Jetta-Black-6sp manual
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- Lifer
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Looking to buy a used Z4 for the first time - advice needed!
LCI stands for Life Cycle Impulse, which is BMW marketing speak for mid-life refresh. So for the E89 you can have pre-LCI, which carried forward engines from the E85/6 generation, or post-LCI which moved onto 4-pot / 6-pot turbo engines. I know very little about this generation of Z4, there were probably a load of cosmetic changes as well.
2003 Maldives Blue 3.0i auto
Previously: Maldives Blue 2.5i manual (its back!) and another, and a Monaco Blue 3.0Si coupe
Previously: Maldives Blue 2.5i manual (its back!) and another, and a Monaco Blue 3.0Si coupe
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- Lifer
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Looking to buy a used Z4 for the first time - advice needed!
The 4 pots were brought in pre LCI..only the 18i version of the N20 was linked to LCI…the car is an LCI version..there were very few cosmetic changes..side indicators, headlights and bezels around some centre panel switchgear.Zedebee wrote: ↑Fri Nov 11, 2022 9:52 pmLCI stands for Life Cycle Impulse, which is BMW marketing speak for mid-life refresh. So for the E89 you can have pre-LCI, which carried forward engines from the E85/6 generation, or post-LCI which moved onto 4-pot / 6-pot turbo engines. I know very little about this generation of Z4, there were probably a load of cosmetic changes as well.
6 pot turbo was pre LCI also.
Ref N20 camchain…
Generally they tend to go post 75k miles…engines with infrequent oil changes ie standard BMW service pattern and those with stop start are the worst affected.
My checklist would include..
What make are each tyre…what condition are they in, what sizes are they
How do the discs look..rusted, pock marked, signs of scoring , lips
Operate the roof fully open and then close with the engine not running
Operate all the switches, check heated rear window all bars work
Check engine bay for condition general appearance
Boot check inside cover, is it loose, does it look like it’s been riveted
Check each seat for smooth action, does it have heated seats..check…personally I wouldn’t buy Z4 without heated seats..
Unless you are handy with spanner’s etc go on condition….
We choose to go to on with this endeavour at this time and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard…
A very modified Atacama Yellow 35is
A very modified Atacama Yellow 35is
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- Lifer
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Looking to buy a used Z4 for the first time - advice needed!
The tinting of the rear lights, rear window and especially rear reflectors could be cause to fail an MOT if the tester wanted to (depending on the shade and what mood they were in at the time). Also tinting is a good excuse for plod to pull you over if they were bored.
Wheels painted black can be done to hide damage.
Don't think it's been mentioned but the LCI (face-lit in old money) was from March 2013, so all cars made after that will be LCI.
Here is the same car without the 'stuff' for comparison, although mine has 19" wheels, that one has 18".
Wheels painted black can be done to hide damage.
Don't think it's been mentioned but the LCI (face-lit in old money) was from March 2013, so all cars made after that will be LCI.
Here is the same car without the 'stuff' for comparison, although mine has 19" wheels, that one has 18".
Last edited by Pondrew on Sat Nov 12, 2022 11:54 am, edited 1 time in total.
All good things come to those who wait. I'm really impatient which explains a lot.
F31 320i. Good car.
E89 20i Now fully dried
Z3 'free litre'. Project and a half. Complicated!
Mazda3 sold
Tatty old R56 Mini Cooper. Money pit!
F31 320i. Good car.
E89 20i Now fully dried
Z3 'free litre'. Project and a half. Complicated!
Mazda3 sold
Tatty old R56 Mini Cooper. Money pit!
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- Lifer
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Looking to buy a used Z4 for the first time - advice needed!
The first two characters of your number plate are my initials…….Pondrew wrote: ↑Sat Nov 12, 2022 11:39 am The tinting of the rear lights, rear window and especially rear reflectors could be cause to fail an MOT if the tester wanted to (depending on the shade and what mood they were in at the time). Also tinting is a good excuse for plod to pull you over if they were bored.
Wheels painted black can be done to hide damage.
Here is the same car without the 'stuff' for comparison, although mine has 19" wheels, that one has 18".
IMG_8116.JPG
IMG_8084.JPG
This obviously won’t make sense to anyone but us
Alpina Roadster S Lux no. 204 (1 of 15 uk cars in Alpina Blue)
Previous Z4’s :E89 30i, E89 20i, E85 3.0Si (X4) E85 3.0i, E86 3.0 Si, E85 2.5si, E85 2.5i
Previous Z4’s :E89 30i, E89 20i, E85 3.0Si (X4) E85 3.0i, E86 3.0 Si, E85 2.5si, E85 2.5i
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- Lifer
- Posts: 8498
- Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2021 7:20 pm
- Location: Spaldingski
Looking to buy a used Z4 for the first time - advice needed!
Fate??
All good things come to those who wait. I'm really impatient which explains a lot.
F31 320i. Good car.
E89 20i Now fully dried
Z3 'free litre'. Project and a half. Complicated!
Mazda3 sold
Tatty old R56 Mini Cooper. Money pit!
F31 320i. Good car.
E89 20i Now fully dried
Z3 'free litre'. Project and a half. Complicated!
Mazda3 sold
Tatty old R56 Mini Cooper. Money pit!
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- Member
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Looking to buy a used Z4 for the first time - advice needed!
Apart from the usual - service history, tyre brands, does everything work as it should, the questions to ask yourself are..
1) Do I want a modified car
2) Are these the mods I want.
3) Does the price reflect the cost to change the mods I don't want back to standard.
If the answer to any of those is "no" then walk away otherwise you'll spend time and money putting something back to match a car that you can buy elsewhere.
1) Do I want a modified car
2) Are these the mods I want.
3) Does the price reflect the cost to change the mods I don't want back to standard.
If the answer to any of those is "no" then walk away otherwise you'll spend time and money putting something back to match a car that you can buy elsewhere.
2006 Imola Z4MC (wife's shopping trolley)
1990 Toyota Carina (Started as a free family heirloom, now apparently a Classic)
2016 Toyota Avensis 1.6D (yup, the *really* slow one).
2011 TDM900
1997 VFR750 project. 95% complete. Only 30% left to do.
1990 Toyota Carina (Started as a free family heirloom, now apparently a Classic)
2016 Toyota Avensis 1.6D (yup, the *really* slow one).
2011 TDM900
1997 VFR750 project. 95% complete. Only 30% left to do.
- Rockhopper
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Looking to buy a used Z4 for the first time - advice needed!
Tints on windows to the rear of the B pillar can be as dark as you want.