Lookign for my first Z4

Smallzoo · Post by **Smallzoo** » Mon Mar 11, 2024 2:04 pm

Ive seen a Z4 and someone on the BMW forum has kindly done some investigation and it looks sound

We have a tiny budget of less than £4k

..but I'm no mechanic and it not in my area...its in Pinxton on the derbyshire/nottingham border

Its a 2003 2.5 auto Z4 with cream leather. Good MOT, 2 owners and no accident history. He is only asking £2k

Is there anyone that could take a look at the car for me with a z4 reader to reassure me its a good one

Happy to part with some wine and beer for helping me out

Longshot but maybe someone can help

cheers

raymond.harper · Post by **raymond.harper** » Mon Mar 11, 2024 2:12 pm

Pictures of the prospective purchase!

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: 432004292_715246217469563_3834637661047459200_n.jpg (389.2 KiB) Viewed 573 times

: 431855768_969374217950378_8472848685859663849_n.jpg (147.56 KiB) Viewed 573 times

Smallzoo · Post by **Smallzoo** » Mon Mar 11, 2024 2:13 pm

Thanks Ray

buzyg · Post by **buzyg** » Mon Mar 11, 2024 3:49 pm

Lovely colour combo. Welcome to the forum.

Alas too far from here.

raymond.harper · Post by **raymond.harper** » Mon Mar 11, 2024 4:25 pm

List of code readers here. viewtopic.php?f=1&t=144268&p=2059854#p2059854

Pondrew · Post by **Pondrew** » Mon Mar 11, 2024 7:57 pm

Looks like Rockhopper is the nearest. Maybe send him a PM?

Car looks nice in Merlot with the light interior. It also has the 'nice' wheels on it!

Zedebee · Post by **Zedebee** » Mon Mar 11, 2024 9:24 pm

No comment on this car, but you have a lot of 2.5 litres to choose from for £4k and quite a few 3.0 litres too. Buy the best you can find for the money.

Mr Tidy · Post by **Mr Tidy** » Mon Mar 11, 2024 9:36 pm

I love that colour and it looks pretty smart in the photos.

The only possible downside is it doesn't have heated seats which most E85 owners always want to extend the top-down season.

Anyway welcome to the forum and good luck with your Z4 search.

Smallzoo · Post by **Smallzoo** » Tue Mar 12, 2024 12:03 am

Pondrew wrote: ↑Mon Mar 11, 2024 7:57 pm Looks like Rockhopper is the nearest. Maybe send him a PM?

How do I contact him ?

Smallzoo · Post by **Smallzoo** » Tue Mar 12, 2024 12:04 am

Zedebee wrote: ↑Mon Mar 11, 2024 9:24 pm No comment on this car, but you have a lot of 2.5 litres to choose from for £4k and quite a few 3.0 litres too. Buy the best you can find for the money.

Trouble is I don't know much about these cars and I'm no mechanic so find the 'best buy' is going to be difficult..cheers anyway

Mr Tidy · Post by **Mr Tidy** » Tue Mar 12, 2024 12:13 am

Smallzoo wrote: ↑Tue Mar 12, 2024 12:03 am Pondrew wrote: ↑Mon Mar 11, 2024 7:57 pm
Looks like Rockhopper is the nearest. Maybe send him a PM?
How do I contact him ?

Go into "Private messages" at the top right of the screen then click on "Compose message" and put "Rockhopper" into the recipient box.

Smallzoo · Post by **Smallzoo** » Wed Mar 13, 2024 11:19 pm

Quite rightly , after offering me some sound advice rockhopper didn't feel it was right to go and see the car and make a decision for me.

Anyone recommend a company (locally to derbyshire or national) that I could trust to examine the car and give me an expert opinion on the car mechanically and bodywork ?

My wife really likes it , it's a good price but we really can't afford to buy a lemon

Thanks

Smallzoo · Post by **Smallzoo** » Wed Mar 13, 2024 11:53 pm

It's ok I think I have found someone. I will let you know how I get on

Mr Tidy · Post by **Mr Tidy** » Thu Mar 14, 2024 12:23 am

How have you bought your previous cars?

Given your concerns I'm not sure buying a 20 year old BMW for £2K is really for you, although you said your budget was less than £4K so you'd have a bit to spare for potential issues.

Because there will be some for sure. I bought a 2002 E46 325ti Compact on 80K miles in 2014 (same M54 engine as that Z4) and within a few months the radiator developed a major leak. A cooling system refresh cost the best part of £500.

Then at 94K a PAS pipe split and that cost over £300 to get replaced - although that wouldn't happen on a Z4 as they have Electric PAS.

I replaced it with a 132K mile 2006 325i in 2018 and 6 months later it needed a new electric water pump, so another £500+ bill. Although that Z4 doesn't have an electric water pump.

Replaced that in 2019 with a 2005 330i on 107K. Just before 110K it needed a new lower front tension arm for £236. In June 2020 on 114K it needed new rear shocks and a top arm that cost over £400. Then in 2022 a wire in the loom for the boot lid split at 117K. That ended up burning out the control module for the light failure warning light so a rebuilt module, repaired wire and new rear top mounts cost £536. I got it MOTd in 2023 on 122K and the central locking died leaving all the doors unlocked, except the driver's one that wouldn't open. It turns out a rear door lock had failed and blew the fuse. Diagnosis, new door lock and membrane and almost £500 later it was all sorted.

And that's before I get to my Z4s, although to be fair they have been a bit less troublesome thankfully - well so far!

While a couple of those issues wouldn't apply to that Z4 maybe it gives you an indication of what to expect running older BMWs so you need to go into it with your eyes open.

I can live with it because I love them, and it's far cheaper than depreciation on a newer car.

Smallzoo · Post by **Smallzoo** » Thu Mar 14, 2024 8:34 am

Thanks so much

You would be shocked if I told you how many cars I've had and it's obvious I've been very very lucky. Over 40years I can count on the fingers of one hand how many bills have cost me more than £250. I've had everything from an old Porsche to a Volvo 940 but never a Z4

The trouble is that from my personal opinion the used car market has changed over the last 5 years or so. Very sadly I don't trust anyone who is selling a car anymore whereas before I would have bought on take a quick look at a car and a drive and trusting the seller. I honestly can't do that anymore.

The last big bills I had were a year a go when I bought an old Nissan xtrail.over 6 months it's cost me £800 to put right and that's because I trusted the seller in what he had done.

Maybe I'm wrong but I thought at £2k with a good history and if a mechanic checks it out ok even if it cost me £500 over the next 18 months it's cheap motoring

Thanks again

Z4-forum.com

Z4-forum.com