Z4M buying advice requested
- Thread starter Gebbly
- Start date
Spaldingski
Chances are the dealer put the budget tyres on it. They ALWAYS put the cheapest tyres on they can find if a car needs them.
Premium tyres are expensive; dealers don't like spending their profit!
If they are new there is your answer. If not the previous owner may have just put cheap tyres on to sell the car. It happens.
I have seen McLarens in dealers showrooms with £60 tyres on.
Premium tyres are expensive; dealers don't like spending their profit!
If they are new there is your answer. If not the previous owner may have just put cheap tyres on to sell the car. It happens.
I have seen McLarens in dealers showrooms with £60 tyres on.
If the rears are good, I would just replace the fronts. Porsche standard offerings are Pzero and I have really hammered my 911 around the mountain passes in sun, rain and snow and for me they have been absolutely fine. I am sure that the Michelins are better, but it is definately not a bad tyre.
Double checking the MOT history in 2023 there were advisories
Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
and in 2024 there were 2 fails
Nearside Front Tyre has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
Offside Front Tyre has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
So I suspect your right Pondrew that the dealer just whacked on the cheap front tyres. Makes me think I need to check the dates on the rears.
If I get the tyre codes during an inspection is it something I can put into a website to get their ages?
Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
and in 2024 there were 2 fails
Nearside Front Tyre has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
Offside Front Tyre has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
So I suspect your right Pondrew that the dealer just whacked on the cheap front tyres. Makes me think I need to check the dates on the rears.
If I get the tyre codes during an inspection is it something I can put into a website to get their ages?
Would anyone with Z4M experience be willing to meet up and go and look at the car with me? I know its a bit of an ask but the more I read, the more specialised the Z4M sounds and someone who knows what they are talking about and looking for would be really handy. The dealer is in Chobham, Woking, Surrey, GU24 and viewings are by appointment only.
Although I am guilty of being paranoid about ZM health as anyone, we need to remember that they are fairly normal cars and that Vanos rebuilds and rod bearing replacement are not as essential as people on here think. But evidence of things like oil changes and overall care are essential. Similarly, if there is a MOT fail and it’s repaired immediately there is no problem. Mine failed on a broken rear spring because the owner just didn’t know…. My M240i has just had advisories on its tyres but only because it sits on its original wheels when it goes to the centre - it actually drives on brand new PS5s on different wheels. It’s a warranty thing. So my cars history will probably show advisories for as long as I have it and the tester will be perplexed as to why they haven’t worn down further each year….so it behoves us to check why things are as they are. Which is what the OP is doing. However, I don’t subscribe to the need to replace tyres every five years. I have cars on tyres far older than that. It’s all to do with storage. If they don’t see light or temp variation then they deteriorate far less. Clearly if you want to track it or race down the road all the time then you will wish for newer tyres. And suspension - it doesn’t just give up and a car at 70000 miles won’t NEED a rebuild nor an upgrade. It will be perfectly driveable. I am not saying things don’t fail - mine has had new springs and dampers and drop links. Finally, ZMs are costly cars. You can’t run them on a shoe string. The trouble is that they are now cheapish and buyers think they can away with it. Even if you buy a car with Vanos done etc you can bet your bottom that something else expensive will go as part of normal life.
Thanks, reassuring words CliveN. I dont ever plan to take the car on the track but I would like to have legal fun on the roads. I am prepared for a maintenance budget. The car I am looking into at the moment ticks all of my specification boxes which is great.
At the moment I am trying to work out whether it is a fair deal. It is towards the higher end of Z4M prices I have seen at £22,950 which is ok if I am not immediately going to have to fork out several thousand for repairs/replacements. Alternatively, if it were closer to £16k - £17k then I would be less worried about a few thousand pound worth of parts that may immediately need replacement.
My next step is to visit the dealer and scour the paperwork to see if I can find out servicing info and I am trying to get as clued up before my visit as possible. Everyone is really helping with that so far. I also phoned TWG Automotive which is near me and the gentleman on the phone was extremely helpful with some advice and prices for various work like an Inspection 2 being £850 and depending on how extensive a customer went with bush replacement prices could range from £200 for front arms up to thousands for the entire car.
At the moment I am trying to work out whether it is a fair deal. It is towards the higher end of Z4M prices I have seen at £22,950 which is ok if I am not immediately going to have to fork out several thousand for repairs/replacements. Alternatively, if it were closer to £16k - £17k then I would be less worried about a few thousand pound worth of parts that may immediately need replacement.
My next step is to visit the dealer and scour the paperwork to see if I can find out servicing info and I am trying to get as clued up before my visit as possible. Everyone is really helping with that so far. I also phoned TWG Automotive which is near me and the gentleman on the phone was extremely helpful with some advice and prices for various work like an Inspection 2 being £850 and depending on how extensive a customer went with bush replacement prices could range from £200 for front arms up to thousands for the entire car.
Depends what you class as a fair deal I suppose.Gebbly said:
A dealer will be looking to make at least £4,000 on a £20,000 Z4. So they will have bought it for less than £16,000.
It is also worth remembering the used car market is on it's knees at present, especially in the 'toy' car market.
Just to keep everyone up to date I have heard back from the dealer who has included photos of every page of the service book and its very reassuring. Looks like there were services every couple of years including Inspection 1 in 2011, 2018 and 2020 and Inspection 2 in 2015 so hopefully the important parts have been checked reasonably regularly. Last entry is a service in 2020 after which it was in someones collection with hardly any miles put on.
He also included the full VIN and I am trying to use it to get details now
He also included the full VIN and I am trying to use it to get details now
Well the varVertical vin check gave me info about theft, finance and a few other bits but I was hoping for in depth detail about the spec of the car.
Does anyone know of a good website which will take the VIN and give me details of everything about the cars specification? In particular right now I am trying to find out if it has the Carver DSP (option 677) as that would complicate any stereo head unit change.
Does anyone know of a good website which will take the VIN and give me details of everything about the cars specification? In particular right now I am trying to find out if it has the Carver DSP (option 677) as that would complicate any stereo head unit change.
I just get told
You have reached a daily limit for using decoder service.
Please try again tomorrow.
Guess I'll try tomorrow.
....meanwhile
I found bimmer.work seems to work and I can see all the options which is great and even better it does NOT have option 677 which, as I understand it, is the bane of audio updates.
You have reached a daily limit for using decoder service.
Please try again tomorrow.
Guess I'll try tomorrow.
....meanwhile
I found bimmer.work seems to work and I can see all the options which is great and even better it does NOT have option 677 which, as I understand it, is the bane of audio updates.
If the PZeros date from before the car became a garage queen, they'll be at least 5.5 years old by now and in need of changing as well as the fronts.
You're looking at £1.5k for tyres plus Insp2.
Personally I would always refresh the suspension as these cars deserve to be enjoyed on fresh bushes and dampers, so add another £1-2k depending on whether you can do some or all of it yourself.
No VANOS replacement isn't a concern, but no rod bearings is. I'd want to get those done preventatively for peace of mind. £1,300-1,500.
So expect to pay £5-6k on top of purchase price if all of the above needs doing. And that's assuming the brake pipes aren't corroded and discs are in good shape, etc.
You're looking at £1.5k for tyres plus Insp2.
Personally I would always refresh the suspension as these cars deserve to be enjoyed on fresh bushes and dampers, so add another £1-2k depending on whether you can do some or all of it yourself.
No VANOS replacement isn't a concern, but no rod bearings is. I'd want to get those done preventatively for peace of mind. £1,300-1,500.
So expect to pay £5-6k on top of purchase price if all of the above needs doing. And that's assuming the brake pipes aren't corroded and discs are in good shape, etc.
I'm due to see a Z4MC this friday and all the information from the dealer sounds really promising. I've looked at all the photos several times. However I have just noticed a tiny amount of rust on the back boxes. Is this something to be worried about or just something to remedy if I buy the car (and if so is it an easy fix or replacement)?
