E86 General Questions

S

samueld1135

Member
 Edinburgh
Hi Everyone!

I'm fairly new around here and have a few questions about some of the E86 as I'm looking to potentially buy one. As a bit of background, I'm finishing up university soon and would love to have something a little more fun to drive for the summer, but also a bit more practical for when I start working. Whilst I have been looking around at some of the awesome posts on here I still have a few questions id love to know the answer to (see below). I'm hoping I can go out and actually see one of these cars for myself soon, as I'm sure a lot of these questions would answer themselves (if anyone has one in or around Edinburgh please let me know, I'd love to come check it out!).

Some of the things I'd love to know are:

1. What sort of mileage would most E86s be capable of without any major issues?
(I understand this is probably massively down to previous owners care, but lets assume they have been decently well looked after)

2. How easy is an E86 as a daily drive?
(I've seen a few things online saying its possible, but I'd love some opinions)

3. How convenient is the boot size?
(More importantly will it fit a set or two of golf clubs haha)

4. Is there any sort of minor modifications I should look into for an E86?
(Not looking for anything too crazy, mostly just quality of life improvements)

5. Would you suggest storing the car indoors / buying a car cover is necessary?
(I only have a driveway so I wont be able to keep it inside unfortunately)

6. Is there any specific major things to look out for when searching for an E86 to buy?
(I've been made aware about rust near tailgates and understand basic things to look out for on most cars, just looking for any specifics here really)

7. For any owners - What is one thing you really dislike about these cars?
(If there is any haha)

8. Typically how much would a full service set you back?
(I'm pretty certain I will be looking to do a full service on any vehicle I buy once I get it, mostly for peace of mind)


I understand this is a lot of questions, and I'm sure most of them are fairly trivial (my apologies). I'm not expecting all of these to be answered, but if you have any insights on any of them please let me know! Any additional knowledge at this stage would be greatly appreciated, as I really want to make sure I look after it with the care it deserves! (When I get one lol)

Thanks so much to everyone on here so far, you've all been so helpful!

Cheers,
Sam
 
Hey Sam,
The N52 is a great engine. In fact I don’t know of one in an E86 that has life-expired. It should be capable of 200k miles if properly looked after.
The E86 is a reasonably practical daily. It has a small footprint by modern standards and is easy to park. The gear change can be heavy, but the autobox is excellent. None of the Z4s of this era particularly like repeated short journeys, especially in the cold. You need to get them properly up to temperature or they can suffer problems.
The boot is much more practical than many (e.g. boxster). I am not a golfer but I expect it would take a set of clubs. It can certainly hold a decent amount of luggage, a week’s supermarket shopping, or a road bike with wheels detached.
It doesn’t need any mods assuming you get a decent spec. Look for xenon headlights, heated seats, premium HiFi and cruise control. Don’t bother with the outdated satnav.
They survive perfectly well outdoors assuming the door membranes are intact, although rainwater pools in the rear window lip and can cause tailgate rust if you don’t look after the rubber seal.
Buy on condition and service history above all else. Most are enthusiast owned, so don’t be afraid of self-service if the owner knows what they are doing.
There is nothing I don’t like about these cars except tatty ones look tatty. Ignore the haters who think Z4s have to be convertible. The Z4 coupe is a sublime and timeless design.
Doing a full service yourself is really easy if you have the right tools. If you go to a decent independent, a full service 2 (inc spark plugs and brake fluid) might cost you around £500.

Prices seem to be around £5-6k for a 150k miler up to around £10-12k for a 60k miler at the moment. Sport models are worth more than SE, although the only really difference is the seats which you can upgrade yourself for around £500.

Good luck finding the right one.
 
Zedebee said:
Hey Sam,
The N52 is a great engine. In fact I don’t know of one in an E86 that has life-expired. It should be capable of 200k miles if properly looked after.
The E86 is a reasonably practical daily. It has a small footprint by modern standards and is easy to park. The gear change can be heavy, but the autobox is excellent. None of the Z4s of this era particularly like repeated short journeys, especially in the cold. You need to get them properly up to temperature or they can suffer problems.
The boot is much more practical than many (e.g. boxster). I am not a golfer but I expect it would take a set of clubs. It can certainly hold a decent amount of luggage, a week’s supermarket shopping, or a road bike with wheels detached.
It doesn’t need any mods assuming you get a decent spec. Look for xenon headlights, heated seats, premium HiFi and cruise control. Don’t bother with the outdated satnav.
They survive perfectly well outdoors assuming the door membranes are intact, although rainwater pools in the rear window lip and can cause tailgate rust if you don’t look after the rubber seal.
Buy on condition and service history above all else. Most are enthusiast owned, so don’t be afraid of self-service if the owner knows what they are doing.
There is nothing I don’t like about these cars except tatty ones look tatty. Ignore the haters who think Z4s have to be convertible. The Z4 coupe is a sublime and timeless design.
Doing a full service yourself is really easy if you have the right tools. If you go to a decent independent, a full service 2 (inc spark plugs and brake fluid) might cost you around £500.

Prices seem to be around £5-6k for a 150k miler up to around £10-12k for a 60k miler at the moment. Sport models are worth more than SE, although the only really difference is the seats which you can upgrade yourself for around £500.

Good luck finding the right one.
Click to expand...
Thank you so much for the advice and the swift response!! I’ll make sure to bare all that in mind!
 
Hi Sam,

I'll base my answers on the 3.0Si not the M as that is a totally different proposition.

There are at least 2 members on here still running cars that have done over 200,000 miles. It's only ancillaries that will die, like water pumps, starter motors, alternators, etc.

I'd happily daily one even if both of mine were kept for fun occasions.

The boot space is pretty generous for a 2 seater. I don't know about golf clubs but you can fit two full-size wheels in.

Fresh suspension will make a world of difference now they are getting on in years. Many people rate the Eibach springs with Bilstein shock absorbers but mine both had OE parts. If it is a manual remove the Clutch Delay Valve (plenty of videos on YouTube) as it improves the shift quality. I'd also recommend a weighted gear-knob like a ZHP. Beyond that it's probably about personal preferences.

Both of mine lived outdoors without any issues. I avoided a cover because if they flap around in the wind you can get paint damage where the cover rubs on the corners of the car.

Oil leaks from the oil filter and cam-cover gaskets are common as the gaskets get brittle over time. The electric water pump will die at some point leading to overheating within a mile or less, so some owners replace them as a preventative measure to avoid being stranded. The downside is a new Pierburg pump costs about £300 so long as you don't buy it from BMW. My first E86 needed a new one at 60K miles, but my second seemed to be on the original at 90K. At the end of the day you'll probably only need to replace it once. The rear brake pipes can suffer from corrosion just in front of the passenger side rear wheel. They are in a plastic cover under the passenger seat but the end of it can get bunged up with road dirt that traps water.

Zedebee has covered most of the options to look for but I'd add that it is worth finding a Sport model because they came with the desirable M-Sport seats, although I've seen some SE models that had them as an option.

There was nothing I didn't like about mine, apart from the terrible ride on run-flat tyres which is why so many owners use ordinary tyres.

I had an Inspection 1 service done at a good BMW Indy in 2017 for just under £300 that included fresh gearbox fluid, but not plugs.

Finally you might hear some ticking from the valve lifters when the engine is cold. It tends to happen when the car hasn't been used much or has only done short journeys without getting properly up to temperature. It doesn't seem to cause any damage and goes away after a good drive so as long as it stops it isn't a concern as most cars up for sale may not have had much recent use.

So just enjoy the search for the right one, they're great cars. :thumbsup:
 
Mr Tidy said:
Hi Sam,

I'll base my answers on the 3.0Si not the M as that is a totally different proposition.

There are at least 2 members on here still running cars that have done over 200,000 miles. It's only ancillaries that will die, like water pumps, starter motors, alternators, etc.

I'd happily daily one even if both of mine were kept for fun occasions.

The boot space is pretty generous for a 2 seater. I don't know about golf clubs but you can fit two full-size wheels in.

Fresh suspension will make a world of difference now they are getting on in years. Many people rate the Eibach springs with Bilstein shock absorbers but mine both had OE parts. If it is a manual remove the Clutch Delay Valve (plenty of videos on YouTube) as it improves the shift quality. I'd also recommend a weighted gear-knob like a ZHP. Beyond that it's probably about personal preferences.

Both of mine lived outdoors without any issues. I avoided a cover because if they flap around in the wind you can get paint damage where the cover rubs on the corners of the car.

Oil leaks from the oil filter and cam-cover gaskets are common as the gaskets get brittle over time. The electric water pump will die at some point leading to overheating within a mile or less, so some owners replace them as a preventative measure to avoid being stranded. The downside is a new Pierburg pump costs about £300 so long as you don't buy it from BMW. My first E86 needed a new one at 60K miles, but my second seemed to be on the original at 90K. At the end of the day you'll probably only need to replace it once. The rear brake pipes can suffer from corrosion just in front of the passenger side rear wheel. They are in a plastic cover under the passenger seat but the end of it can get bunged up with road dirt that traps water.

Zedebee has covered most of the options to look for but I'd add that it is worth finding a Sport model because they came with the desirable M-Sport seats, although I've seen some SE models that had them as an option.

There was nothing I didn't like about mine, apart from the terrible ride on run-flat tyres which is why so many owners use ordinary tyres.

I had an Inspection 1 service done at a good BMW Indy in 2017 for just under £300 that included fresh gearbox fluid, but not plugs.

Finally you might hear some ticking from the valve lifters when the engine is cold. It tends to happen when the car hasn't been used much or has only done short journeys without getting properly up to temperature. It doesn't seem to cause any damage and goes away after a good drive so as long as it stops it isn't a concern as most cars up for sale may not have had much recent use.

So just enjoy the search for the right one, they're great cars. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...
Thanks again Mr Tidy! I’ll keep all of that in mind when searching!
 
1, Loads, don't worry too much about mileage if it's been looked after and things like the water pump have been changed.

2, Very, but they are quite low, so getting in and out of them in tight car parking spaces can be a chore. If you are over 6ft tall, they become uncomfortable on long 3-hour-plus drives

3, Very good boot for the size of the car, can fit two 18-inch wheels and tyres in it

4, Yes, I'd refresh the suspension, including bushes as a minimum, as they are old cars now. From there it's "how deep are your pockets" and how far do you want to go. Brake fluid change and good pads isa good idea too

5, Nope

6, Rusty rear arches and oil leaks. Oil leaks are easy to fix and not expensive. Replacement arches in good condition are hard to find but bolt on/off

7, Seatbelt cuts into my neck

8, I do my own servicing, but I'd guess at £200-£300 at a good Indy BMW specialist
 
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