1st Day without Warranty

A

adjenkins

Member
Decided not to renew my warranty which expired last night on a Z4M. Comprehensive without excess or emergency service was £873 from BMW. Reduced to £612 with £250 excess.

Had the car over a year, just recently getting the itch to look around. As many have commented, very little competition at current price levels to replace with something more fun or enjoyable. Then I noticed prices on the SL55 AMG are down to around the £25K level for 03/04 models. I test drove one last year but it was then priced much higher than I wanted to spend.

However that test drive left a vivid impressionon on my memory, the V8 noise, looks, panaranic roof, sheer grunt etc all fantastic.

Head is telling me not to go there... :headbang: ..mainly due to exposure to potentially huge maintenance costs. I don't do a huge annual mileage so thirst for petrol less of an issue. Head also saying take the cost I would need to spend to change, lock it away and it should give me a fund to keep the M on the road for a good few years.

Heart is telling me that life is short...do it...do it...do it. Head also concedes wife may find hidden fund and spend on handbags anyway :lol:

Anyone taken the plunge on an older high maintenance car like the SL?
 
pvr said:
Are you over 50 ... ?
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Still a youthful thirtysomething :D
Sadly the something part is now more than 8 :(

Don't think I would reject any car based on perception it was an old mans car. (apologies to those over 50's taking exception to being called an old man"

For me, I get most enjoyment from the acceleration and noise of a great engine. Driving skills are not up to taking any car close to its limits on a public road.
 
Mr Whippy said:
996 Turbo!
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A 996T would definitely fulfill a dream.I hadn't even realised the earlier ones now are becoming more affordable. It would need to be a cabriolet though so may be quite hard to source?

Only one drawback for me personally would be the interiors, especially the indicator/light stalks. Appallingly flimsy. I've owned a 986S and always found the Porsche interior a let down.
 
Yes, the 997T was the first with a "nice" interior rather then one from the old 1980s VW bin.
 
adjenkins said:
Decided not to renew my warranty which expired last night on a Z4M. Comprehensive without excess or emergency service was £873 from BMW. Reduced to £612 with £250 excess.

Had the car over a year, just recently getting the itch to look around. As many have commented, very little competition at current price levels to replace with something more fun or enjoyable. Then I noticed prices on the SL55 AMG are down to around the £25K level for 03/04 models. I test drove one last year but it was then priced much higher than I wanted to spend.

However that test drive left a vivid impressionon on my memory, the V8 noise, looks, panaranic roof, sheer grunt etc all fantastic.

Head is telling me not to go there... :headbang: ..mainly due to exposure to potentially huge maintenance costs. I don't do a huge annual mileage so thirst for petrol less of an issue. Head also saying take the cost I would need to spend to change, lock it away and it should give me a fund to keep the M on the road for a good few years.

Heart is telling me that life is short...do it...do it...do it. Head also concedes wife may find hidden fund and spend on handbags anyway :lol:

Anyone taken the plunge on an older high maintenance car like the SL?
Click to expand...


One of my best friends whos 31 has one. its been chipped and gives approx 550 bhp 580lbs torque. Its faster than any cooking ferrari or lambo, past 100mph nothing keeps up with it. the sound is amazing, i've not been in anything fatser or nicer sounding (astons come close for sound)

They do need a lot of looking after, it's had all sorts replaced under extended warrenty. the exhaust (the left side) was just replaced at a cost of 5k - ouch
 
pvr said:
Yes, the 997T was the first with a "nice" interior rather then one from the old 1980s VW bin.
Click to expand...

Yep, the 996 gen stuff really does have a rather naff interior... it's the one thing that puts me off all said and done. They need to be in ALL black to work imho. If you get some of these coloured ones, or combo colours, they are rather hideous!

997 gen stuff looks loads better (but isn't cheap)


Cab 996 turbo's with nice interiors won't be cheap, so I guess it's off the cards :(


Tis a fantasy car of mine at some stage too, just one of those cars you have to have owned :D
 
pvr said:
Are you over 50 ... ?
Click to expand...

Lol, did think that but didn't say. :D

You started by saying you weren't renewing your warranty then mentioned the cost. Perhaps this was a deciding factor. If so, check out the anticipated servicing costs before doing anything. For the price of our Z4s we could all buy a Ferrari of some descripton, but we don't because we know it's going to hurt. I'm told Porsche service will be £2k up.

Not for me thanks. I bought a Z4 because it was the best combination of performance and useability, it made sense.

Oh and I saw a black one and it made me think of the Batmobile, though admittedly not as much as this http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140362105957&ssPageName=ADME:B:EF:GB:1123

hey, now there's a thought..... :)
 
I pay the extended warranty monthly with a £250 excess.I would do this anyway even if I was thinking of selling the car as it would be a good selling point.

I would love an SL or 911 but head says nothing will beat the Z4M for value for money at this time. The interior is better than the older 911s and it will cost a lot less to maintain than an SL. I am an 'old man' nearing 60 and the SL's image would still put me off owning one! Buy a sports exhaust for the 'M' instead :)
 
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