Danglesberries
Member
Run flats too 
2003 3.0 Roadster with 4K miles £12k
- Thread starter Number5
- Start date
Hi All.
An update to this thread, and also an introduction from me as a new forum member and Z4 owner.
This car was bought by a dealer in Hampshire who specialises in low mileage cars - and from whom I've just bought it! IanJ is spot on - the car is unique, and I'm one of the people with silly money who indeed jumped at the chance to buy it! :wink:
No offence taken though Ian - as is quite often the case, there's a story behind this.
I used to be a keen motorcyclist, and back in 2005 I had the front tyre valve pop out on my ZX-9R on a German Autobahn at over 80 mph. I lived to tell the tale, but decided that maybe it was time for me to move on from bikes! In the search to find the closest four-wheeled equivalent to a sportsbike (in terms of performance and also something I could tinker with), I eventually decided on an AC Cobra replica. I had a large sales bonus cheque burning a hole in my pocket, so I commissioned a company to build one to my spec, with a 400BHP 6.3 litre Chevy V8.
The day after I placed the order, I was visiting various main dealers for inspiration as to the body colour to specify, and found myself in a BMW showroom. In the centre was a brand new 3.0i Z4 in Sterling Grey, and as it was the same price as the Cobra I'd just ordered I very nearly "wobbled" - but I'm glad I didn't.
13 years on and I've decided to sell the Cobra, which has held its value so will effectively have cost me nothing - well, apart from a horrendous fuel bill from the 30,000 miles I've driven it at 15-20 mpg! I then had to think about what to replace it with - something that I could use on my annual 2500-3000 mile European tours, and which would perform well on mountain roads and hairpin bends.
I happened to spot this car on Autotrader, and went to see it the following day. It is truly unique - literally in showroom condition. It has around 60% of the power and torque of the Cobra, so should still be good for some spirited driving on mountain roads. I'm currently arranging a tour of the Dolomites in September with some of my European Cobra Club mates, so that will be the acid test!
Most people (my son included!) see an overpriced car, and the fact that you could buy a sub-30k mileage newer and higher spec model for that money. But I see it as buying a new Z4 at a bargain price, and with £20k left in the bank from the eventual sale of the Cobra!
Regarding the 16 year old run-flats - they were the first thing to go! It's now sporting a set of Michelin Pilot 4s. And with the addition of the missing switch it now has cruise control for the outward and return motorway journeys in France and Germany. And once the weather improves the clutch delay valve will be coming out.
In terms of the original owners decision to purchase the car possibly as an investment, I suspect they made a fair amount of money from the original number plate (26 BMW) which it sported from new until a year ago - now that must have been worth a few bob!
Anyway, I'm looking forward to meeting some of you guys at future meets. In the meantime, stay safe guys!
Alan
An update to this thread, and also an introduction from me as a new forum member and Z4 owner.
This car was bought by a dealer in Hampshire who specialises in low mileage cars - and from whom I've just bought it! IanJ is spot on - the car is unique, and I'm one of the people with silly money who indeed jumped at the chance to buy it! :wink:
No offence taken though Ian - as is quite often the case, there's a story behind this.
I used to be a keen motorcyclist, and back in 2005 I had the front tyre valve pop out on my ZX-9R on a German Autobahn at over 80 mph. I lived to tell the tale, but decided that maybe it was time for me to move on from bikes! In the search to find the closest four-wheeled equivalent to a sportsbike (in terms of performance and also something I could tinker with), I eventually decided on an AC Cobra replica. I had a large sales bonus cheque burning a hole in my pocket, so I commissioned a company to build one to my spec, with a 400BHP 6.3 litre Chevy V8.
The day after I placed the order, I was visiting various main dealers for inspiration as to the body colour to specify, and found myself in a BMW showroom. In the centre was a brand new 3.0i Z4 in Sterling Grey, and as it was the same price as the Cobra I'd just ordered I very nearly "wobbled" - but I'm glad I didn't.
13 years on and I've decided to sell the Cobra, which has held its value so will effectively have cost me nothing - well, apart from a horrendous fuel bill from the 30,000 miles I've driven it at 15-20 mpg! I then had to think about what to replace it with - something that I could use on my annual 2500-3000 mile European tours, and which would perform well on mountain roads and hairpin bends.
I happened to spot this car on Autotrader, and went to see it the following day. It is truly unique - literally in showroom condition. It has around 60% of the power and torque of the Cobra, so should still be good for some spirited driving on mountain roads. I'm currently arranging a tour of the Dolomites in September with some of my European Cobra Club mates, so that will be the acid test!
Most people (my son included!) see an overpriced car, and the fact that you could buy a sub-30k mileage newer and higher spec model for that money. But I see it as buying a new Z4 at a bargain price, and with £20k left in the bank from the eventual sale of the Cobra!
Regarding the 16 year old run-flats - they were the first thing to go! It's now sporting a set of Michelin Pilot 4s. And with the addition of the missing switch it now has cruise control for the outward and return motorway journeys in France and Germany. And once the weather improves the clutch delay valve will be coming out.
In terms of the original owners decision to purchase the car possibly as an investment, I suspect they made a fair amount of money from the original number plate (26 BMW) which it sported from new until a year ago - now that must have been worth a few bob!
Anyway, I'm looking forward to meeting some of you guys at future meets. In the meantime, stay safe guys!
Alan
glad you made it to the forum 
hope you enjoy your new zed 
hope you enjoy your new zed 
Thanks for the warm welcome guys - I certainly will get along to some meets and drive-outs.
One problem with buying a one-off car like this is that on a standard insurance policy the car would only have a market value of £3k - so one shunt up the rear and it could be a write-off! Fortunately having had specialist kit car insurance for the Cobra, it is now on a limited mileage policy (5k miles p.a.) with an agreed value and full European breakdown and repatriation cover. So I'm aiming to keep the mileage relatively low
BTW, the tyres are Michelin Primacy 4s, not Pilot 4s as I originally stated - they certainly made a difference to the handling...
One problem with buying a one-off car like this is that on a standard insurance policy the car would only have a market value of £3k - so one shunt up the rear and it could be a write-off! Fortunately having had specialist kit car insurance for the Cobra, it is now on a limited mileage policy (5k miles p.a.) with an agreed value and full European breakdown and repatriation cover. So I'm aiming to keep the mileage relatively low
BTW, the tyres are Michelin Primacy 4s, not Pilot 4s as I originally stated - they certainly made a difference to the handling...
North West Surrey
Quite possibly - there were some changes to the dates, but it's my understanding that AV8 is now on the Saturday rather than the Sunday.
I'm tarting up the Cobra ready for the For Sale ad today - so while both it and the Z4 are on the drive I'll take a photo of the two together.
I'm tarting up the Cobra ready for the For Sale ad today - so while both it and the Z4 are on the drive I'll take a photo of the two together.
south yorkshire
Wow- pleased to see this piece of history make it onto the forum. Congratulations.
Attleborough, Norfolk
Yes, welcome aboard, and I'm glad you took the comments made previously with a large pinch of salt.
You have got what you wanted at a price you were prepared to pay, so no harm in that.
I hope it brings you many years of fun as you work hard to catch up the mileage
You have got what you wanted at a price you were prepared to pay, so no harm in that.
I hope it brings you many years of fun as you work hard to catch up the mileage
Danglesberries
Member
Hope it's a keeper cos in another17 years, it'll be worth half again what you paid. Just don't add more than a few thousand miles on it 
I to did not think it was a bad price
New 3.0 sport car ( relative) for 12K,
Might still get half this back in two or three years if kept low mileage and in mint order
Fair play
Enjoy
Similar in the bike world recently
2007 990 KTM adventure 1063 miles on it previous owner JK from Jamiroqua. 7k
New 3.0 sport car ( relative) for 12K,
Might still get half this back in two or three years if kept low mileage and in mint order
Fair play
Enjoy
Similar in the bike world recently
2007 990 KTM adventure 1063 miles on it previous owner JK from Jamiroqua. 7k
