3.0 si - buying advice

U

udeo

Member
Hi,
I am looking to buy a 3.0 si and I have found one I like. The details are below:-

2007 '07 Z4 3.0 si sport roadster
1300 miles on the clock
Previously owned by BMW UK
Standard 3.0 si equipment plus the following options:-
Black oregon leather
Xenons
Heated seats
Cruise control
multi function steering wheel
parking sensors
Wind deflector

The asking price is £27250 (from BMW dealer), but I have knocked them down to £26,750. I know that list price for this car would be around £36k, but does the asking price sound reasonable??
 
What month was it registered - still sounds a bit pricey to me TBH? How long are you planning on keeping it? Nice spec though.
 
Hmmm TBH I would still maybe looking to get a few quid off that, although the mileage is nice and low. It's a shame they couldn't wait a few weeks to register it as a 57 plate instead.

Looking at the spec of your current car, you'll miss the Carver, but I suppose you're unlikely to find a used car with low miles, Carver and xenon lights.
 
I saw a note in a BMW magazine by the CEO about this very problem of dealers registering vehicles to meet BMW targets and then impacting their residuals. They planned to try to phase it out and stop this but for sure it won't be easy as dealers / BMW try to keep volumes looking good

Such low mileage, call me cynical but that probably means it's been a demonstrator all it's life.
 
The thing about the Z4 is that hardly any of the salesman can run one as "their" car because it only has two seats, so the mileages are usually limited to test drives only, as opposed to a 335d or something.
 
Wondermike said:
The thing about the Z4 is that hardly any of the salesman can run one as "their" car because it only has two seats, so the mileages are usually limited to test drives only, as opposed to a 335d or something.
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That would be my thinking too. By the time the guy is high enough to justify that value Bimmer he needs/wants 4 seats
 
Hi there, this sounds exactly like mine!!

I bought my 3.0si roadster last August for £28k

Carbon Black / Black Oregon
Auto
Wind Deflector
108s
Bluetooth
Comfort pack/PDC/MFSW
Heated Seats

List price of exact spec was £39k

Registered Mar '07 07 so <6 months old with 1,300 miles. Previous keeper was a BMW UK employee at their head office.

Based on this I think the price is maybe a slight touch high for a manual, but you can buy with confidence it won't have been too thrashed as a tester.
 
Just as some sort of guide, I bought mine last year (April, when it was two years old). It's a March '05 black 3.0iSE with red leather and:
Only 4750 miles!
Sat-Nav with TV
Carver HiFi
Heated Seats
Storage pack
Xenons (Would not buy a Z4 without)
18" (brand new) wheels
Bluetooth
Wind deflector
Cruise control
Park distance
6 CD changer
Electric folding mirrors

£23,000
 
Hi there,
having done a bit a of persuasion I've not managed to get the price lower, but I've managed to get them to fit the bluetooth kit for free (which is worth a few bob), so overall I reckon this is a relatively decent deal, given that I'm buying the car from a main dealer. Also, with regards to the auto vs manual comment above, I've been told that the manuals are better on fuel, Co2 emmisions (which is important given the recent budget announcements) and are quite a bit faster...is this correct?
 
3.0si 2007 BMW brochure:

Top speed 155(155)
0-60 5.7(6.0)
urban 21.7(22.1)
extra 43.5(41.5)
combined 31.7(31.4)
Co2 213(216)


You decide but in real world no significant difference IMHO
 
i'm not sure, I think on the road it would make a difference....i've driven both the 3.0 auto, 3.0 manual and 3.0si manual and both the manuals feel a lot more eager and much less restricted on the road. Also, becuase the auto has a torque convertor, the torque delivery is different (and more restricted at certain points in the rev range) than the manual.....but I think in the end the decision is mostly down to personal preference
 
udeo said:
...i've driven both the 3.0 auto, 3.0 manual and 3.0si manual and both the manuals feel a lot more eager and much less restricted on the road...
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Wouldn't have thought there was much in it TBH, remember the 3.0Si auto has a 6 speed 'box as opposed to the 5 speed auto in the pre-facelift cars, so I reckon the facelift cars will be a bit more evenly matched in performance. The autos also have a much higher [numerically] final drive ratio too, so I'd reckon on both cars being pretty evenly matched for performance.

If you spend a lot of time in traffic it makes sense, if you don't it doesn't. Having run my first auto for 9 months now, I wouldn't be without it, it's faster than a manual for the type of driving I do.
 
udeo said:
Also, with regards to the auto vs manual comment above, I've been told that the manuals are better on fuel, Co2 emmisions (which is important given the recent budget announcements) and are quite a bit faster...is this correct?
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udeo said:
i'm not sure, I think on the road it would make a difference....i've driven both the 3.0 auto, 3.0 manual and 3.0si manual and both the manuals feel a lot more eager and much less restricted on the road. Also, becuase the auto has a torque convertor, the torque delivery is different (and more restricted at certain points in the rev range) than the manual.....but I think in the end the decision is mostly down to personal preference
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udeo - you asked the question about fuel, Co2 and speed, then challenged the response that was just a quote from the book where they are identical speed and practically the same on Co2 and economy??

If your now referring to straight drag to 60 then a manual in a true abusive race start should make 60 quicker. Real driving A to B I doubt you'd notice it, although the much talked about 'butt dyno' may make one feel different to the other.

I'd agree with Mike's comments here too
 
I do agree....the BMW quoted figures do show only a marginal difference between the auto and manual. But now having driven both, I think the figures dont give the whole story. However, I think which one you choose depends on what you're going to use it for. Most of the driving I do is on the weekends round country lanes, but now that I'm getting rid of my auto, I can say that i'll definantely miss it when I'm doing stop-start driving.
 
Ah the old auto question! I guess its a case of horses for courses, this is my first auto and TBH I dont think I'd ever buy a manual again - I do a lot of stop/start heavy traffic driving so it makes a massive difference to me.

As for the performance, the si comes with the magic Sport button, press it, then floor it and cling on for dear life. Just effortlessly brutal!

Also, bear in mind a 3.0si has the flappy paddle 'box if you really feel like making the effort!
 
cj10jeeper said:
If your now referring to straight drag to 60 then a manual in a true abusive race start should make 60 quicker. Real driving A to B I doubt you'd notice it, although the much talked about 'butt dyno' may make one feel different to the other.

I'd agree with Mike's comments here too
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CJ10jeeper, I know itas bad for the car but I do like an Auto Abusive Start from time to time !!

Select Sport button, Select 1st (Auto defaults to 2nd onstop), Deactivate DSC & DTC, Left Foot on Brake, Press Accelerator, Watch those rears light up & release the brake !!! :evil:
 
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