Advice sought

H

Harrogater

Member
Hi all...need some help please.

I've decided I want a 3 litre z4. Never had an interesting/powerful car. I have £10k to £11k to spend. I just don't know what to buy (I've driven 3 litre bmws but never a z4).

I was always leaning towards an e86 si coupe, lower miles the better, manual. I was attracted to the performance/looks/fun v lack of depreciation/sell on. 'Modern classic' and all that.

However I seem to be able to get a 2009 sdrive30i manual e89 within budget. Low mileage (45000). I much prefer the interior, i like the option of going top down and it's still nice looking. I know it's not as fun as the coupe to drive but will it hold its value anywhere near as well? It can't be that boring to drive?

I can also get a sdrive 35i dct auto box at a stretch...but I'll be looking at 80,000+ miles. This is apparently the most desirable e89...but I'll be knocking on 100k miles by the time I come to sell it. Will that hold its value? Is the dct that special/desirable?

I shouldn't think of a car as an 'investment' but I'd like to lose as little value as possible whilst mixing the e89 luxury with the e86 fun.

I imagine I'm not the first to face this predicament but your advice in the current market would be great....

I only do 7k miles a year btw.

Ta
 
Harrogater said:
Hi all...need some help please.

I've decided I want a 3 litre z4. Never had an interesting/powerful car. I have £10k to £11k to spend. I just don't know what to buy (I've driven 3 litre bmws but never a z4).

I was always leaning towards an e86 si coupe, lower miles the better, manual. I was attracted to the performance/looks/fun v lack of depreciation/sell on. 'Modern classic' and all that.

However I seem to be able to get a 2009 sdrive30i manual e89 within budget. Low mileage (45000). I much prefer the interior, i like the option of going top down and it's still nice looking. I know it's not as fun as the coupe to drive but will it hold its value anywhere near as well? It can't be that boring to drive?

I can also get a sdrive 35i dct auto box at a stretch...but I'll be looking at 80,000+ miles. This is apparently the most desirable e89...but I'll be knocking on 100k miles by the time I come to sell it. Will that hold its value? Is the dct that special/desirable?

I shouldn't think of a car as an 'investment' but I'd like to lose as little value as possible whilst mixing the e89 luxury with the e86 fun.

I imagine I'm not the first to face this predicament but your advice in the current market would be great....

I only do 7k miles a year btw.

Ta
Click to expand...

Test drive both and take your pick! They're meant to be very different cars, I love my Coupe, but in the last year it's dropped in value by a grand or so in the market.
So the investment value of the Coupe won't pay back for many years. Critics never hailed it, it was always over shadowed by the cayman and tt. (also not an M so appreciation will be slow)
 
Either offer great ownership experience but totally different to drive & of course cabins .
A well bought E86 should offer the highest potential residual but in reality that would all depend on initial price paid & how long the car was kept for :?
Neither should give any significant worry with regards maintenance or component failure , mostly routine stuff that doesn't cost the earth to fix .
Enjoy the quest & welcome to the forum :thumbsup:
 
I was in exactly the same position in December, I always wanted the Coupe but then realised I could afford a 30I e89 which I ended up getting. I still think the e86 is the better looking car but the e89 is still great looking.
I've only had the roof down a handful of times due to the weather but it's a great experience (my first convertible) when I have had it down. Roll on summer :D I think the e89 offers the best of both worlds being a coupe and a roaster with a modern cabin.
 
Future values are always difficult to predict. But one thing that does tend to affect resale value is the mileage so try to get a low mileage as possible.
 
I think that without a doubt the E89 is probably the better car, more modern and lots of attractions that comes with a newer car........however the E86 will be a better financial bet, not necessarily appreciating in value but not depreciating as long as you don't pay stupid money for one :thumbsup:
 
Thanks all. I'm still leaning towards a low mileage coupe. Got a couple of irons in the fire and will post whatever I end up with!
 
Assume you are in Harrogate from your username? If so, I’m just around the corner in Knaresborough!

I think the key thing is how important is the convertible aspect to you? If not bothered at all then an e86 Si makes more sense financially, and its a fair bit more practical than the e89 in terms of boot space.
 
Convertible not that important considering the weather we get in North Yorkshire!!

Seem to be able to source a coupe with circa 50k miles for £11k...
 
Stratstone harrogate have this though....

I just found a great car on Auto Trader.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201709209482824?atmobcid=soc3

Download the app to find your perfect car.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.autotrader.androidconsumersearch&referrer=utm_source%3DApp%2520Share

:headbang:
 
Harrogater said:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201709209482824?atmobcid=soc3
Click to expand...

In 2 years that's a 11yr old Se 89 with 60k on :? probably worth around £9k by then :(
Similar scenario if you aim for a 50k E86 £11k ( holding premium due to mileage ) if its bought as a 2k-3k weekend treat then it will still be seen as lowish miles but if you throw 14k-15k onto it in 2 years its a 65k private sale E86 that will be worth around £9500 ?
 
its that same situation as when the z4 appeared against the z3

now look at the prices of z3 coupes, never mind the m, versions, oh and thats if you can find one. :thumbsup:

a good z4 coupe for me outweighs all else, unless you do fancy a z4 coupe
 
Welcome to the forum by the way OP. :thumbsup:

I'm biased as I am on my 2nd E86, so you know what I am going to suggest! :lol:

But for what it's worth I bought my first one in 2014 and sold it in 2016 for slightly more than I paid.

I may be wrong, but I think E89 values may still be dropping - although you do get the roof down option.

In your position I'd try to drive both before deciding for sure.

Good luck anyway. :thumbsup: (And don't forget the photos once you've got one). :)
 
When considering resale value (and just general driver enjoyment) also take into account spec/model.

If you’re looking at the E86, try and get the Sport over the SE (nicer sports seats, M steering wheel, M sport suspension and a nicer set of alloy choices).

If you’re looking at the E89, go for the 35i or even the 35is if you can stretch. If not the 30i is still a nice car but again try and secure it in an M Sport trim.

Another consideration is buying the 28i and mapping it to 280bhp. Only drawback is that it’s a 4 pot, unlike the others which are 6 pots.

Good luck buddy :thumbsup:
 
Harrogater said:
Stratstone harrogate have this though....

I just found a great car on Auto Trader.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201709209482824?atmobcid=soc3

Download the app to find your perfect car.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.autotrader.androidconsumersearch&referrer=utm_source%3DApp%2520Share

:headbang:
Click to expand...

Bought my son an M2 from Stratstone Leeds and as a BMW stealer they are fantastic. Price may be a little higher than on the high street but when you work out its an Approved Used BMW so you will get 12 months BMW warranty including full UK/European breakdown recovery, 12 months MOT cover ( if your cars MOT is within 6 months of needing renewal they will MOT the vehicle for you and your following MOT a year later is free), if your cars service is due within six months they will service it before delivery?

Nice car = nice deal = HAPPINESS!
 
Here she is...

48k miles. Black leather. Fantastic drive. In love. :D

Getting the car checked over by a specialist tomorrow. Only slight issue is a vibration through the steering wheel at 90 mph (I was on an autobahn :wink: ) - wheel moves around a touch too.

For info - Harrogate Stratstone phoned yesterday - the 09 silver z4 is down to £10.8k! Bargain.
 

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I think you’ve made the right choice

The E86 and E89 are like chalk and cheese one is analogue and the other is digital and a modern era car

The E86 is the last of its type .. a normally aspirated straight six with a manual gearbox and rear wheel drive

I’m not sure if any car is a sure fire investment but I think the coupe will look after your money far better than the later car

Hope you enjoy many epic miles in it
 
'The E86 is the last of its type .. a normally aspirated straight six with a manual gearbox and rear wheel drive'

My e89 has this
 
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