Breaking my Z4MC Alpine white

[RESTORATION PARTS]

So after going back and forth for 4 years and now being a father for 3 of them I’ve decided to sell or break my Z4MC it has to go, I was looking to completely take apart and rebuild the entire car and powder coat/vapour blast everything but the very little free time I have its just never going to happen, it’s time to let go of the dream

if the car sells its fitted with a sach HD lightweight flywheel and clutch kit, were around about £1200-1400 at the time

So the car has 59k miles and will rise possibly to 60k before new car arrives
1 of only 11 left in existence in alpine white
Is a Cat C with engine failure which I rebuilt in 2016 at 51333 miles

So I’m looking to start breaking on the 15th of dec and looking to see what interest this has or at least sorting through who wants what or what is going to eBay or elsewhere... this literally here first to try supply vital parts to the enthusiasts that may need

I’m willing to still sell the car but im looking for £23k I figure it is category C but you’ll not find a more rare Z4MC

….just know selling or breaking this car will literally break my heart and I honestly wish I was joking. Your parts my come covered in tears just a heads up.
Like I understand all of your cars are lovely and I’m well aware I’m completely biased but my cars just that little bit better to drive, little bit faster and just that little bit better looking, you know?

Cat C - the engine oil cooler and lines were hit (possibly a brick or somthing other large in the road I honestly don’t know) they then tried to drive it home about 6 litres shy as it was literally the lowest point it was then recovered to a local BMW where they inspected it and diagnosed engine failure. As far as history goes this is all I ever got and bar a missing bumper and damaged cooler and lines the car is complete and in good condition.

I replaced the cooler and oil and the car started but would knock when warm I then moved on to replace the shells got about 5 miles and the knock came back so then over that winter and into the new year I rebuilt the entire engine and replaced the crankshaft.

I’ve build about 12 s54 engines to date with 2 being for supercharger builds with forged internals etc ….I used to have about 10 in stock few years back and was heavily into them but majority sold out and have since moved on. I can probably build one in 12 hours from mostly memory but the z4m I spent the entire winter ….It does need it’s shims doing tho as I didn’t have a set at the time and this car has been off the road a good few years now but yeah upon sale of the car or engine it will be attended too, just like any other small issues it has

I will get some photos up on Saturday when I’m free

 

[Simon 3.2M]

I’d be interested in the wheels

 

[Mr Tidy]

It seems a shame to break such a rare example - I hope someone will buy it as it is!

 

[Special Kay]

I agree with the above, it's a tragedy to break a perfectly good car. I hope you change your mind.

 

[Ed Doe]

Ditto above, I'm sure someone will see sense in that the cat marker is utterly irrelevant if it was engine letting go, and it's been rebuilt properly. Real shame to break that, it looks lovely!

 

[TomK]

Is a Cat C with engine failure which I rebuild in 2016 at 51333 miles

Sorry to read this but I assume there's a bit more to unpack here isn't there?
Cat C isn't an insignificant knock and as far as I'm aware engine failure is not a reason to apply a cat marker? So what was the damage? I guess car vertical or whatever those things are called will tell all.
When you say "I rebuild in 2016", what does that mean? What did you rebuild? What was the reason for the failure? Have you rebuilt an S54 engine before? (I'm only asking as I assume you want to sell it in the break)

What does Cat C mean? - Cat S car meaning (formerly Cat C car meaning)
Category C cars are now known as Category S.
The ‘S’ means ‘Structurally Damaged’.
This means there has been structural damage to the vehicle - such as to the chassis or suspension - but repairs are possible.
However, the insurer is likely to view the cost of repairs as uneconomical and therefore declare the car Cat S (Cat C), meaning it is a write off.
Do Cat C (Cat S) cars have to be re-registered with the DVLA?
Cat S cars (Cat C cars) must be re-registered with the DVLA.

Plus, it looks like some kids have put some stickers on your wheels, what's that all about?

 

[JINGLE]

Nooooo! Such a shame to break such a nice car! I have a white Z so know how rare they are!!!

Mines a 3.0Si roadster!

“If” you do go down the breaking route (and I hope you don’t) then I could be interested in the front wings as spares! (Previous owner rolled the arches so I’ve always wanted to return them to standard anyway)

Here’s mine!

 

[Wassup]

It was an excruciating decision when I was faced with a similar predicament on my Z4MR which had many mechanical and paintwork problems, higher mileage and wasn't no where near as rare as your unicorn Z4MC. Totally understand the hurt your going through albeit on another level.

As I discovered, there's much interest in Z4M specific parts (mostly front end) but people not willing to cough up for what I believed was market value which is incredibly subjective. I had very real interest across Europe but logistically it was very challenging especially with brexit complications.

Whilst I've done OK from parting out my Z4MR i.e. got my money back and made a couple of grand, I'm just north of £12k and lost a whole summer breaking the car. Personally I wouldn't take it on again and certainly not to such a unicorn, surely you'll be able to get close to your asking price?

 

[tomscott]

I thinks it’s mad that people consider breaking these cars they are so rare regardless of their status.

 

[RESTORATION PARTS]

Answer edited into the original post

Plus, it looks like some kids have put some stickers on your wheels, what's that all about?

That’s funny, when your wife left the other day she said the same thing ;D

 

[TomK]

Answer edited into the original post

Plus, it looks like some kids have put some stickers on your wheels, what's that all about?

That’s funny, when your wife left the other day she said the same thing ;D

Oh, you intentionally stuck stickers on your tyres, got it.
Back to the important stuff... What was the CAT C marker for?

 

[RESTORATION PARTS]

its paint... not stickers

CAT C used to just mean the cost of repair was more then the price of the market value of the car and CAT D would be obviously less then the value of the car ....I mean im no expert

like I said I wouldn't know if they hit something in the road and were recovered that it could have been claimed via the insurance they must have found some way around it or if BMW gave the cost it would more then likely been above market value

should also note, they did also buy it back from the insurance company which is how i came to be in possession of it

 

[RESTORATION PARTS]

It was an excruciating decision when I was faced with a similar predicament on my Z4MR which had many mechanical and paintwork problems, higher mileage and wasn't no where near as rare as your unicorn Z4MC. Totally understand the hurt your going through albeit on another level.

As I discovered, there's much interest in Z4M specific parts (mostly front end) but people not willing to cough up for what I believed was market value which is incredibly subjective. I had very real interest across Europe but logistically it was very challenging especially with brexit complications.

Whilst I've done OK from parting out my Z4MR i.e. got my money back and made a couple of grand, I'm just north of £12k and lost a whole summer breaking the car. Personally I wouldn't take it on again and certainly not to such a unicorn, surely you'll be able to get close to your asking price?

i agree with every said not ideal to break it but im leaning more towards breaking as i will keep the shell that way it will never truly leave me ....never!! ....never!!!

to all those that hate the idea of breaking im sorry to truly disappoint you but please understand that nobody is more heartbroken then me, current state of the way things are atm it has to go and like i say if i break it i can keep the shell and v5 (never know track car one day or whatever)

 

[TomK]

its paint... not stickers

Totally off the hook then
The cat C marker weighs heavy in this market I feel, I can understand why you might be better off breaking.
Best of luck either way

 

[Thunderous One]

Will you be adding further images of the exterior/interior?
Shame to see it broken up, though this will add further value (albeit at a minuscule level) to the few Z4MC’s that are still on the road.

Perhaps do a list of items as a starter with prices and then gage the reaction?

 

[Street]

First dibs appreciated on the front engine undertray if you found one

 

[jock156]

In terms of £££££ what would the costs be to make it 100%?

 

[Simon 3.2M]

Just to play devils advocate, and taking into consideration the slowing / niche market for these cars, is 23k a realistic price for a cat C car. I know it’s rare being white but you may have more luck dropping the price a few K to reflect market values?

 

[Nictrix]

It's already been said about the time and effort to strip the car to sell bits and pieces over what could be months and you may never get rid of it all.
If breaking do you expect to raise more than 23k to make it worth your while?
I have no idea how much uoy could raise from breaking it but I wouldn't have thought as much as that.

 

[Deepseaskateboard]

Can you not auction this with a reserve?

It’s a beautiful car, would be a shame to break.
As others have said, the time required and projected sales may not be worth it in the end.

Set a reasonable reserve and move it on.
(Or keep it!)

One of the nicest ones I have seen.