Buying a Z4 - looking for advice!

C

Caidran

Member
 Scotland
Hi all,

I'm looking into purchasing a Z4 in the not so distant future and I've looked at quite a few. I'll be test driving a couple over the weekend however I'm still not sure what to go for and was looking for some advice.
I've read over AlanJ's buyer advice guide and will be going in full prepared to spot any issues hopefully.

I currently commute roughly 40 miles per day (19-20 there and back) on either Motorway or country roads, probably looking at 12-13000 total miles per annum including non-work related driving.
I don't do a great deal of urban driving, generally getting onto the motorway and getting home after coming off - so most journeys in the car will be 30 minutes or more.
There are a lot of Z4's available out there for purchase however everything below the 50k mileage mark seems to be markedly more expensive than above it, with what I've been looking at so far being 2005-7 models, with no preference on engine size.
The advice I'm looking for is this; based on what I'll be using the car for, what kind of mileage would you recommend I consider the maximum I should be looking at - I've always been nervous about buying anything that has more than 40-50k miles on it but I've only ever been driving Corsa's or Fiesta's - so I don't think I have any real experience to base a decision off of. I'm also curious about your opinions on the models that would suit - I've only really been looking at 2005 upwards but I have seen a few threads on here already of people buying 2003 models with over 50k miles on them for example, so this is something I'm considering also.

Thanks for any assistance. :)

:D
 
Z4 is a modern sports car built by a mainstream manufacturer , service it and 250k miles wouldn't be a problem :thumbsup:
Miles are only a problem for those who flap on about re sale value , buy one and drive it is my opinion , don't worry about re sale if you enjoy it , I didn't and never have , and more importantly , never regretted it :driving: rather than cleaning . :rofl:
 
Hi Caidran and welcome!

The best advice that I would give you is get out and try as many varieties as you can, you will start to discount as you go along

Set a budget then try to get the best you can (spec wise) for your money. Like most people on this forum you will upgrade as you go no matter how good the spec is.

Don't be too hung up on the mileage...condition for me was key. Get one with a good history on maintenance.

The 3.0 motor is a peach and pulls very hard in both manual and auto.

There are more experienced people on this forum...which is one of the best BTW...they will help you no matter what.

Good luck...remember to post photos when you get her :thumbsup:

Slaandjivaar
 
You don't mention what yourbudget is but I am selling one to Highgate Garage in Watford area over this weekend and I would imagine the resale will be in the region of £22-£23K. A snip for a 28i with only 19,000 miles
 
Thanks for the replies so far, taking everything into consideration!
Mileage has always been a big fear for me but I'm definitely looking at options with 60, 70k.

Budget - Sorry about that, forgot to add it.
I'm not looking to spend anything like that I'm afraid - would you be interested in shaving 10k off the tag? :D

I'm looking to spend in the region of 5-10k.
 
Going by the years of car the op is looking at I would guess he's after an e85 model nanu :wink:
Regards
 
Whichever model you go for, you'll love it - of that I am certain. We bought a nearly new z4 recently and I'm already looking for another bigger engined one as a project/Sunday car :driving:
Unless you have had the top end models of corsa/fiesta, then even the smallest engine zed will bring a smile to your face. You'll get many extolling the virtues of the 2.5 to 3l versions but you might be intimidated by the awesome power of these models. There's no point in getting something that scares you to use it.
A properly serviced high mileage car shouldn't be a major problem. Any top end car should see 150k without problems. Spend your money to enjoy it and don't fret about depreciation. You will pay several thousand more to get a lower mileage car. That will buy you an awful lot of fuel!

All the Zeds will be motorway mileage eaters, but, you'll soon find excuses to take the country way home.

Have read that roof motors are a common issue on older models. A recent replacement is possibly worth looking for.

Many people complain that the Run Flat Tyres (RFTs) make poor roads uncomfortable and the large wheels also
susceptible to cracked wheels from potholes. Try different set ups to find which you can live with. RFTs do have the benefit that they will get you home if you do get a puncture. I'd prefer RFTs to having to wait for rescue from a cold wet dark motorway anytime.

The long bonnet in front of you is intimidating when you first get in the drivers seat. You get used to it quickly and then love it. Parking sensors front and rear are helpful if you can get them though.

Something that nearly caught us out - the front of the car is very low, more so I think on the pre2009 versions. We have just 1/2" clearance when pulling onto the drive. You won't be bouncing up kerbs to park either irrespective which model you buy.

Which ever model you try/buy, the fun starts above 3,000 rpm. It is likely to be something like you've never experienced. Enjoy!!!
 
Thanks for the help - should be going to test drive a couple of options today.
Most likely going through a dealer, sadly not that many up here in Scotland with what I'm looking for in my budget - but there are a few and if need be I can always travel further. I did see a private seller with a really nice model for an affordable price, but I'm not entirely comfortable going through a private sale.

I've heard a lot about the RFT's and ideally I'm looking for one without RFT's and I'll just ensure I have a puncture repair kit at all times, that'll hopefully get me to the garage much the same as the RFT's would.

Regarding the motorway mileage, I should have clarified - I generally get on the motorway before/after the rush hour traffic, more than happy to get up an hour earlier in the morning for a smoother, quieter drive into work!
So I reckon the mileage on the motorway would be relatively decent in comparison with the country roads.

I'm expanding my search a bit to include up to 90k miles, will see if I can find myself a good deal. :driving:
 
You should comfortably get a 3.0 e85 for your budget.

I bought my 3.0 sterling grey with sat nav, 18" wheels and on only 18000 miles for £6500.

I ummed and arred with 2.0's, and 2.5's, but I can assure you, if you opt to get a smaller engine you'll regret it :thumbsup:
 
3.0 roadster, 60-70k miles with decent spec. Sports seats if you can find them and make sure the springs and roof motor are good.

Should fit your requirements and budget.
 
My wife bought her 2005 2.0i convertible with 37k, full service history for £6,800. We have had to spend another 600 to get a couple of issues sorted. If you are looking at all models and you do end up with the 2.0i, thoroughly check the manifold and make certain there are no cracks. Apparently this is a fault that can occur on that engine and yes, ours had that problem. It was fixed with a weld at our local garage. Also make sure that the windows go up and down as they should and don't make any strange noises..... that was the other fault, fixed with some new gear in the door.
Hope you find the right car for your needs. We absolutely love ours!
 
hi and welcome :D - follow the link in my signature for a pre purchase check list which may help when deciding.

AND don't forget the 2.2 option with the 6 cylinder engine (most do on here!) - economical, good performance and than smooth 6 cylinder power delivery. :thumbsup:
 
Look for heated seats. Lovely in the cooler months with the roof down...

The stock sat nav is pretty ancient now so you might be better to get one without, it's one less thing to break... :whistle:
 
Thanks again everyone for the replies - taking everything into consideration.

I'm still searching unfortunately, but I am speaking with a few dealers today, trying to haggle with the prices a bit - sadly, the only available models nearby are either over-priced or under-specc'ed so it's looking likely that I'll be travelling. :(

Really wish I had opted to purchase one a few months back, but that's too bad - I see a few of you have got really good deals for your cars.

Regarding checks for the car - are there any tell-tale signs of roof motor issues that I'll be able to pick up on during a test drive or inspection? I'll of course be trying the roof a few times and listening for any odd noises, but is there anything else to keep an eye out for?

Cheers
 
One other thing on one of the cars I've seen - the front grill, looking in there I can see that one half of whatever that is looks a bit worn compared to the other side.
I'm not actually sure what is behind the front grill, the model I viewed was a 2007 2.0 Sport. Should I be overly concerned with that?
 
Here's one good looking Zed worth considering.....


http://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=41&t=76356
 
I'm really looking to avoid going through a private sale if possible - I've seen a couple within 50 miles of my location that are private and look pretty good though.

It's hard work this :headbang:
 
So I had a look at a lot of different options, mostly down in the Manchester area - seems to be a collection of Z4's available down there.
In the end though, I settled for a private sale nearby - It's only been a few days but so far, I love it! :D :driving:

 
Completely forgot to add info about the car there...
It's a 2006 2.5L Sport with cream leather interior, my favourite of the options that I've seen. Just over 55000 miles and still on the run flats, I'm likely going to replace the tyres after the summer and go with non-RFTs. Heated seats, which take a bit of getting used to - had them up full at first and it got very hot, very fast :fuelfire:
It has the sat-nav as well however I don't imagine I'll use it much, seems a pain to enter locations and I'm happy using my phone for that purpose, the sat-nav when open does leave a nice spot to put the phone though, so that's handy. 8)
 
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