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Buying Advice, Please! (Also Hello.)

Hi, welcome to the forum and congratulations on finally being able to start seriously looking for your first Z4M. :thumbsup:

I had a couple of 3 litre Coupes before I found my MC in December 2019 (just before Covid) and while I wasn't too keen on Silver Grey the Imola Red seats won me over. In any case given the low numbers you could wait for years to find your ideal combination, although I really like the colour combo on that one in NI.

I think Tom has covered pretty much everything.

As my car had 7 previous keepers I got the shells replaced at 78K and 6 were showing copper, but the engine mounts were totally sh*gged so make sure they've also been replaced or include them if you are getting new shells fitted.

I've just got home from a weekend in Scotland with some other Z owners and got reminded how sublime the S54 engine is on an empty stretch of tarmac. :wub:

Enjoy your search for the right one. :thumbsup:
 
MS_Z4M said:
Tom Scott that is immensely useful. Thank you very much.

And yes, that silver grey is very attractive on actual fact. Theoretically much more attainable than the TWO Space Grey option.

I am extremely familiar with that Production website. I have invested a lot of time on that in recent months. :P

Welcome :)

When you find what you want its a fantastic car for little money in reality! Super rare, one of the best engines ever made and arguably one of the best BMW designs ever. They are also subtle too without too much M element the new cars have so they kind of go under the radar unlike the Porsche experience ive had. More thumbs up than people trying to push you off the road.

What I love is the number of conversations the car creates. I dont drive mine a lot because I have a 2 year old, a little one on the way and two dogs so its primary use is to go to shows and the odd a/b road blast as time allows. At the shows I often dont get long to look around because of the amount of people who come to talk about the car and is my favourite bit about ownership.

My lad thinks the car is Lightning McQueen from Cars he is obsessed with it. Took it to BMW live this weekend and he had the time of his life! New memories and plenty to come in the future for the little petrol head.

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Thank you for the kind welcomes gents. Plenty of insights and I definitely feel a bit better about moving forward. I kind of feel like just finding a decent example and going for it just to own one. As Harry said to Sally, 'When you realise you want to spend the rest of your life with someone, you want the rest of you life right now.' (Getting married in October, we are looking at possible wedding readings) :rofl:

Tom - great pics with the kid. Looks like he is enjoying himself. And you have made the Silver Grey look fairly spectacular. Even almost have me thinking the Imola red interior could work for me.
 
MS_Z4M said:
Thank you for the kind welcomes gents. Plenty of insights and I definitely feel a bit better about moving forward. I kind of feel like just finding a decent example and going for it just to own one. As Harry said to Sally, 'When you realise you want to spend the rest of your life with someone, you want the rest of you life right now.' (Getting married in October, we are looking at possible wedding readings) :rofl:

Tom - great pics with the kid. Looks like he is enjoying himself. And you have made the Silver Grey look fairly spectacular. Even almost have me thinking the Imola red interior could work for me.

My dream combo was always silver grey and red. First one half way there second one full on red mode 🤣 the right car never aligned but like mentioned, its hard and you could be waiting a little while. Many buy and when "the one" comes up move their current car on and buy. There are a lot of members that have had 1-2-3 cars but there are also some that are in the 10+ category! They do get under your skin.

There were 35 silver grey coupes with imola red interiors brought to the UK 23 of them with carbon leather so there maybe the odd one available. If a roadster was an option there are 30 cars and 29 have carbon leather.

Its worth putting a wanted listing on the forum and social groups to see if anyone wants to sell.
 
Mr Tidy - You are selling me on the Silver Grey. And can always swap out the Imola Red in time.

Tom - I have been milling putting a Wanted thread but with the previously mentioned yips and not being able to quite nail down the 'big stuff' i.e. Colour/interior I have not yet. Thought asking for either of the two Space Grey beauties might have seemed a bit cheeky. :D

That being said, this one on AT has been on my watchlist, the details reads like the seller knows a bit about what they are talking about.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402236856952

MOT history is a little spotty though. It just failed in and retested last month.
(https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/results?registration=YE56+OPR&checkRecalls=true)
 
MS_Z4M said:
MOT history is a little spotty though. It just failed in and retested last month.
(https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/re ... calls=true)

The early years it was probably owned by some one who would not know what a rear road spring was and how to check before an MOT

The later repeated brake lines and the ball joint covers just shows a lack of love for the car and a I will sort it out later attitude

In the AT add it has had some of the big jobs done rod bearings and the Vanoes so that's good

But check the play on the left hand side output flange on the diff if more than 2mm it will need a service or you risk a bigger bill later
 
MS_Z4M said:
Mr Tidy - You are selling me on the Silver Grey. And can always swap out the Imola Red in time.

Tom - I have been milling putting a Wanted thread but with the previously mentioned yips and not being able to quite nail down the 'big stuff' i.e. Colour/interior I have not yet. Thought asking for either of the two Space Grey beauties might have seemed a bit cheeky. :D

That being said, this one on AT has been on my watchlist, the details reads like the seller knows a bit about what they are talking about.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402236856952

MOT history is a little spotty though. It just failed in and retested last month.
(https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/results?registration=YE56+OPR&checkRecalls=true)

That MC looks really nice, it has been for sale for ages. Surely over a year I think.
 
RMB said:
MS_Z4M said:
Mr Tidy - You are selling me on the Silver Grey. And can always swap out the Imola Red in time.

Tom - I have been milling putting a Wanted thread but with the previously mentioned yips and not being able to quite nail down the 'big stuff' i.e. Colour/interior I have not yet. Thought asking for either of the two Space Grey beauties might have seemed a bit cheeky. :D

That being said, this one on AT has been on my watchlist, the details reads like the seller knows a bit about what they are talking about.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402236856952

MOT history is a little spotty though. It just failed in and retested last month.
(https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/results?registration=YE56+OPR&checkRecalls=true)

That MC looks really nice, it has been for sale for ages. Surely over a year I think.
Right?! It looks tempting with a couple of the big jobs done.

Anyone here near Epsom who can vouch for a fella with a Silver Grey Coupe for sale?! :lol:
 
PDJ said:
MS_Z4M said:
MOT history is a little spotty though. It just failed in and retested last month.
(https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/re ... calls=true)

The early years it was probably owned by some one who would not know what a rear road spring was and how to check before an MOT

The later repeated brake lines and the ball joint covers just shows a lack of love for the car and a I will sort it out later attitude

In the AT add it has had some of the big jobs done rod bearings and the Vanoes so that's good

But check the play on the left hand side output flange on the diff if more than 2mm it will need a service or you risk a bigger bill later
Would agree re. those advisories. Look to have been resolved with a possible change of ownership. Eight previous, maybe not all of them appreciated what they had. My only question mark would be if that owner left anything else. Current owners seems switched on.

Again I am always wary of ads that sit for a while. Although it may just be that they need the sale but can wait for their value. Or anything else really.
 
MS_Z4M said:
Right?! It looks tempting with a couple of the big jobs done.

Anyone here near Epsom who can vouch for a fella with a Silver Grey Coupe for sale?!

I was born in Epsom and according to Autotrader I'm only 21 miles away, but I don't know that car!

Despite having a couple of the big jobs done the price looks a bit toppy, which may be why it has been for sale for over a year. This one looks like a better deal:- https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=151434 and I prefer that colour combo.

ETA I do know the car! I parked next to it at the Ace Cafe in 2021 when Iggy owned it, but it was on a personal plate then. https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=2060283&hilit=Iggy#p2060283

I remember it looked like a good example, and Iggy seemed pretty fastidious.
 
I have been stalking that forum advertised thread since it went up as well. Umming and ahhing over the Blue vs a grey. It is unquestionably a stunning example but I did hesitate on the colour.

Threelittlepigs has very generously offered to answer any queries I might have about it as well.

You have given me something to think about with that background on the Grey though. Good to know it has previously had solid owners but I agree the 23 seemed high.
 
The thing I like about Interlagos Blue and Imola Red is that they were only available on the Ms, whereas Silver Grey was an option on all E85/86s. Although that probably did mean I was more likely to find Aero sills in Silver Grey (which worked out)!

Although Imola leather is M only if I was searching I'd be all over 3littlepigs one.
 
Mr Tidy said:
The thing I like about Interlagos Blue and Imola Red is that they were only available on the Ms, whereas Silver Grey was an option on all E85/86s. Although that probably did mean I was more likely to find Aero sills in Silver Grey (which worked out)!

Although Imola leather is M only if I was searching I'd be all over 3littlepigs one.
This is true. Although, 144/(145?) IL Blues vs 101 Grey variants is creates a exclusivity vs rarity debate. Which do you favour more? Personal choice and I am not sure either way atcually.

In general though, I am funny in my colour preferences. I would shy away from a red sports car unless it was a Ferrari purely because Red = Ferrari in my head! White nods Miami Vice Testarossa, dark grey suggests Aston Martin, and (Irish) green is late-60s Porsche 912. The signature BMW colours - in my head - are blue or silver metallic.
 
MS_Z4M said:
Mr Tidy - You are selling me on the Silver Grey. And can always swap out the Imola Red in time.

Tom - I have been milling putting a Wanted thread but with the previously mentioned yips and not being able to quite nail down the 'big stuff' i.e. Colour/interior I have not yet. Thought asking for either of the two Space Grey beauties might have seemed a bit cheeky. :D

That being said, this one on AT has been on my watchlist, the details reads like the seller knows a bit about what they are talking about.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402236856952

MOT history is a little spotty though. It just failed in and retested last month.
(https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/results?registration=YE56+OPR&checkRecalls=true)

I think it has been for sale for longer than 12 months. I did look at this as an option for me ages ago, there has been a lot done since I looked. The vanos bearings and B12 kit wasnt on it when I looked at it.

This car is pretty much everything I mentioned in my post above. Everything done but the price is higher because of it.

Price, it is on the high side but as I mentioned, it has all of the big jobs done, £1200 for bearings and £1000 for the vanos and its had the engine mounts done, maybe another 3-400. Things that should last the cars for many years and miles. Its also in a great place, 6mm tyres, sounds like it has a B12 kit on it which is roughly £1500 fitted, Eventuri air intake.... another £4-500. Say the car is worth 18-20k without these elements. Loads of cars for sale in this age and milage for that price. Roughly 5ks worth of spend on any other Mcoupe without, if you look at the market its pretty much the only one with these elements done.

As a new buyer with a car of that milage and age I would want to do most of that. Vanos would be the only thing I probably wouldnt have done unless it needed it but its done so one less thing to worry about.

Kind of my rhetoric earlier where you can spend a lot really quickly and all these are done. Ready to go.

People seem to negotiate these into buying a car when they dont have it done, then its expensive when its done!?? Cant quite work out peoples opinions on these cars.

The question is car with 70k with all the elements done or a lower milage one that is more expensive then then still needs the some spend because it has sat around?

On the MOT. Would be lovely for every year to be a pass its a 20 year old car, nearly. Sounds like the kit has just been installed, maybe by him bit of teething issues. Two dust covers isnt really anything to worry about and has been rectified. 2017 was the last time it failed, 8 years ago. The brake pipe element isnt great but it must have been sorted as the advisory disappears in 2021.

The bearing picture also summarises my thoughts on the replacement. If those were done at 71k... the rhetoric on the other thread on the 20k miles car is they needed doing. They look in pretty good condition, but job done.

Nice thing is there are a couple of things still to do if your into it, as i mentioned, the steering wheel has worn and needs some TLC. Next thing would be to check the paintwork as mine has done 80 its looks good but its not showroom so depends where you land, driver, show car, garage queen. Mine is super presentable but also like the fact I can drive it and not be anxious about stone ships etc

Things im not keen on, personal choice but I wouldn't want replica CSLs on a M coupe. Replicas are often heavier than OE wheels and the worst place you can add weight, increasing centrifugal force. Affects handling, speed, feel etc. Defeats the point of buying these cars imo. I would have preferred the 224s so to me these dont add value. I am picky, dont mean to offend anyone, that's my thoughts. A set of real CSL wheels are 3.5k tho so take that as it is. 224s for me over replica CSLs.

I did mention service history and that you cant do anythign about it but this is a good example where in 2019 apparently it had an oil, insp1, insp2 all at the same time. This would be something I would look into as it had just had an INSII just looks like they have ticked the boxes the invoice will tell. The gearbox and diff oil should have been done with the INSPII so technically those are over-serviced. 17/19 weren't done by specialists but they were oil services so as long as the right parts were used then no worries. Check paperwork and confirm.

What I would do is check where all the work was done and just check they are the right people. The only thing that is missing is when the disks were last done. Technically, they should have been done around the 60-70k mark so thats something I would check to ensure an unexpected cost. No MOT advisory for the disks so probably been done. The last service was in 22 on the images. It does say in the copy 71k oil done so maybe the images haven't been updated.

To me looks like a lovely car, great spec, nice mods and all the service elements, including stuff not in the service schedule like the bearings, vanos and engine mounts.
 
Tom talking an awful lot of sense, as usual.

One thing I've learned over the years is which MoT advisories to take seriously, and which not.

In 2023 I had advisories for both drop link dust covers, but I couldn't find anything wrong with them and there was no advisory in 2024.

In 2024 I got the 'rear brake pipes corroded or covered in grease' advisory despite them having been completely renewed the year prior. This advisory doesn't necessarily mean there is a problem with the pipes. It could just mean that they're not spotlessly clean and you've got a very zealous tester like I did that year (who also failed me on a leaking caliper despite the fact that he could have just tightened up the bleed nipple 1/4 turn).
 
Really useful viewpoints again Tom. You are becoming a hero poster for me at the moment :lol: .

I agree on the rep CSLs, would maybe prefer OEM but the 224s always seemed a bit sparse to my eye. Do not really fit the rest of the car's look, if that makes sense? Genuine CSLs is my ideal but I cannot justify the cost. I am not overly picky with wheels right now though.

OEM Silver in either 224s or CSLs suits the IL and Imola colours perfectly in my view; the various Greys have more leeway for darker rims. Although, again my oddly-associative brain kicks in and seeing black/dark wheels I immediately think Shadow Edition 3-series.
 
MS_Z4M said:
Mr Tidy said:
The thing I like about Interlagos Blue and Imola Red is that they were only available on the Ms, whereas Silver Grey was an option on all E85/86s. Although that probably did mean I was more likely to find Aero sills in Silver Grey (which worked out)!

Although Imola leather is M only if I was searching I'd be all over 3littlepigs one.
This is true. Although, 144/(145?) IL Blues vs 101 Grey variants is creates a exclusivity vs rarity debate. Which do you favour more? Personal choice and I am not sure either way atcually.

In general though, I am funny in my colour preferences. I would shy away from a red sports car unless it was a Ferrari purely because Red = Ferrari in my head! White nods Miami Vice Testarossa, dark grey suggests Aston Martin, and (Irish) green is late-60s Porsche 912. The signature BMW colours - in my head - are blue or silver metallic.
Talking of colours, and I have never thought to ask this before - but does the Blue not look incredible in the catalogue 'hyper-lighting'. Almost Estoril. Is it definitely Interlagos?? I do not think I have seen the look replicated in real life.
 
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