Buying advice please?

s4vva said:
Called the insurance co, no price difference for the 3.0 so that is what I am looking for now. Do you guys think I can get a good one for my budget? £10-11K
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:thumbsup:

Good man.

I think that's why we were all getting excited about this 2.5. You'll just need some patience but there are good cars to be had at that price! Same as you've done this time, if you're not sure, just ask :wink:

I think I said before, have a look through the FAQ and see what you can get as standard, what are options and what you can retrofit... the one that you were considering was very much a base spec. You can use missing options to get the price down and then retrofit them yourself using the guides that people have put together on here. Easy.
 
OK I have looked around a bit I now seem to have a better understanding of what the standard features and extras are. Thanks for the advice so far guys, that first one wasnt the best was it!

.. at the risk of some competition on this deal what does everyone think of the following;

2004 59,000 miles, BMW Z4 Roadster ( E85) 3.0i SE (2004) in Metallic Titanium Silver, Tax Aug 10, MOT until June 10, 59,000 miles, immaculate condition, with BMW Comprehensive warranty (extended approved used which can be transferred to new owner) and Full BMW Main Dealer service history. Approved used purchase from BMW Sytner with 2 previous owners. Very carefully look after, Zymol waxed, garaged and not used during the winter. Interior: Oregon black leather, climate control with air-con, Business stereo with 7 cd auto changer, brushed alloy dash, multi-function steering wheel, side air bags, auto headlights, auto dim rear mirror, electric roof/windows/folding mirrors and seats with memory, heated seats, bluetooth & cordless phone fitting, extended storage pack, rear parking sensors, rain sensing wipers, headlight wash, flat tyre detection, remote central locking/motion alarm (cat1), rear wind deflector (& prep for hardtop fitting) Performance: 3.0l 230 bhp, 6sp manual gearbox, dynamic/traction control, ABS, 17in multi spoke alloys, M-Sport suspension. All manuals, master key, toolkit, warning triangle, first aid kit, hood cleaning and protection kit and leather protection kit included. £10,995 Inc warranty.

Up for £11K...
 
Glad you passed on the first as I agree - it wasn't the best.

Try to extract out of all the blurb what is standard and what is an extra and from that what extras you really need and will pay for. The above is almost all standard, (albeit a better standard than 2.5's) Such as prep for hardtop fitting - every single UK car has that. Business stereo means no Sat nav (pop up screen) m sport suspension is on all 3.0's, etc.
17" wheels are puny on a 3.0i so would be in need of changing.

Post a link or if you don't want to PM me and I'll take a look, but alreay a lot better than the first one :thumbsup:
 
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201020359574786/sort/pricedesc/usedcars/engine-size-cars/3l_to_3-9l/price-to/12000/maximum-mileage/up_to_60000_miles/maximum-age/up_to_7_years_old/transmission/manual/price-from/9000/model/z4/make/bmw/page/1/radius/1501/postcode/en12tb?logcode=p

Is the 'multifunction steering wheel' and the heated seats, electric folding mirrors standard on a 3.0 or is that because it is an SE?

I have got to say that I really appreciate all your help everyone, this forum is really helpful!
 
Looks better but I would stick with trade if ( like me ) you don't know what your doing really and you don't know the buyer. Beyond that for me essentials are low mileage being anything below maybe 50k/60k for the year you are looking at, BIG wheels , no silly colours, and a 3.0 engine. Extras make no difference to me but abcense of them might be a bargaining point for you.
 
s4vva said:
Is the 'multifunction steering wheel' and the heated seats, electric folding mirrors standard on a 3.0 or is that because it is an SE?
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None of these are standard , not even on the 3.0iSE
 
The MFSW and heated seats are indeed extras. Electric mirrors is deceptive as all are electric (heated and adjustment) Electric folding is an extra. Easiest to tell with the extra switch on the drivers door switch panel

Looks a much better car - but next is what are you looking for in extras? I still think you can refine it to what you really want - whatever that is??
 
Hmm I'm not really all that fussed (right now) about extra's, the only ones I can see I would like are 18" wheels (not too bothered which ones), heated seats, electric folding mirrors, wind deflector. It looks like Xenon's are standard on the 3.0, is that right? What is the view on the upgraded audio system? Is it worth considering?

All the ones I am finding at my price range seem to located well outside of London (I am based in North London)....
 
ferrelscent said:
Looks better but I would stick with trade if ( like me ) you don't know what your doing really and you don't know the buyer.
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I'd only buy a Sports car from a BMW/Specialist dealer, or from a private with warranty. I wouldn't buy one from a general car sales place that bought cheap at auction with no knowledge of the car.

I may be biased as I'm selling mine, but I really don't see what a dealer offers over and above a private car with BMW warranty.

Xenons aren't standard.

The Carver sound system is worth it, and the Nav is good - not for the nav itself but the screen.
 
s4vva said:
Hmm I'm not really all that fussed (right now) about extra's, the only ones I can see I would like are 18" wheels (not too bothered which ones), heated seats, electric folding mirrors, wind deflector. It looks like Xenon's are standard on the 3.0, is that right? What is the view on the upgraded audio system? Is it worth considering?

All the ones I am finding at my price range seem to located well outside of London (I am based in North London)....
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You may not be fussed about extras but note how the cheapest ones in your search have none.. They are by definition less desirable. One day you'll want to sell.

Agree that heated seats are good, folding mirrors are rare so probably forget that. Agree with Matt re the xenon are NOT standard.

At a base level on a 3.0i I'd go for 18" rims for look, ///M sport seats as they are way better and sought after an xenon lights. The latter 2 are hard to find to retrofit.

Colour, manual/auto, etc need considering and in the end you'll know exactly what Zed you want.

Cars in London are always more expensive and given Zeds are rarer than standard family saloons be prepared to travel to get the right one.
 
I think if i was buying again the only options i would consider essential would be heated sports seats and xenons. Everything else is an easy retrofit or not that vitally important.

Wheels - change them to anything you want. 8)
Mirrors folding - get over it :roll:
Stereo - listen to the engine, standard isn't that bad anyway
Sat nav - Tommy comes out if i get lost.
Multi func steering wheel - Retrofit
Cruise - retrofit
Wind deflector - buy one

Obviously get what you can, but a good car is a good car and just bear in mind fitting all the above is not a difficult task.
 
Dreamer said:
I think if i was buying again the only options i would consider essential would be heated sports seats and xenons. Everything else is an easy retrofit or not that vitally important.

Wheels - change them to anything you want. 8)
Mirrors folding - get over it :roll:
Stereo - listen to the engine, standard isn't that bad anyway
Sat nav - Tommy comes out if i get lost.
Multi func steering wheel - Retrofit
Cruise - retrofit
Wind deflector - buy one

Obviously get what you can, but a good car is a good car and just bear in mind fitting all the above is not a difficult task.
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All true comments
The only one I'd disagree on would be the Sat Nav. Not that it's the best by any means in terms of maps/navigation, but it's integrated and is just so much better for bluetooth, audio display, MFSW control, etc. It is also one that for a large section of the market makes it a more desirable example and is a real challenge to retrofit.
 
I think I have found a decent one;

£10,750
2003 silver
xenon headlights
18" wheels (with run flats - all Bridgestones)
wind deflector
cruise control (dont need it really)
6cd changer
rear parking sensors

bonus stuff is low mileage (40K), he has all the service history plus receipts.
 
I like the sound of having all the receitps and service history and the low mileage. Extras you mention in xenon and 18" rims are good to have. wind deflector is a bonus.

Sounding better on each one you post :)

Now go drive a 3.0 and see what you think.
 
I must admit I am really tempted on this one, the only thing I won't be able to decide on until I see it is it has a Grey roof (silver car), haven't seen any others like that. I know is down to personal taste but I'm just not sure....

Going to try and find a 3.0 nearby to test drive in the meantime but I cant imagine I wont like it given how impressed I was with the 2.5. :)
 
I drove them back to back, there was noticeably more torque in the 3.0

The extra standard spec is good, as is the 6th gear - keeping fuel economy good on long runs.
 
Mattt said:
I drove them back to back, there was noticeably more torque in the 3.0

The extra standard spec is good, as is the 6th gear - keeping fuel economy good on long runs.
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Good point on the 6 speed box. extra urban is actually 42.8 vs 40.9 on the 2.5 :thumbsup:
The 3.0 of that vintage also comes with standard above the 2.5 of:
silver headlights
headlamp washers
///M sport suspension
Oregon leather
Electric seats with memory (drivers)

Not seen one with a grey roof in silver but it was an optional extra.
 
what is the general consensus on run flat's? I have read in reviews that the ride comfort is compromised, any opinions?
 
s4vva said:
what is the general consensus on run flat's? I have read in reviews that the ride comfort is compromised, any opinions?
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and that opens a can of worms :P

OEM run flats are Bridgestone which almost universally get the :thumbsdown: hard crashy ride etc

Alot of people have made the switch to non-run flats..

a few brave people have switched brand to Michelin run-flats and havent looked back (me among them) :D they aint cheap though :o
 
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