Buying - Private or Trade
- Thread starter NikB
- Start date
texasjohn said:I really wouldn't get too hung up on piano black / alu or even wood trim. They are easily replaced and if it meant getting a car a couple of thousand cheaper from a desperate seller or a dealer eager to make end of month figures I would bite the bullet
Alu trim really is metal and the cold feel to the touch has something about it.
...If you find one with wood (which most people hate for some reason) I can swap. I like tree and cow in cars
If it's feasible to swap to piano black it's something I'd consider though how much would it cost to do so?
As for what I'd like -Coupe Sport in Black (not sure of the difference between the 2 black colours), Red leather or the individual imola/anthracite leather, piano black trim, comfort pack and the middle spec sound system. Not too bothered about things like Sat Nav or cruise control. I will want to be able to connect my iphone but I've seen you can retrofit the aux in.
That's quite a precise spec 
Should be doable but you might need to compromise on something - I was in the same boat....wanted Black with Sepang Bronze Leather but that car was £5k more with more miles, so ended up with black on black. And no cruise, which I definitely do miss. But got everything else I wanted.
Black Sapphire, Ruby Black (Red Tinge) and Carbon Black (Blue Tinge) are the three blacks....but I don't know if the last two are M / Individual Spec only? Mines Black Sapphire. EDIT: I think you mean between 'Black Sapphire' and the basic black....the difference is the former is metallic, and the one you probably want. Don't think I have ever seen a flat black one.
You don't mention Bluetooth but just for info, my iPhone connects to it no probs (faster than my old Blackberry did too)
Agree....need more info (like what the mileage was at that service)....low mileage with a lot of ticked boxed there
Should be doable but you might need to compromise on something - I was in the same boat....wanted Black with Sepang Bronze Leather but that car was £5k more with more miles, so ended up with black on black. And no cruise, which I definitely do miss. But got everything else I wanted. Black Sapphire, Ruby Black (Red Tinge) and Carbon Black (Blue Tinge) are the three blacks....but I don't know if the last two are M / Individual Spec only? Mines Black Sapphire. EDIT: I think you mean between 'Black Sapphire' and the basic black....the difference is the former is metallic, and the one you probably want. Don't think I have ever seen a flat black one.
You don't mention Bluetooth but just for info, my iPhone connects to it no probs (faster than my old Blackberry did too)
texasjohn said:
Agree....need more info (like what the mileage was at that service)....low mileage with a lot of ticked boxed there
That's what I was thinking about that car it has everything bar the piano black interior. Bluetooth would be good I guess. Cruise is a nice feature but in my experience actually makes fuel economy worse and I will be doing few journeys in it which would require it really.
To swap to piano black you can bide your time and wait for a set to come up on eBay (used) and then fit it yourself, I would guess 200-300 quid, or buy it from the dealer and pay them an hour or two labour to fit.
All 07 model cars come with Aux-In but it will only be for playing music (MP3, ipod) - You need bluetooth if you want to use your iphone as a phone, IYSWIM. Bluetooth is not an uncommon option, and relatively easy to retrofit if you have to (bits on ebay again, modules always on there for sale).
There are lots of retrofit instructions on this site, and people who will be happy to help you with advice.
I think mixed leather is marmite - people seem to love it or hate it. This was the case with the Z3M anyway...just my opinion, and other's will be different! You might find a car with it that has been in stock for a while and get a bargain.
There is black metallic, ruby black (black metallic with a hint of red) and carbon black (black with a hint of blue, inky colour). The last two you paid extra for when new. Carbon might be M only, I am not sure.
The combo of options you listed isn't uncommon but you might have to hold out for a car with all of them at the price you want to pay, or pay extra for one or two options you dont want (nav, bluetooth and upgraded hi-fi seem to be common as a set together, certainly on M cars).
All I was trying to say was while it is important to aim for the car & options you really desire, don't discount being a bit flexible on one or two items along the way as you may see a bargain that you otherwise miss.
Good luck & enjoy the search!
All 07 model cars come with Aux-In but it will only be for playing music (MP3, ipod) - You need bluetooth if you want to use your iphone as a phone, IYSWIM. Bluetooth is not an uncommon option, and relatively easy to retrofit if you have to (bits on ebay again, modules always on there for sale).
There are lots of retrofit instructions on this site, and people who will be happy to help you with advice.
I think mixed leather is marmite - people seem to love it or hate it. This was the case with the Z3M anyway...just my opinion, and other's will be different! You might find a car with it that has been in stock for a while and get a bargain.
There is black metallic, ruby black (black metallic with a hint of red) and carbon black (black with a hint of blue, inky colour). The last two you paid extra for when new. Carbon might be M only, I am not sure.
The combo of options you listed isn't uncommon but you might have to hold out for a car with all of them at the price you want to pay, or pay extra for one or two options you dont want (nav, bluetooth and upgraded hi-fi seem to be common as a set together, certainly on M cars).
All I was trying to say was while it is important to aim for the car & options you really desire, don't discount being a bit flexible on one or two items along the way as you may see a bargain that you otherwise miss.
Good luck & enjoy the search!
Thanks for your advice it's very much appreciated. I will be willing to compromise but obviously not too much. I guess if I'm planning on keeping the car for 3 years I'd like an 07/57 one ideally. I really need to get my car ready to sell so it's going to be a little while I guess yet.
The other thing is that an M isnt a lot more (2 or 3k) and will hold its value much better if you are looking to keep the car a couple of years or more. It might work out the same overall cost of ownership if you arent planning to do 10s of thousands of miles over the period you have the car (petrol and servicing cost difference is a variable related to the miles you cover).
Insurance and tax will be a little more (£270+, depending on insurance rates and as a fixed yearly cost it is a largely 'non variable' cost difference), but if the 3.0i depreciates say £1000 a year more than the M and you are using the car as a weekend car you are 'in front' even given the additional running cost.
Compare an 01-03 Z3 3.0 vs a same age and mileage Z3M and you are looking at a 40% difference in price today. At present time there is only a 10% difference between a Z4M and a Z4...it won't stay like that forever.
Well, that's how I justified it to myself anyway
Insurance and tax will be a little more (£270+, depending on insurance rates and as a fixed yearly cost it is a largely 'non variable' cost difference), but if the 3.0i depreciates say £1000 a year more than the M and you are using the car as a weekend car you are 'in front' even given the additional running cost.
Compare an 01-03 Z3 3.0 vs a same age and mileage Z3M and you are looking at a 40% difference in price today. At present time there is only a 10% difference between a Z4M and a Z4...it won't stay like that forever.
Well, that's how I justified it to myself anyway
I know cus i emailed the seller obviously, service was done just under 16k miles.
When i brought up the servicing situation in a recent thread i was jumped on to make sure it was done to schedule, now people say its ok to go 4 months over! Make your minds up! :roll:
When i brought up the servicing situation in a recent thread i was jumped on to make sure it was done to schedule, now people say its ok to go 4 months over! Make your minds up! :roll:
You will be very lucky to find Piano Black trim come up on ebay, if it did reckon on £300 minimum, or £750 from main dealer.
Fitting wise a dealer is going to charge half a day, or more likely a day as you have to remove half the interior, it's not a hard job just time consuming.
CC easy retrofit for around £80 for stork and loom.
As texasjohn says though dont discount a car because an option is missing, so long as it's not xenons, or hifi related it can be sorted fairly easily.
I may even have a CC stork and complete OEM retrofit Bluetooth kit available if I sell my car soon.
Fitting wise a dealer is going to charge half a day, or more likely a day as you have to remove half the interior, it's not a hard job just time consuming.
CC easy retrofit for around £80 for stork and loom.
As texasjohn says though dont discount a car because an option is missing, so long as it's not xenons, or hifi related it can be sorted fairly easily.
I may even have a CC stork and complete OEM retrofit Bluetooth kit available if I sell my car soon.
duckson said:
I see where you are coming from...The problem with forums is different people with different opinions are on at different times, so you will always get those differing opinions coming up. I hope I didn't appear to be sarcastic by saying oil doesn't suddenly go off at 720 days old, I didn't intend to.
That said, I dont recall commenting on this matter before myself ...but personally I would say within a reasonable time of when it should have been done, a couple of months either side, as long as mileages haven't been grossly exceeded. Each situation is a case by case basis.
I.e. the 1200 mile service on an M can occur between 1000 and 1400 miles usually. That's +/- 18% or thereabouts. Just as a ballpark comparison.
Would I have bought my car if the 1200 had been done at 950 or 1450? Probably. If I was in any doubt I'd phone BMW to check what they felt was reasonable before I proceeded with a purchase (and still used the matter as a bargaining point with the seller anyway lol)
It wasn't obvious to me that you emailed the seller but that clarifies how you know it is a little over the time limit
Is it a one owner from new car, do you know?
texasjohn said:The other thing is that an M isnt a lot more (2 or 3k) and will hold its value much better if you are looking to keep the car a couple of years or more. It might work out the same overall cost of ownership if you arent planning to do 10s of thousands of miles over the period you have the car (petrol and servicing cost difference is a variable related to the miles you cover).
Insurance and tax will be a little more (£270+, depending on insurance rates and as a fixed yearly cost it is a largely 'non variable' cost difference), but if the 3.0i depreciates say £1000 a year more than the M and you are using the car as a weekend car you are 'in front' even given the additional running cost.
Compare an 01-03 Z3 3.0 vs a same age and mileage Z3M and you are looking at a 40% difference in price today. At present time there is only a 10% difference between a Z4M and a Z4...it won't stay like that forever.
Well, that's how I justified it to myself anyway
I will be using the car as my only car and it will be less than 10,000 miles a year but I don't know by how much at this stage. It would be nice to have an M but I don't think I can justify one at this time. Maybe when the new version of the M comes out
Beancounter1980
Active member
Tbh it makes no difference to me.
why? I bought a Mercedes E-class a few years ago from a very reputable Mercedes dealer (Main Dealer).
The car on delivery was an utter shambles, not cleaned, all electrics were messed up. Moreover the car was CLOCKED!
Yes clocked, Mercedes Assist went crazy and refused to touch the car. I was given a C250 as a loaner whilst they got to the bottom of the problem.
The salesman who sold me the car lost his job, and a senior member was dismissed. I took my money back, and vowed never to buy Mercedes again.
I think you need to trust your gut instincts when buying a car. That's what i did with the Z4
why? I bought a Mercedes E-class a few years ago from a very reputable Mercedes dealer (Main Dealer).
The car on delivery was an utter shambles, not cleaned, all electrics were messed up. Moreover the car was CLOCKED!
Yes clocked, Mercedes Assist went crazy and refused to touch the car. I was given a C250 as a loaner whilst they got to the bottom of the problem.
The salesman who sold me the car lost his job, and a senior member was dismissed. I took my money back, and vowed never to buy Mercedes again.
I think you need to trust your gut instincts when buying a car. That's what i did with the Z4
As i tend to PX cars when i get new ones i always buy from a dealer - whether it be independent or franchise, least it offers some come back should anything be wrong.
Sadly the 3.0si is 9 bhp less so you wouldnt have been happy with it
texasjohn said:I would have been more than happy with the 270hp.
Sadly the 3.0si is 9 bhp less so you wouldnt have been happy with it