Considering a high mileage Coupe - few concerns

[Jare]

Hi all, I'm looking for a daily with a budget of £5-6k, the only two cars I'm seriously considering are MR2 Turbo imports and E86 Coupes.

The problem with the MR2s, is like the Coupes, they are extremely hard, if not harder, to come by, hence the broadening of my search to E86's. They also have the benefit of being 10-15 years newer with less/no cosmetic work needing to be done to them after buying one.

Obviously my budget is fairly limiting to cars that are 90k+ miles, which is a concern for reliability and costs.

I'm prepared to spend a couple of thousand each year on maintenance and problems, as I feel it's a worthwhile price to pay for high power and a decent looking car with a nice interior, but I also want to be able to rely on the car as a daily work commuter and for long distance drives on the weekend.

I guess the main concern is the engine, as long as it stays in one piece I assume the rest of the maintenance is relatively affordable, but what should I be looking out for, or what should I be aware of when I view these cars? As mentioned, I don't mind forking out for maintenance to keep the car in good shape, and I'm not too worried about depreciation, I'm happy to drive the car for as long as it'll go, I just don't want it to spend more time at a service centre than with me behind the wheel.

Would you advise against high mileage cars with good MOT/service histories? should I just not bother?

Thanks for taking the time to read these poorly written out questions and for any insights you can provide.

 

[lucasxdiniz]

Hi all, I'm looking for a daily with a budget of £5-6k, the only two cars I'm seriously considering are MR2 Turbo imports and E86 Coupes.

The problem with the MR2s, is like the Coupes, they are extremely hard, if not harder, to come by, hence the broadening of my search to E86's. They also have the benefit of being 10-15 years newer with less/no cosmetic work needing to be done to them after buying one.

Obviously my budget is fairly limiting to cars that are 90k+ miles, which is a concern for reliability and costs.

I'm prepared to spend a couple of thousand each year on maintenance and problems, as I feel it's a worthwhile price to pay for high power and a decent looking car with a nice interior, but I also want to be able to rely on the car as a daily work commuter and for long distance drives on the weekend.

I guess the main concern is the engine, as long as it stays in one piece I assume the rest of the maintenance is relatively affordable, but what should I be looking out for, or what should I be aware of when I view these cars? As mentioned, I don't mind forking out for maintenance to keep the car in good shape, and I'm not too worried about depreciation, I'm happy to drive the car for as long as it'll go, I just don't want it to spend more time at a service centre than with me behind the wheel.

Would you advise against high mileage cars with good MOT/service histories? should I just not bother?

Thanks for taking the time to read these poorly written out questions and for any insights you can provide.

I don't think mileage is a problem for E86s as long as it has been service/looked after. At 90+k I would expect leaky gaskets which do go often in N52s (oil filter housing gasket, oil cooler gasket, rocker cover and valvetronic motor). But they're easy to DIY and parts aren't costly. Suspension is a wear item, so some cars at 90k+ will ride better than some at 70k due to where it's been driven (my experience with my E85 vs E86). I would budget a couple hundred pounds for gaskets and a full service when you get the car and you should be good for many miles. Some stuff I've done and how much it costed me:

Starter motor £90 (An hour DIY)
Bilsten B4s with Eibachs and new top mounts £500 (About 8hrs DIY) - Worth doing for a daily, much comfier!!!
Valvetronic Motor gasket £22 (10min DIY)
Oil filter housing and Oil cooler gasket £44 from BMW (3hrs DIY with lots of cleaning)
Belt & Tensioner £40 - Half an hour if that

Water pumps do go on these at around 60k or 100k so budget for this. Parts costs around £250 I think, and it's probably a half hour DIY from what I saw when I was under the car.

E86s with the Silver top have an older head design that's known for being noisy due to the hydraulic lifters not filling with oil quickly enough and also the oil re-circulation system tends to go on them. So try and find one with the black top engine (N52K).

You might hear the 'flywheel' rattle of death when you turn the engine off, seems to be normal across all mileages and it's not an actual issue.

 

[baconJazz]

With a budget of 5-6 K I think you'll be looking at 120,000 + Tbh. And if you're using it as a daily be aware that the milage will rise relatively quickly . Add another 1K and you should be able to find a sub 100k example so long as your specific wish list as far as other items (colour , sat nav , heated seats , parking sensors etc.. ) is not too long and hence restrictive . Definitely go for the manual Sport model though.

 

[PDJ]

Milage, servicing and parts fitted.

Just my thoughts, milage can be an issue both ways very low and very hight very low would be short use and long storage and without the care to prevent problems they will surface latter in life, High milage will eventually wear the car out.

Servicing having a BMW service book full of service stamps is good but a folder of invoices for all the work outside of the service work is even better, and gives a picture of how it was cared for or not, ie an advisory on the MOT and then repeated the next year does not look good but an advisory and a repair invoice a week or two latter looks good.

When looking through the invoices for parts fitted look to see the quality of parts fitted find out what was OEM and what is cheap same picture as above.

If there is little or no evidence of love and care over and above the normal service book, budget for changing all the fluids, as a preventative measure that way you know it has been done.

As with a lot of cars the seats and floor mats can show you how much care has been taken my previous owners.

Another thing that was pointed out on here is the further south the owners have lived the less salt the car will have seen in its life time due to the weather.

 

[DamianPinder-George]

[ref]lucasxdiniz[/ref], Hi Lucas, I don't want to hijack Jares thread too much, would you take a PM conversation about your damper and spring choices? I think you might have inadvertently answered a question of mine, just want to check a few details with you if thats ok?

 

[Jare]

I don't think mileage is a problem for E86s as long as it has been service/looked after.

I think for me it's more the stigma of high mileage cars, I've always been taught to stay away from them, but I figure coming from a 2017 IS300h is going to be a dramatic change regardless of the mileage.

Starter motor £90 (An hour DIY)
Bilsten B4s with Eibachs and new top mounts £500 (About 8hrs DIY) - Worth doing for a daily, much comfier!!!
Valvetronic Motor gasket £22 (10min DIY)
Oil filter housing and Oil cooler gasket £44 from BMW (3hrs DIY with lots of cleaning)
Belt & Tensioner £40 - Half an hour if that

These prices are comforting

E86s with the Silver top have an older head design that's known for being noisy due to the hydraulic lifters not filling with oil quickly enough and also the oil re-circulation system tends to go on them. So try and find one with the black top engine (N52K).

I've seen a 100k mile 56 plate with a silver top engine for a really good price, as well as a reasonably priced 07 plate with a black top, I'm assuming that was the cutoff period?

With a budget of 5-6 K I think you'll be looking at 120,000 + Tbh. And if you're using it as a daily be aware that the milage will rise relatively quickly . Add another 1K and you should be able to find a sub 100k example so long as your specific wish list as far as other items (colour , sat nav , heated seats , parking sensors etc.. ) is not too long and hence restrictive . Definitely go for the manual Sport model though.

There are a few 80-100k examples within budget out there at the moment, my only real want is red leather and manual. (Thankfully my list of requirements is far smaller than when I was looking at 2.5 roadsters 3-4 years back).

I do plan to put miles on it, as mentioned I'm buying it with the intention of keeping it until it dies, I'm just wary of how many miles I can expect to get out a 100k mile Z4 for that money. - There's a reason they are cheaper than the others, after all.

High milage will eventually wear the car out.

To what degree though? if the engine is well maintained and the chassis is solid should I only be worrying about hoses/wear items and things like electrical faults?

ie an advisory on the MOT and then repeated the next year does not look good but an advisory and a repair invoice a week or two latter looks good.

This is a good idea, thanks

 

[lucasxdiniz]

[ref]lucasxdiniz[/ref], Hi Lucas, I don't want to hijack Jares thread too much, would you take a PM conversation about your damper and spring choices? I think you might have inadvertently answered a question of mine, just want to check a few details with you if thats ok?

Feel free to drop me a message, happy to help.

E86s with the Silver top have an older head design that's known for being noisy due to the hydraulic lifters not filling with oil quickly enough and also the oil re-circulation system tends to go on them. So try and find one with the black top engine (N52K).

I've seen a 100k mile 56 plate with a silver top engine for a really good price, as well as a reasonably priced 07 plate with a black top, I'm assuming that was the cutoff period?

That's a good rule of thumb, but it can be a bit random sometimes. So just watch out for it, and apparently if you're not just doing short drivers, the HVLA tick isn't much of an issue. The recommended cure for it most of the time is a long/spirited drive.

 

[NSM]

I do not get this obsession that in the UK we think that a car with 100k is something to be avoided. I had a BMW 525X which I drove to 320k miles before it was totaled by someone else - brilliant car the only thing replaced was the batteries that failed. I have had many cars in which I have done high miles some of which I sold to mates who are still driving them years after without major outlay.

I recently purchased a coupe in the price bracket that you are searching that had just over 100k on the clock. It has no early history as the book was lost but the previous owner had a folder that clearly showed he had been looking after the car. On inspection I knew that some suspension work would be required as it was going to be too low for the drive /track to my house. As it turned out I needed replace the front dampers/springs, top mounts, roll bar links and track rod ends as well as the springs to raise the vehicle and the four wheel alignment which cost in total about £1,200.

The car now drives well instead of trying to throw me into a hedge. The engine and gearbox are 'tight' and I feel comfortable to thrash it up the road when the mood takes.

If a car looks right, drives well and has been maintained then why not?. Depreciation at this level is not a worry.

 

[Jare]

The car now drives well instead of trying to throw me into a hedge. The engine and gearbox are 'tight' and I feel comfortable to thrash it up the road when the mood takes.

If a car looks right, drives well and has been maintained then why not?. Depreciation at this level is not a worry.

You've sold me

 

[baconJazz]

I don't think mileage is a problem for E86s as long as it has been service/looked after.

I think for me it's more the stigma of high mileage cars, I've always been taught to stay away from them, but I figure coming from a 2017 IS300h is going to be a dramatic change regardless of the mileage.

Starter motor £90 (An hour DIY)
Bilsten B4s with Eibachs and new top mounts £500 (About 8hrs DIY) - Worth doing for a daily, much comfier!!!
Valvetronic Motor gasket £22 (10min DIY)
Oil filter housing and Oil cooler gasket £44 from BMW (3hrs DIY with lots of cleaning)
Belt & Tensioner £40 - Half an hour if that

These prices are comforting

E86s with the Silver top have an older head design that's known for being noisy due to the hydraulic lifters not filling with oil quickly enough and also the oil re-circulation system tends to go on them. So try and find one with the black top engine (N52K).

I've seen a 100k mile 56 plate with a silver top engine for a really good price, as well as a reasonably priced 07 plate with a black top, I'm assuming that was the cutoff period?

With a budget of 5-6 K I think you'll be looking at 120,000 + Tbh. And if you're using it as a daily be aware that the milage will rise relatively quickly . Add another 1K and you should be able to find a sub 100k example so long as your specific wish list as far as other items (colour , sat nav , heated seats , parking sensors etc.. ) is not too long and hence restrictive . Definitely go for the manual Sport model though.

There are a few 80-100k examples within budget out there at the moment, my only real want is red leather and manual. (Thankfully my list of requirements is far smaller than when I was looking at 2.5 roadsters 3-4 years back).

I do plan to put miles on it, as mentioned I'm buying it with the intention of keeping it until it dies, I'm just wary of how many miles I can expect to get out a 100k mile Z4 for that money. - There's a reason they are cheaper than the others, after all.

High milage will eventually wear the car out.

To what degree though? if the engine is well maintained and the chassis is solid should I only be worrying about hoses/wear items and things like electrical faults?

ie an advisory on the MOT and then repeated the next year does not look good but an advisory and a repair invoice a week or two latter looks good.

This is a good idea, thanks

Ive not seen any with 80,OOO miles on the clock for as little as 5-6k . Maybe you could point me in the right direction and I'll go and buy another !

 

[Mr Tidy]

I've seen a 100k mile 56 plate with a silver top engine for a really good price, as well as a reasonably priced 07 plate with a black top, I'm assuming that was the cutoff period?

I think the change was probably made in September 2006 as my 1st Coupe was built in October 06 and had the black-top, but my current one was built in August 06 and has the silver top.

I wouldn't worry too much about mileage - my current Coupe is on 91K. I also had an E91 325i with the 2.5 litre version of the same engine for a year that had done 139K when I sold it to replace it with an E90 330i with the same 3 litre engine as my Z4 that has done 111K now. All of them pulled really strongly with no real issues - although at 135K miles my 325i needed the inevitable water pump (possibly it's 2nd).

Yes a higher mileage one will sell for less when you part with it, but then you'll be paying less in the 1st place!

Condition and history are what matter most.

Good luck anyway.

 

[thecookie125]

I've seen a 100k mile 56 plate with a silver top engine for a really good price, as well as a reasonably priced 07 plate with a black top, I'm assuming that was the cutoff period?

I think the change was probably made in September 2006 as my 1st Coupe was built in October 06 and had the black-top, but my current one was built in August 06 and has the silver top.

I wouldn't worry too much about mileage - my current Coupe is on 91K. I also had an E91 325i with the 2.5 litre version of the same engine for a year that had done 139K when I sold it to replace it with an E90 330i with the same 3 litre engine as my Z4 that has done 111K now. All of them pulled really strongly with no real issues - although at 135K miles my 325i needed the inevitable water pump (possibly it's 2nd).

Yes a higher mileage one will sell for less when you part with it, but then you'll be paying less in the 1st place!

Condition and history are what matter most.

Good luck anyway.

Just weighing in on this, the N52 black top will still tap over short journeys etc (I have one), the actually revised design never made it to the e85/86 unless you get one of the last last ones as the revised design came into effect in Dec of 2008.

 

[bg1]

And if you look at the internal tech BMW sheet it says engine minor changes were also for cost efficiency. ie cheaper.

 

[Mr Tidy]

Just weighing in on this, the N52 black top will still tap over short journeys etc (I have one), the actually revised design never made it to the e85/86 unless you get one of the last last ones as the revised design came into effect in Dec of 2008.

Yes, you're right - my black-top one did that too!

 

[Our03z4]

I have a 08 Coupe with the 3.0si here in the states. Has 92k miles and have had a few annoying issues. There are a few other people on here that have complained of this odd back and forth motion that is super annoying. Stops after the 3k rpm point, when cruising it's maddening. Sometimes you'll go a week or so with out feeling it and then it hits again one day. BMW can't figure out the issue and say not to worry. Changing the Vanos Solenoids helped reduce the issue but not remove it all together. Those are about $120 total for both and take about 15mins to change.

If you get the auto box it costs about $600 to $900 to change the fluid if done at an Indy shop. The whole pan is one time use and has rubber sleeves that should be replaced at the same time.

Try to get one that doesn't have navigation...that screen causes all sorts of issues.

Also pay attention to the clear coat, especially on the bumpers, mirrors, and door handles. Once the clear starts having issues it goes down hill quick.

All in all it's a fun car, gets plenty of compliments still...every time I drive honestly. Here in the US the car is extremely rare and I never see another. People ask all the time what it is. Whats funny is always hearing people tell there passengers to watch the sports car when getting out. The kicker is most of the time their car is the one in being careful not to ding. The Z4s still look relevant and exotic but at a low price point.

I had an 2003 roadster also, very easy to work on, very reliable, and parts were cheap. It has the 2.5i and was actually enjoyable to work on.

 

[Mr Tidy]

Here in the US the car is extremely rare and I never see another.

Which seems a bit ironic seeing as they were all built there! :roll:

But based on the database a forum member put together the US got over 12,000 3 Litre E86s and the UK just over 2,000, although in a country that large I guess they are much more spread out. :lol:

 

[Our03z4]

Here in the US the car is extremely rare and I never see another.

Which seems a bit ironic seeing as they were all built there! :roll:

But based on the database a forum member put together the US got over 12,000 3 Litre E86s and the UK just over 2,000, although in a country that large I guess they are much more spread out. :lol:

Yeah, in a country where there are 267,000,000 cars it's extremely rare. Compared to 38,000,000 in the UK. Would be like the UK having 14,000. Think those numbers are off anyway. I show that only 476 3.0si Coupes were made in 2008 for NA. I know the UK didn't get the 3.0si it seems?

 

[Mr Tidy]

I know the UK didn't get the 3.0si it seems?

It must have - I've had two E86 3.0Sis and seen quite a few more!

 

[Felix79]

I wouldn't be too fixated on what it's mileage is, but what is it's condition and service history is like. Over the years I've owned 4 E30's with over 100,000 on the clock and they didn't let me down (it was rust that killed them off). as the M20 engine was such a great design. I think the N54 is also a brilliant engine and if regularly serviced, will easily cope with daily use.

If you're going to daily your coupe, I think it's pointless going for a lower mileage example, as you are setting yourself up for loosing a good chunk of money IMO.

The people above me know more about cars than me, but ironically, my Z4MR had just ticked over 100,000 and what was meant to be a routine service and MOT, turned out to be a shopping list of things need replacing, such as......

Both rear springs had snapped and needing replacement
Needed new brake lines, thanks to the originals being rusted pretty badly
Top mounts for the front suspension + tie rod ends
New front Rotors and brake pads
New right side exhaust back box

I know the roadsters are notorious for going through rear springs (just like the E46 M3 Cab's) , but with the coupes having different spring rates, it might not be something to worry about, but worth checking. They rattle really loudly at cold starts. I thought I had a loose heat shield. When I was doing my research on Z4's last year, as I too really wanted a coupe, is the electric power steering system had get worn and it will no longer self centre and feels sloppy.

 

[Jare]

Both rear springs had snapped and needing replacement
Needed new brake lines, thanks to the originals being rusted pretty badly
Top mounts for the front suspension + tie rod ends
New front Rotors and brake pads
New right side exhaust back box

How much roughly did this set you back, if you don't mind my asking?

the electric power steering system had get worn and it will no longer self centre and feels sloppy.

Is this rectifiable?