Decision Decision

G

gready

Member
Looking at a possible change to a Z4M in the near future with their value being hit so hard with the global economy. I currently have a 130i which I love, but as I approach the end of the finance I’m looking around at what to replace it with. I could get a 56 Roadster for a fair bit less than I pay for the 130i, a similar specced Coupe seems to be around 2k more expensive. Question is will the coupe remain more sought after (not getting at the roadster here, I like both equally) and more likely to become a future classic and are the prices going to fall further yet?
I did think about a Z4 3.0, but would this be much different to the 130i, just with no back seats??
Are tehn any issues with buying an older car? Many of them have 10k miles or less on them, I’m more interested if BMW did any changes to the engine/gearboxes or the car on the whole through production??

Finally, I understand the running cost will be a lot higher, but what sort of mileage can I expect between services, I know it depends on the driving style, deal said it was around 15 between, but this doesn’t sound like enough to me:

1000k run in oil change
15k inspection 1
30k Oil change
45k inspection 2
…..

Dealer has gone away to check!

Thanks, Sorry for all questions.
 
thats a lot of questions :)

Question is will the coupe remain more sought after - IMO yes.
and more likely to become a future classic - again yes (IMO)

prices going to fall further yet - yes definitely!

I did think about a Z4 3.0, but would this be much different to the 130i, just with no back seats?? - haven't driven a 1 series but i'd be confident in saying it would be like night and day ;)

if BMW did any changes to the engine/gearboxes - that that i'm aware of

Are tehn any issues with buying an older car? - nope just less warranty
but what sort of mileage can I expect between services - approx 11-14k, as mentioned depending on how its used...

HTH :driving:
 
Cheers gents, great to have a bit of feed back.

I was expecting people to think the coupe would be more likley to become a future classic....

I'm interested in your comment regarding 130i V's Z4 3.0, you meaning just in handeling? :driving:

I'm supprissed at the servicing - I was expecting it to be more regular!
 
Servicing and costs came up the other day http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=137351#p137351

mikedav said:
Oil Service: £180-£230 depending on dealer / price matching
Insp 1: £600-£900 depending on dealer / price matching
Insp 2: £800-£1200 depending on dealer / price matching

If you go Independent you can reduce those a lot. Just had mine serviced at 23k, Wood BMW in Bournemouth price matched Cotswolds BMW, £600inc VAT.
Click to expand...
 
Servicing and costs came up the other day viewtopic.php?p=137351#p137351
Click to expand...

- saw that, I was wondering more regarding the timing of the services, if what I'm thinking is correct you dont need an Inspection 1 until until (very) roughly 15k and Insp. 2 at 45k miles?
 
Doh said:
I did think about a Z4 3.0, but would this be much different to the 130i, just with no back seats?? - haven't driven a 1 series but i'd be confident in saying it would be like night and day ;)
Click to expand...

I have driven both and he's right! :wink:
 
I've driven both the Z4 3.0Si and the 130i as well. Both very good cars, but I drive a Z4, so you know which one got the edge! :driving:
 
interesting..... Maybe need to get a test drive in a 3.0 coupe, not much cheaper than an M to buy, but as someone else said if your concerned about running cost an M might not be the car for you!
 
At the end of the day we will always push the Z4 we have bought on here! :P

Best thing is to get a test drive in a 3.0si and an M then compare the bang for bucks between the 2! :)

(Get the Coupe though as it's the best looking Z4!!) :P
 
gready said:
- saw that, I was wondering more regarding the timing of the services, if what I'm thinking is correct you dont need an Inspection 1 until until (very) roughly 15k and Insp. 2 at 45k miles?
Click to expand...
Every 500 gallons of fuel is a service, I would say you're not far away at 45k.

ian in lancs said:
On a Z4M you get about 11-12000 between services and upto 15000 for the 2.5. On the M engine there is a check at 1200mls but this doesn't infuence the service interval. The cycle goes..

oil inspection - c12000mls
inspection I - c24000mls
oil inspection - c36000mls
inspection II - c48000mls
oil inspection - c60000mls
inspection I - c72000mls
Click to expand...

http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=4650 :thumbsup:
 
Cheers Mike - thats what I was after. Not as scarey as I thought to be honest.

As for test driving both a 3.0 and an M, think your right, test driven an M (roadster) and loved it, dont think I'll ever drive anywhere near the point I could tell the differance between a roadster and a coupe. Not driven a 3.0, as I mentioned I had rulled it out as decided it wouldn't be differant enough from the 130 - think I might go find one this weekend.

with regards to the coupe being better looking, id have to agree, when the roof is up, but roof down the roadster wins by default! really I wouldn't mind either!
 
I've recently bought a 56 plate M Coupe at what I thought was a good price. Personally I'm not a fan of convertibles (no offence to Roadster owners :) ) so it was the Coupe or nothing for me. I also prefer the looks and rarity value, and would like to believe it will be a future classic too but who knows.

I know the price will fall further, but in relative terms I am hoping this will be quite a lot less now, as it has already taken a heavy hit. If it loses £3-4k a year I could easily cope with that as it is only £300 or so per month. Its very difficult to say in the current conditions, but they are quite rare (500 or so Z4MCs in the UK) and the price of a decent 8-9 year old Z3MC seems to be around £11-15k which may help in keeping the Z4MC prices up over the years.

I didn't even drive a 3.0i as I used to have a 350Z and was looking for a step up, and the 350Z and 3.0i are broadly similar in respect to performance at least. I had two test drives in the M and just wanted it. I know the running costs are higher, but there seems very little in the purchase price of a 3.0i and an M now, compared to the original difference of around £10k i think.

After a few weeks of ownerships there are mostly positives but some negatives and I will do a write up when I get round to it.

As far as servicing goes, mine had the running in service, oil service around 11k I think, and is now showing the Inspection 1 to be due at around 22k. I have been quoted a price of just under £600 from the local dealer. The intervals are variable but look to be between 10-15k depending upon driving styles.
 
gready said:
Servicing and costs came up the other day viewtopic.php?p=137351#p137351
Click to expand...

- saw that, I was wondering more regarding the timing of the services, if what I'm thinking is correct you dont need an Inspection 1 until until (very) roughly 15k and Insp. 2 at 45k miles?
Click to expand...

15k is basically the upper limit, it falls a bit quicker in real terms and the service usually falls due every 11-13k miles in my experience with BMs
 
I've recently bought a roadster :)

Although even I admit the coupe is a better looking car for many the roadster will still be desirable over the coupe. For me a true sportscar must have a drop top thats just a no comprimise issue for me so even though I think the coupe is probably the best looking car in recent production (apart from the Weissman GT) it was no contest for me and the roadster it had to be.

Ultimately they are both desirable cars and will all find new owners when it comes to resale. Interesingly I've been keeping an eye on the market after buying mine and the sensibly priced ones are still selling quickly. It seems that pricing the car right from the offset is key regardless of the body style.

Anyway dont think about that yet just buy the thing and enjoy it for the summer!
 
I was also thinking of changing to 3.0si or M9roadster), had a 2.5i roadster before. I test drove 3.0si didnt feel great, felt like driving any ordinary car, had electric steering, My 2.5i was much better- steering felt great.

After driving M, i dont think i could go back to any of them. I had made my choice, never looked back. It puts a smile on face everytime I start the engine. Th eengine sound is music to my ears. with the weather getting better, I'm lookign foward to to soem top down driving.
 
thanks for all the advise and comments, it all helps, I've still not managed to test drive a 3.0 coupe, but will try this week or next weekend, but having driven an M i'm thinking I will just hunt out a with the spec I'm looking for, for the right price - either coupe or roadster, think they both have advantages and disadvantages and knowing me I will know the car I want when I see it/drive it :-)

Any one got any idea what sort of discout I'd be looking at? I guess it depends on the price the stealer has it up at, quite liked the look of this roadster:

http://www.bmw.co.uk/bmwuk/auc/car_details/0,,1260_159980106__,00.html?currentCh=WBSBT92070LD39110

Cheers
Gareth
 
I was harping on about that car in my post "tell me i'm mad". It's local to me and is very nice indeed. The guy who had it has changed to an m3 (clearly he like depreciation). I reckon you can get £500 to £1000 off it and it's a competitive price for a main dealer car. Go for it, it'll save me the stress of wanting to buy it!
 
I was harping on about that car in my post "tell me i'm mad"
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I saw just after I had posted that, it does look nice, spoke to the dealer last week and they said the same about the guy getting an M3..... very tempted to take it further, talking to dealer tomorrow to see what they can do on price, if they can bring it near to my target price I will take a drive up this week to have a look. Looking at the current AUC stock I dont think the car will be around for too long at this price/mileage/spec, but I'm not in a major hurry.

Cheers
 
Good luck with it.

There is a Z4MC at Bowker Blackburn for £19990, they will not drop on price much at all. It has 38k miles & due Insp 1 in 4200 miles. I was ready to put a deposit down over the 'phone today but they would either throw in the Insp 1 or drop £400.

I think the Harry Fairbairn car is the better deal personally.

There is a 56 plate silver on AUC also, but the spec is very low. Just two options IIRC...
 
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