E86 price trends...
- Thread starter corsair
- Start date
I have the e85 not the e86 but it's all about mileage, mileage and mileage especially if it's going to be a keeper. Despite what owners say nobody wants a high mileage car if they are going to cherish and hold onto it as a summer good weather second car. Once a car approaches 100k it's value rightly or wrongly drops appreciably and there are loads of these cars out there and a dwindling number of low mileage ones.i count myself as one of those types, getting on a bit but wanting a pristine low mileage sports car to enjoy during the summer months. When I was looking to buy I was prepared to pay a bit of a premium for a garage queen and thankfully that is what I got .
Mike6 said:
I have the e85 not the e86 but it's all about mileage, mileage and mileage - agreed, not least on price / desirability
Despite what owners say nobody wants a high mileage car if they are going to cherish and hold onto it as a summer good weather second car - yes and no... as the owner of a high (by British standards, not N52 engine life standards) mileage Z4 in a colour I like a lot, half of me wants an immaculate low mileage example in a colour I love, as a long term thing to cherish... on the other hand I like that my car was cheap and has a few little dings, and I can just drive it and enjoy it without worrying too much (about dings and the value falling as each mile ticks by).
Once a car approaches 100k it's value rightly or wrongly drops appreciably - agreed. It seems to me like 100k to 110k is tolerated, but get past 130k and and people really don't like it. And just to be clear, the appreciable drops are drops that happen rightly - even if 50% of buyers don't care much about mileage they need to consider the market they will be selling into.
Sludgepump
Member
Mike6 said:
Drifting off topic I know but this is exactly what I have just done. Paid 13 grand for an E89 with 18k on the clock. A one owner garage queen with almost 5 grand spent on servicing alone. Still on original tyres and battery (but not for much longer!)
Thanks - appreciate that. I was looking to buy once I'd got somewhere to live sorted - this should have happened by now but ongoing complications are making it look decreasingly likely and I have to put my big boy trousers on and get the properly important stuff sorted before splurging on toys... as much as I yearn for a lovely E86!Meds said:That's a shame as now seems to be the best time ever to buy, it's a buyers market out there.
IMO with cars being 16-20 years old milage becomes a bit of a difficult one.
Low mile cars can be in worse condition than higher milers because they sit, high milers can be worse condition because people don't care about them as much. At the end of the day its about condition and history, does it have good bones.
Low mile cars become the very edge case in this scenario because there are non around.
A 40k mile 3.0si might be 15-16k but you could get a 70k M coupe for that kind of money at the moment so that's also a talking point.
It is a buyers market right now great time to buy awful time to sell.
Another thing to bare in mind is that unlike all other cars in this segment 2 seater big engines sports cars the Z4 didn't appreciate at all, only in the very edge cases of tiny mile M coupes. What has happened is they have depreciated with everything else so no rise and a big fall.
I wouldn't really take too much notice to the asking price because the sold price I would think is much much lower and there is a reason so many cars have been hanging around. I know this is 3.0si specific but the Ms for example I don't think ive seen so many for sale in a long time and nothing much is moving unless the seller is being realistic which is a hard pill to swallow when they cost so much to run, insure and tax.
Low mile cars can be in worse condition than higher milers because they sit, high milers can be worse condition because people don't care about them as much. At the end of the day its about condition and history, does it have good bones.
Low mile cars become the very edge case in this scenario because there are non around.
A 40k mile 3.0si might be 15-16k but you could get a 70k M coupe for that kind of money at the moment so that's also a talking point.
It is a buyers market right now great time to buy awful time to sell.
Another thing to bare in mind is that unlike all other cars in this segment 2 seater big engines sports cars the Z4 didn't appreciate at all, only in the very edge cases of tiny mile M coupes. What has happened is they have depreciated with everything else so no rise and a big fall.
I wouldn't really take too much notice to the asking price because the sold price I would think is much much lower and there is a reason so many cars have been hanging around. I know this is 3.0si specific but the Ms for example I don't think ive seen so many for sale in a long time and nothing much is moving unless the seller is being realistic which is a hard pill to swallow when they cost so much to run, insure and tax.
To wade in on the mileage debate, while it's tempting to take it as a direct indication as to vehicle value as many are doubtless aware it's potentially not that straightforward.
I think it's also of massive importance how that distance was accrued; 100 miles covered in one hit on motorways might involve one cold start, five clutch actuations from standstill, 50 clutch actuations while moving, 10 applications of the brakes and next to no load on the suspension.
Conversely 100 miles covered popping two miles to the shops in a city could be fifty cold starts, two hundred and fifty clutch actuations from standstill, a thousand clutch actuations while moving, five hundred applications of the brakes and seven shades being knocked out of the shocks over speed bumps.
A counter to that is is that cars driven at high speed are more likely to have stone chips.. those driven in urban environments more likely to have other bodywork damage... also as above leave stuff stood too long outside and that leaves the door open to for the rot to set in.
Back in the day I had a couple of Mk2 Golfs. One bought after 130k of reputed motorway miles, one on 110k that'd been used mostly in town. The lower mileage car had already had shocks and a new clutch when I bought it; the higher mileage job still had the original bits fitted many of which I think lasted until it died at 170k.
Rightly or wrongly I tend to look at wear points to try and get an idea of useage - driver's seat bolster wear, polishing of the steering wheel and gear knob, pedal wear.. although obviously these can vary naturally to some extent and require a frame of reference so you need to have viewed a few... which I haven't.
I've not paid attention long enough to have a feel for price trends (hence this thread!) although perhaps interestingly, of the 254 manual coupes registered in the UK https://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/vehicle/bmw_z4_3.0si_coupe (inc. 38 SORN), 30 of them are currently for sale on Autotrader... which seems like quite a lot!
I think it's also of massive importance how that distance was accrued; 100 miles covered in one hit on motorways might involve one cold start, five clutch actuations from standstill, 50 clutch actuations while moving, 10 applications of the brakes and next to no load on the suspension.
Conversely 100 miles covered popping two miles to the shops in a city could be fifty cold starts, two hundred and fifty clutch actuations from standstill, a thousand clutch actuations while moving, five hundred applications of the brakes and seven shades being knocked out of the shocks over speed bumps.
A counter to that is is that cars driven at high speed are more likely to have stone chips.. those driven in urban environments more likely to have other bodywork damage... also as above leave stuff stood too long outside and that leaves the door open to for the rot to set in.
Back in the day I had a couple of Mk2 Golfs. One bought after 130k of reputed motorway miles, one on 110k that'd been used mostly in town. The lower mileage car had already had shocks and a new clutch when I bought it; the higher mileage job still had the original bits fitted many of which I think lasted until it died at 170k.
Rightly or wrongly I tend to look at wear points to try and get an idea of useage - driver's seat bolster wear, polishing of the steering wheel and gear knob, pedal wear.. although obviously these can vary naturally to some extent and require a frame of reference so you need to have viewed a few... which I haven't.
I've not paid attention long enough to have a feel for price trends (hence this thread!) although perhaps interestingly, of the 254 manual coupes registered in the UK https://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/vehicle/bmw_z4_3.0si_coupe (inc. 38 SORN), 30 of them are currently for sale on Autotrader... which seems like quite a lot!
BTZ461 said:No matter the brand, the used car market (classics and interesting cars too) is on its knees, it's a global thing, the post covid spend up on real estate and lifestyle has come to an end. Prepare for a bumpy ride guys, a long way to go yet.
And I'm doubting values will come back to where we were, given the creep to EV / hybrids is gaining even more traction, and the enthusiasm is waning, especially amongst posters who are aging and belong on this forum, this writer is 72, with a shed full of M cars ............
The ved & cramped cabin doesn't help these cars , especially so the M versions , can't ever see a day when they won't have appeal & kudos though i suspect fast becoming sorn,d motors for most owners the majority of the year .
Would i ever consider another ? Yes , in PY with 2 tone trim please .
North West Surrey
corsair said:
howmanyleft numbers are often way out. I think when the cars are registered different model details get entered, like Z4 SI Sport, Z4 Sport, Z4 SI, etc. so you'd only get a fairly accurate number searching all the possible alternatives.
Good luck getting your living situation sorted so you can resume your search for an E86!
We had the perfect storm for values through Covid and very very low interest rates. The used car market went silly and prices we driven up by people with spare money and time on their hands.
What we are seeing now is high interest rates and the used car market is falling back into its natural curve.
When peoples mortgages goes up along with energy bills food etc. they simply don’t have the spare income so the “toys” have to go.
We are still seeing some cars priced at very high prices and they are being advertised for 6 , 9 and over 12 months in some cases. The sellers are deluded!
The sensibly priced cars are selling.
If you don’t need to sell your car then is really isn’t going to affect you.
And if you are in the market for a car then you really are in a very good position.
What we are seeing now is high interest rates and the used car market is falling back into its natural curve.
When peoples mortgages goes up along with energy bills food etc. they simply don’t have the spare income so the “toys” have to go.
We are still seeing some cars priced at very high prices and they are being advertised for 6 , 9 and over 12 months in some cases. The sellers are deluded!
The sensibly priced cars are selling.
If you don’t need to sell your car then is really isn’t going to affect you.
And if you are in the market for a car then you really are in a very good position.
j3nks79 said:
Yes, I noticed prices at the end of 2019 and early 2020 were really low, as I found out when selling my 3.0Si in February 2020. 6 months or so later I could have easily got another £2K for it.
But it did mean I got a great deal on my MC in December 2019 which made up for it.
For the reasons you have described the market, especially for "fun" cars, has dropped away this year.
Special Kay
Active member
j3nks79 said:
I'd have to concur with your comments. It's easy to dismiss the historical fluctuations of the used car market in general, especially when you take into account the spike during covid. Your current assessment just highlights the economic reality of the market, and I think your spot on. People often fail to evaluate the external mitigating environment when looking at selling a car. Interest rates change, fuel, heating, food, wars etc all add to the 'cost of living' scenario, and are all indicating factors that effect the everyman's disposable income to a lesser or greater degree.
van man
Member
Mines £4490 yes up on the miles but a good little car can’t believe it’s not sold but the market is absolutely dead, someone on the Facebook saying he is fed up with people advertising the E86 so cheap as he has a E86 with 109,000 miles on it that is worth £8,500 
deluded ….the reality is mine would go at £4k fairly swiftly but I’d rather turn it into a greenhouse
deluded ….the reality is mine would go at £4k fairly swiftly but I’d rather turn it into a greenhouseAttachments
Unitedleeds1919 said:Mines £4490 yes up on the miles but a good little car can’t believe it’s not sold but the market is absolutely dead, someone on the Facebook saying he is fed up with people advertising the E86 so cheap as he has a E86 with 109,000 miles on it that is worth £8,500
I’ve seen your car on FB; looks like a bargain to be fair.
I think people get carried away with the rarity but they have a limited following as well. They seem quite hard to sell privately; Zachary Luke seems to be shifting cars fairly quickly.
van man
Member
STC_Zed said:Unitedleeds1919 said:Mines £4490 yes up on the miles but a good little car can’t believe it’s not sold but the market is absolutely dead, someone on the Facebook saying he is fed up with people advertising the E86 so cheap as he has a E86 with 109,000 miles on it that is worth £8,500
I’ve seen your car on FB; looks like a bargain to be fair.
I think people get carried away with the rarity but they have a limited following as well. They seem quite hard to sell privately; Zachary Luke seems to be shifting cars fairly quickly.