Early or Late model Z4 Coupe?

Zedtastic

Member
Hi all,

I'm in the market for an E86 Z4 Coupe. I'm not sue if its worth paying more for a later model with the revised engine. As far as I can see, BMW made some small changes at some point during 2007, and later models have a black cam cover and are rated at 265bhp (as opposed to 262bhp on the earlier ones). I guess the extra 3BHP is neither here nor there, but are there any other advantages to a later spec model? :?

Also, should I get too hung up on cars that don't show a full service history? I hear that the E86 is fairly bullet proof.

Any help and advice would be really appreciated.
 
Either engine is good, the later engine slightly more robust, I've stolen the following bullet points from ph001 on a different thread:
New cylinder head cover with improved CCV system
• Lighter hydroformed Camshafts
• Crankshaft optimisations
• Stronger con-rods
• Stem diameter of exhaust valves increased to 6 mm instead of 5 mm
• Torsional vibration damper improvements
• Revised Hot-film air mass meter (HFM)
• New Throttle valve with magnetoresistive position feedback
• New MSV80 Digital motor electronics
• New 2nd gen water pump
The n52 dislikes short journeys more than the average car, which is what causes the ticking people sometimes report.
Personally I only buy cars with full service history, it's a sign they're well looked after, even if it's low miles I would want time based services
 
Zedtastic said:
Hi all,

I'm in the market for an E86 Z4 Coupe. I'm not sue if its worth paying more for a later model with the revised engine. As far as I can see, BMW made some small changes at some point during 2007, and later models have a black cam cover and are rated at 265bhp (as opposed to 262bhp on the earlier ones). I guess the extra 3BHP is neither here nor there, but are there any other advantages to a later spec model? :?

Also, should I get too hung up on cars that don't show a full service history? I hear that the E86 is fairly bullet proof.

Any help and advice would be really appreciated.

All the 3.0si z4’s are 262bhp, the 265 figure is ps which is slightly less than bhp :thumbsup:
Rob
 
Only other things on a later model are the standard aux in (jack socket) for the head unit and isofix points for passenger seat with airbag deactivate switch.

Chris
 
I've had one of each and they drive exactly the same.

Fitting an aux-in to an early model shouldn't be too challenging (my early model has had one fitted) but the isofix would be a different proposition!
 
I think if you can get the black top for similar money at perhaps a few more thousand miles then it would make sense but as said above there is no power difference and they drive just the same. I would prioritise history and spec over the N52K tbh.
 
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