Finding a Coupe and other things... Now found one.

T

True-Blue

Veteran
 Bristol/Bath
Site Supporter
I’ve decide that unless I find an amazing manual Si convertible it’s got to be a manual coupe.

Went to see one local to me on Wednesday in the rather lovely stratus gray, with cream leather,106k, up at £7795.00

It’s was lowered, more at the front than the back, unpractically low at the front so the front valance was scraped. Would need sorting to be a properly useable and safe car. Was running on BBS CK’s nice wheels, but desperately in need of a referb. Had very cheap ‘no brand’ budget tires... which I personally think is criminal on a performance car like this.

As he drove it out of the garage the grinding noise from the callipers was loud! When I looked at the rear the pads were almost non existant and the rear disks were the worst I have ever seen on any car I’ve been to view - wish I’d taken a picture! Definite MOT fail.

Despite all this, I really liked the car!

It’s had a diff rebuild with a lifetime warranty. Various bushes replaced, rear springs are eibachs not sure on fronts. So it’s not all bad!

Realistically needs disks Pads and probably brake callipers all round, wheel referb (although I’d prefer original alloys), front springs/ride height sorting.... and some decent tyres.

Things is the seller saw the wheels and suspension as ‘improvements’. Don’t think I’m going to get close to his valuation as he feels he’s added value but I think he’s spoiled it and it would need sorting.

Surely close to original or sensibly lowered ‘at both ends’ is the way go in terms of retaining the future value in these cars?
 
Well if you know what you want and know what you are looking at, what are you waiting for. Welcome to the forum. the
 
I'd avoid that one personally - sounds like it's not been well taken care of. Budget tyres are an extremely good gauge of general owner approach to car care - a car with premium tyres on is almost always better looked after than a car with budgets stuck on by an owner cutting corners to save money....

I've never heard of a 3.0si diff failing so a rebuilt one would make me want to ask more questions as to why it was required.... If its not had a locker stuffed in it then there should be no reason to rebuild the diff!

Does the car have cpilovers fitted? I'm surprised they've managed to achieve a different ride height front to rear..... Again this to me is indicative of something being broken...

There should be plenty more out there for you chap, if it were my money id keep looking, one will come up that's just the ticket!


Fwiw I sold my (admittedly cat D) coupe with some expensive upgrades including a quaife diff, bilstein b12s, 224m alloys, powerflex bushes, remap, M front bumper, new headlights, modbox delete redleather sports seats.... For a smidge under £7k,and it took a fair while to Shift. Imo the car you're looking at sounds overpriced based on condition and mileage.

If you do decide to go for it a word of advice - check if the alloys are genuine or reps - might not make a big difference to the look, but it should make a fair difference to the price - a set of reps can be had for around 500quid vs real ones at closer to 1500quid....
 
I would love to know what the 'well known electrical fault' with the fully mechanical differential is :lol:

Genuinely I suspect it was the dtc module that was replaced which is an expensive unit - but yeah either way indicative of a gentleman who doesn't know what he's talking about.

That suspension definitely does not look right - could be collapsed dampers or snapped springs or incorrect front springs from a model with a lighter engine - hence the front sits lower....

I could well be wrong but those alloys don't look genuine bbs either...

None of this is difficult to fix, but for me the big question is - do you want to spend 5-600quid on decent tyres, a few hundred on an alloy wheel refurb and anything up to 4-600 or so getting new springs and or dampers and alignment sorted out? You're never going to get that knocked off his asking price....
 
That doesn't look at all well looked after to me. There are much nicer examples out there for not much more... you'd spend a fair amount putting that right then still have the thought in your mind that your car hasn't been well looked after prior to your ownership.
 
I'm with Ed on the tyres - why on earth would you put ditch-finders on an E86?

Which to me suggests it was run on a budget rather than being cherished - much better to look for one on the forum!

Still a manual E86 is definitely the way to go. :lol:

Good luck finding the right one. :thumbsup:
 
That's a shame. That car could be so much more than that! But I'm with everyone else here, in that I don't believe it's been looked after well at all! Budget tyres, worn-to-death pads, battered alloys. All sounds like it's been carelessly thrown around as cheap as poss.
 
I’ve walked away from this one, looking at a couple of other options, one of which is listed on the forum here and the seller seems very genuine.

Pricing is all over the place it seems, but as a result hardly any actually appear to be selling. I’ve been looking at the same cars on all the usual websites for weeks on end.
 
@ True-Blue , that one you mention does seem overpriced.

I only just purchased a private 3.0 Si Sport Coupe on Weds, with 81k miles for under £7,995 with a list optional kit.

But I think I caught the seller at the right time as he was eager to sell as was soon to be getting married.
 
There’s a couple I’m now very interested in. I’ve got a viewing on one tomorrow afternoon. It’s silver, which I know a lot of people find a bit boring, but I think it really shows off all the sharp lines and curves of the car nicely.
 
Silver is a cracking colour chap - not boring at all 8) good luck, keep us informed - we're a friendly bunch and happy to help if you need anything
 
The seller of the silver one listed on the forum has been super helpful, and it looks a very clean car with a nice leather upgrade. Loads of photo’s of it and a reasonable price ( not the price quoted in the listing)

Has a potential issue with the drives side window and a couple of paint bubbles, one near the rear quarter window. Also the callipers are very rusty, but I’m guessing a wire brushing and some calliper paint would sort that.

If it wasn’t so far I’d go and look today, but may commit to a long train ride :lol:
 
Have you clocked this one available via Evans Halshaw https://shop.carstore.com/search/bmw/z4/manual-petrol-blue-coupe-GJ56JTY
 
mr wilks said:
Have you clocked this one available via Evans Halshaw https://shop.carstore.com/search/bmw/z4/manual-petrol-blue-coupe-GJ56JTY
Click to expand...

Hi, yes My Mrs brought that to my attention... can fly Bristol to Newcastle too!
 
True-Blue said:
mr wilks said:
Have you clocked this one available via Evans Halshaw https://shop.carstore.com/search/bmw/z4/manual-petrol-blue-coupe-GJ56JTY
Click to expand...

Hi, yes My Mrs brought that to my attention... can fly Bristol to Newcastle too!
Click to expand...

I thought EvansHalshaw locate the car closer for a holding fee :?
 
mr wilks said:
True-Blue said:
mr wilks said:
Have you clocked this one available via Evans Halshaw https://shop.carstore.com/search/bmw/z4/manual-petrol-blue-coupe-GJ56JTY
Click to expand...

Hi, yes My Mrs brought that to my attention... can fly Bristol to Newcastle too!
Click to expand...

I thought EvansHalshaw locate the car closer for a holding fee :?
Click to expand...

Oh right, ok.

We’ll I’ll bear that in mind, but I’m looking at two tomorrow including a certain yellow one 8)
 
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