FREE E85 2.5i with 220K miles too much of a risk?

E

EJG

Member
 UK
Hi all, I'm new here and wanted to get some opinions on this:

I've recently had a 2004 2.5i Z4 (E85) offered to me for completely free!
The catch? It's on 223K miles, failed it's last MOT in March, and has sat ever since.

I'll start off by saying that I have no experience working on cars, and am aware that this will be a project and could be testing. I am a car guy through and through, and have been wanting some kind of cool project car to work on and enhance my mechanical know-how. Can't get as good an opportunity as a free car in my opinion! Having gone through the report for the latest MOT (which I will provide further down) and done a good amount of research on both the jobs listed, as well as E85 faults in general, I believe all the work is doable. Plus with the car being free it's more financially viable too.

The car itself is a 2004 manual with the M54B25 engine. Here are the items from the last MOT:

Repair immediately (major defects):
  • Nearside Front Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))
  • Nearside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))
  • Nearside Rear Upper Brake pipe excessively corroded (1.1.11 (c))
Repair as soon as possible (minor defects):
  • Offside Front Direction indicator flashing more than 120 times a minute (4.4.4 (a))
  • Nearside Rear Direction indicator flashing more than 120 times a minute (4.4.4 (a))
  • Nearside Front Direction indicator flashing more than 120 times a minute (4.4.4 (a))
  • Offside Front Direction indicator flashing more than 120 times a minute (4.4.4 (a))
Monitor and repair if necessary (advisories):
  • Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))
  • Offside Rear Upper Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))
  • Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))
  • Offside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))
  • Central Rear brake light lens damaged (current owner already purchased a replacement it just needs fitting)
I have seen the car in person once, and the outer body work has seen better days but isn't atrocious. The interior is in great condition after 223K. I've been told the soft top is in perfect nick (couldn't see it as it has a hardtop; the owner is aware of it's value so it is unlikely I will buy it for the £800+ he wants for it). However, I am yet to see and hear the car running. As it had been sitting for so long the battery had died, so I'm waiting until the state of the engine is clear to make my final decision on taking it or not. At a glance there was no oil under the car and it had a good amount of (good looking) oil on the dipstick, other than that I'm in the dark. That's pretty much the main thing worrying me. I've heard the M54 engines are solid if looked after well, but I don't know of the car's service history and even then 223K is a lot.

I'm curious to hear the thoughts of some people that will undoubtedly have far more knowledge on these cars than I do. As I said, I believe the work is all doable and I am happy to give it all a go if the car is salvageable, but I'd like an outside opinion on whether or not this is too much for a novice. I'll do my best to answer any questions, but there is much I am still in the dark about. The car is currently at a family member of mine's house (he's friends with the owner and lives closer to the MOT centre than him. The car was trailered there after the MOT) so I haven't spoken to the owner more than a brief phone call.
 
Unfortunately, it will be pretty much unsaleable at that mileage even with an MOT. Z4s have a lot of issues at that age and mileage in my opinion. Someone could make a few quid breaking it for spares but its a lot of work.
 
malc24 said:
Unfortunately, it will be pretty much unsaleable at that mileage even with an MOT. Z4s have a lot of issues at that age and mileage in my opinion. Someone could make a few quid breaking it for spares but its a lot of work.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I was more thinking of getting it going and then having it as something fun to drive on the weekends. But even then I suppose you have to factor in putting money into it when it could be a ticking time bomb.
 
The mot failures do not sound expensive or worrying to me. The rear brake pipe is the hardest, and even then you can 'bodge' it safely under/through the subframe rather than above it if you really had to.

I suspect you'll find a lot of rubber components are all worn out though (like bushes), even once the MOT is passed.

If it were me, and I wanted something to learn on, what better than a free car that doesn't 'cost' you anything if you mess up? (Paid £5k for that dream doer-upper Impreza only to mess something expensive up? Sad times!)

I'd take it, fix it, learn some stuff, and then either sell it on for very little money once I was done learning, or keep it until it dies. Or pass it to a local college or something for the students to tear down/learn on etc.

What better project car than one that needs something fixing?

The most expensive thing likely to fail is the engine - the rest (bushes etc) will be worn out already most likely. The M54 engine seems to be well regarded for reliability...
 
  • Like
Reactions: EJG
Its a free car! Suspension, anti roll bar, springs all easily replaceable. Great learning for a home mechanic.

Brake lines might be a little harder, id get a garage to do that.

And then yeah, give it a service, new battery and fire it up. Have some fun for a while, then if it fails, get WBAC to take it off your hands. Its a free car, id take it in your position. No rust mentioned which is the main thing.
 
As others have said

It’s a free car- take it

A good breaker on here will make thousands stripping that so you are turning cash down. That’s worst case

Best case is you chuck 500-750 at it and get it through an mot so it lives on for a few more years and have a retro cool convertible 2 seater to waft around in while learning basic spannering skills

Get on it!
 
TriggerFish said:
The mot failures do not sound expensive or worrying to me. The rear brake pipe is the hardest, and even then you can 'bodge' it safely under/through the subframe rather than above it if you really had to.

I suspect you'll find a lot of rubber components are all worn out though (like bushes), even once the MOT is passed.

If it were me, and I wanted something to learn on, what better than a free car that doesn't 'cost' you anything if you mess up? (Paid £5k for that dream doer-upper Impreza only to mess something expensive up? Sad times!)

I'd take it, fix it, learn some stuff, and then either sell it on for very little money once I was done learning, or keep it until it dies. Or pass it to a local college or something for the students to tear down/learn on etc.

What better project car than one that needs something fixing?

The most expensive thing likely to fail is the engine - the rest (bushes etc) will be worn out already most likely. The M54 engine seems to be well regarded for reliability...
Click to expand...
All my thoughts exactly! Just wanted an outside view in case the "ooo free car!" side of my brain was taking over from the rational side lol. My plan was always to fix it up, learn some things, enjoy it in the summer, and keep enjoying it until it dies. I might have a go at filming and documenting it all too.

I agree the engine is the primary thing I'll have to watch, and I still won't officially take the car until I'm happy it works as it should, but I am leaning on it all being in order.

Thanks for the input!
 
Also the m54 can take a beating too. If it’s been looked after it is in its mid life period. If it’s been abused it may be advancing life wise but you’ve got to go some way to make one fail catastrophically and a good set of maintenance will absolutely breathe new life into it

A good service of all fluids and filter
All gaskets like valve cover and oil filter housing
Vanos seals
Coolant system overhaul

Good for another 223k
 
  • Like
Reactions: EJG
brillomaster said:
Its a free car! Suspension, anti roll bar, springs all easily replaceable. Great learning for a home mechanic.

Brake lines might be a little harder, id get a garage to do that.

And then yeah, give it a service, new battery and fire it up. Have some fun for a while, then if it fails, get WBAC to take it off your hands. Its a free car, id take it in your position. No rust mentioned which is the main thing.
Click to expand...
Yeah I did some research on the brake lines and it seems doable but very fiddly. I also think I'd spend as much on specialist pipe tools as it would cost to just get someone to do it for me!
 
bigwinn said:
Also the m54 can take a beating too. If it’s been looked after it is in its mid life period. If it’s been abused it may be advancing life wise but you’ve got to go some way to make one fail catastrophically and a good set of maintenance will absolutely breathe new life into it

A good service of all fluids and filter
All gaskets like valve cover and oil filter housing
Vanos seals
Coolant system overhaul

Good for another 223k
Click to expand...
Judging from the previous MOT history the car has been doing around 10K miles a year since 2012, so it's certainly been used. Hopefully I can have a more extensive chat with the current owner at some point and find out service history and what not.
 
There's always the option of chucking cheaper/secondhand parts at it, especially if it's not going to do big miles. Also forum for finding a bargin/parts for it (eg, I've got some Bilstein shocks to shift on cheap, they've only done 10k miles on a car before I replaced them.)

I'd definitely take that on as a fixer-upper personally, as others have said it'll break for a lot more than £0 and even scrap should be £200-300 so the risk is quite low ultimately. (Better than paying £550 for a car you then scrap 6 weeks later for £200 having put, er, only the 100 mile trip home on it. Oops.)
 
I'd take it. Immediately, before they change their mind.

Most of that list is simple. Get cheaper (not the cheapest) parts and be smug. Ebay will be a great friend if you choose this mission.

I wouldn't worry about mileage. As long as it's been serviced, it should be fine.

Good luck
 
  • Like
Reactions: EJG
Take it. Free cars don't come along very often (if ever).
If worried about the mileage......there is someone on another forum who has the same engine (albeit a 2.2 M54) on about 230k who has just toured Europe with it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: EJG
You could sort all of those issues for around £600 if you can do the work yourself, its all easy stuff apart from the rear brake pipe, a garage did my mine (the one over the tank) for £170 if you fancy paying someone to do it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: EJG
Pondy said:
Take it. Free cars don't come along very often (if ever).
If worried about the mileage......there is someone on another forum who has the same engine (albeit a 2.2 M54) on about 230k who has just toured Europe with it.
Click to expand...
Yup I'm looking at this (a free car) as a once in a lifetime event :ROFLMAO:

Puts me at a bit of ease hearing that about the M54 too. Just need to find out how kind the previous owner has been to it...
 
Rockhopper said:
You could sort all of those issues for around £600 if you can do the work yourself, its all easy stuff apart from the rear brake pipe, a garage did my mine (the one over the tank) for £170 if you fancy paying someone to do it.
Click to expand...
£600-£800 was my estimate for parts and what not so good to know others agree with that sort of figure. I think it is increasingly likely I'll be finding someone to do the brake pipe so good to know it's not an extortionate job!
 
Oil in the engine and not under it is a very good sign. Take a jump pack, get it fired up. If it starts and idles its good, even without any service history.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom