Help a new boy find the right e85/86!

[JonLeeper]

I think you're wise to stick with your approach. It is possible that he simply wants it gone and wants to have to make no more effort, even though the car is fine. You could potentially take a mechanic friend along who could effectively give it an MOT check on the spot to give you some peace of mind. It depends how badly you want the car, but the easier, safer option is to carry on as you are. Not many people would be keen to buy an old car with a short MOT.

Short is not the word! 13 days! That's why I cannot understand why he wouldn't take me up on my offer. He did say that he'd take it to "we buy any car" if it didn't sell! Seems a shame to lose a, potentially, nice Z4 to them though.

 

[dans6490]

The car does look/sound like a good buy but the sellers reluctance for an mot is a bit strange, although he may be thinking he can sell it easily without.

In my opinion, an mot is little more than a basic visual inspection and wouldn’t really throw up any potential expensive repairs that you couldn’t see for yourself.

Most issues that an mot would highlight are fairly easy/cheap repairs imo.

You could always pay for an independent inspection via aa etc?

Before I bought the z I have now, I looked at a car with faulty roof and the owner was selling cheap as he couldn’t afford/justify the cost of a fix at bmw. It wasn’t the car for me and the guy couldn’t believe it when I pointed him in the direction of the forum for a cheap fix.

Good luck with the search either way

 

[Z4 COUPSTER]

I just found a great car on Auto Trader.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201806077282656?atmobcid=soc3

Download the app to find your perfect car.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.autotrader.androidconsumersearch&referrer=utm_source%3DApp%2520Share

A bargain or steer clear?

I've just seen this Jon. If it was me id make a silly bid of £2k. And go from there. It's not an expensive car and if it drives well, has no lights stops in a straight line and is not smoky or noisey it has to be worth a punt. Look at the MOT history online and it should give you a good indication of what's been wrong and done. Or if not come and buy mine lol, but it won't be £2k
Here's the history check link
https://www.gov.uk/check-mot-history
D
D

 

[mr wilks]

Have you arrived at a lower figure on the merlot car than the £2500 advertised price :?
If you have viewed , inspected , driven & checked the paperwork is all as it should be why let lack of MOT miss out on a potentially good car at a bargain price ?
Id rather pay £2300 & take a risk than pay £4k for one with fresh MOT all used car purchases are a gamble , you just need to weigh up if the odds are in your favour :wink:

 

[Z4 COUPSTER]

Have you arrived at a lower figure on the merlot car than the £2500 advertised price :?
If you have viewed , inspected , driven & checked the paperwork is all as it should be why let lack of MOT miss out on a potentially good car at a bargain price ?
Id rather pay £2300 & take a risk than pay £4k for one with fresh MOT all used car purchases are a gamble , you just need to weigh up if the odds are in your favour :wink:

X2 Mr Wilks. Tbh if it's still there end if this month ill go and buy it myself. I see a profit there! Gutted I can't so till then.
But it's his choice

 

[wonkydonkey]

For the record, personally I'd be on the side of mr wilks and Z4 COUPSTER but was trying to give sensible advice :lol: I'd definitely be wary at that price but if you (or a friend) check it all over and can't find anything major, it could be a top buy.

 

[Z4 COUPSTER]

For the record, personally I'd be on the side of mr wilks and Z4 COUPSTER but was trying to give sensible advice :lol: I'd definitely be wary at that price but if you (or a friend) check it all over and can't find anything major, it could be a top buy.

It will be on my drive 1st July if he or someone else doesn't bite.
D

 

[JonLeeper]

I think I might have found it! Hopefully going view on Friday afternoon.

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F123199330570

I just found a great car on Auto Trader.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201806187603968?atmobcid=soc3

Download the app to find your perfect car.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.autotrader.androidconsumersearch&referrer=utm_source%3DApp%2520Share

Any thoughts?

 

[JonLeeper]

And just when I find one, I find another!

I just found a great car on Auto Trader.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201806177582033?atmobcid=soc3

Download the app to find your perfect car.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.autotrader.androidconsumersearch&referrer=utm_source%3DApp%2520Share

 

[rally-chris]

I’d wait it out for a few days until the MoT runs out then completely low ball the guy!

 

[JonLeeper]

Well I'm going to head up to Birmingham to see the 07 3.0SI. Its got 160k on the clock but apparently a full service history, and will come with a full MOT so there is some confidence.

Other than the usual checks is there anything I should be looking for? Or am I daft looking at a 160,000 mile car for a daily driver?

 

[Phoenixboy]

Well I'm going to head up to Birmingham to see the 07 3.0SI. Its got 160k on the clock but apparently a full service history, and will come with a full MOT so there is some confidence.

Other than the usual checks is there anything I should be looking for? Or am I daft looking at a 160,000 mile car for a daily driver?

I would not say your daft.
if its the right money, and its been well maintained it should be fine.
what you don't want is to have to spend a lot of money to bring it up to the standard of a well sorted one.
there has to be a saving over a good one with average mileage.
otherwise you end up with a high mileage car, especially if its going to be a daily, that if you come to change it and its pushing towards 200,000 miles, there is a limited market, despite the fact there good engines.

 

[JonLeeper]

Well I'm going to head up to Birmingham to see the 07 3.0SI. Its got 160k on the clock but apparently a full service history, and will come with a full MOT so there is some confidence.

Other than the usual checks is there anything I should be looking for? Or am I daft looking at a 160,000 mile car for a daily driver?

I would not say your daft.
if its the right money, and its been well maintained it should be fine.
what you don't want is to have to spend a lot of money to bring it up to the standard of a well sorted one.
there has to be a saving over a good one with average mileage.
otherwise you end up with a high mileage car, especially if its going to be a daily, that if you come to change it and its pushing towards 200,000 miles, there is a limited market, despite the fact there good engines.

My thinking is that I'll be the final owner of the car. If I do decide to change it I'll probably try and keep this one as the basis for a track day toy for me. The m52 engine seems to be up to the task and 261 bhp, rwd and a nearly 50/50 weight distribution must be fun on a track.

 

[Phoenixboy]

Well I'm going to head up to Birmingham to see the 07 3.0SI. Its got 160k on the clock but apparently a full service history, and will come with a full MOT so there is some confidence.

Other than the usual checks is there anything I should be looking for? Or am I daft looking at a 160,000 mile car for a daily driver?

I would not say your daft.
if its the right money, and its been well maintained it should be fine.
what you don't want is to have to spend a lot of money to bring it up to the standard of a well sorted one.
there has to be a saving over a good one with average mileage.
otherwise you end up with a high mileage car, especially if its going to be a daily, that if you come to change it and its pushing towards 200,000 miles, there is a limited market, despite the fact there good engines.

My thinking is that I'll be the final owner of the car. If I do decide to change it I'll probably try and keep this one as the basis for a track day toy for me. The m52 engine seems to be up to the task and 261 bhp, rwd and a nearly 50/50 weight distribution must be fun on a track.

 

[JonLeeper]

Short version, I've put down the deposit and pick it up next week with a brand new MOT.

Longer version.

The dealer picked it up from a BMW specialist he deals with. The car was first registered by BMW in late 2007 and was sold to the previous owner in Sept 2008. So basically one owner from new. The service book is fully stamped and there is a full folder of receipts, including a 4 wheel alignment done this year! Lots of bills for problems solved and all of the previous MOTs. Both cup holders are there and work and the wind deflector was in its place in the boot.

The nearside had been badly resprayed a while ago because someone had keyed the car, the problem that the lacquer has gone funny and its showing the flatting that was done to the colour. That doesn't look great and the wheels need a refurb. But there are 4 new tyres on it. The passenger seat looks like its never been sat in but the drivers one is showing its age. The engine bay looks clean and everything works. The test drive was good, it pulls like a train, and there were no creaks, rattles or knocks from any of the suspension.

Overall it looks and feels like a very honest car that's done 160,000 miles but been looked after for all of that. At the price I couldn't fault it.

Time will tell if its a steal or a money pit!

 

[Phoenixboy]

 

[JonLeeper]

Still thinking about the test drive on the train home! A lovely sound and just power throughout the pedal travel! No tappity noise at idle, hot or cold, so no issue there. Its a blacktop engine so should be OK.

The paintwork will, I'm sure, start to bother me at some point but I'm not sure it's worth a full respray. So I was wondering how much an e86 would cost to wrap? Anyone got any ideas?

 

[Mr Tidy]

It sounds like you are very pleased with it - but I'm not really surprised!

Sadly I can't help you regarding the cost of a wrap.

 

[JonLeeper]

So collected the car today and drove a very circuitous route home. Some motorway and some very windy back roads. About 100 miles in total.

Fist impressions are that I love it. The noise, the power the feel, all just wonderful. There are some issues, aren't there always, but nothing that really took away the pleasure of the drive. The front disks are slightly warped and that needs to be fixed. The ride isn't quite right and my left leg went to sleep! They're the major things at the moment. I've got to drive

So there are two lists starting to form in my mind. Short term jobs and longer term jobs.

Short term;

New front disks. So is it worth thinking slightly lo gear term and getting hold of some bigger front calipers, off another BMW, and sending them off to be refurbished and then fitting larger disks? Or do I just replace the current ones?

Full service. The Serive History has the last service in July 18, approximately 10,000 miles ago, and that was an "oil service" and brake fluid change. The electric water pump was changed in Nov 16 about 20,000 miles ago so that should be fine. It doesn't seem to have ever had an "Inspection 2" but an "Inspection 1" was done on July 15, about 40,000 miles ago. So do I need to anything more than a normal service?

Longer term jobs.

A full suspension refresh. The ride was a little harsh and it didn't handle the potholed roads quite as I'd like. The tyres are reasonably new, July 17 and are Bridgestone Potenzas, 225/40/18 on the front and 255/35/18 on the rear. Still loads of life left there. It also had a full 4 wheel alignment done at the same time, but I'm not sure that they did that much as the prints I have don't seem to be the same each side, although they're not too far apart! So I cannot see much evidence of changes, there was a NS front wishbone in July 16 and an OS rear spring in July 13. There are also a few bushes here and there. I'm guessing the whole thing could do with a freshen up. So what do I go for? What are the recommendations?

The steer g wheel is starting to show its age so that will need to be replaced.

The drivers seat has a few bits of wear that I need to sort, I'm guessing it will have to be retrimmed.

The car's paintwork will need to be sorted, but I'm guessing that will be a wrap jot new paint!

So overall very happy.

 

[JonLeeper]

Me in the car.



My favourite view! I just love the way the hips show in the mirrors!