How much should I pay for a Z4?

[CountZero23]

Hey guys!

I've been pointed in your direction from Pistonheads as the go-to place for Z4 questions.

After much deliberation, I'm fairly confident it will be my next car and fits my 'grown up' MX5 criteria.

I've been spending far too much time on the classifieds including the ones on this board and have found quite a wide variation in prices.

I'm looking for a manual 3.0 E85 in great condition with a full service history and no more than around 80,000 on the clock. The only colours I want to avoid are grey or light blue.

After seeing a few cars which met my criteria and looked enthusiast owned for £4,500 a month or two ago it looks like the market has either dried up for prices have risen.

There are a couple which meet the spec up on Autotrader, but most of these are closer to £6,000, though admittedly dealer cars.

What's a fair market price to pay currently?

From what I've read it seems like prices have bottomed out and might be rising slightly for good cars.

Should I hold out for a decent car at £4,500 or expect to pay a bit more?

Is it worth taking out a bit of a loan and spending a few more grand and going for the E86 coupé, these seem to be tipped as the ones which will be appreciating the fastest?

Thanks!

 

[Monkeydonkeyratmagic]

Coupe won't appreciate whilst there is an M in the market. Not by anything worth worrying about anyway. 4.5k will get a decent 3.0i.honestly don't worry about mileage to an extent. A high miler that is actually proof of use is far better imo than a car that's done 20k and sat around doing nothing (hiding an expensive problem perhaps?) plus you may find as it been used a lot... its been loved over some old dear that just "bought a convertible" for the sake of saying she has one in the office or at the hairdressers and just gone to Halfrauds for a cheap service. 1 lady owner sales pitch is worthless and dangerous imo.

 

[Marlon]

Pity you've ruled out grey - there's a corker for sale here for 3k
http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=41&t=102162
High miles admittedly, but fastidiously maintained by the sounds of it.

 

[CountZero23]

Cheers Monkeydonkeyratmagic,

Yea - the M is an almost different car when looking at price, performance and running costs.

Been tempted at buying one as an 'investment' but I imagine any appreciation will probably be swallowed by the M tax. My man maths clearly needs some work :wink:

I agree with with you about millage to an extent and could be flexible for the right car, however, there's no getting around the fact that a lot of components are starting to reach the end of their life around 100,000 miles. The last car was an A3 with 120,000 and there was always something which needed doing as it had just worn out.

If there was a car with evidence of plenty of work having been done with higher miles I might be interested.

 

[CountZero23]

Cheers for the link Marlon.

She does look very well cared for with a lot of the consumables refreshed, nice list of options too.

Grey and light blue are both out, ideally looking for white, black or dark blue.

Incidentally whats the deal with white Z4's, I've only seen much newer cars (2006+) with it. Did they not offer it on the earlier cars?

 

[Marlon]

White are as rare as hens teeth, unless you want a long wait I'd focus on black or dark blue (Montego Blue)

 

[CountZero23]

White are as rare as hens teeth, unless you want a long wait I'd focus on black or dark blue (Montego Blue)

Odd, as there seem to be plenty when looking at the newer cars. Maybe a fashion thing?

Buying in February so don't want to get too picky. Might move earlier if the right one turns up!

 

[b19rak]

I just paid £7,500 for this mint 07 Si 99k on the clock with a big wad of history, full eibach suspension refresh and new Michelin’s. A fair price in today’s market imo.

 

[tomoz4white]

Rare but auto

 

[srhutch]

White are as rare as hens teeth, unless you want a long wait I'd focus on black or dark blue (Montego Blue)

Odd, as there seem to be plenty when looking at the newer cars. Maybe a fashion thing?

Buying in February so don't want to get too picky. Might move earlier if the right one turns up!

It’s known as recession white on here, as in 2009 with the recession in swing it became a popular no cost option colour. Tbf on the right car it looks good. Generally M sport bmw models.

 

[earthdweller]

I don’t think white was initially offered on the early E85 cars

It became available on the facelift cars from 2006 onwards .. but I don’t think it was very popular at the time ... there seem to be a few “resprayed” white cars knocking about though

IMO if you can stretch to a facelift car then its well worth it for the N52 3.0 engine, which is said to be one of the best engines ever made !

The Si is like an M car lite with 265bhp

With regards to mileage I wouldn’t be too hung up on it ., I think buying a car privately where you can judge the previous owner and how the car had been used helps

I’ve seen tatty high milers tarted up by dealers and equally neglected low milers

There’s high mile cars on here that are loved and spared no expense .. driven by enthusiastic loving owners .. equally the same with the lower mileage ones

The Zed is pretty bombproof though and there’s lots of very good advice on here

Good luck with your search and welcome to the forum

 

[tomoz4white]

I don’t think white was initially offered on the early E85 cars

It became available on the facelift cars from 2006 onwards .. but I don’t think it was very popular at the time ... there seem to be a few “resprayed” white cars knocking about though

IMO if you can stretch to a facelift car then its well worth it for the N52 3.0 engine, which is said to be one of the best engines ever made !

The Si is like an M car lite with 265bhp

With regards to mileage I wouldn’t be too hung up on it ., I think buying a car privately where you can judge the previous owner and how the car had been used helps

I’ve seen tatty high milers tarted up by dealers and equally neglected low milers

There’s high mile cars on here that are loved and spared no expense .. driven by enthusiastic loving owners .. equally the same with the lower mileage ones

The Zed is pretty bombproof though and there’s lots of very good advice on here

Good luck with your search and welcome to the forum

White was available from launch but their isn't many of them (mines a 2004) - see attached colour breakdowns....

 

[Marlon]

The colour breakdown chart always frustrates me as they lump all the E85s together - I'd love to know how many E85 3.0si were produced in Bright Red

 

[kis]

The colour breakdown chart always frustrates me as they lump all the E85s together - I'd love to know how many E85 3.0si were produced in Bright Red

and I'd love to know how many SMG models rolled off the line...

 

[earthdweller]

I don’t think white was initially offered on the early E85 cars

It became available on the facelift cars from 2006 onwards .. but I don’t think it was very popular at the time ... there seem to be a few “resprayed” white cars knocking about though

IMO if you can stretch to a facelift car then its well worth it for the N52 3.0 engine, which is said to be one of the best engines ever made !

The Si is like an M car lite with 265bhp

With regards to mileage I wouldn’t be too hung up on it ., I think buying a car privately where you can judge the previous owner and how the car had been used helps

I’ve seen tatty high milers tarted up by dealers and equally neglected low milers

There’s high mile cars on here that are loved and spared no expense .. driven by enthusiastic loving owners .. equally the same with the lower mileage ones

The Zed is pretty bombproof though and there’s lots of very good advice on here

Good luck with your search and welcome to the forum

White was available from launch but their isn't many of them (mines a 2004) - see attached colour breakdowns....

I’ll stand corrected then

I thought they weren’t available in the uk initially .., is that chart just for uk sales and pre-post facelift ?

 

[Anonymous]

I had a look on autotrader the other evening, and I agree that 3L manuals are in short supply at the moment. I'd wait if you can. £4500 will buy you a decent pre facelift with reasonably low miles. I paid exactly that for mine in Feb this year with 74K (fully loaded spec) and it is very good condition both cosmetically and mechanically. I would sell mine for £4K - except it's not for sale.

 

[kis]

I thought they weren’t available in the uk initially .., is that chart just for uk sales and pre-post facelift ?

I actually saw one today EX05 TWV. White and a weird brown type roof? :? I was a bit puzzled myself but it was an 05 and it had the old style rear lights.

 

[raymond.harper]

Take your time and wait for the right car. Remember these cars are up to 14 years old now and they can go wrong. When they go wrong they can cost big money. One thread in the forum concerning the upper steering column costing £2500 ! . But many owners will say their own cars have been very reliable. So you will need to have a contingency fund for the car if a repair is needed so do not over extend your budget. Try cargurus for searching for cars.

 

[tomoz4white]

The colour breakdown chart always frustrates me as they lump all the E85s together - I'd love to know how many E85 3.0si were produced in Bright Red

Agree Marlon - I would like to know how many white ones were made in 3.0L

 

[CountZero23]

I just paid £7,500 for this mint 07 Si 99k on the clock with a big wad of history, full Eibach suspension refresh and new Michelin’s. A fair price in today’s market imo.

Damn, that's a great looking car. Very tempted to up the budget and go for a more recent coupe.

It’s known as recession white on here, as in 2009 with the recession in swing it became a popular no-cost option colour.

Hah, yea I've got the impression people aren't so fond of the white goods look. I'm clearly in the minority in thinking it really suits the car.

IMO if you can stretch to a facelift car then its well worth it for the N52 3.0 engine, which is said to be one of the best engines ever made !

The Si is like an M car lite with 265bhp

You lot are a bad influence, started out looking at the cheap 2.5's before being upping the budget for an early 3.0. I'm going to end up with a massive loan and an M at this rate!

Is there much of a performance increase?

Also, I've got the impression the earlier engine is the more reliable of the two. Can't remember where I read it - am I wrong about this?

Take your time and wait for the right car. Remember these cars are up to 14 years old now and they can go wrong. When they go wrong they can cost big money.

Great advice. I was looking at an early Boxter / Cayman S but the ruinous costs involved when something went wrong put me off. Z4 seems to have a reputation for reliability, though as you say they are 10+-year-old cars so they will need stuff doing.

Thanks for all the responses guys. Having an active, friendly and knowledgeable community is another great reason to go for the Z4