I don't have a Z4.
- Thread starter the47th
- Start date
Japan? I understand there are many extra costs to running a high performance car in Japan?
Buy a 2 litre E85 and enjoy cheaper costs with the handling and looks which you can modify (if that is allowed in Japan?)
Buy a 2 litre E85 and enjoy cheaper costs with the handling and looks which you can modify (if that is allowed in Japan?)
As already said, somewhere on here every question that could ever be asked has been answered, often by very knowledgable people (which excludes me).
Your first learning will be that the E85 is the way to go - preferably in black with a whippy aerial!
Hope that you become a Zed owner soon. Whilst you're looking, dig out your camera
And have a practice on random cars. That way you'll be able to post pics on here within minutes of collecting your new car!
Your first learning will be that the E85 is the way to go - preferably in black with a whippy aerial!
Hope that you become a Zed owner soon. Whilst you're looking, dig out your camera
And have a practice on random cars. That way you'll be able to post pics on here within minutes of collecting your new car!
Thanks for the warm welcome 
I've been in love with the Z4 since back in 2003 when I saw Z4 short films BMW made.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dcmn32s6ZSQ[/youtube]
Car maintenance costs in Japan aren't cheap, especially for sports cars.
I'm not sure what the yen/pound rate is, dollars are close so I'll use that.
Early model E85s are around US$10k.
Later ones are between that and $20k.
Early E89s are $25-50k.
New E89s are US$60-80k.
The annual road tax is about $450, additional 10% for cars older than 13 years.
I think there's another bracket at 15 years but I'm too afraid to check.
Insurance is about $500.
And then there's a bi-annual road inspection, similar to the UK's MOT (trivial via Top Gear). Most people send it off to the shops and the BMW dealers often charge close to a grand for that. ← This is actually my main motivation for coming to this forum, I'd like to be able to do most of my own servicing. How hard can it be, right? :lol:
I'm waiting till next spring to see where my career takes me, if it goes well I'd like to get the E89, probably a 09 or 10 model. Not a lot of price difference between the 23i or the 35i. Though we only have 3 choices here in Japan, the 20i, 23i and 35i.
I've test driven the 20i and the 23i and found the 20i disappointing. I don't drive a lot so I couldn't really tell the difference between their handling or power, but the 23i had a much nicer roar. Neither the 35i nor 3.0 were available for a test drive. Does 500cc make a huge difference?
If I had to get the E85, I'd prefer the 3.0 but there aren't a lot of them left. Only 22 for sale in the entire country! The 2.5 is slightly better, currently 76 are for sale.
I've been in love with the Z4 since back in 2003 when I saw Z4 short films BMW made.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dcmn32s6ZSQ[/youtube]
Car maintenance costs in Japan aren't cheap, especially for sports cars.
I'm not sure what the yen/pound rate is, dollars are close so I'll use that.
Early model E85s are around US$10k.
Later ones are between that and $20k.
Early E89s are $25-50k.
New E89s are US$60-80k.
The annual road tax is about $450, additional 10% for cars older than 13 years.
I think there's another bracket at 15 years but I'm too afraid to check.
Insurance is about $500.
And then there's a bi-annual road inspection, similar to the UK's MOT (trivial via Top Gear). Most people send it off to the shops and the BMW dealers often charge close to a grand for that. ← This is actually my main motivation for coming to this forum, I'd like to be able to do most of my own servicing. How hard can it be, right? :lol:
I'm waiting till next spring to see where my career takes me, if it goes well I'd like to get the E89, probably a 09 or 10 model. Not a lot of price difference between the 23i or the 35i. Though we only have 3 choices here in Japan, the 20i, 23i and 35i.
I've test driven the 20i and the 23i and found the 20i disappointing. I don't drive a lot so I couldn't really tell the difference between their handling or power, but the 23i had a much nicer roar. Neither the 35i nor 3.0 were available for a test drive. Does 500cc make a huge difference?
If I had to get the E85, I'd prefer the 3.0 but there aren't a lot of them left. Only 22 for sale in the entire country! The 2.5 is slightly better, currently 76 are for sale.
My advice is don't wait, just buy the E85 now you can always trade up later if you decide you want to but you may find you like it so much you keep it a long time!the47th said:Thanks for the warm welcome
I've been in love with the Z4 since back in 2003 when I saw Z4 short films BMW made.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dcmn32s6ZSQ[/youtube]
Car maintenance costs in Japan aren't cheap, especially for sports cars.
I'm not sure what the yen/pound rate is, dollars are close so I'll use that.
Early model E85s are around US$10k.
Later ones are between that and $20k.
Early E89s are $25-50k.
New E89s are US$60-80k.
The annual road tax is about $450, additional 10% for cars older than 13 years.
I think there's another bracket at 15 years but I'm too afraid to check.
Insurance is about $500.
And then there's a bi-annual road inspection, similar to the UK's MOT (trivial via Top Gear). Most people send it off to the shops and the BMW dealers often charge close to a grand for that. ← This is actually my main motivation for coming to this forum, I'd like to be able to do most of my own servicing. How hard can it be, right? :lol:
I'm waiting till next spring to see where my career takes me, if it goes well I'd like to get the E89, probably a 09 or 10 model. Not a lot of price difference between the 23i or the 35i. Though we only have 3 choices here in Japan, the 20i, 23i and 35i.
I've test driven the 20i and the 23i and found the 20i disappointing. I don't drive a lot so I couldn't really tell the difference between their handling or power, but the 23i had a much nicer roar. Neither the 35i nor 3.0 were available for a test drive. Does 500cc make a huge difference?
If I had to get the E85, I'd prefer the 3.0 but there aren't a lot of them left. Only 22 for sale in the entire country! The 2.5 is slightly better, currently 76 are for sale.
I just picked up my first Z4 its a 2.5 e85 and for me its plenty quick enough! I can see the appeal of the 3.0 and that was what I was looking for but then I saw this one come up at a good price, took it for a test drive and I was sold on it within 2 minutes behind the wheel! When I got mine it had 2 oil leaks and needed new brakes, but all in with parts (rocker gasket and oil filter gasket, new oil, brake pads) and a full service (with spark plugs) cost me £340 so if you know a good independent garage running costs aren't that expensive