I wonder what the story is with this Z4MC...

[mikedav]

007ml, I directed him here from Pistonheads, where he had a post asking if anyone knew about the car.

EDIT to add:

Right now, it looks like the main issue is that the car had its running in service at 12 miles instead of 1200. I am planning on keeping the car for years and understand that it's a few grand below book, so don't mind too much about lower resale. How much of an issue is this running in service? Can serious damage follow if it takes place 1100+ miles too soon? I don't want to be driving round for a while in a timebomb.

From what I hear, damage is relatively unlikely, but it has created a catch 22 situation on E46 M3s and Z4Ms (Same 1200 interval). If it's not carried out (sometimes) BMW will apparently try to refuse warranty claims (though apparently not all), and they become 'toxic' to the trade - those who know what they are looking for avoid like the plague because everyone has told them too, dealers won't sell them as approved used, and they are worth an awful lot less. I remember calling an Indy about a 'cheap' M3 with a good spec, he was enthusiastic until i mentioned the 1200 mile service. You could hear his heart sink, he had a reel of excuses (it wasn't done until 5,000 miles) ...but it has almost become like buying a CAT D! Whether fair or not. It's a tough engine so I am not convinced it's that big a deal, but it has become one because of the above....so worth keeping in mind.

 

[oo7ml]

007ml, I directed him here from Pistonheads, where he had a post asking if anyone knew about the car.

Delighted to hear that... best of luck with the car and welcome to the forum...

 

[a11y]

Just read through all of this. If it was my money I wouldn't touch this one...

Why?

1/ As said already, you could get a "straight" car for a couple of grand more. If I was spending £20k on a car, I wouldn't say another £2-3k on top of that is much.

2/ Resale could prove tricky, no matter how long you plan on keeping this. If a BMW-recommended run-in service hasn;t been done then it's going to automatically put off a large percentage of buyers.

3/ Reading through, it seems there's lack of clarity about the mileage? Or I could be reading that wrong.

4/ It's been rejected by other buyers (or so it seems), so that automatically raises alarm bells with me!


Of course, the car is probably perfectly fine! But I'd hate to spend that type of money on something where's there clear potential for problems in future. Just my own opinion/thoughts though

Oh, and welcome to forum
Ally

 

[PawnSacrifice]

dastardly, welcome to the forum

I doesn't appear great. Most of what has been said is probably on the money. That's not to say we wouldn't all wish you the best if you go ahead.

However, I'd be tempted to tell them to poke off, get the deposit back and have a look at one of these (in no particular order):
370BHP Coupe (recently dynoed!)
Cheapest 57 Plate in the country (posters claim, not checked!)

Both owners have full details of their cars and have been more than happy to disclose their history!

EDIT: Sorry if I missed any others - just these two came to mind. I don't have any more room in my tiny brain for three

 

[Darren M]

As I mentioned elsewhere, BMW Hungerford seem to have one for £21,9** with low milage. THat price is strangely cheap but possibly an alternative to consider and at least comes with BMW AUC warranty

A run-in service at 12 miles isn't a run-in service, that's odd to see that, a dealer wouldn't stamp that in the book unless they put the milage for the pre-delivery check which would hopefully be nearer 0. The seller might be trying to mislead, hoping customers assume it's a typo and means 1200 miles .

If the 1200 mile service can't be verified, it could be bought, but try to knock a load more money off to make the risk worth while IMO.

Which one is the better of the two evils, a run in service at 12 miles (if indeed that was done-doubtful), or no run in service done?

 

[mikedav]

A run-in service at 12 miles isn't a run-in service, that's odd to see that, a dealer wouldn't stamp that in the book unless they put the milage for the pre-delivery check which would hopefully be nearer 0.

I suspect it's a hastily typed edit to the advert and is meant to say 1200, but still would want evidence.

 

[dastardly]

Thanks again gents. Glad to be on this forum. I am a previous Z3MC owner and loved the little thing. Can't wait to get into a Z4MC!

I am waiting for a call back regarding the running in service.

 

[WLH]

dastardly, welcome to the forum...
However this works out I hope it's to your satisfaction...

 

[oo7ml]

Thanks again gents. Glad to be on this forum. I am a previous Z3MC owner and loved the little thing.

Scary machine, not much (or too much) fun on the wet... post up some pics of the Z3MC when you can

 

[dastardly]

Unfortunately, I don't have many photos of it. There is one on my PH profile from when I took it on a track day:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/profile.asp?memberId=16485

Absolutely bonkers car and it wasn't until I went in a Z4MC that I felt the same surge of power.

BTW - I just checked with my local BMW speciailst, who I used to look after the Z3MC for 2 years and unlike everyone else, they reckon that missing the running in service isn't a big deal. BMW UK said it is. I wonder who is right.

 

[PawnSacrifice]

Very nice

The Z3MCs are odd, but I do really like them.

One thing I would also ask BMW, did missing the service affect the warranty? Does the car have a record of work being done. I would expect to see something! If there is no record of anything then it may been done on the cheap or not at all.

Personally I trust specialists more than main dealers... is the car close enough for the guy that looked at you 3M to pay a visit for you and check the car over? Or how about get it inspected by AA or RAC? I have a feeling they offer some comeback. Not sure how much. I was in Cooper Parts the other day and an AA guy dropped by to pick up a part. Not sure what that means exactly, but true story!

 

[jan_tekin]

You have to look at it this way, if the garage has trouble selling it, your going to be stuck with it if you buy it.

 

[Entwistlea]

Guys

Cat D is worth about 50% of a non cat car, at least this is what trade will offer, but with a car like this many won't touch it. Cat D 2007 plate coupe for £15k is a consideration, anything above that, not worth the risk unless you know teh nature of the accident. Plus many insurance companies won; cover or will drastically reduce payout.

There are some Cat D's i see that make sense. For example, recently had a Ferarri written off as a Cat D. Cat D is uneconomical. Reason the fez was w/o??? Damaged driver door, dented, but enough to need replacing, which had to be ordered. 3 months waiting list !... The policy holders policy allowed him a premium hire car while his car was off the road, it actually cost the insurance company less to write it off, pay him out and sell for a decent amount as a cat, rather than 3 months rental.... however i've seen others that i woudn;t want to be hooning round "on the edge" in, no matter how well they were put back together !

 

[Wondermike]

Right now, it looks like the main issue is that the car had its running in service at 12 miles instead of 1200. I am planning on keeping the car for years and understand that it's a few grand below book, so don't mind too much about lower resale. How much of an issue is this running in service? Can serious damage follow if it takes place 1100+ miles too soon? I don't want to be driving round for a while in a timebomb.

I would say that seeing as the 1200 mile service is/was free of charge at the time, then what kind of owner had the car originally? And the post from Shunt below which was in the linked thread http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=16511

Used to drive past that very car every day, lived in Rufford just outside Southport. Never garaged and generally looked unloved, never mind the running in service it wouldn't be my first choice.

I agree with what someone above said, if you needed to move it on again in a hurry you could struggle, I doubt a main dealer would touch it at any price, so you'd be left with private sales and independents. Mint cars with proven history like the couple advertised on here are struggling to sell privately, so I'd say you have no chance of moving it on unless it was absurdly cheap.

 

[Andy]

I think we're agreed it's not Cat D.. personally if i was in the market to buy one asap, that Interlagos at 21k with AUC warranty and everything else in place would be mine within hours

 

[BMWZ4MC]

Then there's this one last seen advertised at the end of August 2009 with 7000 miles, and currently on PH:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1505058.htm

and

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1504789.htm

The story last August was that it had sustained a head-on within the first few months of its life. Apparently the wreck was purchased and repaired by the chap who was selling it, and he claimed to have replaced all damaged parts (headlights, offside wing, radiator, bumper, bonnet, etc). I almost bought it, except the story didn't quite fit... There were no photographs of the wreck before repair, he had no receipts, and the bodyshop he claimed did the work didn't exist! Oh, and then there were paint blemishes on the bonnet offside leading edge. After a little homework I found an advert on this forum placed months previously by the same guy, offering a brand new Z4 bonnet still in its packaging. Not all damaged parts had been replaced it seemed. I decided that I wasn't getting the full story, and walked away.

It's now advertised as 'vandalised and resprayed' with 4000 additional miles, and a £1000 (or £1500) increase in the asking price. A wise purchase?

 

[BaJ]

That's one of the worst car adverts I think I've ever seen listed.

Dodgy advert, dodgy photos, dodgy car history, Cat-D ... £19,000!

Eeek!

 

[Andy]

CSL bodykit ? lol.

That must put a few grand on my car.. i thought they were aero skirts.. 8)

Is it bad that as a bit of an enthusiast.. I feel really sorry for that car?

 

[aquazi]

That car also has the "very rare sat nav" When i was looking at Z4M's at the end of last year i found more with the sat nav then without!

 

[PawnSacrifice]

Is it bad that as a bit of an enthusiast.. I feel really sorry for that car?

+ 1 :lol:

(Always... mechanical empathy!)