I'd Love a Z4

I

Id Love a Z4

Member
Hi All

I hope you don't mind me enlisting your help & wealth of experience.

As a young girl I’m looking for a more exciting car than the bogo low insurance beginner car I have.

I have found 2 seat cars are low on insurance cost, even when a high group. A Corsa and a Z4 cost the same, when dreaded black box fitted.

Hence the SLK and Z4 are perfect options.
I prefer the Z4, it’s a tad more masculine, hence the reason for joining the site. I think they are so cool looking. I'd like a little fun before I end up in a mum wagon.

I would like as old a possible post 2012, helps with insurance, 10 year rule.

I can only get insurance on 2.0l cars and would like the following if were possible:
• Heated seats, electric/memory would be nice.
• Heated steering wheel.
• Front rear parking sensors, camera.
• Sat Nav/iDrive
• Auto
• Cruise control
• Hands free
• Neck Scarf

Is there anything I should look for, regarding reliability etc. If I find a nice 1 are there different professionals could help me insure it’s a good car mechanically. I don’t want a money pit.

I don’t mind travelling the country for the right car. I’m open minded on colour etc.

Thank you for you advice in advance.
I’ll change my Avatar name when I get a beloved Z4.
 
Welcome to the forum. :thumbsup:

Sadly I can't help much with your questions as you'll be looking for an E89 model and I've only had the earlier E86 models, but I'm sure someone will be able to offer some advice.

If you give an indication of where you are there may be someone local who can help with your search.

Good luck finding the right one. :thumbsup:
 
Hello and welcome.

I haven’t ever heard of the 10 year rule for insurance. I’ve just bought a car for my 17 year old son and the age made very little difference for the same model of car. I ended up buying him one under 10 years and it was no dearer to insure than the 12 and 13 year old car of the same model so maybe worth identifying a car and then running through the insurance rather than focusing on pre 2012 :thumbsup:

Re your search, unfortunately no air scarf on any Z4 :thumbsdown:

Cruise can be reasonably easily retrofitted.

Stereo’s including Bluetooth/hands free etc normally only apply to the better systems. Fine if you can upgrade yourself but if paying someone could get costly.

Heated steering, very rarely ticked option and bits aren’t that easy to get a hold of too add later.

Parking sensors are another option but are reasonably common. No camera as standard on an E89

As Nav iDrive again might ne there might not, another expensive option when new. One word of warning here is just because it has iDrive does not mean it’s got a better stereo or Bluetooth/streaming/hands free capabilities, I know :headbang:

The auto boxes on these 2.0 cars are good.

Timing chain issues can be a problem on some of the earlier/high mileage ones but someone with more knowledge about that will be along shortly :thumbsup:

The search is half the fun. Since you’ve stated your location maybe a local member will be able to help you out.
 
Hi, to confuse things even more there are 3 variants to the 2.0 E89's. Same engine just tweaked little bit differently, so if you're looking around the 18i, 20i and 28i are the same 2.0 engine (maybe the 18i might be cheaper to insure). I think bluetooth was standard from 2013 onwards, try and find one with some goodies as BMW charged for everything!
 
I found 2 cars that interest me.

With BMW add the word Sport and the insurance on the 4 Series BMW almost doubled vs say the Luxury model, with similar spec. Hence I stick to 2 seats. The difference is not so great with the Z4 ie:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109217610609?fromSavedAds=true&advertising-location=at_cars
I like the grey, but not sure of the fake tan interior.
2.0 - Insurance £1100.
Not sure if it has Cruise Control.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203304099450?fromSavedAds=true&advertising-location=at_cars
'Bumble Bee'. I guess the hi-viz should keep me safe and help finding it in the car park.
2.8 - Insurance £1300
Is the Cam chain and the Timing chain the same thing?

Any help gratefully received, thank you
 
Id Love a Z4 said:
I found 2 cars that interest me.

With BMW add the word Sport and the insurance on the 4 Series BMW almost doubled vs say the Luxury model, with similar spec. Hence I stick to 2 seats. The difference is not so great with the Z4 ie:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109217610609?fromSavedAds=true&advertising-location=at_cars
I like the grey, but not sure of the fake tan interior.
2.0 - Insurance £1100.
Not sure if it has Cruise Control.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203304099450?fromSavedAds=true&advertising-location=at_cars
'Bumble Bee'. I guess the hi-viz should keep me safe and help finding it in the car park.
2.8 - Insurance £1300
Is the Cam chain and the Timing chain the same thing?

Any help gratefully received, thank you
Click to expand...

Hi the first, grey one does have cruise control. The control stalk is just below the indicator stalk on the steering column. It has heated seats and is an SE spec not M-sport. It is a pre-facelift (you can tell by the stubby side indicators). Quite strong money IMO, although it does have I-drive and extended storage.

The second 'bumble bee' one.......................I can't possibly comment :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
Seriously, though, the yellow one will probably be out for insurance reasons for you.

And yes timing chain/ cam chain same. The 2.0 litre engines pre 2014 are prone to these failing (not all by any means), and usually at high miles. A comprehensive service history should help.
 
Hi, the words Sport/luxury etc only designate the trim level so in theory shouldn’t affect the insurance much. Yes, the Sport might be slightly dearer because it’s fitted with more expensive parts like wheels or bumpers but not double.

I’d guess with the cars you’ve listed are different insurance prices because one is a 20i and the other I’m taking you’ve run through as a 28i?

If so the 20i has 181 bhp and the 28i 242 bhp. That’s where the insurance difference will be IMO

Re the two cars you’ve listed the yellow one is a forum members car and is heavily modified. It’s a lovely car, I’ve seen it many times but if you wish to pursue that one you’d need an individualised insurance quote on that car because of all the upgrades. As mentioned in the ad it’s running 300 bhp so the insurance would adjust your premium accordingly.

The grey one does have cruise by the looks of it (circled in picture) and of course personal choice, but I’m with you re the interior.

Yes, the Cam chain and Timing chain are the same thing
 

Attachments

  • 37508E00-53EB-438E-AED8-43FF43113EEA.jpeg
    37508E00-53EB-438E-AED8-43FF43113EEA.jpeg
    106.5 KB · Views: 778
Argyll Andy said:
As Nav iDrive again might ne there might not, another expensive option when new. One word of warning here is just because it has iDrive does not mean it’s got a better stereo or Bluetooth/streaming/hands free capabilities, I know :headbang:
Click to expand...

Silly question, on the above did you manage to work out what 'option' is required as far as spec goes which would allow for bluetooth audio to be able to stream Spotify etc. from a mobile?

Don't want to post much here as it's not my thread but it's something I'd like to know and may even be important to the OP. :oops:
 
Hi All

‘Bubble Bee’ seems a weird 1, I was getting excited about the idea of a new Avatar, Little Miss Sunshine, especially as Argyll Andy says its lovely (thank you).

When I delved and read other forum posts, it seems troublesome. I’m not sure if it’s a sorted futureproofed car, or 1 over exploited, as some have written its damaged, was it in an accident, misfiring issues & gearbox issues.

On another forum there are photos of it being stripped of its parts for another car, is it just a stripped donor car now?
I appreciate forums can be filled with keyboard warriors, or those with a grudge to settle, hopefully some can fill in the blanks.

It’s a shame this isn’t sensible money, looks lovely with all the spec, but errors in the description:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203253938664?fromSavedAds=true&advertising-location=at_cars

I guess I’m migrating towards colourful cars, early morning sun or evening sun!
 
Id Love a Z4 said:
Hi All

‘Bubble Bee’ seems a weird 1, I was getting excited about the idea of a new Avatar, Little Miss Sunshine, especially as Argyll Andy says its lovely (thank you).

When I delved and read other forum posts, it seems troublesome. I’m not sure if it’s a sorted futureproofed car, or 1 over exploited, as some have written its damaged, was it in an accident, misfiring issues & gearbox issues.

On another forum there are photos of it being stripped of its parts for another car, is it just a stripped donor car now?
I appreciate forums can be filled with keyboard warriors, or those with a grudge to settle, hopefully some can fill in the blanks.

It’s a shame this isn’t sensible money, looks lovely with all the spec, but errors in the description:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203253938664?fromSavedAds=true&advertising-location=at_cars

I guess I’m migrating towards colourful cars, early morning sun or evening sun!
Click to expand...

As mentioned in my previous post “bumble bee” was a very heavily modified car. There was a software issue with upgraded parts, mimicking a misfire. So the car was reverted back to “almost” standard spec and all the very high performance parts you mention being stripped off were no longer required so were then sold on to other members and replaced with standard kit. It’s not been accident damaged and runs perfectly now, but is still modified and running 300 bhp so insurance for you could be an issue as mentioned earlier.

I’ve had a look at the Valencia Orange one, my previous was a VO. What errors do you think there are in the description?

Re price, there’s a few colours that can command an additional premium and the two you’re looking at are the worst for that :lol: it’s in the right colour with what looks like most options of the options ticked.
 
Id Love a Z4 said:
Hi All

‘Bubble Bee’ seems a weird 1, I was getting excited about the idea of a new Avatar, Little Miss Sunshine, especially as Argyll Andy says its lovely (thank you).

When I delved and read other forum posts, it seems troublesome. I’m not sure if it’s a sorted futureproofed car, or 1 over exploited, as some have written its damaged, was it in an accident, misfiring issues & gearbox issues.

On another forum there are photos of it being stripped of its parts for another car, is it just a stripped donor car now?
I appreciate forums can be filled with keyboard warriors, or those with a grudge to settle, hopefully some can fill in the blanks.

It’s a shame this isn’t sensible money, looks lovely with all the spec, but errors in the description:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203253938664?fromSavedAds=true&advertising-location=at_cars

I guess I’m migrating towards colourful cars, early morning sun or evening sun!
Click to expand...

Hi I’m the owner of said car..

I bought it in 2017 and never intended to sell it.

Regrettably I bought a yellow 35is in 2021 and for reasons I can’t understand SWMBO instructed me to sell one of the yellow cars.

I had spent over £12,000 on parts , upgrades and tuning over a 4 year period.

I realised that I couldn’t sell the car with all those parts to recover the costs.

So I put the car closer to an original form apart from things that would just take too much time and not recover costs and/or would impair the car.

So it’s a far better spec and much better maintained than almost any other yellow E89.

The misfire in the end turned out to be the later injectors which only worked with DMEs post 2015.

So a new set of earlier injectors was fitted and the problem disappeared. It was not in fact a gearbox issue.

So as Andy says it’s a cracking car…your issue is given your age it’s probably uninsurable…

If LV would ensure you on a stock 20i then they are a good call as they only charged me £25 extra for all the mods.

Various poisoned dwarfs and s**t stirrers made much of it…like most of these things it was a storm in a tea cup..
 
Dear Mr Stealth (B21), thank you for your input and for replying.

May I check what is still on the car, your upgrades etc:
• M3 Steering components
• New suspension bushes
• H&R uprated anti roll bars,
• Bilstein B8 shock absorbers
• Quaife LSD
• Zito 935 (8.5J and 9.5J) 18" wheels Goodyear Asy 5 tyres. The Autotrader photos/video show different alloys.
• Later cam chain sub system, oil pump drive and turbo oil feeds.
• Mitsubishi's later twin scoll turbo
• Evolution Works sports cat and an uprated diverter valve
• As part of the uprated tune new plugs, injectors, coils, high pressure fuel pump as well as inlet pipe and various sensors and valves.
• Audio Fischer BMW Match 7 DSP/amp, Alpine Class D subwoofer amp and 11 new speakers from Eton, Audison and Fosgate.
• Breaks, the Autotrader photos show yellow callipers, the video shows different?

If I understand correctly these upgrades were added to help the car reach 300+bhp when normal remap would be 260.
The brakes added to help the car stop as well as it accelerates.

No-one wants a car with the engine turned up and the rest of the car not capable of coping, hence the need to understand what is there currently. What is the cost to lower the BHP to closer to stock say 275 or 250?

I hope I understand correctly.
Thank you
 
May I check what is still on the car, your upgrades etc:
• M3 Steering components. Yes
• New suspension bushes. Yes
• H&R uprated anti roll bars, No
• Bilstein B8 shock absorbers No
• Quaife LSD No
• Zito 935 (8.5J and 9.5J) 18" wheels Goodyear Asy 5 tyres. The Autotrader photos/video show different alloys. Yes
• Later cam chain sub system, oil pump drive and turbo oil feeds. Yes
• Mitsubishi's later twin scoll turbo Yes
• Evolution Works sports cat and an uprated diverter valve No and Yes
• As part of the uprated tune new plugs, injectors, coils, high pressure fuel pump as well as inlet pipe and various sensors and valves. Yes
• Audio Fischer BMW Match 7 DSP/amp, Alpine Class D subwoofer amp and 11 new speakers from Eton, Audison and Fosgate. Fosgate woofers, Audison subs and 677 mid range speakers fitted to stock 676 amp
• Breaks, the Autotrader photos show yellow callipers, the video shows different? 28i 330mm discs n calipers

If I understand correctly these upgrades were added to help the car reach 300+bhp when normal remap would be 260. Correct-ish
The brakes added to help the car stop as well as it accelerates.

No-one wants a car with the engine turned up and the rest of the car not capable of coping, hence the need to understand what is there currently. What is the cost to lower the BHP to closer to stock say 275 or 250?

The 330mm front brakes are more than adequate ..the much heavier 35i was fitted with those in the states as standard.

Obviously it has the colour matched rear spoiler, gloss black front grills, gloss black roll over hoops, MSport rear diffuser colour matched in reverse colours black yellow rather than grey / silver

Hi intensity LED DRLs / angel eyes

Some of the other parts are all available as I haven’t got round to eBay them…Quaife , sports cat etc

So the turbo was £1200
Tuning and fitting £1500
M3 steering parts and fitting £500
Rear spoiler colour matched £250
Rear m sport colour balance colour matched £500
Audison subs £400
Fosgate woofers £120
Injectors £250
Coils £100
HPFP £250
Cam chain and fitting £1,700
DV valve £120
330 mm front brakes £250
 
Id Love a Z4 said:
I'm based in Birkenhead, hence I need to travel for a nice car.
Click to expand...

I guess you mean that you appreciate being on the Wirral is a little bit isolated from some parts of the country.

Or is there really no such thing as a nice car in Birkenhead? :lol:

There again, having been to Birkenhead...

Good luck with the search.
 
Peters car is a great car but the extra BHP may be an issue on insurance but there are some companies that provide cover for very little cost, I think Pondrew had his chipped at no extra cost.

The Valencia Orange car is a cracker - favourite colour and would certainly be looking at both of the two you have selected.
 
"I was getting excited about the idea of a new Avatar, Little Miss Sunshine, especially as Argyll Andy says its lovely (thank you)."
When he say that?
:?
 
Roberltd2 said:
"I was getting excited about the idea of a new Avatar, Little Miss Sunshine, especially as Argyll Andy says its lovely (thank you)."
When he say that?
:?
Click to expand...

Andy said it’s lovely on page 1 :thumbsup:
Rob
 
Apologies,
I thought the OP was thanking AA's compliment of her avatar rather than the car.
I'm in awe though of such a young girl being so knowledable about the Zeds!
When I was her age blah blah blah........
Robert. :thumbsup:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom