In the market for an M

[MACK]

It wasn't so much looking for a low milage example, but buying at the correct time in its life to have the lowest short term expentature.

I did drive a 35si and loved it, however the extra £10,000 and depreciation over he next 3 years makes it a very expensive option (in my head anyway)

Would an older 35is make more financial sense than a newer one possibly?
Or even a 3.0si again. If most of your commute is rush hour stop start traffic will you ever use the M to its potential. If not its an expensive proposition for minimal reward over a 3.0si

My commute is motorway, really straight forward, so it would get a good run, and weekends I can take it for a 'proper' drive.

I had always had a soft spot for the M, and thought perhaps it would be a better use of money, compared to buying newer and being hit with larger depresiation.

It does sound like you have made your decision. An M it is then!

 

[Rich-hill]

It wasn't so much made my mind - but wanted reassurance that they are no longer going to plummet in value.
Don't get me wrong I loved the 3si I had, and you can get them now at a great price, however I would still have in the back of my mind the 'What if'...

If the M has it hits base value, within reason, I can have my fun for 2 years and then get the same money back, and it has only cost me insurance, tax in theory only 1 service..

Time to go shopping....

 

[craig3.2]

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201603182105532?atmobcid=soc4

I like

Crikey - £18.7k for a 70k miler?! Gulp.
Stevo

Is then is not a little expensive, even from a trader? Looks like it's been detailed and they know how to use a camera, but sems a liitle optimistic I thought?

Not really,as has been discussed on here before, there has been a steady price for m's for a wee while now.....as srhutch, I bought mine 4years ago,and could also get about what I paid for it.......
Look at prices on pH etc,Roadsters from 13k(higher mileage,circa 80/90k miles),upto 20k plus and Coupes from 2-5k more dependant on mileage,spec etc etc.

....I could have went the coupe route for £1500 more than my roadster,same colour,spec,etc,and it would be worth about 3k more than my roadster.....but I knew this was likely to happen,given the market trend,and I don't buy for an investment,so buy what u prefer (o.p)

 

[mattwaltersz4m]

It wasn't so much made my mind - but wanted reassurance that they are no longer going to plummet in value.
Don't get me wrong I loved the 3si I had, and you can get them now at a great price, however I would still have in the back of my mind the 'What if'...

If the M has it hits base value, within reason, I can have my fun for 2 years and then get the same money back, and it has only cost me insurance, tax in theory only 1 service..

Time to go shopping....

Not if you stick 20,000 miles on it. Your buying price is going to be £13/14k-17k The lower mile example (30/40k) +20k is then middle mileage range (50/60k) +20k is then higher range and will then be in the harder sale range for £12-13k

 

[Gustavo7]

If it will be your daily driver, a Coupe, and you will putting 10k+ miles on it, my advise is:

1. Assume that an MOT'd Z4M Coupe will not drop below 13k anymore, regardless of mileage.
2. Set a budget by answering the following questions:
2.1. How long will you keep the car for?
2.2. Based on 2.1, how much money would you be comfortable with losing during that time frame? Exclude service costs.
3. With a set budget, buy the nicest car based on condition, regardless of mileage. Get one with good tyres, recent brakes, Inspection 2 done and long MOT.
4. Service the car as appropriate. Do interim oil changes between services. - do it yourself if you can, there is no need to document this but it will reduce the chances of something going wrong due to wear/high mileage use.
5. Drive the hell out of it, life is too short to own a garage queen.

 

[Rich-hill]

Thanks for the input guys... I have looked at 1-2 other cars, and decided a z4 roadster is the way to go.

I ha pie seen 1-2 3.0si's however like I said I would always think 'what if'.

So in summary, once servicing is all up together and ideally inspection 2 complete, is the M// much like th 3si fundamentally a fairly reliable car?

 

[LostBoy_84]

Crikey - £18.7k for a 70k miler?! Gulp.
Stevo

Is this not a little expensive, even from a trader? Looks like it's been detailed and they know how to use a camera, but sems a liitle optimistic I thought?

Yeah. Looks nice but expensive. I like The looks not the price/mileage

That's about right from a dealer nowadays.

This is what I'd call optimistic...
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifi...ondition-future-classic-high-spec/5297606?v=b

 

[LostBoy_84]

Thanks for the input guys... I have looked at 1-2 other cars, and decided a z4 roadster is the way to go.

I ha pie seen 1-2 3.0si's however like I said I would always think 'what if'.

So in summary, once servicing is all up together and ideally inspection 2 complete, is the M// much like th 3si fundamentally a fairly reliable car?

Yes reliable as any car high powered NA car, just ensure its got the correct service history and always get the oil up to temperature before giving it high revs.

 

[Rich-hill]

Thanks for the input guys... I have looked at 1-2 other cars, and decided a z4 roadster is the way to go.

I ha pie seen 1-2 3.0si's however like I said I would always think 'what if'.

So in summary, once servicing is all up together and ideally inspection 2 complete, is the M// much like th 3si fundamentally a fairly reliable car?

Yes reliable as any car high powered NA car, just ensure its got the correct service history and always get the oil up to temperature before giving it high revs.

Thank you.
I ensure all my cars are up to temp.
I guess the thing with a used car is you don't know how the previous owner treated it.

I understand the very first service at 1200 miles is also vital

 

[LostBoy_84]

Thanks for the input guys... I have looked at 1-2 other cars, and decided a z4 roadster is the way to go.

I ha pie seen 1-2 3.0si's however like I said I would always think 'what if'.

So in summary, once servicing is all up together and ideally inspection 2 complete, is the M// much like th 3si fundamentally a fairly reliable car?

Yes reliable as any car high powered NA car, just ensure its got the correct service history and always get the oil up to temperature before giving it high revs.

Thank you.
I ensure all my cars are up to temp.
I guess the thing with a used car is you don't know how the previous owner treated it.

I understand the very first service at 1200 miles is also vital

Yes that's correct on the running in service and very true with the previous owners, you can only check things out to a certain extent.

 

[stevo///m3]

I've treated mine like a kid with cotton wool gloves but would you, an Internet purchaser, believe me? I got service history from the last owner but not prior to that (although from the service book and some calls, I've mostly managed to piece it together). So you take a risk, as we all do with second hand cars. Sensible rules here - if your seller thrashes it from the start, be wary. If he/she plays safe, you can be somewhat reassured. If you haven't owned it from new, you always take that risk don't you?

Anyway, sensible checks (brakes, tyres, history etc) will see you netting a great car hopefully. As previously mentioned, there really aren't many of these around so if you want to jump in, don't hold off...

Anyway, plenty to think about. Glad I didn't think too long. Was looking at a 996T or 996-4s previously. Happy with my choice...

Stevo

 

[Rich-hill]

That makes perfect sense.

I have just read about the engine mounts as well, but not too much that can be done with those as such.

Is there any other mass failures or fixes that I should be looking for?

 

[tjlazer]

I recently bought a forum car and I'd hang on for one as these tend to be owned by the most obsessive/careful types and prices more competitively than elsewhere. I bought exactly because I wanted a car to enjoy that I felt was worth punt on the fact it wasn't going to get cheaper. I had wanted a z3m but waited too long so I figured go for it, I've got a car I love to drive and looks pretty unique, at a price that barely gets you a fiesta new. Prices are all over the place but there does seem an upturn since late last year, perhaps because dealers are trying to build the market up a bit.

 

[Rich-hill]

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201603312479236

This is just down the road from me.
What are thoughts on the car and price?

 

[ocrx8]

It's been punted from dealer to dealer over the past year and I believe at one point was around the £10k mark. Personally, I'd avoid.

 

[Rich-hill]

Thanks for the feedback - I will do just that

 

[Rich-hill]

I am now in the situation where I have been given a company car, which is fully electric. So the Z4M would only get used for work when the sun is out, and leisure time really, lowering my annual milage dramatically.


In my price range I currently only see roadsters will milage circa 70-80,000 miles. 9As the one above)

I assume their is no associated problems with milage in the engines at this stage? I know I have seen the M3 go well over 150,000, so I assume the same is possible with these.

Is there anything further I should look out for with milage at this stage?

 

[srhutch]

It's been punted from dealer to dealer over the past year and I believe at one point was around the £10k mark. Personally, I'd avoid.

Also from memory the speedo is in KM's

 

[Fishy Dave]

What about this one, could be worth a haggle by phone to agree a lower price before viewing? http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201603222228794?model=z4m&make=bmw&sort=default&postcode=sn139fy&page=2&searchcontext=default&search-target=usedcars&radius=1500&onesearchad=used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew&logcode=p

 

[Wackydo]

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201603312479236

This is just down the road from me.
What are thoughts on the car and price?

I went to see this a couple of days ago.

The bloke selling it seemed nice enough and had a drive full of nice cars that he punted from home.

He claimed that he got this car as a px from a chap in Southampton whom he sold a 1 series convertible to.

The ad said 80k but when i got there it said 86k on the odo. The car was a nice blue in good condition with good paint all over. The ad now says 86k miles so seems a genuine mistake. I decided that this was too many miles for me and that I need a car between 50k and 60k. also it was a little lacking in toys.

I didn't drive it, but it seemed fine otherwise.

I think that I'm looking a Z4MR with 50k to 62.5k miles that doesn't have black seats. I guess that I'm going to have to pay 14k to 15k. Is this quite close to what you are looking for too Rich?

I also went to see the Black one selling from MCR cars in Yate, Bristol . It had 8 owners !!!