Looking For A Z4

A

AndyS

Member
 Gloucestershire
Firstly, Hi everyone.
I'm new here and with an obvious interest in becoming part of the Z4 family!
I am looking to buy a Z4 and wanted your opinion on a car I have first refusal on.
It's a September 2005 (55 Plate) 2.2i SE in Toledo Blue with Anthracite cloth interior.
Extras include headlight wash, parking sensors, xenon headlights, cruise control.
60000 miles with full BMW service history.
£12950 with 12 months BMW warranty.
Does this sound a good buy or not?
Your thoughts and advice would be much appreciated.

Cheers,
Andy
 
What do you want from your car - performance or posing? If it's the former then a 2.2 isn't likely to give you it.

Unless your circumstances prevent it, have you considered that 13k will roughly buy you a 2004 3.0i with 50k miles?

Think about it this way round: you're paying 13k for a car with no leather, no nav, no heated seats and no uprated sound that will be beaten off the line by a huge number of hatchbacks.

Make sure you really want it :wink:

If you have any specific questions we'll all lend a hand answering!
 
Thanks Spud for your thoughts.
I guess I want it for the pose as well as a bit of performance.
The Z4 is not to replace my current car, a 4x4 for towing a caravan, but as well as my current drive, to provide a bit of fun with a bit of go.
Because of that, I have to consider the cost of insurance as I'll be starting a new policy with zero no claims and obviously a 2.2i would be cheaper than the 3.0i to insure. I've eliminated the 2.0i on the grounds of the straight six sounding much nicer.
I'm not sure how a 2.5i would compare insurance wise but would it be any better performance wise or no different to the 2.2i?

Andy
 
You can surely get a deal with your insurer based on your prior history? 2.5i aren't supposed to be too bad on insurance, but they're nearly the same in terms of fuel as a 3.0i.

Sounds like it's worth investing the 2.5 if you want the compromise of both options!
 
Hi Andy,

Welcome to the forum :wink: Glad to see you have selected a Z4 so far... I have the 2.5 and it's a real sweet engine! Went to a meet the other week and it didn't have too much trouble staying with the 3.0 boys on the back roads... a straight road / drag strip I would see a difference. I suspect the same would apply to the 2.2 / 2.5 comparison. Insurance wise, don't think it would be a massive difference - for me to go from a 2.5 to an M is only about £150!

Check the insurance, it's only a phone call / web form and book a test drive. I think there will be a few good deals around in the next couple of months so I wouldn't panic.

Reference the car - I'd find another. Mileage is on the high side / it's close but a non-faclift / no leather! I'd go older, no-one will know the difference. I've got mine advertised at the moment - 53 2.5SE, so leather, wind deflector, parking, cruise, cup holder, non-run flats, iPod... and so on. under 47K miles and around 10K to the next service... asking a little over £11k (and that's the high end of the market price wise :? ). Have seen 04 / 54s and 3.0s for similar money. Warranty is worth a fair amount though. Point is, between mine and the one you found you're more likely to find something better!

Nice colour though! Also, check the FAQ that Andy posted - http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=15177

Before you get one with a warranty consider the saving and what you're likely to want to do to it... nothing you say? Not if you stick around here :thumbsup:

I think you can do better, but when all is said and done if you really like the one you've drive and can like with the spec, go for it!

Good luck!
 
Thanks for all the comments so far.
So the general consensus is, as a compromise of cost and performance, 2.5i but ensure it has leather interior.
I think perhaps I'll keep looking a little longer!

Cheers,
Andy
 
Pretty sure all pre-facelift 2.5s had leather as standard :thumbsup: I'd start with checking the insurance, on the 3.0 too, you may be surprised. 3.0 had even more toys as standard!

To be honest until recently I hadn't realised that Z4s came with anything other than leather.

From the link below, for any model if you click 'More Info' and then ''Equipment & options" that will show you exactly what was standard on that model.
http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/specs/Summary.aspx?model=74

One thing that's worth looking at as a potential buyer, the easy retro fits.
 
Welcome :thumbsup:

That seems a lot for the spec and engine size especially with that mileage but they do seem to be better prices these days if you are selling that is and do not see many on the BMW Forcourts at the mo.

Re the 2.5 if you can afford the fuel costs and insurance then deffo look into a 3.0.

Whatever you decide dont rush it took me 6 months till i found mine which worked out nice as i got the exact car i wanted with even more extras and very low mileage plus it was January so prices are normally a little lower.

How far are you from London only Park Lane are good for a bargain its where i bought mine around £1500 cheaper than any local Stealers.

Happy Hunting :thumbsup:
 
Well, having spent some time obtaining insurance quotes it seems either a 2.2 or 2.5 would fit my budget best.
I'm hoping to test drive a 2.2 this weekend to see how it compares to the 2.5 from last weekend.
Thanks again for all your suggestions so far. I'm sure once I track down the right car I'll have plenty more questions for you.
By the way Gaza62, I'm the other side of the country about 3 hours from London. Not impossible but not exactly close!

Andy
 
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