Looking to buy a Z4

Z

Z4fannorthants

Member
 Northants
Hey, just joined as I know that i want a Z4 as my next car. I sold my Subaru WRX back in March so now starting to look for a Z4 early next year Feb/March. I will be looking to spend £6,000-£7,000, I only use the car as a bit of fun once a week as I have a company car. Being a bit of an unknown when it comes to the Z4 not really sure what model/engine/gearbox to go for, I will only do up to 5,000 miles a year. I want a well built (not like the Subaru), good looking car that is going to be nice to drive, comfortable, will achieve 30MPG or more, doesn't need to be super quick but will have power, I prefer a nice engine note too if you can recommend an engine, I know you can get a 2.0, 2.2, 2.5 and 3.0l.... what do you suggest?


Many thanks

Steve
 
Go for the six pot engines if you want a nice engine noise so that rules out the 2.0.Good luck with your search and welcome to the forum


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Hi and welcome to the Forum. :thumbsup:

Agree wirg RedZedFour - go for the 6 pot engine (ie 2.2 and above) - much the nicer engine. There is a pre purchase checkling in my signature which may assist when you are looking. Good luck. :)
 
Hi and welcome :thumbsup:

Agree with what AlanJ and RedForZed have said, look at 2.2 and above.

Good luck with your search :)
 
cant argue with the above.. the spec is down to yourself, but most are fitted with leather. good luck with your search
 
Welcome!

I took the plunge earlier this year having sold my '00 4.5 Chimaera and never looked back. There still seems to be stacks of choice out there so whatever you do, don't rush in - take your time, do your research and get the right car.

I did take a while to find the right one but with a black car and silver car already on the drive, I wanted something different and they are very popular (rightly so IMO) colours for the Zed. Maldives Blue is best though :wink:

If it's not going to be your regular hack, then the 3 litre engine is a no-brainer. Stuff economy - that engine at full chat sounds like nothing else :driving: Do the sound generator mod and it's even better.

Best of luck and use the forum - loads of useful information lurks within.

Cheers
Kav
 
You're on the right track with a six :thumbsup:
If you do a lot of motorway work the 3.0 6 speed will be better, I looked at one but went for a 2.5SE 5 speed in better condition/mileage and it's a brilliant package. Tax and insurance are a bit lower with 34 - 36 mpg average.
 
Hey everyone, thank you for the feed back, really do appreciate it. Think I will go for either the 2.5 or the 3.0, in your experience which is better the Manual or the Auto I like driving both, is one a more pleasant drive than the other? Did have someone say BMW auto boxes where ace and that i should go for one of those in a Z4. Will definitely go for a larger engine as you recommend!


Thanks for your help guys.

Steve
 
I think the 2.5 & 3.0 are very similar on fuel consumtion & running costs, so I would go for the 3.0. Lots of great data and advice on here. Welcome along and keep us posted.

I'm sure some one will be along with some figures shortly.
 
Steve, welcome :thumbsup:

I have a 3.0 auto and in full auto it is the smoothest auto box I have ever driven - I use it daily and for a lot of motorway driving, and it is perfect. Floored in lazy fast mode you barely feel the up changes, it feels like relentless application of all 265 horses :D

In manual auto - fun non-work-related driving, Sport on - I either use the paddles, or more often the stick, to shift and it is almost as smooth... Though Sport mode does make the gear changes slightly harsher. There is a slight delay between hitting the stick or paddle and changing gear but it is very small, and if you anticipate it you can drive it *almost* like a manual with practice. One of the things I like is when really 'on it', the box will take over and shift down as far as possible if you stuff the pedal in the floor, and then you can take over again... Great for fast overtakes. Overall very, very engaging :thumbsup:

All that said, I can understand the love of a manual if you like nothing less than total involvement and don't have to do high miles in it. I had a Focus ST3 before this and had a lot of fun on twisties. I have LOT more fun in my Z though, and those I was with in Scotland last weekend will attest to the fact I had no issues keeping up with the manual boxes on our run :evil:

Drive both would be my advice.
 
I was getting about 25/26 mpg over many months prior to having an alignment done. The set up was shockingly out, now just right. On the run up to Scotland, cruising at just under 90 leptons per minute most of the way :D I got 31 over 485 miles. We went for a 300 mile proper hoon on Saturday, then a 150 mile hoon for part of the way back own on the Sunday, and when we got back it was reading 28.7 mpg. All OBC, not calculated, but I am very impressed - i think new tyres and in particular the alignment have had a lot to do with the improvement. Beats the hell out of my ST, in which I averaged about 22/24 irrespective of how nicely I treated it...

Edited - worth saying I have not driven a manual 3.0, so can't compare from my experience. Most on here seem to get low to mid 30s on average from what I have read. I was really chuffed when I filled up and saw 375 miles on the range read out half way up the M6 though - can't recall ever seeing it over 300 before.
 
+1 for what this lot said.

Also bear in mind that a 3.0 will surprise you on economy. 30 is about average.
 
Bing, inkey$, mrlozzer, All three of you thank you for your advise, Bing think i might have to drive both, i will only do about 5000 miles a year in it as its just a fun car, sit in the garage 5 or 6 days a week. Tomorrow I get my brand new Antara 2.2CDTi through work so that will do all my miles, so overall as long as I get 30MPG thats better than my Subaru, plus the BMW wont rattle and squeak like the Jap motor. Take it these cars are quite refined on a long drive roof up or down?


Steve
 
F*ck. I just crafted a really good answer to this and then just as I went to post it safari on my iPad crashed :x

My post above - had a moment there, as this car has it's share of issues... However my love for mine totally makes any creaks and rattles irrelevant. I'll try and re-type what I wrote in the morning :thumbsup:
 
Bing, ok mate no worries, i imagine you get noises from the roof, but im used to noises like vibrations through the dash, just naff plastics. Wont have jap car again in hurry.


Steve
 
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