Most reliable Z?

[firebobby]

Welcome to the forum OP, as you have already said you don't another NASTY 4 pot 2.0, so it has to be a big 6, sounds better and more manly. Women love the sound of the big 6, I have seen them snigger at the weedy little 4 pot, but don't tell RW
At your budget, you should get a decent 6 pot roadster.
Oh and when you get one, we like photos.

 

[True-Blue]

Welcome to the forum OP, as you have already said you don't another NASTY 4 pot 2.0, so it has to be a big 6, sounds better and more manly. Women love the sound of the big 6, I have seen them snigger at the weedy little 4 pot, but don't tell RW
At your budget, you should get a decent 6 pot roadster.
Oh and when you get one, we like photos.

My Mrs in a nurse, maybe I should get her to check her own blood pressure whilst listening to the 2.0 in Limp Mode and the 3.0 at full chat !

On a serious note, I’d spend more and get a coupe if it was just down to me, but she will also drive it and wants to feel the wind in her hair :roll:

 

[buzyg]

Welcome to the forum OP, as you have already said you don't another NASTY 4 pot 2.0, so it has to be a big 6, sounds better and more manly. Women love the sound of the big 6, I have seen them snigger at the weedy little 4 pot, but don't tell RW
At your budget, you should get a decent 6 pot roadster.
Oh and when you get one, we like photos.

My Mrs in a nurse, maybe I should get her to check her own blood pressure whilst listening to the 2.0 in Limp Mode and the 3.0 at full chat !

On a serious note, I’d spend more and get a coupe if it was just down to me, but she will also drive it and wants to feel the wind in her hair :roll:

My kind of girl.

 

[jlp123]

I've owned both an 04 2.2 e85 and now an 09 3.0 e86. Have found both very reliable never had major issues with either.
Driven both on 2000+ mile road trips without a hitch.
Fortunately, I've never had the coils break either in 5 years of ownership (fingers crossed).

I loved the 2.2 but absolutely adore the 3.0. No contest in my opinion it has to be the 3.0.
The extra speed and engine noise is worth the extra cash.

The MPG is surprisingly similar also.
37MPG Av 2.2
35.4MPG av 3.0

 

[blackabbot]

hahah - ya think ? :lol:
i just love this forum
i see red sometimes when folk are soo quick to dismiss the 2.0, its a good car and handles like a go cart , i love my steve too of course - a brute of a car - but i have to give respect to the 2.0 - its a bloody good car - a 3.0 is faster of course - but corners ? a well driven 2.0 would surprise folk. and yes this convo about the most reliable, but i cant criticise a car thats never put a foot wrong now can i ?

With you brother

 

[MACK]

Both the M54 and N52 straight sixes aren't perfect and can have their issues, with the M54 being a bit better in terms of reliability. The M54 are usually a lot cheaper than the N52 to fix too, water pump prices being the obvious example. Both are head and shoulders above the 4 pots though, not just in terms of reliability but smoothness and engine note etc
Honestly with the price difference between a 2.0 and one of the i6's being so tiny these days, coupled to the 4 pots numerous well documented reliability issues. Plus the other obvious benefits of the i6's in terms of performance and spec I can't see the sense in going down that route if buying today, even the differences in insurance and fuel economy dont really justify it for me.

 

[Ewazix]

The E85/86 cars are getting old now and things wear out, so the most reliable Z4s are probably those that have been properly maintained regardless of model. But the newbies section is always worth scanning for post starting "I've just bought a ..... and I have a problem with....", these tell you about cars that the previous owner gave up on trying to sort a common intractable problem, odds on its either

• Ticking hydraulic valve adjusters on the N52 facelift

• A wonky EPS steering on the M54 pre-facelift cars

• Stuttery power delivery on the ///M

• Faulty cam chain/adjusters, cracked manifolds or unsolvable fault light problems on the 2.0

and the infamous ............... "my roof stopped" on all roadies :roll:

Which logically means an expensively maintained ///M Coupe garage queen will be the most reliable Z4 (can't believe I just posted that heresy) :exitright: