Need Help - Z4 - Virgin -

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markb

New member
Guys

Can you please help me? Seriosly thinking of purchasing a Z4. Would like to understand if any major issues with the 2003 - 2005 models. I am in Australia.

Would love some honest feedback on the good and the bad of Z4 ownership.

Are these vehicles reliable ?? Do they bleed you dry of money with up keep ??

Thanks for your help.

regards

Mark
 
I'm sure you'll get a minor deluge of replies on this, but to get the ball rolling:

Whether it's reliable or not will probably depend on how the car has been treated and maintained up until this point. For example, I have a 2003 that only had about 30,000 km (approx. 18,600 miles) on the meter when I bought it last November. It had been looked after and was in excellent condition, and all the servicing documentation was in order. I've put another 6,000 km (approx. 3,700 miles) on it since then and it has run flawlessly ... except ...

The window regulator on the driver's side crapped out on me not long after I got it, but that was replaced within warranty.

There's a reported weakness in the rear springs (they crack or something), but I personally haven't had that problem. If it does happen it's a relatively cheap fix, or so "they" tell me.

Other than that ... nothing.

Love the car.
 
Welcome along. If well maintained, they can go on for 200k++ miles, without needing major repair or maintenance work.

Major faults are covered above. If the car has been garaged during its life the roof motor is less likely to have failed. Another option when buying is to get one which has already had the roof motor fixed (as I did).

Enjoy the search for your car. They are fantastic machines.


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Adamski said:
Another option when buying is to get one which has already had the roof motor fixed (as I did).
Click to expand...

A third option is to buy a coupe! :poke: - although there obviously aren't any 03-05 ones, and you'll probably want to make the most of that Aussie weather anyway...

One year in and the only probs I've had are two of the most common it would seem; a broken rear spring and a faulty bonnet alarm sensor. As others have said, look for past history of these more common issues being repaired already and you'll be off to a good start. Happy shopping!
 
Welcome :thumbsup:

No problems of note that I know of beyond those mentioned above. As for bleeding your wallet dry, the car won't do that, but this forum probably will :D

Good luck with your search !
 
Hi, If you check out the pro's and con's of the usual suspects (S2000, Elise, TVR, Boxster etc and Z4) it's obvious that with the exception of the S2000 (which is not for everybody) the Z4 is least likely to be a money pit. In two years I've only paid for routine servicing/consumables and a new window regulator on my 2003, and have spent more on the family Ford and wife's Citroen :(

There are amazingly few reports of big problems with engines or transmissions (unlike the Elise, Porsche or TVR :dizzy:) but as mentioned the most common faults seem to be broken rear springs, roof motors particularly on pre-facelift cars and weak window regulators.

There are a few reports of steering column issues on pre-facelift models (but not the ///M), a few problems with noisy hydraulic valve adjusters on post-facelift cars that get too little use, and occasional noisy VANOS units. If you search the Forum about these you will get more info, but don't get paranoid, these are not common ownership experiences. The Z4 uses a lot of mainstream BMW gear and is pretty well engineered so anything else is likely to be minor and the sort of thing you get on any car.

AlanJ's buyers check list is the biz, if you follow this you should get yourself a great car :thumbsup:

http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=21281
 
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