New Member Seeking Advice on Z4 Purchase

Y

Yellow46

Member
Hello everyone,

I'm excited to join this community as a new member and enthusiast of BMW Z4s! I'm currently in the market for either an E85 or E89 model and I'm hoping to get some guidance from the experts here.

My budget is in the range of 8-9K, and while I don't have a strong preference between the two models, I'm more concerned about finding the best value for my money. I plan to use the car for daily commuting, clocking in around 8-10k miles per year.

One of my main dilemmas is whether I should prioritize low mileage or a more recent model year. As someone relatively new to the Z4 world, I'm not sure which factors should take precedence. I also have a preference for an automatic transmission, but I'm unsure about its reliability on a second-hand car.

Given my budget, I'm considering whether it's wise to allocate some of the funds towards potential repairs or maintenance that may arise due to the age of the vehicle. Essentially, I'm trying to strike a balance between getting the best car within my budget and ensuring it remains reliable for my daily needs.

Additionally, I'm particularly interested in a 2.0 engine as I've heard that the running costs are lower.

I'd greatly appreciate any advice or insights you could offer on what to look for when purchasing a Z4 in my situation. Your expertise would be invaluable as I navigate this exciting journey into Z4 ownership.

Thank you all in advance for your help!
 
Welcome to the forum.
If you are using a Z4 year-round and it is a daily car, then the later E89 is a lot more practical as it has a 'proper' metal roof.

As for a 2.0 litre, there was only one in the E85, the entry level normally aspirated which is not highly regarded generally.
The E89 2 litre is a turbo and comes in three 'flavours' of power output from the factory.

The one in the link below looks a really good car and is a proper 'forum car'. Auto, 3 litre normally aspirated (N52).
https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=145788
 
Thank you for the welcome and the advice!
I'll check out the link you shared for the 3-liter E89.

Looking forward to learning more from this community!
 
Welcome and some sensible thinking ... generally I always try to aim to have a slush fund, nothing worse than throwing your budget at a car then receiving an unexpected bill.

If you are in the car every day the E89 will probably be your best bet, just bear in mind its a fair bit heavier than the E85 so on weekends if you want to chuck a car about and have some spirited driving the E85 is probably the better bet.

There are a few standard common fails to look out for on the 2 litre E89s so do get reading up on them in the section on here. Personally I would be looking for the 30i E89 or if you are not too concerned about the power outputs the 23i are a bit of a bargain.
 
[ref]coldel[/ref],
Thanks for the welcome and the tips!
I'll consider the weight difference between the E89 and E85 for weekend drives. Will do some research on common issues with 2-liter E89s. Appreciate the recommendations for the 30i or 23i models.
 
From what I have gleaned the E85 and E89 are very different cars (only had 2 E89s).
The E85 seems to be more of a 'sportscar' and the E89 more a 'cruiser' or 'mini GT', which makes them good for everyday.

Unless you drive like Lewis Hamilton with toothache, the E89 can be good fun and handles remarkably well for what it is IME. They are all going to be fun as low centre of gravity, RWD and big fat tyres make for a good recipe IMO. :thumbsup:

The 30i in the link above is an 'SE' spec, so should have softer suspension than an M-Sport. The latter's ride can be 'firm' to say the least, which I would imagine could be a problem for a daily.
 
I've had E85 and E89 versions - the E85 is a much firmer ride - I had the 2.5si which was a lovely engine but drove me mad with how hard the ride was. The E89 SE (version I had) is a great daily driver ...
 
Good point on the SE spec, sometimes wish I had got one with SE spec...cheaper and better ride on London roads!
 
There's not a lot of difference between the Msport and SE model E89's (its a trim thing: seats, alloys, roof lining, threshold plates, bumper skins, slightly shorter springs and a few M badges), all can be be retro fitted and they share everything else, the same engines/gearbox etc. Be aware, BMW charge for everything, so don't take for granted that all cars have 'this and that' when it comes to extras. Personally, I think that the E89 is a beautiful looking car, either with the roof up or down, not many convertibles can claim that, with that little added security of a hard roof and the ability to still turn heads.
 
Buyers guide here, when you see a car you like, put the details up on this forum https://classicsworld.co.uk/guides/bmw-z4-e84-buyers-guide/
 
Plenty of good advice already.

Personally I like the N/A 6 cylinder engines because they are one of the unique features of a Z4, but plenty of owners love their 4 cylinder turbo powered E89s.

Probably the best thing is to try to drive the alternatives so you get a feel for what you prefer.

And good luck. :thumbsup:
 
Welcome along- I’d suggest trying both e85 and e89 as they are both different cars in the way they drive.
 
Fred Smith said:
Surely you NEED to get the E86 Coupe or E89 with hard top if you are using it daily in the UK?
Click to expand...
I daily an 04 plate 2.2 roadster. Went through the winter with no issues at all. No leaks, no damp anywhere.
Not quite sure the thinking of why you need a metal roof but I'm here to say you don't need it, the proper roadster version is just fine.
It's not refined, but it is quiet enough and for a 'sports' car it is actually quite comfortable.
If you're worried about winter use, fear not! The heater is so good that if you do decide to drive in shorts you'll need to turn it down to prevent scorching of the skin on your left leg!
 
The E85 2 litre is very much the bargain basement Z4, the engine has its problems too, as you have £8+ and intend to use as a daily drive an E89 is a better bet. As others have said they are not as “sporting” but still a nice sports car with decent performance, autos are no real disadvantage particularly nice in town and in traffic.
 
Thanks, everyone, for the very useful tips and advice. I now realize how little I know about Z4s in general, as I've just begun my hunt. I think I need to do a bit more studying and reading through the forum.

Regarding some of your questions, here are the key points for me:

I'm looking for a car that I can keep for the long haul, hopefully for the next 10 years.
It must be reliable for long trips, including journeys abroad of around 2000 miles round trip. However, I can afford to park it for a few days when maintenance is needed, as I have motorbikes for daily commuting.
Comfort, speed, and MPG are not top priorities.
Insurance prices between 2.0 and 2.5 are comparable, so I'm not overly concerned.
I have a garage at home, so it will always be parked in a safe and dry place.
While I've never done DIY on cars, I'm familiar with motorbikes and can handle basic tasks.
I plan to test drive both models and see which one I fall in love with.

Currently, I'm eyeing two ads that are well under my budget. I'm considering saving some money (2-3k) to take them to a good garage and give them a second life.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305307932184?fromSavedAds=true&advertising-location=at_cars&sort=relevance&postcode=YO105LY

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403197751981?sort=price-asc&advertising-location=at_cars&make=BMW&minimum-badge-engine-size=2.4&model=Z4&postcode=YO105LY&year-from=2010&year-to=2024&fromsra

Thanks again for all your help!
 
enuff_zed said:
Fred Smith said:
Surely you NEED to get the E86 Coupe or E89 with hard top if you are using it daily in the UK?
Click to expand...
I daily an 04 plate 2.2 roadster. Went through the winter with no issues at all. No leaks, no damp anywhere.
Not quite sure the thinking of why you need a metal roof but I'm here to say you don't need it, the proper roadster version is just fine.
It's not refined, but it is quiet enough and for a 'sports' car it is actually quite comfortable.
If you're worried about winter use, fear not! The heater is so good that if you do decide to drive in shorts you'll need to turn it down to prevent scorching of the skin on your left leg!
Click to expand...

Echo all this, drove my E85 roof down when it was 8 degrees C out a couple of weeks back. Heated seats and blowers on 28 (or whatever the highest number is) and I was in a happy bubble of hot air even at motorway speeds.

My roof is absolutely fine, completely water proof minimal noise and no problems.
 
As said, try both the E85 and E89 and see which one floats your boat.

Another thing to bear in mind with the E89 is the roof is very complex and can go wrong. Finding someone who knows how to fix them can be tricky (and expensive). There is a wealth of knowledge on the forum regarding the roofs, so some faults are an easy DIY fix, some not so much.

The N52 engines (2.5l & 3l) do seem to be pretty reliable if looked after and can handle big miles.
 
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