New Potential Owner

[LaserLight]

Hi everyone, my name is Phil I’m an engineer living near Southampton on the south coast.
Not yet an owner however starting to look at what’s around.
I guess I’m making life difficult for myself by wanting a low mileage 3 litre coupe, perhaps an 06 to 13 plate.
Oh yes and silver grey.
What are my chances?
Thanks

 

[pvr]

0 for the range of 09-13 as they don’t exist :lol:

(Unless a really late registered 08 model)

But good luck finding a coupe, unfortunately the majority will be high milers so it might take a bit of time.

 

[Pondrew]

Hi and welcome.
Your chances of getting a '13' plate coupe are less than zero as the last ones were registered in 2009. :wink:
A late low mileage one WILL be expensive (comparatively) aswell.

 

[Mr Tidy]

Welcome to the forum Phil.

BMW only made Coupes from 2006 to 2008 because in 2009 they launched the E89 with a folding metal roof as a replacement for both the E85 Roadster and E86 Coupe.

So given that the newest Coupes are 16 years old now there aren't too many low mileage ones around as only 2,189 found their way to the UK and only 339 were Silver Grey!

You may find you need to be patient, willing to travel, a bit flexible, but you never know you may get lucky.

FWIW the N52 engine in the 3.0Si models is pretty bulletproof so I wouldn't get too hung upon mileage. My daily is a 330i with the same engine and it runs beautifully after 127K miles.

Anyway good luck finding the right one.

 

[pvr]

Welcome to the forum Phil.

BMW only made Coupes from 2006 to 2008 because in 2009 they launched the E89 with a folding metal roof as a replacement for both the E85 Roadster and E86 Coupe.

So given that the newest Coupes are 16 years old now there aren't too many low mileage ones around as only 2,189 found their way to the UK and only 339 were Silver Grey!

You may find you need to be patient, willing to travel, a bit flexible, but you never know you may get lucky.

FWIW the N52 engine in the 3.0Si models is pretty bulletproof so I wouldn't get too hung upon mileage. My daily is a 330i with the same engine and it runs beautifully after 127K miles.

Anyway good luck finding the right one.

You said exactly the same as what I did, but somehow it is far more elegant :lol:

 

[Pondrew]

You said exactly the same as what I did, but somehow it is far more elegant

It's his native tongue, mate. We will excuse you just this once.

 

[pvr]

Thanks Pondrew, can I just point out that you were just wrong in your statement as you can’t have a chance <0 and also the last coupe was not produced in 2009

 

[Mr Tidy]

You said exactly the same as what I did, but somehow it is far more elegant

That's probably why it took me longer to reply! :lol:

According to Tony's database the last UK registered Coupe was built in August 2008, but I have seen a couple with an 09 plate.

 

[Pondrew]

Thanks Pondrew, can I just point out that you were just wrong in your statement as you can’t have a chance <0 and also the last coupe was not produced in 2009

I was not wrong. I am never 'wrong'. I once thought I was...but was mistaken.
I changed my post to 'registered in 2009' as I have seen some. The other bit was poetic licence; ie enforcing the idea of zero to a higher degree.

 

[LaserLight]

Thanks everyone, please excuse my ignorance on the years and variants, that’s a good start Lol
Mr Tidy thanks for the detailed reply and pointing out the mountain I’ve to climb to find the one.
I have looked at some coupes from 06/09 and the mileages do concern me, anything from 80,000 to 150,000 ..
I currently a 2015 M135 so very much in love with the straight six, who wouldn’t be..
When do these Z4 six’s require rebuilds, bearings etc?
Thanks

 

[pvr]

If you have an M135 now, you need a Z4M to match the performance of that though. The N52 engine, however nice, is not a patch performance wise on the 135.

Besides water pumps there is no rebuild requirements. There are bearings and valves on the M though.

 

[LaserLight]

I admit the performance of the 135 is addictive, however I’m willing to accept the lower performance for the looks of the Z4 coupe.
Also the 135 is the 8 speed auto and I’d like to return to a manual.
On the N52 engine what mileages would you expect issues?
Thanks

 

[buzyg]

Welcome to the Forum Phil. Good luck with your Coupe search.

 

[Mr Tidy]

I admit the performance of the 135 is addictive, however I’m willing to accept the lower performance for the looks of the Z4 coupe.
Also the 135 is the 8 speed auto and I’d like to return to a manual.
On the N52 engine what mileages would you expect issues?
Thanks

There is always the M Coupe option for some addictive performance and they are all manual, but the UK only got 73 Silver Grey ones (including mine). They cost a fair bit more and running costs are on a different level with M Tax applied!

On the N52 engines it only seems to be ancillaries like starters, alternators, electric water pumps, etc. that die. My previous daily was a 325i that had done 139K when I sold it and still ran great, although it did need an electric water pump at 135K. Then again my first Z4 Coupe needed one at 60K - how long they last seems pretty random as my 2nd Coupe seemed to be on the original at 91K. They are only an issue because the engine overheats in less than a mile, and new OE pumps by Pierburg tend to cost £250-300 so long as you don't buy from BMW as they charge over £500 for the same part.

Quite a few on here have run these engines towards 200K - here's a link to a thread posted by an owner with a 230K Coupe. https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=149811

I'd focus more on condition, history and maybe spec as BMW were pretty mean unless you chose some options. Definitely worth finding M-Sport seats that were standard on Sport models and optional on the SE, but used ones sell for £700/800 on here. Xenons are also very sought after.

 

[LaserLight]

Thanks for the in-depth stuff, really appreciate the info. I did look at the Z4 M coupe but after reading the various stories about bottom end bearings requiring replacement and having to shim cam shafts at certain mileages thought against it. That and the road tax, fuel consumption sort of made my mind up..Lol

 

[Mr Tidy]

The 3.0Si seems to be generally regarded as 80% of the M for 50% of the money, and having had 5 years experience of both I still think that is true.

Bearing shells are an issue but you'll only ever need them done once, so if you find an M that has had them replaced recently that's a four figure bill avoided!

If you don't do too many miles the valve clearances only need doing every 4 years but it isn't cheap, and things like brakes are pricey on the M too.

The Road Tax is painful, but insurance seems to cost about the same. Used as a weekend car my Si averaged 33mpg or so, for similar use my M has averaged 27mpg. The biggest problem is the tiny fuel tank.

But you have to pay to play and I have no regrets, especially whenever I get to enjoy the soundtrack of the S54 engine up towards the 8,000rpm red-line.

The N52 engine in the Si is still pretty special for being an N/A straight 6 that revs smoothly to a 7,000rpm red-line, which is why I have a 330i with an N52 as my daily.

 

[Sit]

Morning and welcome, I too am new here - joined on New Years Day after picking up my 2006 E86 coupe, mine was Individual Ruby Black with a decent smattering of options.

With regard to mileage mine has done 105,000 miles in 18 years and sitting in it/driving it you would never know. If you consider my car is 18 years old, if someone only did 5k a year (which is low for UK standards) thats still 90,000 miles.

There will of course be some very low mileage examples out there but having been down that road before with other cars, often these are more hassle. Stood still for long periods, fluids not regularly circulating etc.

I bought mine because it was a 1 owner car (80yr old lady I bought it from owned it from new) with a full service history. I love it already, get the few known weak spots tended too and I think the N52 is a great workhorse and sublime to drive.

Good luck with you search! This forum is an INCREDIBLE wealth of knowledge.

Si

 

[swanny71]

@LaserLight

Don’t worry about N52 reliability so long as it’s been looked after. I took a 130i (same engine) from 50k miles to 172k miles (I lived in Devon, worked in Portsmouth/Southampton for 8 years) and it was utterly reliable.
Did the waterpump/thermostat and a slightly lazy starter as precautions at 100k miles/120k miles. Weeping Oil filter/cooling gaskets as well. All easy DIY (I’m also an engineer).

I’ve daily driven a 2014 manual M135i for 5 years now but looking for a 3.0Si Coupe as a fun/project car - a 100k mile car wouldn’t worry me if it’s been cared for, there’s just none about down here in the SW.

M135i is already too quick to enjoy properly on the road in 2025, hence wanting something older, simpler, manual, naturally aspirated, beautiful and just quick ‘enough’.