Newbie... maybe... Help with choice

T

the cueball

Senior member
 Glasgow
Morning all… :D

I have decided to change my car over to a BMW Z4…

I’m coming from a Audi S4, in the past had a few BMW’s including a rare 540 manual Hartge version….

So, I would like to think I can spot a decent car etc… but still looked through the posts on issues and problems with these cars… so I’m good to go… I think! :oops:

Anyway….. I’ve narrowed my choice down to a few cars… and having a fight in my head over which ones, and thought I would ask the experts… this is to be my everyday car and I usually drive my cars very hard (My average of 12mpg in the S4 will show that! :lol: :driving: )…

All cars are low mileage and in great/excellent condition…. So I have a choice of:

2005 3.0i SE (bottom of my budget)…. But doesn’t have the sport goodies (seats, suspension etc)

2006 3.0 Si Sport (mid budget)… seems to have the nice things that the above doesn’t have.. plus a better, stronger engine?

2009 3.0 Sdrive (top of budget)…. Are these newer versions really better with the tin roof etc… I keep looking at it, and thinking for whatever reason it doesn’t look “as nice” as the older ones…

2006 Z4M (top budget)… nice car, but don’t think I want the hassle and costs that come with another “special” car…. Or are they usually just the same as the “lower” spec ones?

2006 Alpina Roadster (top of budget)……. Same as above really…. Although… well… it’s lovely…..

So, any help, thoughts, tips would greatly be appreciated…

:thumbsup:
 
The 3.0si is maybe the best overall Z4 E85/86

N52B30 is a great engine.
Z4 is a light car and 265hp are more than enough to enjoy yourself.

12mpg will be a hard goal to achieve :fuelfire:

PS: do yourself a favor and choose a car with manual transmission
 
What stratos said.

Recently went for a e86 myself and aside from everything, opening up the straight six is so incredibly rewarding.

as well, the si would be a facelift model too...
 
Stratos said:
The 3.0si is maybe the best overall Z4 E85/86

N52B30 is a great engine.
Z4 is a light car and 265hp are more than enough to enjoy yourself.

12mpg will be a hard goal to achieve :fuelfire:

PS: do yourself a favor and choose a car with manual transmission
Click to expand...

+2
 
Hmmm... OK... so not worth the premium over the more expensive M or Alpina cars for day to day driving about???

cheers all for your thoughts....

:thumbsup:
 
the cueball said:
Hmmm... OK... so not worth the premium over the more expensive M or Alpina cars for day to day driving about???

cheers all for your thoughts....

:thumbsup:
Click to expand...


i cannot comment anything about Alpinas because i have no clue.

but in the case of the ///M, don't bother if you just want a fast Z4.
Z4M is a great car and reasonably priced.
however, it is still a car which can rev up to 8k rpm.
consumption, servicing and possible faults are in a totally different league.

i think you will be better off with a 3.0si :thumbsup:
 
Stratos said:
The 3.0si is maybe the best overall Z4 E85/86

N52B30 is a great engine.
Z4 is a light car and 265hp are more than enough to enjoy yourself.

12mpg will be a hard goal to achieve :fuelfire:

PS: do yourself a favor and choose a car with manual transmission
Click to expand...
+3 I've just bought a 3.0si on an 06 plate and i know iam still in the honey moon stage but i love is car great all rounder and not exactly slow when you want to turn it on :grin:

Si-forks is tapatalking
 
Stratos said:
i cannot comment anything about Alpinas because i have no clue.

but in the case of the ///M, don't bother if you just want a fast Z4.
Z4M is a great car and reasonably priced.
however, it is still a car which can rev up to 8k rpm.
consumption, servicing and possible faults are in a totally different league.

i think you will be better off with a 3.0si :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

yeah that is my thinking too... I'm really trying to downgrade... the S4 revs to 9K as well... and probably is just as expensive as the M to run...

cheers
 
well I pick up the Zed after work today....

after a lot of thought, especially deciding what I wanted the car to do, and probably for the first time in my life, I went with the cheapest option!!! :o :o :o

So I've opted for the SE.... the other suspension options were too similar and harsh like the S4......

in true Cueball styleeeeee it hasn't stopped raining since I paid the deposit.... magic.... :headbang:

:rofl:

:thumbsup:
 
Nice one Cueball :thumbsup:

Don't worry about the weather, I'm on it - you'll be enjoying the roof off very soon indeed :D

As for your choice, the inspired thing about it is... If you decide that you really want an ///M or an Alpina then through the summer you will get most of your money back if you want to trade up. Just don't spend all the residuals you have on mods lol.

Welcome to the nuthouse !
 
Glad someone is taking care of the rain Bing, thanks.... :lol: :lol:

I've got the head wax out just in case, the water won't stop me! :o

Already got a basket waiting on about £2k of mods... (inc wheels)... I'm not hitting the spend button just yet....

I may get BMW dust caps though... as they can add about 50 bhp so I've heard.... :tumbleweed:

:thumbsup:
 
the cueball said:
I may get BMW dust caps though... as they can add about 50 bhp so I've heard.... :tumbleweed:

:thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Only to the local kid's bikes when the nick them :D

Much better off with a couple of ///M badges and a Momo gear knob from Halfrauds :thumbsup:
 
Bing said:
Only to the local kid's bikes when the nick them :D

Much better off with a couple of ///M badges and a Momo gear knob from Halfrauds :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

ooooooh, easy there, I'm not ready for that kind of power!

:lol: :lol: :lol:


LeeZ4MR said:
Hello & welcome :thumbsup: good news regards your Zed, get some piccies up when you get it :)
Click to expand...

Cheers, I will do when I get my OCD detailing on.... :wink:

:thumbsup:
 
Bing said:
the cueball said:
I may get BMW dust caps though... as they can add about 50 bhp so I've heard.... :tumbleweed:

:thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Only to the local kid's bikes when the nick them :D

Much better off with a couple of ///M badges and a Momo gear knob from Halfrauds :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Gear knobs form Monkey are much better :thumbsup:

Congrats on the car. You will be happy with it. Its a more than capable car with plenty of performance. My driving talent runs out way before i think i need more BHP!!

Now as said pictures please :)
 
Who is this Monkey chap?!?!?! :rofl: :P

I did see your knob, very shiny.... I've had a shiny metal knob before, very cold in the winter.... :cry:

Have you still got a 6 speed knob left, and how much would it be for your 6 speed knob?

:o :o :o :o
 
Congrats on the new car :thumbsup:

Regarding the start of this thread...

the cueball said:
I’ve narrowed my choice down to a few cars…
Click to expand...

Lol You covered a decent portion of the entire z4 range with your originial selections there (well apart from the best looking 8) )
 
He he Sorry about the sales pitch!!

They are a bit cold in winter. Luckily your new car has brilliant heater :D

I am doing them for £35 at the moment handbrake and gear knob for £60 and i am including the matching radio knobs on me?

PM me if your interested.
 
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