Potential purchase - some questions...

[tallstevef]

Hi All,

Went to see a Z4 3.0i Coupe from a BMW Dealer today. V.good condition both inside and out. Decent price for an AUC car, and good PX for my current car. A couple of things to mention that you might be able to help with:

1. It has an aftermarket exhaust, nothing too extreme (Eisenmann) - dunno if this would do much to power output or emissions... Did sound quite bass-y, not sure if it would be boomy or too much on a drive

2. Ride - yep, it was on runflats. Seemed jiggly and a bit crashy on non perfect, but not exactly cratered (i.e London!) roads and speedbumps. I've read the opinions on here - but would changing to non-runflats make THAT much difference!?

3. Seats were sort of half leather - not sure what this would imply in terms of spec. Stereo was the business variant, does that come with an Aux in?

4. Mileage is v.low ('57 plate - 17k miles) any issues this could present? Engine did seem to "tick" a bit on idle when starting up - nothing much but it was definitely there...

5. No of Owners = 3. Make much difference come resale?

Any advice would be great! Many thanks

Steven

 

[Darren Slone]

Hi and welcome along

Your exhaust can be changed easy enough if its not for you, maybe even a swap with another forum member.

From what I've read non run flats make quite a difference, I'm sure someone with experience will be along to give you a proper evaluation.

I think 2007 model year comes with Aux in, once again I'll stand correcting!

No of owners is personal, history is more important, just my opinion !!

Hope it's the one for you :driving:

 

[deka]

welcome late 57 cars had aux in just above the ash tray under the curve of dash but easy to retrofit. I changed to runflats and its a revelation.. Someone else will know the answers to the others.

 

[fatmikey]

all sounds quite good to me.

1 the exhaust wouldnt bother me, but if you dont like it id happily do a swap for a standard one lol

2 runflat are aweful, but down to personal preference, ive just got rid of mine and looking forward to driving it properly in the summer

3 personaly cant think of any half leathers in coupe, but im sure someone with more knownledge than me will help you

4 mileage is very good, my coupe os on 52k & i dont seem to have an problems, is does tick a little on start up, but as far as im aweare this is normal

5 to me number of owners on cars like this dont bother me as much as its a car people want, then get it and realise they need more room etc. I think mine has had 5 and its a 56 plate

hope some of this helps

 

[ranski]

Hi All,

Went to see a Z4 3.0i Coupe from a BMW Dealer today. V.good condition both inside and out. Decent price for an AUC car, and good PX for my current car. A couple of things to mention that you might be able to help with:

1. It has an aftermarket exhaust, nothing too extreme (Eisenmann) - dunno if this would do much to power output or emissions... Did sound quite bass-y, not sure if it would be boomy or too much on a drive

2. Ride - yep, it was on runflats. Seemed jiggly and a bit crashy on non perfect, but not exactly cratered (i.e London!) roads and speedbumps. I've read the opinions on here - but would changing to non-runflats make THAT much difference!?

3. Seats were sort of half leather - not sure what this would imply in terms of spec. Stereo was the business variant, does that come with an Aux in?

4. Mileage is v.low ('57 plate - 17k miles) any issues this could present? Engine did seem to "tick" a bit on idle when starting up - nothing much but it was definitely there...

5. No of Owners = 3. Make much difference come resale?

Any advice would be great! Many thanks

Steven

You have a link to the car? (Don't worry I'm not buying!)

 

[srhutch]

All coupes come with full leather. Is it two tone?

Regarding AUX that depends when the car was made which need to be from Sep/Oct 2006 onwards, not when it was registered.

 

[tallstevef]

@ ranski - It's on the BMW AUC website - up for 13995

Had a look for the Aux in when viewing today but couldn't see a good "candidate" hole - as it were! Maybe this one isn't a quite late enough '57 car?

Seats were in good nick, but it was the central seat base and back that were in what looked to be a fabric material - which seemed a bit odd to me, all the other Z4 coupes I've seen have had full leathers... Maybe a textured leather?

At least the exhaust is a recognised brand and not a barry drainpipe special! Did sound good (but then again, the base car sound isn't too shabby!). Just wondered if it would be boomy at higher speeds - took it on a dual carriageway upto about 50/60mph and it seemed ok. Wasn't sure about emission issues...

 

[bluestreak56]

Aux in should be there on a 57. My 07 has it.

Most z4 coupes have full leather, never seen anything else. The pics on this one arnt great (Titanium silver car). However by the spec it looks like this:

Which is an option as per:

http://www.bmwz4roadster.net/bmw_z4_interior.htm

I got used to the run flat ride, its only bad on rubbish roads.

Lots of comments here about the ticking on start out, its worth checking if thats a problem or not.

Mine had 3 owners when I bought it earlier this year, didnt bother me as one was BMW for months, and then 2 owners for 2 years each. But up to you

Here's a link to the car for others:

http://www.approved.bmw.co.uk/bmwuk/bmwauc/details/0,,1156___ask-4%40adm-xx,00.html?ch=_V0JBRFU1MjAwMExKNTAzMzI=&btp=1x24-price_ASC|list

 

[RLiu]

it is me or does that seem a little pricey? i realise its low milage but no sat nav + manual. Z4mc itsnt much more...

 

[srhutch]

@ ranski - It's on the BMW AUC website - up for 13995

Had a look for the Aux in when viewing today but couldn't see a good "candidate" hole - as it were! Maybe this one isn't a quite late enough '57 car?

Seats were in good nick, but it was the central seat base and back that were in what looked to be a fabric material - which seemed a bit odd to me, all the other Z4 coupes I've seen have had full leathers... Maybe a textured leather?

At least the exhaust is a recognised brand and not a barry drainpipe special! Did sound good (but then again, the base car sound isn't too shabby!). Just wondered if it would be boomy at higher speeds - took it on a dual carriageway upto about 50/60mph and it seemed ok. Wasn't sure about emission issues...

Looks as if an owner for some reason or other speced "Black Active Sports leather/sport fibre" which is what is listed in the advert. This was standard on 2.5si roadster and some others but not coupes.

AUX is not visible if fitted. It's under the AC controls but on the horizontal face above the ashtray so you either need to get down low or feel with your hand. It could also have been fitted in the glovebox like mine has.

 

[tallstevef]

@ Bluestreak - yep, that's exactly how the seats look. I guess I'd have to look again to see if I could find the Aux in (seeing as an 07 car has it).

Fair point about it being a car people like but then realising it is a bit "snug" - I'm 6ft 6 so was a bit worried about how much headroom / legroom I'd have. About 1.5 cm headroom, and it's tight for my left knee / leg between the steering wheel and transmission tunnel. Seat was all the way back / down! I'm used to squeezing in cars, although this does feel borderline - comfy enough for a short drive (most cars are!) but on a longer m-way run?

 

[Wondermike]

Must be one of only a handful of coupes with active sports interior, why would you downgrade the cow to cloth for the same cost :scratchhead:

'tis a nice car that, but that interior will be a problem when selling, even the dealer pics don't show it fully, with the angle of the interior pic.

What I would do if buying that car would be to factor in a leather upgrade to the cloth part of the seats, either at purchase or at some point in the future, should only be a few hundred quid.

 

[ranski]

+1

But matching the leather (color/condition) maybe an issue

To completely re-leathered your looking at £700, at that price you may as well buy a second hand set of seats

 

[RLiu]

some people just dont like the feel of leather against skin on a hot day. my neighbour puts a rug cover over his leather seats

 

[srhutch]

Must be one of only a handful of coupes with active sports interior, why would you downgrade the cow to cloth for the same cost :scratchhead:

Could have been worse, they could have gone for the full cloth from the 2.0i if they had an SE with non M Sport Seats.

 

[tallstevef]

@ RLiu - It's one of the cheaper AUC coupes and it's close to home (which is a positive!). Not tried an auto, but like manuals. Agreed about Z4MC's not being much more - but thought that the insurance / servicing hit would be quite a hike over a "normal" 3.0... I'm sure the Z4MC vs 3.0 debate has been done to death though!

@wondermike - Fair point about factoring in a seat re-upholster as and when resale time comes...

 

[RLiu]

i still think there is room for haggling. i think if you went for the throat you might surprise yourself....go give them hell and make them earn their money

 

[theblues]

@ Bluestreak - yep, that's exactly how the seats look. I guess I'd have to look again to see if I could find the Aux in (seeing as an 07 car has it).

Fair point about it being a car people like but then realising it is a bit "snug" - I'm 6ft 6 so was a bit worried about how much headroom / legroom I'd have. About 1.5 cm headroom, and it's tight for my left knee / leg between the steering wheel and transmission tunnel. Seat was all the way back / down! I'm used to squeezing in cars, although this does feel borderline - comfy enough for a short drive (most cars are!) but on a longer m-way run?

looks pretty good I have a roadster I'm 6ft 5 and the best part of 22 stone so I found the auto better for putting my leg to the side have done a London to Lincolnshire run and had really no problems with the comfort side
good luck with it

 

[tallstevef]

@ theblues - I'm a bit of a lightweight at around the 15 stone mark, but it's good to know that you (at least!) were comfortable - albeit with an Auto so more room for your leg!

Just another general question - I've read up on the foam removal you can do to make the engine noise a little louder on the Roaster - I assume you can do the same on the Coupe? Same engine after all... Anyone done this on their coupe - does it make it a bit too OTT?

 

[mr wilks]

@ Bluestreak - yep, that's exactly how the seats look. I guess I'd have to look again to see if I could find the Aux in (seeing as an 07 car has it).

Fair point about it being a car people like but then realising it is a bit "snug" - I'm 6ft 6 so was a bit worried about how much headroom / legroom I'd have. About 1.5 cm headroom, and it's tight for my left knee / leg between the steering wheel and transmission tunnel. Seat was all the way back / down! I'm used to squeezing in cars, although this does feel borderline - comfy enough for a short drive (most cars are!) but on a longer m-way run?

6ft 6 Tallsteve , i,m amazed you didn't get out of the testdrive with lumbago .
I,m only 5,8 & after being IN my coupe more than half an hour i feel like i need to move the seat back & wheel forward yet they are already at the max .
are you buying as a daily driver & planning to do a lot of miles ?