Should I buy a 2.5 with run flat tyres?

[Bluebottle]

Hello there, I have a little inheritance and fancied scratching an itch to own a sports car before I am too old. Searches for RWD Petrol manual cars with 0 to 60 under 8s resulted in me considering Z4, never having had a two seater or convertible. I could spend all day on internet and YouTube but have eventually test driven a nice 2012 2.0 turbo manual 72k running on standard supermarket fuel and Rotalle tyres all round.

I was impressed with build quality, brakes, gearbox and suspension but engine seemed uninspiring. I had a manual Saab 9000 Aero for twelve years that would pin you in the seat when the Turbo kicked in!

Afterwards I drove the same twisty undulating road in my 2001 E39 525i manual. I have had this car for 11 years and forgot have lovely the engine sounds ( unlike the Z4 which was muted and normal) and just how responsive it is in the lower gears again unlike the Z4.

The E85/86 is a nice car and surprisingly cheap in all guises, but I have fallen for the stunning looks and interior of the E89, especially in dark blue.

So with a budget of £7k, and contingency of another £1k, I am going to have to travel, haggle and compromise to get a six cylinder manual car with service history in blue or possibly black ( although both my last two cars since 2002 were black), and sand (beige) interior.

M40, hmm, maybe in future.

I presume the compromise will have to be mileage rather than condition or service history. There are a few high mileage 3.0 litres on Auto trader I may enquire about. I will do some more research on possible issues before I get too close.

I no longer have the confidence to chuck a car around like I used to. The roads in South Devon are dreadful so I require a more forgiving suspension for the 95% of my journeys. Now if I lived in Wales.......

I am looking at a nice 2011 2.5 tomorrow. However I am concerned that along with M Sport suspension, kerbed 19" 326M alloys it has run flat tyres all round!!
They haven't even been advised on MOT as low tread. :x
Do you think this is grounds for some harsh haggling?

Any advice gratefully received.

Lee

 

[Mr Tidy]

Welcome to the forum Lee.

The N52 engine in the 23i and 30i was also fitted the facelift E85/86s, and I've had a couple of them in a 325i and currently a 330i. They're a great engine and are pretty bulletproof, but as they get older ancillaries like starters, alternators, etc. can fail and oil leaks from the cam-cover and oil filter housing aren't unusual as the gaskets get brittle over time. But mileage shouldn't stop them performing brilliantly. My 325i had 139K miles when I sold it and my 330i has 125K and in both cases you'd never know!

Another issue is the electric water pump that will just die at some point causing overheating within a mile, but as to when it's just guesswork. My first E86 needed a new one at 60K, my second seemed to be on the original when I sold it on 91K. Budget on £250/300 for a new Pierburg pump so long as you don't buy it from BMW as they charge over £500.

All E89s were supplied with run-flat tyres so it's not surprising the car still has them, but they don't go well with 19" wheels. I've read of a few owners on here suffering from cracked 326 wheels due to potholes and run-flats don't help.

You could always think about getting some smaller wheels, 17s or 18s, which ought to improve the ride especially with normal tyres so long as you aren't too bothered about looks.

Anyway good luck with your search.

 

[Bluebottle]

Thanks Mr Tidy.

You could always think about getting some smaller wheels, 17s or 18s, which ought to improve the ride especially with normal tyres so long as you aren't too bothered about looks.

Yes, that crossed my mind but it is more time effort and money. :headbang:

It might just be easier to keep the good-looking wheels and fit £700 worth of Kumho tyres!

Hence my intention to negotiate.

 

[Mr Tidy]

Thanks Mr Tidy.
Mr Tidy wrote: ↑Tue Sep 03, 2024 7:29 pm
You could always think about getting some smaller wheels, 17s or 18s, which ought to improve the ride especially with normal tyres so long as you aren't too bothered about looks.
Yes, that crossed my mind but it is more time effort and money.

It might just be easier to keep the good-looking wheels and fit £700 worth of Kumho tyres!

Hence my intention to negotiate.

That's true although if you fitted other wheels you'd get some money back for the 326s!

I've had Kumho Ecstas on my Z4 for 3 years now and been very pleased with them.

 

[Bluebottle]

Wow! I never realised how much those 326 alloys sell for on ebay. :?

 

[Mr Tidy]

That could be an option then!

I sold a set of 17" E89 Style 290s on here for less than £200, although they did only have 3/4mm tread on Bridgestone run-flats.

 

[brillomaster]

i mean try it - personally i dont think its really a negotiating point to get money off, if the car is how it came as standard.

i'd just factor in to your thinking that you might need to buy some smaller wheels and appropriate non run flat tyres, but you'd recoup a lot of that cost selling the 19s on.

or keep the 19s and just buy non run flat tyres (and sell the run flat tyres on)

 

[Pondrew]

An E89 with M-sport suspension, 19" wheels and runflats will NOT be a comfortable place to be. That is what ours is and it is bordering on the undriveable on anything but very good roads (which are hard to find in the UK).

I have heard the SE spec cars with smaller wheels are a lot better, but never driven one.

 

[Bluebottle]

Thankyou Brillomaster and Pondrew.

8)

 

[rafcom]

An E89 with M-sport suspension, 19" wheels and runflats will NOT be a comfortable place to be. That is what ours is and it is bordering on the undriveable on anything but very good roads (which are hard to find in the UK).

I have heard the SE spec cars with smaller wheels are a lot better, but never driven one.

Yeah I can second that, you feel every tar snake and crack in the road

 

[Bluebottle]

I have just driven the nice S23. I was impressed with the torque of the engine in all gears, the brakes were progressive, not snatching, steering felt fine, clutch and gearbox perfect, no oil leaks, no rust on wings or bonnet, no leaks in boot, everything worked, including the roof. Interior was gorgeous, especially dark wood inserts.

But M-Sport suspension, 19" wheels and runflat tyres - 7 year old Michelin front,. 5 year old rears were terrible. The whole cabin was shaking and rattling on B roads (on motorway all was fine). At 20mph on large roundabout in the dry there was a bump or ripple in concrete and the rear jumped sideways : I would hate to drive it on a wet night in February.
Does anyone have the number of a chiropractor and a dentist?

So I have come away to think and consider whether to go through the hassle of buying used 17 or 18 inch BMW wheels, having them reconditioned, fitting new tyres and selling the scruffy 19" wheels with tyres.

Or travel over 150 miles each way to look at other cars. :headbang:

Your views are welcome.

 

[Mr Tidy]

Given how you describe your drive I don't think down-sizing wheels will make enough of a difference, so I think your best bet would be to look for one without M-Sport suspension even if it does mean travelling. Otherwise you might end up with a car you just don't get on with, especially after an E39!

I went from 19s to 18s on my Z4 and there was very little difference in ride quality (both sets were non run-flats).

 

[Bluebottle]

Cheers Mr Tidy. That makes sense to me.

 

[Pondrew]

Does anyone have the number of a chiropractor and a dentist?

Told you! They are terrible on 19s, with stiff (m-sport) springs and RFTs. Not the handling, that is fine, but the ride is awful.
I have had many 'stiffly sprung' cars over the years, but the E89 with the above is by far the worst ride of all of them.

I had an M-sport 4 series with 20" wheels and RFTs. That rode like a 1970s American cruiser compared to the E89.

 

[Bluebottle]

I didn't think you would lie to me Pondrew, but you knew I had to drive it to realise just how bad it was. So disappointed as the car was excellent otherwise. :?

 

[brillomaster]

I wonder if you could meet up with someone who does have the spec of car you're looking for... coming from that lurrrverly e39, every version of a z4 may feel very harsh.

You might be >whisper it< a jag man

 

[Bluebottle]

Thanks Brillomaster,

I am happy to drive a car with firmer springs, my wife has a Subaru with sports suspension. We had a wonderful Saab 9000 Aero for 12 years as well that was firm, but that car today was ridiculous ; all the trim was rattling and squeaking on a flat straight road at 30mph

I do indeed appreciate a Jaguar, I don't however enjoy automatic transmission. And even an XK8 isn't as stunning as an E89 Z4.

But if anowner of an E89 with standard suspension wants to meet up and show me their car, I am up for it.

 

[hairyfrogowl]

I had a non m-sport E89 2.0 and the ride on that was very good. Previously had a E85 M Sport (on 18's) and that was just too darn hard.

Unfortunately non m-sport E89's are relatively uncommon - I had to scout a while to find mine, and they may be even more rare in a 6 pot.
Anyways good luck with it

 

[Bluebottle]

Thanks hairyfrogowl, I have a shortlist of six without MSport suspension. It's choosing the best compromise, but it means I will exceed my budget. 8)
We shall see.

 

[Mr Tidy]

Budgets always creep! Anyway good luck.