Thinking of buying Z4 (04-06)... Advise please!

C

Clarky136

New member
Hi All!!

I'm new to the forum and the BMW world so be gentle!

Ok to the point.... Thinking of trading in my Abarth ''SS'' 500 as it's just gone in for a rather major repair bill and i'm growing a little tired after 5 fun years (Wonderful car to anyone thinking of it, recommend!!!) always wanted a convertible and my 2 options are an MX-5 or Z4.

My budget is looking at around 3k, just from my very basic searches i'm seeing 04/05 reg cars with 100k mileage on.

Can people give me the lowdown on the car please? Are they expensive to run/use? Servicing costs reasonable/insane? Etc, etc!! Oh and if my budget is actually realistic :rofl:

ONE FINAL POINT ---- Can people advise me on the roof and if its a common problem? Seen a few people saying there £1000 to replace if it's needed :o :o :o :o :o And if the motor is reliable/expensive? Thanks :D

Looking forward to hearing from people!!

Rob
 
At 3k you will be looking at a car that probably won't have been owned by a forum member.Z4's like all car can have issues and you will probably be looking at an early one with little history and maintenance.
Things to look for ( not exclusive)
Roof motor slow / resting in a pool of water in standard location
Front control arms worn
Sticky steering
Poorly repaired minor knocks
Tatty interiors
Central locking gremlins
Remote not working
Tatty 108 wheels
Leaking cam covers
Hand rakes not working
There are others but just look at the relevant section in the forum.

I would like to stress that there are a lot of good cars about and guys on the forum look after their cars so if you pick one up off here , they will have been looked after and cherished so will be worth looking at and possibly finding the extra money for

Best of luck :thumbsup:
 
Roof motor is fixable guys on here can repair and relocate for under 200 quid. Like zoomer has said the budget you have is the lower end but stick around and ask questions, pick up some advice and maybe see if anyone is local that can help you out with your search. Oh and welcome. :thumbsup:
 
Id defo considering upping your budget by at least a grand, at 3k as Zoomer says, youl'l be looking at early, bargain basment sheds.
 
I'd say 3k is not a healthy budget. Aim for 4-4.5 for an early 2.5 or 3.0 as other engines don't do the Z4 justice. Sorry 2.0/2.2 guys.
 
Welcome along. Its doable within your budget - just, but you are looking at an early plate on high miles and low spec (you already know this). I'd up it a bit as others suggest.
If you're brave you could post a link to Zeds you are interested in and get forum opinions. Here's a good buyers guide:http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=21281&hilit=Buyers+guide
 
As others have said, up your budget a bit. A £3k car will end up costing a fair bit to get tidy, more so than if you save a bit longer and buy the more expensive/lower mileage car in the first place. Plus if you come to want a change the lower miles will make it far easier to sell.

I picked up my 03 3.0i with 62000 miles for £4200. Long MOT, full history, good Bridgestones all round. There are well priced examples out there if you are in no rush.
 
As with buying any used car, it's a gamble. Age doesn't matter. You won't get a perfect car, you will get a fun project.
I paid £2000 for a 2003 2.5 with 98000 miles on it. It's a fantastic car. There is nothing that can't be fixed and the information from the guys on here is priceless.
Good luck with the search.
 
I'd take a z over an mx5 for sure. Good ones are available for circa £3k, they'll be higher mileage and older but that shouldn't be a problem. If you're happy to tinker then that's even better! As others have said the roof motor shouldn't be a cause for concern :-) good luck with the search!
 
Buckz said:
I'd say 3k is not a healthy budget. Aim for 4-4.5 for an early 2.5 or 3.0 as other engines don't do the Z4 justice. Sorry 2.0/2.2 guys.
Click to expand...

Unless you've driven a 2.2 I'd question your logic- it's a straight 6 and a good way into a z4.
 
Unless your desperate for a car I would hang fire a month and then buy. It's not been a good year for zed values, particularly when compared to the 2-3 years previous where values were fairly static, if not actually appreciating slightly. This year there has definetly been a hit to values and alot of what appear to be cracking cars hanging around when they would have sold quickly a year back. This coupled to the onset of autumn/winter and the usual effect this has on vert values may play into your hands and you land a bargain from someone keen to sell.
 
^ exactly this
Wait until roadster season is over and buy, prices are still on a summer high, unless you want it for the few days of sun left of course
 
paddy wright said:
Buckz said:
I'd say 3k is not a healthy budget. Aim for 4-4.5 for an early 2.5 or 3.0 as other engines don't do the Z4 justice. Sorry 2.0/2.2 guys.
Click to expand...

Unless you've driven a 2.2 I'd question your logic- it's a straight 6 and a good way into a z4.
Click to expand...

My other half's dad has a 2004 2.2 - lovely engine! Can't go wrong with a straight 6 :) not much different to my 2007 2.5i power wise either....
 
Thanks for the reply's to date peeps!

So far I've gathered my budget isn't enough. Unfortunately i'm unable to pull over £1k extra out of thin air so the likely hood will be come late October/Nov (when i'll be seriously looking to trade) it'll probably be the MX-5 route. Will keep my eyes open but alas, mortgage to pay and all that jazz!

Regarding whether i wanted a 2.0, 2.2 or 3.0 personally I'm not into the whole snobbery of ''oooo you can only afford a 2.2, i have the 3.0 *raised nose*'' Frankly i dislike people like that. ''Doesn't do it justice spend more''.... Well what if you A) don't have more and B) want to enjoy the drive and your not fussed about getting to 60mph in 0.1seonds quicker?

From a quick autotrader check the 2.2 will go 7.7secs to 60mph. Unless your going to traffic light drag-race isn't that enough for a sports convertable? My 500Abarth will do 6.7 after a remap, and do 133mph if you destroy it but I've never hit that (121mph at Santa Pod once, FUN DAY!) So if people brag about 140 or 150 i don't care :rofl: Go do it through a speed camera

I'm all about the drive as it'll be my daily runner :driving: Finishing nightshift, driving from Norwich to Sea Pailing beach at 8am with the hood down in a fun car and enjoying rush hour on the beach in the sun. Anyone want to be a snob with me over that whether i have a 2litre or 3.0... jog on :rofl: Value for money comments are welcome though and such like, no snob please :oops:

Thanks for the info though people! Anymore constructive is always welcome good or bad. I like information thats why i joined the forum :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Rob
 
As a long-time MX-5'er (had 5 of the little buggers, NA and NB) and a year or so into a '05 3.0 Z4, I have a lot of comparison data and impressions.

They are really two very different cars. The Z is aimed at a more upscale audience who might otherwise buy a Porsche and who value comfort, convenience, and to some extent, snob appeal, and aren't going to go autocrossing. Here in the states anything BMW is assumed to be luxury and expensive. The joke is that BMW's automatically reduce the driver's IQ. The Miata is aimed quite a bit lower, at a more focused audience who yearn for the British sports cars that exist only in memories. As an older person who values some comfort and lucked in to a pristine Z at an unbelievable price, I quite like it; but I wouldn't have paid the full KBB value.

The Z is bigger, roomier, more comfortable, but just. More elbow room, but I don't find the seats to be a major improvement. Aftermarket seats exist for the MX5, but that's more money. The Z is just plain nicer. The quality of the interior, the paint, the fit and finish, are all noticeably better. The Z is just nicely bolted together. Of course, on used ones, this will be an individual matter.

Parts costs, except for the majorly expensive stuff like pistons, tops, and unique trim pieces, are not that far apart. The MX5 has the advantage of sharing parts with every Mazda ever made, while the E-85 shares with the E-46, I believe, so both have a wealth of spares. One big difference is BMW's insistence on design uniqueness, like fasteners not found anywhere else in the world (I refer to those little square headed buggers, 8 of them, that partly hold on the slam panel under the hood. Phillips work just fine there) but that's kind of the way of the world. Avoid the dealers at all costs. On balance, though, my nod goes to Mazda for parts and repair costs, barely, thanks in part to the really, really big user base.

Same with aftermarket. MX5 aftermarket is unbelievable. E85 somewhat less so. In fact, nearly invisible by comparison.

Z feels like an MX5 that found an extra 100 hp and gained an extra 500 lbs. The weight is not as significant as the hp. No stock MX5 runs like that; at least none in your price range. Expecting MX5-like urge, I practically needed clean shorts the first time I blew through 140. Then again, $1000 worth of turbo hardware finds that extra 100 hp and then some in the MX5, making it feel in extreme cases like a hand grenade with the pin rolling around loose. I've driven a really pushed hard, blown MX5 and it certainly requires the driver to pay attention.

MX5s are ubiquitous, found on every street corner. Z's, not so much. People ask me what it is and how old. You'd think by now... Anyway, the Z has the "wow" factor hands down.

MX5 uses a timing belt, a 4-6 hr job every 60k miles, <$200 worth of parts. Not all that much fun, but not awful. If you are average or better mechanic, you do it before lunch and go for a drive after. Still, it's something to consider. When shopping MX5s, ask specifically about this, because if you pay to have it done, the possible cost advantage disappears.

The MX5 can turn inside anything except maybe a go-Kart. The Z might, but it's more work.

Everything on the Z is expensive electronic, and comes with three motors and a solenoid, all unique. When something truly fails, you're hosed. Plus, replacement spares invariably need to be somehow introduced to your car via external electronics, you can't just order up a replacement module and expect it to work. The price of that luxury, I guess.

Like everybody says, look at the individual cars closely, look at the maintenance history; that's probably more important that the generalities, especially with the MX5 because I doubt that one more than 3 years old exists that hasn't been modified.

Closing with a joke that may get me banned but that sort of highlights the difference...

A Prius and a Challenger were comparing notes in the garage one night. Boasted the Prius, "I get 39 miles per gallon!" What do you get?"
The Challenger replied, "Pussy."
 
At 3k, have you considered a Z3 too? Sometimes I wish I'd bought an older Z3 instead of the Z4...

On the 4 pot vs 6 pot debate - for me it's not about power or any of that snobbery. I just like the sound and smoothness of a 6 pot - which I why I got the cheapest 6 pot of the facelift zeds ;-)

Some will say the 6 is a better engine than the 4 - on that I can't comment - but I know the N52 and M54 (both sixes) have been used in all sorts of other BMWs, while I'm not sure about the 4 pots...

I can't disagree what Kamuela says either - we have 2 zeds and a Mk2 MX5 in the family. The MX5 is simple, raw and a bit rattly while the Zed's well held together but a bit like complicated comfortable arm chairs.
We also have a Boxster - it's in a completely different league (no matter what the marketing men say) but to be honest - it's a bit 'too good' for my liking.

I like the zed's 'imperfections' (if you can call them that), I like the fact you have to work at it, and I like the fact it's 'just a BMW'...(I can do brake discs and pads myself for about £250, while the boxster is more like £1250 if you can sweet talk the stealer...)

Whatever you choose you'll love it!!
 
It's less about 0-60 times and more about having more power (and torque) available more of the time. You barely lose on mpg with the larger engines but they are so effortless to cruise with more punch for overtakes, hence making them safer. If you are used to a Fiat a 2.2 will be fine but don't bother with the 2.0 as you miss all the straight six silkiness plus it tends to have more problems.
 
When I was looking for a sports convertible they were my two choices. It was a 'go with your head or go with your heart'.
If I had got an mx5 I would have enjoyed it, but would have always tried to justify why I never bought a z4. So I went with my heart, and here I am after 4 1/2 years!
 
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