Thoughts on a high mile Coupe.

S

Simon 3.2M

Senior member
Tempted by a coupe with decent spec, auto box and around 170k on the clock. What do forum members think is a sensible price for a car like this? I'm not interested in residual values etc, just the fun of owning the car - I know nothing about the auto box and drivability either 🙄
 
How much?

Would think that you'd have to possibly spend a bit on it to get it mechanically sound.


All depends on what it needs but at that mileage...
Suspension, springs, bushes etc.
Water pump
All fluids in the entire car
Battery
Service

What's the stone chips like on the front?

Has it just been motorway miles or driven like a getaway car?
 
skelters said:
How much?

Would think that you'd have to possibly spend a bit on it to get it mechanically sound.


All depends on what it needs but at that mileage...
Suspension, springs, bushes etc.
Water pump
All fluids in the entire car
Battery
Service

What's the stone chips like on the front?

Has it just been motorway miles or driven like a getaway car?
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All of the above. The Z4 is generally a solid reliable sports car. But 170k on any car will have worn many things out. So take a good long look through the bills and see what has been done, because this rest will need doing. Have a good hunt around the hatch back and check there is no rust too.
 
Just make sure you know what has been done. I bought my E85 with 136,000 on the clock, it didn't cost me a lot but I did make sure there were bills for all the stuff that could fail with a high miler. I've now done 147,500, been to Gothenburg and back, had several 200 mile plus journeys in the UK and the only thing I've had to replace so far is the coolant tank. It runs like a dream and cost me sub £3000. Passed the last MOT with no adviseries, couldn't be happier.
 
It's hard to say without seeing the car or knowing what's been done to it, but I'm pretty sure someone on here couldn't find a buyer for his high mileage Coupe that was up for less than £5K and it ended up going to Sweden IIRC!

I sold an E91 325i earlier this year with the 2.5 litre N52, and it was still running great on 139K, so mileage isn't really an issue.

As well as the items already mentioned, it's probably also worth checking the rear brake pipes where they come out of the cover under the floor just below the back of the passenger seat.

Then it's just the usual stuff like brakes, tyres, etc.

Good luck. :thumbsup:
 
If it's the one on Autotrader at 164,000 miles then there might not be a lot to do with the suspension as it looks like there's been a bit of work done there on the previous couple of MOT's.

Hardly done any miles in the last few years though.
 
The only thing I'd be disuaded by is the auto box. If it lets go it will be a substantial cost to correct/replace.
 
Mileage is perception and irrational fear

Look at Merv and his 3 million mile Volvo .. in the UK there is an irrational fear of cars imploding after 50k or 100k

Look at the car and make a decision based on condition ad history and decide whether the cost v possible repair bills stack up for you

We used to run X5’s and 5 series at work putting 250-300k on them over 4 years. When we sent them to auction we’d get rather more than you’d think for them .. they were virtually all bought for export where they aren’t hung up about mileage
 
I think with zeds you can have issues with low or high mileage examples. I have to agree though that suspension / steering etc may well be past it best. After all coupes older cars now as well as roadsters. You do get this artificial threshold in the uk as well where people aren’t interested in cars over 100000 miles so may well struggle to sell it on when you want to, but I guess if it’s cheap enough then you could get a couple of years motoring for a small amount of money.
 
I wouldn't have a problem buying a high miler, as long as I can see some good & recent history and the price is right (say £4-5k?)...and in fact, whilst both my Z4MC and Alfa have been off the road I have been contemplating getting another Z4 (older roadster or coupe) to replace the Alfa. But spent more time dithering between getting a newer car (F30 320d Touring, M3) with a big deposit and short HP (not PCP) or buying another older car (Guilietta JTDm2)

Even a highly-strung, hard-driven M can do over 140,000 miles without major issues :oops:

Mine was mostly regular maintenance & consumable items like oils & filters, clearances, spark plugs, tyres, brakes, etc.
 
I fall into the high mile - no fear category. :driving:

I bought mine with 190 kilometers (have put another 5 kilometers on it in just the past 4 weeks).
suspension has NO rust, and only needed one control arm bushing.
typical gaskets needed replacing
replaced all plugs and coils
a few internal cosmetic repairs

car runs strong, looks great, I would not hesitate to drive it anywhere.

Physically, if it has been well taken care of (and that love continues), miles should not be a concern
The value is harder to pinpoint. the price is whatever someone is willing to pay.
if its affordable to you, in good shape, and you find yourself drawn to it - then 'carp diem' :evil:
 
people on here really love to make a huge deal about mileage for some reason, So many comments regarding sale prices and mileage as if the car is suddenly going to combust at any point.

Coming from old Japanese cars im pre-programmed to almost ignore mileage. Even bought a mk1 mx5 and forgot to look at the mileage, Turns out it was into 160,000km or whatever that is in miles, Ran it for a year and half no issues and sold it back to the guy i bought it from.

Think I picked my coupe up on around 85,000 miles or so, Now not far off hitting the 100,000 mile mark where I will have to accept lower sale price as apparently it will all go horribly wrong when it hits an arbitrary number.

In the nearly 15k miles Ive done, A seized front brake caliper has been the only issue. Fixed for the total cost of £70.

View the car, Look through history, judge on condition, Previous MOT history is a godsend for buying cars these days, if you see the same advisories popping up, its obvious its just being run to get by etc.
 
Be interested to know which car the OP is looking at. If it’s the 164k example in Peterborough there is very little service history, just a few invoices. Dealer says not serviced since 2015, but they will do one.

My thoughts, would never be put off by high miles. Always buy on condition & history, so I will avoid some low milers. I nearly bought a 174k Coupe example 2 weeks ago. Really well looked after, 3 owners and full history. Had a concern about signs of possible HG failure.

As for the auto box, suits this car well in my opinion.
 
buzyg said:
Migizi said:
Rich8 said:
I'm guessing you live on a very small island??
:D :poke:
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that's just Saturday cruising :(
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Wow that's almost a mile per week by my figures. Don't over do it. :rofl: :wink:
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good grief -
image.png
Its Monday and you expect me to do math? :P
I'm a damn yankee and obviously can't figure this metric system out :roll:

let me start over...
bought the car with just over 120,000 US Miles on the odometer and put another 5,000 US miles on it this past month.
 
Migizi said:
buzyg said:
Migizi said:
that's just Saturday cruising :(
Click to expand...
Wow that's almost a mile per week by my figures. Don't over do it. :rofl: :wink:
Click to expand...

good grief -
image.png
Its Monday and you expect me to do math? :P
I'm a damn yankee and obviously can't figure this metric system out :roll:

let me start over...
bought the car with just over 120,000 US Miles on the odometer and put another 5,000 US miles on it this past month.
Click to expand...
That's more like it. Give me US miles over metric every day of the week. :driving: :thumbsup:
 
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