To good to be True? Why is 3.0si more ££ than M?

[NickJonathan]

Hi all,

Been looking for a while now for a Z4. Having a massive dilemma as I love the look of the Z4 Coupe but can't stretch to a Z4MC so have been looking at the 3.0si which I found impressive but hated the electronic steering. I thought I'd test the Z4MR and loved the way it drove but not convinced by the look.

However one thing I've noticed is that a Z4M Roadster is suprisingly up to £2000 less expensive that a 3.0si coupe of similar age/mileage etc? Anyone got any reasons for this? My only thought is running costs putting people off buying but it doesn't seem to have affected the price of the M coupe!? I'm currently considering a Z4MR which is 400 miles away. This is a main BMW dealer selling a 2006 Z4MR with 34k miles for £13995 which they offered to pay my fuel expenses to get there and back and to sell me the M for £13250!! He keep throwing in more incentives and although it's becoming massively tempting it's also concerning how desperate he is to sell the car!

I also asked about the 3.0si coupe which is 06, 32k miles which they have for £14995 and he won't move on the price or offer any travelling expenses etc?

Any other garage I'd be massively concerned about why they were so desperate but is this really a concern given is a main dealer? Is this a rare occasion where to good to be true isn't the case?

Last question, if I buy a Z4 privately can I still get a warranty from
BMW? My car was a Boxster S and Porsche won't give you a warranty unless it goes through their workshop 101point check and inevitably they find £3k worth of work that 'needs' doing before they sell you a warranty! Is this the same with BMW?

Thanks

 

[ZedFourM]

Last question, if I buy a Z4 privately can I still get a warranty from BMW? My car was a Boxster S and Porsche won't give you a warranty unless it goes through their workshop 101point check and inevitably they find £3k worth of work that 'needs' doing before they sell you a warranty! Is this the same with BMW?

Yes, you can still get a warranty from BMW. They call it a "lapsed" policy, and it's more expensive than a continuation of an existing policy. There is no requirement for a dealer inspection, but you cannot claim for the first month that the policy is in force, and any pre-existing conditions are not covered. The car must have a full service history, and have used BMW parts and the correct grade of oil, but the work does not need to have been carried out by a BMW Dealer.

As an example, a lapsed policy on an M car (uder 60k miles, with Fully Comprehensive cover, European breakdown cover and £0 excess) is £1,236, whereas a continuation policy is £951.

 

[Rialas]

Your not comparing like for like.
You know you really want.... Z4M Coupe!!! They're not that much more pricey (at the moment).

 

[NickJonathan]

Thanks for the warranty stuff that's really useful. The difference between the coupe and roadster based on a car with similar spec/year/mileague in my experience is at least £3000! I'd say that's quite a bit more. The garage I'm looking at the M Roadster have a 07 with 71,000 miles on the clock and they are asking £16995 as opposed to the roadster with 32k miles for £13249!

 

[Rialas]

Hi Nick.
You can find a car with similar miles to the roadster your looking at allbeit £3k more.
I still believe its not worth sacrificing the model you want for this price difference.
Good luck.

 

[Rialas]

Ps the roadster is an 06, that's 1.5k value difference alone against an 07.

I bought this one a few weeks ago.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3704923.htm

I wanted a coupe and nothing else would do. So do you.
Not knocking the roadsters in any way.

 

[NickJonathan]

The roadster is a 56plate (Nov 06). The Coupe an 07 (Feb 07) so only 4 months between them. That said its more the difference between the 3.0si coupe and the M Roadster that I find a bit puzzling. Not sure whether it's the rarity which is the selling point of the Si coupe over the M roadster.

 

[Dreamer]

Simple answer -

The 3.0si's are holding value better because they make A LOT more sense than buying an M as an everyday car. FACT.

The M is something you buy because you WANT it regardless of costs.

Interesting read...
http://pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=17131

 

[Rialas]

Simple answer -

The 3.0si's are holding value better because they make A LOT more sense than buying an M as an everyday car. FACT.

The M is something you buy because you WANT it regardless of costs.

My 4 door Honda accord makes a lot more sense as an everyday car.

I totally agree with your second point.

 

[NickJonathan]

I can understand that but I guess the way I'm looking at this roadster is I'm likely to keep for around 12months, I'm buying from BMW so getting 12 months warranty. It's got new tyres, fairly new brakes and I'll be paying £13300 which is about £1500 less than they are going for privately. If I stretch to an M coupe it would have to be private or normal garage which means crappy 'not worth the paper it's written on' warranty or forking out another £100 per month on the warranty above. Ultimately I think I need to accept that M coupe is out of reach so it's whether I want an M engine more than the coupe! Hate being this indecisive!

 

[flimper]

Simple answer -

The 3.0si's are holding value better because they make A LOT more sense than buying an M as an everyday car. FACT.

Sorry, disagree with this, the M is perfectly fine as an everyday car

 

[srhutch]

Simple answer -

The 3.0si's are holding value better because they make A LOT more sense than buying an M as an everyday car. FACT.

Sorry, disagree with this, the M is perfectly fine as an everyday car

I think they are talking about running costs flimper.

TBH if I had to use my Z4 daily I would have stuck to my old 2.5si from a cost point of view.

 

[daz05]

I've never driven the 3.0si but I'll bet its the sweeter car to commute and drive around town. I can find the M tiring to lug around town, the drive train is clunky and the ride isn't great.

Mine is now used as my weekend toy for these very reasons.

However,for me at least the 3.0si isnt special enough to perform as a one car solution. What's more im not sure I'd buy a car like the 3.0 si to commute in. You can almost justify the bad points in the M for what you gain in the good bits, that one awesome drive at the weekend makes it worthwhile.

 

[NickJonathan]

Well that's all I'll really use it for. I walk to work and therefore just looking for a weekend car. Plus the missus has a Ford Ka (nice) for the weekly shop . It's really just the looks...I think the coupe looks loads nicer (sorry roadster chaps) just I want the M probably not so much for the engine although it's obviously amazing but the steering which is 100% better than the horrible electronic feel of the Si

 

[M@r]{]

Whether you can deal with an M as a daily drive depends what you're used to. I find mine absolutely luxurious, its so confortable and getting to my destination without ringing ears and an aching back is a novelty But I had used a Lotus Elise as a daily.

However my girlfriend gets in having been driving around in the 5 Series and she comments how hard the ride is :roll:

My vote goes for the Z4MR. Already you have shown signs of wanting a 'drivers' car, so you would be more suited to the M IMO. You get the Coupe for the more exclusive looks and you'll spend your time regretting not getting an M. You buy the M and you'll have nothing to regret, just put up with oms of the hairdresser comments

 

[ChawenHalo]

Coupe is rarer perhaps thats why its more expensive. However I suspect it purely due top the (financial) conditions under which they obtained the ///M cs Roadster vs the 3.0 si Coupe.

The ///M roadster sounds like amaizing value for money. To be honest unless you're tracking the car a lot, the roadster is just as as good as the coupe and you'll enjoy the sunshine and noise.

The other members do have a point in that the ///M is not as sweet as the 3.0 si though. It does take a bit of getting used to but that is also part of the enjoyment process. It makes you concentrate on your driving and therefore you enjoy it more. Coupe has got crap visibility btw...

Good luck.

 

[tomscott]

Simple answer -

The 3.0si's are holding value better because they make A LOT more sense than buying an M as an everyday car. FACT.

Sorry, disagree with this, the M is perfectly fine as an everyday car

X2 I get great MPG out of mine as a daily 26 round town 32-33mpg on motorway runs. For a 342hp sub 5.0sec that will do 175mph (unrestricted) you cant complain.

But other costs are high. With super at nearly £1.50 compared to the £1.00 when I got mine thats a 1/3 more straight away, then you have double the tax, the insurance and obviously higher costs of parts and servicing. But when I did my numbers for the M cost around £1000 more a year to own but I dont use mine as a daily per say like I do not commute etc but it is used as my main car for all journeys and so around 8k a year. The insurance difference for me was only £150, and the extra £200 for the road tax works out at £3.50 a week more... so its not going to break the bank.

But I do agree, a 2 seat sports car in most renditions do not make good daily cars 2 seats is a deal breaker for most but depends on your situ. Theres only me so wasn't killer for me. A 320D is a good daily car.

But if we are talking coupe vs roadster it depends what you want. I went for coupe specifically for the looks converties dont really appeal to me I like the raw looks of a proper original style sports car, so long bonnet sitting over the rear axel with a sweeping rear end. Just looks awesome, sounds awesome and goes like stink. My opinion obviously.

There is a lot of argument of which drives better the 3.0 or the M but imo the 3.0 was just too sedate, looking sounding and in the power range too, as soon as you turn the key you know the M means business. Which is why I purchased it. Money wasnt too much of an issue for me, but good Z4M coupes are around the 15-17k region with average or below, the roadsters 14-15k and good 3.0SI coupes that I looked at with average milage were a bit wild pricing form 14-21k. I only looked at BMW garages tho the warranty to me is very important. Wangled a 2 year warranty which is worth 2k to me.

 

[Dreamer]

You see Flimper i never said you couldnt use it as an everyday car.

In fact im browsing the classifieds myself for one as (believe it or not) to use as an everyday car.

BUT. It makes no sense to not buy a 3.0si.

Its all in that article really, its cheaper to tax, on petrol, easier to drive, the nose isnt as heavy, the clutch is lighter, its quicker even in most 'domestic applications' for want of a better expression with a lower peak power point. It looks identical to an M to the average joe except a couple more exhausts.
And also as they say even on a b-road you would have to be an expert wheelsman to get a better performace out of the M.

Yes the brakes and steering are a touch better and you get an LSD but thats all for the track unless you drive like a lunatic on the road.

And having said all that i will still look for an M to buy. Just BECAUSE. Sometimes the UNDENIABLE right choice isnt always the most exciting

 

[tomscott]

Dreamer - thats why they made the 3.0Si but the drive and experience from the M is a big difference. For pure smile factor. And you answered your own question the M is ultimately more desirable.

The 3.0si and the M also have a lot of cosmetic differences a completely different front bumper for one and the interior well the M treatment is worth it for that the dials seats etc etc it all adds to the effect. I found the 3.0Si on a test drive as I tested one after the other to be very sedate in comparison and bought the M there and then. At the end of the day it depends on your budget the 3.0si is a good compromise but not everyone has to compromise. The costs of £1000-1500 per year were not a premium to me and definitely worth it. I think if I had bought a 3.0Si I would have always thought... Should have got an M... SHOULD HAVE GOT AN M FML!!!!! :evil:

 

[Darren M]

Simple answer -

The 3.0si's are holding value better because they make A LOT more sense than buying an M as an everyday car. FACT.

The M is something you buy because you WANT it regardless of costs.

Interesting read...
http://pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=17131

I wouldn't believe too much of what you read, it's just one persons opinion.
The Si and M are both great. Arguably the 3.0Si is a better day to day car but i would say if it is it's only because it has a more everyday engine.
That article you pointed to stated the gearbox feels slightly better in the Si, but that's rubbish. The gearboxes are the same, and probably the clutch too although i'm not sure on this.
One area where the M wins big style day to day is the lack of dodgy runflats that try to put you into the nearest ditch. The M also has a slighly better ride as std (no runflats). The M also has a lower sound volume when cruising, the Si can be quite boomy at lower RPM which for some can be tiring on a daily basis, the M isn't quite so( the volume increases with revs and it's not boomy but more metallic rasp).

I've owned both. The Si is a great car, the M takes all the bits you like about the Si that little bit further. Whether that's worth paying more for is very personal to each person.