Z4C - Getting very rare - The price gap is closing to the Z4MC?

[CraigP]

Having been keeping an eye on Auto Trader for a few months now out of interest and it would seem there are more Z4MC's available for sale than a standard manual only Z4C. This week for example, there are just 10 manual Z4C for sale, of which only 4 have low mileage of less than 80k on. Looking for Z4M coupes there are 16 for sale, 12 of which are below 80k miles. This has been the pattern for a few months now.

The price for the low mileage Z4C is also going up with the range between 10.5k and 15k I suspect due to the the low availability of them, relatively cheap servicing and is now closing down the gap on the Z4MC. I bought mine for 11k 3.5 years ago, done 10k miles and probably spent around 1k a year on it, including a full detail, servicing, refurbed wheels, new Brembo brakes all round, new rear wing (not its fault), etc

I reckon if I sold it I would probably sell it for around what I bought it for, now that's cheap motoring and I can only see the value climbing as their rarity increases.

 

[bakes100]

Based on how you've worded this post I assume we will see an advert appear in the for sale section reasonably soon?

 

[tomscott]

The reason is because the price is so much more appealing being about 10k less so the non Ms sell. I doubt the price gap will start to appear as the M coupe would be a no brainer. They have been between 8-15k for about 5 years but low milage examples will obviously buck the trend.

For example back in 2011 before I bought my M coupe I went to test drive a black 58 plate 3.0SI with 12k on it and BMW wanted 18k for it... I bought a 56 M coupe for 17.5 with 43k instead.

That being said they are relatively safe purchases.

 

[flimper]

Z4C a very nice car. M will always command a significant premium though.

 

[buzyg]

As time goes on. The more daily use able cars in the Z4 range are all going to become a lot more rare. Not looked, but I would guess there are far fewer none ///M roadsters available now than there were. Like any car most will simply ware out, become expensive to maintain and get scrapped, if you use them every day. The same applies to the Z4coupe. However as far fewer were purchased in the first place and they are all face lift cars, the cycle will take longer. Sad but true.

The up side. The few that remain are likely to remain disirable to us, the masses and so, being fun, old school sports cars, should maintain a slightly premium price in the coming years.

The fact that the E85/86 range happend to be designed just prior to the world of electronic gadgets in cars going mad. Is what will keep them all popular for a long time. A bit like steam tradition engines. But once we all adjust to accepting our electric future, it will only be enthusiasts keeping the market alive.

As a foot note:- The best Mx5 IMHO, thus far and possibly ever was the mk2. You can buy one for peanuts, if you love driving and can afford to invest in maintaining it. The same fate affects all cars.

 

[Ewazix]

I'm not convinced that the Coupe is becoming 'rare' or many have suddenly been scrapped, it just seems that relatively few are up for sale at the moment. Generally I'd say that the market has softened for modern collectable motors and maybe people are seeing the end in sight for big dirty motors that will never make it to historic status (in the UK) which affords some protection from punitive taxation.

The current situation feels like a slow-motion replay of the 1970's fuel crisis when you couldn't give away an older Jag, Aston or Rolls and a LOT of big old motors were scrapped wholesale. Those that were left are now treasured of course. I certainly won't be buying another large capacity petrol car for strong money, a cheaper alternative like the coupe might make more sense (to me anyway).

 

[Zedebee]

Z4C a very nice car. M will always command a significant premium though.

I completely agree, although the dynamic is slightly different than between other models and their “M” equivalent. Usually, the “M” is the desirable model of an otherwise ordinary car; whereas the Z4MC is the hot version of a very desirable car.

The Z4MC is definitely a niche market though, and cars don’t seem to sell as quickly as well-priced Z4Cs. However, overpriced Z4Cs (£14k+) seem to hang around forever, giving the misleading impression that average prices are rising.

Two things for sure are that the supply of decent, low mileage cars will reduce over time and the Z4C/Z4MC will always be a beautiful car.

 

[CraigP]

Agreed, both are fab cars and no I'm not selling mine ! I would say over the past 6 months or so there have been only a dozen or less manual Z4 Coupes with less than 80k on in the whole of the Uk each week, so I would say that it is approaching rarity. The scarcity of them is driving up the price, its simple supply and demand economics and the price gap is narrowing to the Z4MC.

When i bought mine 3.5 years ago, 11k was near the top end of the market and top end ones are creeping up towards 14 now. Even though these take a while to sell, likewise I've seen quite a few of the Z4MC over 20k been advertised for months on end

I saw the same happen for another car I had a Peugeot RCZ R type, which prices bottomed out about 3 years ago. Now hardly any are available they are commanding a price substantially higher than 3 years ago even tho they are 3 years older with more mileage as they are as rare as hens teeth.

Regardless, its good news for all Z4C current owners, and makes a nice change to have a car that did nt cost a lot to start with and holds it value too.

 

[tomscott]

Plus at the end of the day these cars are still super cheap.

The new Yaris for example is what like £30k which is more than high end low milage Z4M coupes now.

In reality even if it keeps close to its value you will spend far more keeping it on the road as regardless of milage these cars are 14 years old and they all need money spending on them, they are all on the cusp of perishables needing replacement and if you think of it like that you can sink a lot of money and never see it again.

Thats not why we buy tho is it! Ive spent plenty on my C4S and Z4M but love the pair of them and want to keep them on the road.

For example a 2009-2011 Carrera/4 GTS are sitting at 55-80k and there is one manual for sale at the moment. The base of the GTS was 76.5k back in 2009.

Which is why I find these conversations void, its the wrong game to talk economics. Buy use enjoy, wrong car to be talking about making money.

Like I said back in 2011 in the middle of the economic crash happened they couldn't get rid of these cars hence why I got mine for 17.5k from a BMW dealer with 2 year warranty for a 4 year old 43k car.

Compare that to now £17.5 in 2011 is worth 22k today and that's pretty much where most 40k Z4MCs are now so really they have increased with inflation.

For example - this is lovely

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010195169066?postcode=m307hl&advertising-location=at_cars&sort=price-desc&include-delivery-option=on&radius=1500&make=BMW&model=Z4%20M&onesearchad=New&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=Used&price-to=30000&page=1

If you can buy and keep it running and get your money back outside servicing tyres tax and insurance its good but its very unlikely to make any money worth talking about.

 

[bmbardo]

Across the board, sought after modern classics are priced high at present. It’s interesting how so many high milers have been advertised for £000’s more than pre-COVID. It’s just the low number on the market, and I’d expect things to return to normal in the coming months.

I don’t see the price gap closing between the Si and the M.

 

[CraigP]

I disagree with the "sink a lot of money into them", as mentioned previously, I've not really spend a lot on this car than any other car for the past 3.5 years. the main bulk of it was for a detail, refurbed wheels and replacement wing were nice to have's, not essential. A yearly service, some new brakes and a couple of subframe bushes, probably cost 1k over all these time, so cheap as chips to run. I've spent more than 1k on a 3 year old Focus Focus ST, which Ive had for 6 months!

Its not wrong either to recognize that a car you bought holds its value well, and if you sell it your not going to make a huge loss, it is a compliment for the car full stop. I enjoy it while I own it but if later decide to get another car I can afford to to.

The one in the ad you mentioned Tom has been on sale since the 19th October, so not really flying off the shelf ! 2 red ones have also been there for ages. In fact looking at Autotrader the majority of Z4M have been for sale since last year :-( I would also say maintenance on Z4Ms tends to be significantly higher than Z4 Coupes does it not, which kind of validates my point about the Z4 Coupe being cheap ownership.

I don't think it it will change much after COVID, why should it, the weather is getting better, so owners more likely to use their car in the spring onwards than sell it. Even after furlough ends, Id imagine most owners if impacted, would of sold already. Its just a natural progression as buzyg said, as time passes there will be less actually left and the demand and supply will be higher again

 

[bmbardo]

I don't think it it will change much after COVID, why should it, the weather is getting better, so owners more likely to use their car in the spring onwards than sell it. Even after furlough ends, Id imagine most owners if impacted, would of sold already. Its just a natural progression as buzyg said, as time passes there will be less actually left and the demand and supply will be higher again
[/quote]
When I bought mine and in the years that followed, there were up to 70 Si Coupe for sale, just on AT. I’m not saying there will be 70 going forward, but the freedom to travel / view / purchase will see more cars advertised. There is no way high miles and some neglected examples have increased £2-3k in 2 years. It’s just opportunists taking advantage of low supply, and good luck to them. Because these are priced high, it’s pushed the asking price of lower miles / better examples even higher.

I’m looking currently, not just for an Si but other modern classics. I’m looking for no cost motoring on the capital outlay over the years of ownership. That’s achievable, but not paying over the odds for an overpriced example that will return to its place in the market.

 

[golfgeezer]

White one here https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102259457971?model=Z4&sort=datedesc&onesearchad=New&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=Used&advertising-location=at_cars&body-type=Coupe&make=BMW&radius=1500&include-delivery-option=on&postcode=ka13az&page=1
The trader must have read the OP comments in this thread - Top of the list of ‘this car comes with’ is ‘Investment Opportunity’ :?
opcorn:

 

[mgrlane]

I’m looking currently, not just for an Si but other modern classics. I’m looking for no cost motoring on the capital outlay over the years of ownership. That’s achievable, but not paying over the odds for an overpriced example that will return to its place in the market.

Remind me to never buy from or sell to you!

I agree with the fact you don't want to lose a sh1t load of cash on a car selling it but don't you enjoy getting a car to where you want it to be buy spending some dollar on it? Part of the fun no?

When I bought the Z over an S2000, Cayman, 370z it was a small factor the depreciation.

The rarity and the looks did it for me. The surprisingly low running costs and depreciation were a happy bonus.

What are you looking at for the moment?

 

[inkey$]

The current prices of Z4MCs (which seem to be being offloaded due to running costs, covid etc) are IMO artificially inflating prices of Z4Cs.

On the whole, Z4MCs prices seem to have plateaued in recent years, so the amount of them hanging around with seller not willing to budge also helps maintain and grow cars below it.

People get it. Servicing and running costs for an M just isn’t practical for most people at the moment. How can they get their hands on something that looks similar, feels semi-rare but with half the everyday running costs? Enter the Z4C and it’s inflated value due to increased demand.

 

[bmbardo]

I’m looking currently, not just for an Si but other modern classics. I’m looking for no cost motoring on the capital outlay over the years of ownership. That’s achievable, but not paying over the odds for an overpriced example that will return to its place in the market.
[/quote

Remind me to never buy from or sell to you!

I agree with the fact you don't want to lose a sh1t load of cash on a car selling it but don't you enjoy getting a car to where you want it to be buy spending some dollar on it? Part of the fun no?

When I bought the Z over an S2000, Cayman, 370z it was a small factor the depreciation.

The rarity and the looks did it for me. The surprisingly low running costs and depreciation were a happy bonus.

What are you looking at for the moment?

I’m on my 53rd car I think, perhaps a few more, and I’ve spent plenty over the years. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t seek perfection and I prefer something I can make better, without mods. I love detailing cars, and rare models / colours always attract me. For example, I bought a low miles Mora Z3 that was lovely, but could have been so much better. By the time I’d finished with her, she was show standard. I don’t look to make money, but the cars that interest me are not ones that will lose me cash.

Currently considering another Z4C or Z4R, in Si spec. Also looking at the TT Sport 240, Infiniti G37s, 135i Coupe, 986s........

 

[Mr Tidy]

I bought my first Z4C in 2014 and prices seemed pretty stable until the later part of 2019 when they dropped a bit. And when I was selling mine in January 2020 (admittedly not the best time of year for selling a car) I struggled to get any interest and was relieved to sell it before lockdown! But when lockdown ended prices just took off and have stayed that way. I was a bit disapppointed, but then the same factors meant I got my Z4MC for a good price in December 2019 and you can't have it both ways. :lol:

I think one of the main factors may be that low mileage Z4C are quite rare because more of them were daily drivers in their early years - MCs seemed more likely to be 2nd cars. My 2nd 3.0Si did over 50K miles before it had its first MOT but my MC did less than half that!

But it's a similar trend with other BMWs. Good low mileage E46 330Cis (especially facelift models) fetch strong money, but M3s still fetch more!

And I still can't see 3.0Sis reaching MC values (hopefully :lol: ) because while they may look almost the same there is a world of difference in how they drive. Even if they do I'll still keep my MC regardless of the higher running costs.

 

[mgrlane]

I’m looking currently, not just for an Si but other modern classics. I’m looking for no cost motoring on the capital outlay over the years of ownership. That’s achievable, but not paying over the odds for an overpriced example that will return to its place in the market.
[/quote

Remind me to never buy from or sell to you!

I agree with the fact you don't want to lose a sh1t load of cash on a car selling it but don't you enjoy getting a car to where you want it to be buy spending some dollar on it? Part of the fun no?

When I bought the Z over an S2000, Cayman, 370z it was a small factor the depreciation.

The rarity and the looks did it for me. The surprisingly low running costs and depreciation were a happy bonus.

What are you looking at for the moment?

I’m on my 53rd car I think, perhaps a few more, and I’ve spent plenty over the years. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t seek perfection and I prefer something I can make better, without mods. I love detailing cars, and rare models / colours always attract me. For example, I bought a low miles Mora Z3 that was lovely, but could have been so much better. By the time I’d finished with her, she was show standard. I don’t look to make money, but the cars that interest me are not ones that will lose me cash.

Currently considering another Z4C or Z4R, in Si spec. Also looking at the TT Sport 240, Infiniti G37s, 135i Coupe, 986s........

I would love the MK1 TT. The classic shape really ticks the box's for me. A guy on our road has one and I love it.

I never considered one before my Z. I should have.

 

[bmbardo]

I’m on my 53rd car I think, perhaps a few more, and I’ve spent plenty over the years. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t seek perfection and I prefer something I can make better, without mods. I love detailing cars, and rare models / colours always attract me. For example, I bought a low miles Mora Z3 that was lovely, but could have been so much better. By the time I’d finished with her, she was show standard. I don’t look to make money, but the cars that interest me are not ones that will lose me cash.

Currently considering another Z4C or Z4R, in Si spec. Also looking at the TT Sport 240, Infiniti G37s, 135i Coupe, 986s........

I would love the MK1 TT. The classic shape really ticks the box's for me. A guy on our road has one and I love it.

I never considered one before my Z. I should have.

If you do, I’d suggest looking for the Sport 240. They are a great and fun drive. Most have Pole Position seats and all have the rear bench removed, but still with creature comforts.

I miss my Z4C, no turbo, just the straight 6. If I see the right one, it will be hard to ignore.

 

[idej_z4]

The current prices of Z4MCs (which seem to be being offloaded due to running costs, covid etc) are IMO artificially inflating prices of Z4Cs.

On the whole, Z4MCs prices seem to have plateaued in recent years, so the amount of them hanging around with seller not willing to budge also helps maintain and grow cars below it.

People get it. Servicing and running costs for an M just isn’t practical for most people at the moment. How can they get their hands on something that looks similar, feels semi-rare but with half the everyday running costs? Enter the Z4C and it’s inflated value due to increased demand.

Agree. Main reason I've never made the jump to the ///M. As a second car, the running costs are just a bit unjustifiable (for me).

The future it electric and we're all going to end up that way. Eventually only the real enthusiast will own the either model, but at that point running costs won't matter to the owners. The S54 will win in the end given its reputation.

Truth is drive it, love it enjoy it while you can.