Z4M buying advice requested

[Mr Tidy]

I always understood the OE exhausts were stainless, so maybe it has had after-market boxes fitted. :?

It wouldn't necessarily put me off if everything else was fine but I'd probably want to budget for replacements, after-market ideally for a bit more volume!

Anyway good luck tomorrow.

 

[Ed Doe]

I always understood the OE exhausts were stainless, so maybe it has had after-market boxes fitted. :?

Stainless is not rustless!! You want to see the state of some of the Stainless stuff offshore, it's unreal how rusty it gets!

 

[Gebbly]

Well the car drove very nicely but there are a few areas of concern which may or may not be a problem. I cant tell not having owned one before so if people could offer their opinions of the following it would be really helpful. For a start I opened the bonnet and turned the engine on listening for any ticking but it seemed ok. I left it running with the bonnet open to warm it up before a test drive. After about 25mins the oil temperature had just about got to 70degrees. I assumed it would warm up faster than that?

The bigger concern was the corrosion. The tiny spots of rust on the back boxes were a sign of things to come. Most exposed screw heads were rusty. I then lay on the flaw and tried to take photos of the (original) suspension and front and rear arms and they looked covered in rust. I'm a but worried but could people give me their thoughts? I have asked the dealer and he is happy for me to organise a Pre Purchase Inspection which I would definitely do. Does anyone know a good specialist in the Egham surrey area that could do this PPI?

Oh and the satnav seemed a little spartan and was a sod to use. Trying to get it to scan for a radio station was tricky and in the time I had I couldnt find how to bring up a map or put in a postcode.

Lastly, please see below for the photos I took of the rust...

 

[pvr]

Original suspension? Well, that won't work for sure.

My Z is Scottish, so was similarly attacked by rust. It did take me a while to clear all that up. Howewer, that was on a £6k car - how much is this one?

 

[Gebbly]

The advert is £22,950. I get the impression there is some negotiation room but probably not more than a couple of thousand.

 

[pvr]

You are looking at a complete suspension refresh for starters.

For that sort of money I would want a car that has been garaged and not been living near the sea by the looks of it.

 

[Zedebee]

The old adage of “buy on condition, not on mileage” is true here. At 22,950 you must be looking at a low mileage coupe, but that’s not been owned by any self-respecting car carer.
Look elsewhere.

 

[Ed Doe]

Personally for my money, I'd be getting straight in touch with Simon3.2 on here about his interlagos blue MC. Absolutely cracking spec, some very nice subtle modifications, really well looked after by a proper enthusiast (I know how Simon looks after his cars, he's EXACTLY the sort of person you want to buy a car from). It's higher mileage so not a garage queen, and wont give you any issues about depreciation for using the thing, and I believe he's very realistic on what sort of price he wants for it too.

Seriously have a chat with him - if nothing else if you buy his it'll stop me having terrible thoughts about buying his to sit alongside mine!! :lol:

EDIT: Here's his for sale thread if it helps

https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=144982

 

[Gebbly]

must be looking at a low mileage coupe

Thats correct. Its only done 56k miles. Last 4 years of its life apparently been in someones collection and barely driven. No receipts for extra work done just the service book and last service in the book was an inspection 1 in 2020. I was hoping its condition was going to be good but I'm not so sure now. Looking in the engine bay and in the wheel arches there were cobwebs and stuff. Had more of a feel of a barn find. I was prepared to pay close to that figure for a pristine example but I told the chap that one of my biggest concerns was the rust I could see.
My other thought is that that was just the corrosion I could see. I'm also worried that other areas I cant see are just as bad.

I was tempted by Simon's coupe that he has for sale and have reached out with a couple of initial questions. But I was hoping to get one with the built in satnav screen which Simon's does not have. Primarily because I was looking at installing an aftermarket screen that would have fit in the hole which would mean I wouldnt have to cut into the dash. I'm also a little scared of aftermarket suspension and lowering kits (probably overly so) because I dont want the ride to be too harsh. I am hoping to take it on driving holidays and want to be comfortable for several hours at a time.

 

[CliveN]

Although that rust isn’t likely to fail a mot I dont like it. My Z4MC was slightly more expensive than the one you saw and only 30,000 miles. It did have some rust on the trailing arms and suspension components but substantially less than this and a quick sand down and rust converter/paint it is now like new. It was edges rather than ubiquitous. I can’t see an easy fix here without substantial replacement and it is likely that the rust extends to the front subframe and inner parts of the rear subframe too. And with that potentially rust in the depths of the bodyshell where the trailing arms sit.

For the price I would give it a miss frankly and find one on here which has been looked after. This one looks like an albeit honest but not pampered example .

 

[Mr Tidy]

I wouldn't pay over £20K for one in that sort of condition Paul.

You'd be looking at a four figure bill to sort the rusty suspension and after an Inspection 1 in 2020 it's really due an Inspection 2 this year, so that'll be the best part of £1,000 too. That's before you get to the rusty back-boxes.

20 minutes to get the oil up to 70 degrees while idling doesn't sound like an issue, I think they get warmer quicker than that if driven. Mine takes anywhere from 5 to 10 miles depending on the time of year.

The OE Sat Nav is hopelessly outdated - you can't even use postcodes! But as you say people have put newer ones into the housing - I just use my trusty old Garmin.

 

[Gebbly]

Thanks for all the helpful advice everyone. I have contacted the dealer and said thanks but no thanks. The level of rust was just scaring me too much at what I felt was a top of the range price. So I am back on the hunt again and I think after recommendations in this thread and other
threads about the quality of Simons cars I will be contacting him about his Z4MC.

 

[LawrenceW]

think after recommendations in this thread and other
threads about the quality of Simons cars I will be contacting him about his Z4MC.

You could do far, far worse than have a chat with Simon and look at his lovely Z4MC - Good luck!

 

[Mr Tidy]

threads about the quality of Simons cars I will be contacting him about his Z4MC.

Definitely worth at least a chat with Simon, and his MC is a fantastic colour combo. It has done some miles, but has been looked after properly and putting more miles on it wouldn't really affect it's value, unlike a £20+K low miler!

 

[Ed Doe]

The main things are done on Simon's (vanos and Rod bearings) - imo the mileage shouldn't be in any way scary. Provided looked after these cars will do proper miles, and in some respects much like tvr's, they're far far better when regularly used than when sat doing nothing for long periods.

If I was in the market I'd have bought Simon's a long time ago!

 

[Gebbly]

Well the hunt is over. I visited Simon this afternoon. Great chap and very knowledgable. The interlagos z4mc is a beauty. We agreed a sale and I am hoping to travel up there again next saturday to collect her

Thanks ever so much for everybody helping with my questions in several postings on this forum. And a special thanks to MrTidy who let me visit and talk me through his car in advance and share some valuable tips.

I'll post a message in the New Members section when I get her home and take a snap.

 

[Doddsy]

Welcome to the club. I definitely feel like I don’t belong or don’t deserve to be in it, however enjoy every moment you have with it. They are magnificent :driving:

 

[Mr Tidy]

Well the hunt is over. I visited Simon this afternoon. Great chap and very knowledgable. The interlagos z4mc is a beauty. We agreed a sale and I am hoping to travel up there again next saturday to collect her

Thanks ever so much for everybody helping with my questions in several postings on this forum. And a special thanks to MrTidy who let me visit and talk me through his car in advance and share some valuable tips.

I'll post a message in the New Members section when I get her home and take a snap.

That's great news.

Simon's Interlagos Coupe is a beauty, but he lost his heart to Sepang Bronze!

As you're fairly local hopefully I'll see yours around.