Z4M running costs advice

[philip27]

Ok part of me can't believe I am considering this but I may be in the market for a Z4M in a few months time. I have owned my current 2.5 for almost 4 years now and as much as I love it the itch to change is starting grow. Originally I was considering upgrading to an E89 later this year but after a couple of conversations with friends who said why don't you just go for an M I found myself looking and doing more reading on them.

I'm under no elusions these are not cheap cars to run and I was wondering what the real world costs are of maintaining a car like this is. I have looked into insurance and it's not as bad as I thought and I know I will just have to swallow the extra tax and fuel costs. But what should I realistically budget each month to maintain it in terms of servicing and parts such as brakes, tyres etc.

My 2.5 has been very realliable over the years except for suffering from usual Z4 faults such as window regulators airbag light all things I knew were common before hand. How reliable are the Z4M's when properly maintained ?

The car will be a daily driver and cover around 7 - 8k a year based on my current commute and general driving. This is a pretty big decision for me as I never even considered owning a Z4M before I just disregarded them as being to expensive for me so if I decided to go for one I want to be prepared for the potential costs along the way like I was with my 2.5

I now await all the comments saying don't worry about the cost just get one because they are great :lol:

 

[AndyBeech]

Ok part of me can't believe I am considering this but I may be in the market for a Z4M in a few months time. I have owned my current 2.5 for almost 4 years now and as much as I love it the itch to change is starting grow. Originally I was considering upgrading to an E89 later this year but after a couple of conversations with friends who said why don't you just go for an M I found myself looking and doing more reading on them.

I'm under no elusions these are not cheap cars to run and I was wondering what the real world costs are of maintaining a car like this is. I have looked into insurance and it's not as bad as I thought and I know I will just have to swallow the extra tax and fuel costs. But what should I realistically budget each month to maintain it in terms of servicing and parts such as brakes, tyres etc.

My 2.5 has been very realliable over the years except for suffering from usual Z4 faults such as window regulators airbag light all things I knew were common before hand. How reliable are the Z4M's when properly maintained ?

The car will be a daily driver and cover around 7 - 8k a year based on my current commute and general driving. This is a pretty big decision for me as I never even considered owning a Z4M before I just disregarded them as being to expensive for me so if I decided to go for one I want to be prepared for the potential costs along the way like I was with my 2.5

I now await all the comments saying don't worry about the cost just get one because they are great :lol:

It's an impossible question really as it will totally depend on the car you buy and its condition. If it needs brakes all round for example, expect a £700+ bill. Tyres depends on your preference, at least £130 odd a corner though. Servicing costs for oil and inspection depends on where you take it but oil service £160 odd, Insp 1 £450, Insp 2 £550-600, all roughly. They are reliable, but accept that if something does need replacing out of your control, it gets M taxed and will always cost a bit more than you would expect.

Over and above a regular Z4, its really the cost of petrol and the tax that will be the biggest hit month to month! Mine's a second car and enjoys around 23mpg, according to the comp, when my old 3.0si was more like 30mpg. And you do notice it, filling it up more regularly. Find a decent example and you'll be fine though. If it needs nothing other than the usual servicing you'll not really notice the difference over a standard Zed in that respect.

The only time costs really spiral on an M is if you get a problem that's not clear cut and you have to start replacing lots of parts, as individual parts are bloody expensive and you can rack up £££ very quickly.
(Oh and any mods you may decide to do add up pretty quick as well!)

 

[Fast3000]

As already mentioned it's going to be expensive but the grin factor all me makes you forget
£500 road tax
Around £700? For front discs pads?
Big service £1k?
Small service £500?
Insurance varies of course but I pay £340

Again it depends on the car and how it s been treated in the past.

Had mine over a year now still can't believe I own one. Keeping some money aside for maintainance!

Take your time finishing the right one also.

 

[DPG]

As already mentioned it's going to be expensive but the grin factor all me makes you forget
£500 road tax
Around £700? For front discs pads?
Big service £1k?
Small service £500?
Insurance varies of course but I pay £340

Again it depends on the car and how it s been treated in the past.

Had mine over a year now still can't believe I own one. Keeping some money aside for maintainance!

Take your time finishing the right one also.

Plus if you want a BMW insured warranty expect to pay about £90 a month with £250 excess.

 

[MickAdams]

Costs have been covered already, but they're not all that expensive to own for what they are, just think of it like this... It's total cost of ownership that counts, not just the ongoing running costs. With the M prices holding strongly as they are, even if buying an older E89 you've probably got an extra £1-2k per year depreciation, that will easily cover any extra running costs associated with the M, and give you plenty of change too. Getting the M will probably end up saving you money* 8)


*Man maths doesn't always work out as we plan

 

[DPG]

Costs have been covered already, but they're not all that expensive to own for what they are, just think of it like this... It's total cost of ownership that counts, not just the ongoing running costs. With the M prices holding strongly as they are, even if buying an older E89 you've probably got an extra £1-2k per year depreciation, that will easily cover any extra running costs associated with the M, and give you plenty of change too. Getting the M will probably end up saving you money* 8)


*Man maths doesn't always work out as we plan

+1

 

[srhutch]

Costs have been covered already, but they're not all that expensive to own for what they are, just think of it like this... It's total cost of ownership that counts, not just the ongoing running costs. With the M prices holding strongly as they are, even if buying an older E89 you've probably got an extra £1-2k per year depreciation, that will easily cover any extra running costs associated with the M, and give you plenty of change too. Getting the M will probably end up saving you money* 8)


*Man maths doesn't always work out as we plan

+1

+2

 

[stevo///m3]

I agree with the second post. You define expensive, we can tell you whether it will be so. Without that, it's all pie-in-the-sky. It costs more if it goes wrong - but will it go wrong? Tax is more, come what may. Fuel is more per litre if you put the good stuff in. Disks, pads, general repairs are all M taxed but buy carefully and, as Mick alludes to, it could be a great purchase as you'll not likely lose a great deal - if you are sensible with it. Do your research (plenty of info on here), you'll be fine. Get it bought!
Stevo

 

[philip27]

Thanks for the replys some useful information the strong prices are definetly a consideration in this. It's not so much if it goes bang and you get a big bill that could happen on any car at any time. It was more being able to say besides from tax petrol etc as I know I will take a hit on these I should budget this much a month to keep the car in good condition and well maintained.

 

[MickAdams]

It's useful to look at the costs over the period they'll be happening too I think. With your 8k miles per year, you're looking at rougly 6 years per full cycle of the servicing schedule so in 6 years you'll have (with my rough current prices using an indy):

• 2 x Oil change = £350
• 1 x Insp 1 = £400
• 1 x Insp 2 = £550
• 3 x brake fluid = £240
• 1 x full set of brakes + extra set of pads? = £900
• 6 x VED = £3000
• 6 x MOT = £350
• 48k @ 23mpg petrol = £11574
• 4 x set of tyres? = £2400

So £19764 total means £3294 per year + insurance, depreciation and any unexpected repairs. Not bad IMO for the experience

 

[beanie]

Bloody hell, did you really have to go and add it all up?!

:lol:

( runs off to check twingo prices....)

 

[srhutch]

Getting through you tyres quickly also :lol:

Need to do negative payment for cheaper insurance. That's at least a £200 saving over 4 years for me :lol:

 

[Bing]

Bloody hell, did you really have to go and add it all up?!

:lol:

+1 - that's borderline out of order :lol:

I reckon you'll need at least two sets of front brakes in 6 years though, especially if you're driving it I a manner that requires four full sets of tyres

 

[ncrossy1980]

Asides from all the costs associated, which are well documented above, take one out for a long long long test drive. The drive in the M can be quite loud, bumpy, if you're already in a bad mood it could put you in a worse mood stuck in slow moving traffic without the chance to give it the beans to cheer you up! I absolutely adore it on sunny days taking it out for impromptu spins, but when I drive to work at the crack of dawn I do enjoy the comfort of a big ol' 3 series floating on air.
Each to their own, if you're happy with the sporty ride day in and day out then for me it's a corker, and an honor to own such a glorious car.

 

[markos]

I think for what they offer they're extremely reasonable to run and own, and you can always sell it after a year if you're finding it too much of course.

 

[MickAdams]

Getting through you tyres quickly also :lol:

Need to do negative payment for cheaper insurance. That's at least a £200 saving over 4 years for me :lol:

Well the tyres was a bit of a guess I put 2 new rears on mine just after I got it but haven't needed any more yet.

 

[Adamski]

All in all, I reckon mine costs me the following, monthly:

Tax - £45 (rounded up)
Insurance - £80 (you can all f**k off with your cheap insurance )
Servicing - £40 (oil service each year or big service every second year)
Consumables - £100 (I've replaced brakes and tyres, everyone has to at some point)
Fuel - £82 (at 4,500 miles per year), or £20 p.m. more than a 3.0i would cost
Warranty - £70 per month (ish), can't remember how much a year costs

Total per month - £417. Thank god there's no finance on top, or it would be like a second mortgage :lol:

 

[Z4M-2006]

Conversely..

I use mine everyday even though I don't do many miles...

On a weekly basis ....

Insurance £5
Tax £10
Fuel £25
Tyres have been on for 2 years and still have 5mm all round.
Front brakes have been on nearly 4 years according to history, pads have approx 30% left and discs will not need changing.
Rear discs and pads changed approx 12k ago and pads are approx 50% worn.

It's had one service... Oil service..

2 front sidelight bulbs ..

It's supercar performance on a budget

 

[CornishRob]

It all depends on how its used I think. If its just taken out at weekends and thrashed etc, then you will use things like tyres and brakes much more heavily.

I had my car from about 25k miles which was about 3 years ago. Currently on 49k

In that time, I have had:

3 x Tax £1500 ish
New set of front brakes (All under AUC warranty) inc Calliper etc due to it being seized
2 Oil Services I think say £150 each (But that's one more than necessary as I do an extra about every 7-8k miles)
Insp 2 at Indy £800ish
New set of MPSS Tyres all round (£700 fitted) only a couple of months ago, so they probably have 15-20k of mileage in them going by wear reports

Obviously things like tax and fuel is all dependant on the person, and not the car. I bank on about 20ppm roughly

Warranty is a personal thing really, but its just an insurance policy. The insurance company will always win overall, It just depends if your one of the unlucky ones that they would have to pay out to if you don't have a warranty. I never bothered past the years AUC when I purchased the car.

Going forward, I only really have oil changes to do, and possibly rear brakes and anything that goes wrong to fix.

All in all, I think they work out very reasonable for an M car used as a daily.

 

[MrPT]

All in all, I reckon mine costs me the following, monthly:

Tax - £45 (rounded up)
Insurance - £80 (you can all f**k off with your cheap insurance )
Servicing - £40 (oil service each year or big service every second year)
Consumables - £100 (I've replaced brakes and tyres, everyone has to at some point)
Fuel - £82 (at 4,500 miles per year), or £20 p.m. more than a 3.0i would cost
Warranty - £70 per month (ish), can't remember how much a year costs

Total per month - £417. Thank god there's no finance on top, or it would be like a second mortgage :lol:

OP - this might be handy...

I do similar mileage and have similar insurance costs in a 2.5si to Adamski in his ///M, but don't pay for a warranty. Monthly average over two years is £290 (including some modest mods). I don't think your 2.5 (or the facelift 3.0si, for example) would be far off that.

So £50 - £60 a month difference in this particular case. Tantalising.