BMW Z4 E89. Why won't it sell??

BMW Z4 E89. Why won't it sell??

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Discussion

Fox-

13,227 posts

245 months

Tuesday 21st April 2015
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There are few buyers, so it'll take a while to sell. Don't keep slashing the price because the car looks priced well and the right buyer will come along.

My 335i took 9 weeks to sell - I didn't drop the price once, had almost no interest whatsoever but eventually the right buyer popped up and paid my asking price.

Mr Tidy

22,037 posts

126 months

Tuesday 21st April 2015
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The market for cars like this is limited, but for cars at this price level from private adverts even more limited.
But I would agree, don't just slash the price unless it really has to go quickly.
I know it's rather different but I put my 123d on AutoTrader last year. It was the cheapest non-Cat C or D advertised but it was over 3 weeks before anyone actually came to see it - still the first to see it did buy it!
The Z4C I bought privately to replace it had also been on AT for over a month so I think it is just a question of waiting for the right person to see it.
Good luck! thumbup

*Al*

3,830 posts

221 months

Wednesday 17th August 2016
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Sorry for the resurrection of the post but did the car sell? I'd love a happy ending!

hilly10

7,068 posts

227 months

Thursday 18th August 2016
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It's been 18 months ago now I bet everyone has forgotten.

Vroomer

1,864 posts

179 months

Thursday 18th August 2016
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Struggling to see the point of reviving this thread.
confusedconfusedconfused

JonV8V

7,173 posts

123 months

Thursday 18th August 2016
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Vroomer said:
Struggling to see the point of reviving this thread.
confusedconfusedconfused
I struggle to see the point of most threads, no compulsion to read any of them.

If the OP had come back and said - yes, found the buyer via bimmer net or something like that we'd have learnt something.

gcb202

Original Poster:

8 posts

189 months

Thursday 18th August 2016
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Hi All, you'll be pleased to hear it did sell! With new pictures, It took another 2 months on Autotrader. I think most people with a z4 go for the smaller engines.

Spuffington

1,203 posts

167 months

Thursday 18th August 2016
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gcb202 said:
Hi All, you'll be pleased to hear it did sell! With new pictures, It took another 2 months on Autotrader. I think most people with a z4 go for the smaller engines.
Thanks for updating (even though I didn't revive). But read with interest since I have the 23i and agonised over the more powerful variants. In the end, a testdrive proved that it was no slouch and I'm very happy with it but had wondered what effect that would have on my resale. Seems for once I may have made the right decision as far as resale is concerned.

I did notice, however, that there are LOADS of 23i's on the BMW AUC website at the moment. Not many M Sports but that's got to depress values a bit, I guess.

Anyway OP, a long time passed since you were selling yours. Hope you're not missing the Zed too much and enjoying what you're currently driving?

tonymor

1,475 posts

171 months

Thursday 18th August 2016
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Ive a 2.31 not wishing to sell but apparently I believe the zed 5 is two years away so one would think that might retain some interest for potential buyers . I'm amazed at some of the values / prices of M versions now even though they are not branded as mpg attractive to say the least .

Mr Tidy

22,037 posts

126 months

Friday 19th August 2016
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tonymor said:
Ive a 2.31 not wishing to sell but apparently I believe the zed 5 is two years away so one would think that might retain some interest for potential buyers . I'm amazed at some of the values / prices of M versions now even though they are not branded as mpg attractive to say the least .
Are you sure? I can quite understand why any M may be desirable as at that level mpg is irrelevant, but cannot understand why a wheezy 2.0,2.2 or 2.3 would ever look appealing?rolleyes

iSore

4,011 posts

143 months

Friday 19th August 2016
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Mr Tidy said:
cannot understand why a wheezy 2.0,2.2 or 2.3 would ever look appealing?rolleyes
Look at how many MGB's were sold! The E89 has never had any appeal to me at all - the 3.0 E85 however wasn't a bad car at all and the Coupe version was (is) a lovely thing.

The trouble with the E89 is that it's a lot of money for a car that doesn't really do much more than an MX5 as a pure sports car.

tonymor

1,475 posts

171 months

Friday 19th August 2016
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I had an e 85 3.0 si and it was great . Ok the E 89 in any engine size might not be everything to every pun but what is .
For me the E 89 has the refinements that to me are an arguable trade off .

hilly10

7,068 posts

227 months

Friday 19th August 2016
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The smaller engines sell well in the E89 but in E85 guise they struggle to sell. It seems everyone wants the 3.0

rockford22

357 posts

131 months

Friday 19th August 2016
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I sold my tidy E85 3.0i in a record breaking 54 minutes. I posted the advert on AutoTrader and before I had even had chance to eat dinner I had a call from a buyer who subsequently paid a deposit that evening and drove away in the car a few days later.

I now have an E89 35i (my second) and must admit there was virtually nothing on the market that I met my criteria - I watched for over a month before a remotely suitable one came up and even then it was not ideal. The Z435i is a reasonably rare model and I imagine the vast majority of buyers are after the looks/convertible but with no real interest in the power plant or gearbox combo.

I think (unfortunately) that the E89 35i is a pretty unloved beast. Hasn't stopped me having two though.

trickywoo

11,678 posts

229 months

Friday 19th August 2016
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A big problem with the twin turbo is perceived reliability. Right or wrong there are lots of reports about expensive injector faults as well as turbo related issues.

Mr Tidy

22,037 posts

126 months

Saturday 20th August 2016
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iSore said:
Look at how many MGB's were sold! The E89 has never had any appeal to me at all - the 3.0 E85 however wasn't a bad car at all and the Coupe version was (is) a lovely thing.

The trouble with the E89 is that it's a lot of money for a car that doesn't really do much more than an MX5 as a pure sports car.
What impeccable taste you have! thumbup

I'm on my 2nd Coupe (E86)! Fantastic cars IMHO.

With E89s I can see why a 20i or 23i may not offer much more than an MX5, but I would have thought the 35i would be in a different league - but then I suppose plenty of convertible buyers are looking for show more than go!

ruggedscotty

5,606 posts

208 months

Saturday 20th August 2016
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the 23i sdrive I beg to differ about the comparison to the MX5....

The Z is roomier and the 23 has a six cylinder 205hp engine. get the roof down and hoof a 23i and you will see the difference to the MX5. plus the MX5 isnt German.

picked mine up three years ago for 15k. think I could sell it now for 12-13k people want the six for the noise.

XMT

3,774 posts

146 months

Sunday 21st August 2016
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90% of the time its price which it looks like in your case it is.

Private sellers tend of have a bad habit of doing this (over pricing!), compare your car to what dealers are selling them for, at this price point you need to be around 3k lower.

If your car has double the millage that another car at a dealer has then take a further 1.5k off too.
Your colour combo (black/Black?) is the dullest combo possile (no offense). Black with oyster leather, white with black, white with red would be MUCH MUCH better, its a z4!.

As others have said your advert doesn't help either. Good Luck!

essayer

8,974 posts

193 months

Sunday 21st August 2016
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OP sold it over a year ago hehe

Vroomer

1,864 posts

179 months

Sunday 21st August 2016
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XMT said:
90% of the time its price which it looks like in your case it is.

Private sellers tend of have a bad habit of doing this (over pricing!), compare your car to what dealers are selling them for, at this price point you need to be around 3k lower.

If your car has double the millage that another car at a dealer has then take a further 1.5k off too.
Your colour combo (black/Black?) is the dullest combo possile (no offense). Black with oyster leather, white with black, white with red would be MUCH MUCH better, its a z4!.

As others have said your advert doesn't help either. Good Luck!
Colour is a personal thing: I think black & black is one of the best. And I find your choices a bit tacky! (No offence!)