Price guides - Z4

[MrCippo]

how expenisive would be to retrofit the M seats?

[steeevvvooo]

scz4 said:

I would say essentials on the Z4 are M Sport Seats (standard ones are terrible, you basically fall out the seat at every corner) and the carver hi-fi.

I do really like the M seats. Gives the car a much more sporty look and feel. The 2.0 sport I am also considering (2006 plate) has them as standard as well I think.

Can’t get the 3.0 out of my head though…

[Mr Whippy]

paoloh said:

Mr Whippy said:

steeevvvooo said:

Just spoke to a garage about another one, who would offer me £1200 for my px, but the screen price is 500 more. So basically, either one will cost £12,800 to trade up.

Am seriously considering them, but for that price I would want 12mth warranty, 12months tax, and newer tyres on one of them. (an a few hundred quid off as well!!). They are 55 and 05 plate cars, so I can’t seem to see any others advertised that are below £13,500 (although some 04 plates are also advertised above £14,000!)

The spec choice is killing me though!! One has leather m-sport (?) seats (the winged ones), while the other has Xenons. Both have heated leather and CD changer. The one with the seats is Manual, the other is auto…

Argggggh!!

Why are you worried about such a late model pre-facelift?

For £14-£15,000 you are beginning to look at average mileage, possibly still in warranty 3.0Si models which have the M sports seats as standard for example...

A member on z4-forum managed to get a BMW approved car still in main dealer warranty for £14,500 recently, for a 3.0Si with a nice spec!


Also, I'd not worry about your car trading in. It'll only confuse matters and cause strife with the dealer. Best to just go in full cash purchase and have ALL the buying power/strings to pull. Sell it privately... £1000 car is hardly worth worrying about selling quickly right now, especially against the amount your are stumping up for the tradeup to start with... all imho

Dave

???

Of course it is important to worry about his car.

If he doesn't sell it, he needs to insure, MOT etc etc

The dealer should be happy about taking in such an easy car to sell. At auction the Pug will walk away.

Well I guess it depends. If a dealer is making life difficult over a few hundred quid over a trade in, and you can't find the car you want anywhere else nice and local, or have found the right spec, I'd just worry about the car seperately if I knew I could get more just sending it to another dealer for cash for more.

I mean, if dealers start playing silly sods with the trade-in for your old car, for what it's worth, no need to make it break an otherwise good deal. In this case the dealer sounds like they want both cars their way, so probably best to walk away.


Also, I'm pretty sure right now that going in with cash to take a car off their hands is more preferable to them risk/cashflow wise than trading anything in.

Dave

[paoloh]

Mr Whippy said:

paoloh said:

Mr Whippy said:

steeevvvooo said:

Just spoke to a garage about another one, who would offer me £1200 for my px, but the screen price is 500 more. So basically, either one will cost £12,800 to trade up.

Am seriously considering them, but for that price I would want 12mth warranty, 12months tax, and newer tyres on one of them. (an a few hundred quid off as well!!). They are 55 and 05 plate cars, so I can’t seem to see any others advertised that are below £13,500 (although some 04 plates are also advertised above £14,000!)

The spec choice is killing me though!! One has leather m-sport (?) seats (the winged ones), while the other has Xenons. Both have heated leather and CD changer. The one with the seats is Manual, the other is auto…

Argggggh!!

Why are you worried about such a late model pre-facelift?

For £14-£15,000 you are beginning to look at average mileage, possibly still in warranty 3.0Si models which have the M sports seats as standard for example...

A member on z4-forum managed to get a BMW approved car still in main dealer warranty for £14,500 recently, for a 3.0Si with a nice spec!


Also, I'd not worry about your car trading in. It'll only confuse matters and cause strife with the dealer. Best to just go in full cash purchase and have ALL the buying power/strings to pull. Sell it privately... £1000 car is hardly worth worrying about selling quickly right now, especially against the amount your are stumping up for the tradeup to start with... all imho

Dave

???

Of course it is important to worry about his car.

If he doesn't sell it, he needs to insure, MOT etc etc

The dealer should be happy about taking in such an easy car to sell. At auction the Pug will walk away.

Well I guess it depends. If a dealer is making life difficult over a few hundred quid over a trade in, and you can't find the car you want anywhere else nice and local, or have found the right spec, I'd just worry about the car seperately if I knew I could get more just sending it to another dealer for cash for more.

I mean, if dealers start playing silly sods with the trade-in for your old car, for what it's worth, no need to make it break an otherwise good deal. In this case the dealer sounds like they want both cars their way, so probably best to walk away.


Also, I'm pretty sure right now that going in with cash to take a car off their hands is more preferable to them risk/cashflow wise than trading anything in.

Dave

Dave,

The Pug should be the cream of the deal. There is nothing better than a part ex owing you nothing! That Pug is a guaranteed profit and your stock has been turned.
The OP needs to be firmer and get the deal done his way!

[Mr Whippy]

MrCippo said:

how expenisive would be to retrofit the M seats?

BMW would apparently empty your wallet to the tune of over £5000 or something silly.

I'm sure if you found a written off Si model with good seats you could pick them up for £1000 or so, and then sell on your old ones for maybe £500...
It's just getting them heated and electric if that is what you have with your standard seats.

steeevvvooo said:

scz4 said:

I would say essentials on the Z4 are M Sport Seats (standard ones are terrible, you basically fall out the seat at every corner) and the carver hi-fi.

I do really like the M seats. Gives the car a much more sporty look and feel. The 2.0 sport I am also considering (2006 plate) has them as standard as well I think.

Can’t get the 3.0 out of my head though…

I'd not even look at the 2.0Si, the 2.5Si, imho, was only just acceptable at the bottom end, despite being nice top-end. The 2.0Si must just be dire everywhere wrt performance, and they are not that much cheaper to buy/run either... and will depreciate harder in the long run too.

If your budget really is ~ £14-£15,000 I'd wait for the 3.0Si to enter range, as it'll have the sports seats as standard.

I have no idea why BMW ever fitted the non sports seats to the early Z4's as standard, because the sports ones just make so much more sense in a car that you are likely to be pushing on in often!

[paoloh]

I have some M seats for sale.

£1000 buys them.

[a11y_m]

Agree with what's said above: if you want a decent bit of go it has to be a newer 2.5Si, an older 3.0i, or even the older 2.5i (although there's little point to that engine IMO because it gives worse performance than the 3.0i but roughly the same mpg).

But I don't agree with the comments about M Sport seats being essential: I really didn't find them that comfy in the car I tried. I'm not overweight but do have wide shoulders (I'm an ex-swimmer - notorious for having big shoulders) and it felt too snug in teh M Sport seats. Hence I've gone for the standards. May affect me at resale time but helped me when I bought anyway so evens itself out. So actually, yeah, if you can fit them comfortably then I'd say their essential actually!

[Mr Whippy]

paoloh said:

Mr Whippy said:

paoloh said:

Mr Whippy said:

steeevvvooo said:

Just spoke to a garage about another one, who would offer me £1200 for my px, but the screen price is 500 more. So basically, either one will cost £12,800 to trade up.

Am seriously considering them, but for that price I would want 12mth warranty, 12months tax, and newer tyres on one of them. (an a few hundred quid off as well!!). They are 55 and 05 plate cars, so I can’t seem to see any others advertised that are below £13,500 (although some 04 plates are also advertised above £14,000!)

The spec choice is killing me though!! One has leather m-sport (?) seats (the winged ones), while the other has Xenons. Both have heated leather and CD changer. The one with the seats is Manual, the other is auto…

Argggggh!!

Why are you worried about such a late model pre-facelift?

For £14-£15,000 you are beginning to look at average mileage, possibly still in warranty 3.0Si models which have the M sports seats as standard for example...

A member on z4-forum managed to get a BMW approved car still in main dealer warranty for £14,500 recently, for a 3.0Si with a nice spec!


Also, I'd not worry about your car trading in. It'll only confuse matters and cause strife with the dealer. Best to just go in full cash purchase and have ALL the buying power/strings to pull. Sell it privately... £1000 car is hardly worth worrying about selling quickly right now, especially against the amount your are stumping up for the tradeup to start with... all imho

Dave

???

Of course it is important to worry about his car.

If he doesn't sell it, he needs to insure, MOT etc etc

The dealer should be happy about taking in such an easy car to sell. At auction the Pug will walk away.

Well I guess it depends. If a dealer is making life difficult over a few hundred quid over a trade in, and you can't find the car you want anywhere else nice and local, or have found the right spec, I'd just worry about the car seperately if I knew I could get more just sending it to another dealer for cash for more.

I mean, if dealers start playing silly sods with the trade-in for your old car, for what it's worth, no need to make it break an otherwise good deal. In this case the dealer sounds like they want both cars their way, so probably best to walk away.


Also, I'm pretty sure right now that going in with cash to take a car off their hands is more preferable to them risk/cashflow wise than trading anything in.

Dave

Dave,

The Pug should be the cream of the deal. There is nothing better than a part ex owing you nothing! That Pug is a guaranteed profit and your stock has been turned.
The OP needs to be firmer and get the deal done his way!

How can it be guarantee'd profit?

It's only guaranteed profit if they make more sending it through the auctions than they offer off the Z4. If it helps the sale along, fine, then they get some stock movement and cash flow.
But to make a profit the dealer is clearly thinking that the car might not make this 'book' price at the auction, so is hedging their bets.



I agree, being firmer with the dealer is ideal, but ultimately if they bought that Z4 in many months ago and is looking at selling it right now for just a tiny profit to get it shifted, and can't move down on the price, nor make that much on the trade-in because auction prices are so low, then you are stuffed.

As said, new Z4's at the dealers in the last few days are all much better priced than those which were up six to eight weeks ago. They have clearly bought them recently cheaper and can sell them at a profit well undercutting the older stock on price.

There won't be a better deal I don't think, and the tiny difference of £300-£500 here or there on a trade-in and price reduction on the Z4 won't make the dealer any more money so why bother? Sell the car and possibly make a loss?


Crap times for dealers, really crap times

[paoloh]

Mr Whippy said:

paoloh said:

Mr Whippy said:

paoloh said:

Mr Whippy said:

steeevvvooo said:

Just spoke to a garage about another one, who would offer me £1200 for my px, but the screen price is 500 more. So basically, either one will cost £12,800 to trade up.

Am seriously considering them, but for that price I would want 12mth warranty, 12months tax, and newer tyres on one of them. (an a few hundred quid off as well!!). They are 55 and 05 plate cars, so I can’t seem to see any others advertised that are below £13,500 (although some 04 plates are also advertised above £14,000!)

The spec choice is killing me though!! One has leather m-sport (?) seats (the winged ones), while the other has Xenons. Both have heated leather and CD changer. The one with the seats is Manual, the other is auto…

Argggggh!!

Why are you worried about such a late model pre-facelift?

For £14-£15,000 you are beginning to look at average mileage, possibly still in warranty 3.0Si models which have the M sports seats as standard for example...

A member on z4-forum managed to get a BMW approved car still in main dealer warranty for £14,500 recently, for a 3.0Si with a nice spec!


Also, I'd not worry about your car trading in. It'll only confuse matters and cause strife with the dealer. Best to just go in full cash purchase and have ALL the buying power/strings to pull. Sell it privately... £1000 car is hardly worth worrying about selling quickly right now, especially against the amount your are stumping up for the tradeup to start with... all imho

Dave

???

Of course it is important to worry about his car.

If he doesn't sell it, he needs to insure, MOT etc etc

The dealer should be happy about taking in such an easy car to sell. At auction the Pug will walk away.

Well I guess it depends. If a dealer is making life difficult over a few hundred quid over a trade in, and you can't find the car you want anywhere else nice and local, or have found the right spec, I'd just worry about the car seperately if I knew I could get more just sending it to another dealer for cash for more.

I mean, if dealers start playing silly sods with the trade-in for your old car, for what it's worth, no need to make it break an otherwise good deal. In this case the dealer sounds like they want both cars their way, so probably best to walk away.


Also, I'm pretty sure right now that going in with cash to take a car off their hands is more preferable to them risk/cashflow wise than trading anything in.

Dave

Dave,

The Pug should be the cream of the deal. There is nothing better than a part ex owing you nothing! That Pug is a guaranteed profit and your stock has been turned.
The OP needs to be firmer and get the deal done his way!

How can it be guarantee'd profit?

It's only guaranteed profit if they make more sending it through the auctions than they offer off the Z4. If it helps the sale along, fine, then they get some stock movement and cash flow.
But to make a profit the dealer is clearly thinking that the car might not make this 'book' price at the auction, so is hedging their bets.



I agree, being firmer with the dealer is ideal, but ultimately if they bought that Z4 in many months ago and is looking at selling it right now for just a tiny profit to get it shifted, and can't move down on the price, nor make that much on the trade-in because auction prices are so low, then you are stuffed.

As said, new Z4's at the dealers in the last few days are all much better priced than those which were up six to eight weeks ago. They have clearly bought them recently cheaper and can sell them at a profit well undercutting the older stock on price.

There won't be a better deal I don't think, and the tiny difference of £300-£500 here or there on a trade-in and price reduction on the Z4 won't make the dealer any more money so why bother? Sell the car and possibly make a loss?


Crap times for dealers, really crap times

Dave,

If that dealer does not have at least £1k profit in the Z, he shouldn't be in business. Hence the Pug is pure profit.

He gets to re invest his original outlay in new stock at this months pricing and the pug is his profit.

Double bubble!

[Mr Whippy]

paoloh said:

Dave,

If that dealer does not have at least £1k profit in the Z, he shouldn't be in business. Hence the Pug is pure profit.

He gets to re invest his original outlay in new stock at this months pricing and the pug is his profit.

Double bubble!

Sorry, I think I'm missing something here

How is the Pug pure profit if it costs him when he reduces the asking price of the Z4?

Either he takes a £1000 Pug and knocks £1000 off the Z4, or he doesn't take the Pug and takes £1000 more cash for the Z4?

Either way, he takes £1000 extra cash for new stock, or takes on an old Pug as a potential liability?!

Dave

[paoloh]

Mr Whippy said:

paoloh said:

Dave,

If that dealer does not have at least £1k profit in the Z, he shouldn't be in business. Hence the Pug is pure profit.

He gets to re invest his original outlay in new stock at this months pricing and the pug is his profit.

Double bubble!

Sorry, I think I'm missing something here

How is the Pug pure profit if it costs him when he reduces the asking price of the Z4?

Either he takes a £1000 Pug and knocks £1000 off the Z4, or he doesn't take the Pug and takes £1000 more cash for the Z4?

Either way, he takes £1000 extra cash for new stock, or takes on an old Pug as a potential liability?!

Dave

The dealer is running the risk of losing a deal but not being fair with the PX.

Ie: His car is £13k owes him £12k, he takes £12k cash and £1k px. The PX is pure profit.

A deal is NOT done until it is done!

You can't have your cake and eat it, full profit and kick the client in the on his px.

[Ciao1]

Some interesting comments on here re: Spec. Personally I look at this kind of thing in 1) What I see as necessities and 2) Nice to have.

Have tried the seats in the Z4MC, if these are the 'Sports' seats then I agree they are nice, however by no means would I class them as must haves. IMHO

Interestingly, I've an SMG 3.0 for sale which may tick all your boxes?!
(shameless promotion over!)

[Mr Whippy]

paoloh said:

Mr Whippy said:

paoloh said:

Dave,

If that dealer does not have at least £1k profit in the Z, he shouldn't be in business. Hence the Pug is pure profit.

He gets to re invest his original outlay in new stock at this months pricing and the pug is his profit.

Double bubble!

Sorry, I think I'm missing something here

How is the Pug pure profit if it costs him when he reduces the asking price of the Z4?

Either he takes a £1000 Pug and knocks £1000 off the Z4, or he doesn't take the Pug and takes £1000 more cash for the Z4?

Either way, he takes £1000 extra cash for new stock, or takes on an old Pug as a potential liability?!

Dave

The dealer is running the risk of losing a deal but not being fair with the PX.

Ie: His car is £13k owes him £12k, he takes £12k cash and £1k px. The PX is pure profit.

A deal is NOT done until it is done!

You can't have your cake and eat it, full profit and kick the client in the on his px.

Ah yes thats fine and makes sense.

To make the sale he may as well give the OP £1200 and knock £1200 off his Z4 sale price, than just not sell the Z4.

I guess the economics for some traders right now is just so frightening that they are scared to do anything but just sell cars for the profit they inteded at the outset.

Ie, if he paid £12k for the car three months ago, but ones are now going through auctions or traded in for £11k at a similar spec and being sold at £12k trade, he can't do anything but just wait for the fish that will pay £13k, otherwise he loses out (assuming the trader is a bloke here btw )

Maybe that is why they are offering such an arse trade in value, just to recoup some loss they have made by having to drop the sale price.

Ultimately it is their perogative, hence maybe the OP is best just looking at cars that have just come to market at trade locations, as they will likely have more indicative prices.

Viscious nasty circle really, as said, I really do feel for the traders right now!

[Mr Whippy]

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/842411.htm

There we are. £15k for an Si with under 20,000 miles and probably a bit of oustanding warranty. Just no xenons.

To pay anywhere near £13,000 for an 03/04/05 3.0i, no matter what spec, when 3.0Si's are going for £15,000 would be MAD

Dave

[a11y_m]

Mr Whippy said:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/842411.htm

There we are. £15k for an Si with under 20,000 miles and probably a bit of oustanding warranty. Just no xenons.

To pay anywhere near £13,000 for an 03/04/05 3.0i, no matter what spec, when 3.0Si's are going for £15,000 would be MAD

Dave

Good price

[steeevvvooo]

Mr Whippy said:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/842411.htm

There we are. £15k for an Si with under 20,000 miles and probably a bit of oustanding warranty. Just no xenons.

To pay anywhere near £13,000 for an 03/04/05 3.0i, no matter what spec, when 3.0Si's are going for £15,000 would be MAD

Dave

Point taken. Think I’ll leave the 05.

I’m looking at 2 on Saturday. Both up for about 10-11k, one’s an 04 3.0l from a smaller dealer (will come with a fresh Insp1 service, but not by BMW), other is a 53 2.5l from BMW approved used with Zenons but 17s instead of 18s .

I think it’ll be one of these two now, depending on part-ex price and cost to trade up. The smaller garage only offered me £500 trade in this morning!!! Their screen price is £500 less though, so swings and roundabout.

I still want those seats though…

[Mr Whippy]

Well, I'd maybe look for a 2.5Si then, as it'll be faster than the old 2.5i, more modern (maybe in warranty for near £13,000), have the sporty wheels/seats as standard, but you do give up on some standard kit.
Also, the 2.5Si is 215bhp, so isn't all that slow when revved out. The 2.5i really isn't ever FAST though.

Honestly, I'd be looking at a 3.0i for ~ £10,000 with good options (and wait/hunt out some sports seats if you can't get one with them on), or get a 2.5Si if you are not all the fussed on power, but want the sports kit and a newer car.

I think there is still some prudence in waiting until late Feb or early March... summer might help the values, but I think it will only help them stop going down (all imho )

Dave

[Ment-Al]

Prices really are falling.

I paid £12k as a BMW AUC 2 months ago for a Jan 2005 2.5i SE with xenons, carver, heated sears, wind deflector, storage pack, electric folding mirrors and a couple of other bits on 44k miles which I thought was good.

Now seeing 54 plate 3.0's for sub £11k with similar spec. Not that I regret it for a moment as Ive used the warranty as well as it being spotless as they did all the dings etc.

Crucial for me was xenons and heated leather. Although wouldnt want another without carver.

Im going to go against the grain and say that the M Sport seats are actually more uncomfortable than the standard seats and there is no way you can almost 'fall out of' the standard seats.

Absolute bargains to be had, so best of luck!

ETA: I also got full tank of fuel, 12 months tax and 3 golf umbrellas from the deal.

Quickly mentioning the difference between 2.5i and 3.0i of the prefacelift variety, I agree that there is little point in the 2.5i if you are of the age whereby insurance is cheap anyway. There was a fair few hundred £ in the difference in insurance between 2.5 and 3.0 for me for whatever reason, so that is what swung it. The 2.5 is plenty quick enough, didnt notice any difference really low down although at the top end (not that we go there often as its naughty!!) it seems to pull a bit more.

2.0 seemed on par with the 2.2 IMO, both 'nippy' but not suiting the car. The noise, however, of the 6 pot when giving it some is worth every penny extra you will pay in fuel and insurance. Its intoxicating. The 2.0 only really made a 'look at me, im ragging my car to death, but not really going anywhere' type of noise - you know the one... you turn around and its a focus with a fart can and a tosser with a cap in the drivers seat?

The 6 pot noise is impressive, even when not giving it some, so no need to look a tosser!

<and breathe>

Edited by Ment-Al on Wednesday 7th January 14:49

[Ment-Al]

Mr Whippy said:

The 2.5i really isn't ever FAST though.

In which case, neither is the 3.0i... as there is very, very little in it.

[steeevvvooo]

Ment-Al said:

Prices really are falling.

Now seeing 54 plate 3.0's for sub £11k with similar spec. Not that I regret it for a moment as Ive used the warranty as well as it being spotless as they did all the dings etc.

Where are you seeing these? People are mentioning cheap cars on here, but I can’t ever find them?! I’ve only seen 03/53 for that money (assuming a half decent spec)

Insurance is not too bad, but still £150 between the 2.5 and 3.0 as the girlfriend only brings the price down about £30 (she’s 24, I’m 26 so lots of places won’t quote for her at all!)