2007 BMW Z4 3.0 Manual

Highlights

• Desirable 3-litre (N52) with manual transmission

• Just 55,543 miles on the clock, verified

• Superb Monaco Blue over Caramel spec

• Ex-demonstrator model

• Comprehensive history file

Overview

There comes a tipping point with most cars, where they either nudge over from “older car” into “cool retro car”, or go from “they’re everywhere” to “I haven’t seen one of those in ages”. It’s a strange transition, and one that can happen quite quickly. The wonderful thing about the BMW Z4 is that it kind of ticks both boxes.

It doesn’t seem so long ago that the E85 was launched, to much fanfare, as a prime example of Chris Bangle’s design philosophy. It was a car that certainly enjoyed much popularity in its heyday, but how many do you see now? They’re starting to become a little rare, certainly in good condition. And that makes them even cooler.

What makes this particular example amongst the coolest is the hulking great 3-litre inline-six lurking under that sinuous bonnet. It’s the later N52 as well, which means it’s good for a chunky 262bhp. Add to that the fact that this was specified with a proper six-speed manual transmission and you have a car that ticks an awful lot of boxes for us PHers. And we haven’t even mentioned the droolsome Monaco Blue over Caramel colour scheme. Which, as you may have surmised, we’re huge fans of.

Originally a dealer demonstrator, the car had a single private owner from 2008 until early 2024, and they clearly cherished it, keeping track over every penny they spent in maintenance and servicing. Usually we don’t recommend doing that, as the big number at the bottom can get a bit scary, particularly if your significant other sees it. However, in this case, it gives us real confidence that this fabulous roadster has been properly looked after.

Coming with genuinely low mileage, a solid service record and the kind of specification that makes us go all wistful and nostalgic, we think this lovely Z4 is a cracker. We also reckon it’s the kind of car that will soon start to get very collectible indeed. After all, how many manual roadsters with a naturally-aspirated inline-six are being made these days? Precisely.

History and documentation

• First registered on 19 July 2007

• Originally registered as a dealer demonstrator

• One prior private owner, current owner since February 2024

• We’re told that the car has always been kept garaged

• 55,543 miles on the clock, verified by the service and MOT records

• Stamped service book and invoices detail services as follows: Jul 2010 @ 15,396 miles, Jul 2011 @ 21,809 miles, Jul 2013 @ 29,839 miles, Jul 2016 @ 39,213 miles, May 2021 @ 49,955 miles, Apr 2025 @ 55,064 miles

• Full document pack

• Collection of invoices for maintenance and servicing, as well as the original sales invoice

• Hand-written record of all spending undertaken by the original owner from 2008 to 2024

• Three keys

• Current MOT with no advisories expires 3 Aug 2026

• V5 present in owner’s name

• HPI clear

• The car was on a private registration until recently, but has been put back onto the original age related registration YB07ZXP for the auction

• London ULEZ compliant

Interior

• Lovely BMW Individual Nappa leather upholstery in Caramel

• All of the leather looks to be in good condition, with no notable wear, tears, sagging or damage, just a little gentle creasing to the seats

• Electrically adjustable seats, with 3-memory function on the driver’s side

• Heated seats

• BMW Individual piano black trim

• Dealer fitted Comfort pack

• Electrically operated side windows, folding soft-top roof and door mirrors

• Air-conditioning

• OEM wind deflector

• Black carpets, which show very well, with no threading or obvious damage

• Complementary black over-mats, which feature Caramel binding to match the rest of the upholstery

• Multi-function steering wheel

• 6CD/radio system

• Automatic headlights

• Cruise control

• Rear parking sensors

• Tyre pressure monitoring system

• All of the controls present well, with no damage to see, just a little wear to the gear stick and steering wheel, but only what is commensurate with the car’s age and mileage

• The interior trim shows well, with a light patina from use, but no cracking or warping we could identify

• The boot is generous and neatly trimmed with dark grey carpet which looks to be free from tears or staining

• No faults or issues are reported with any of the cabin’s functions or features

Exterior

• Deep Monaco Blue paintwork, which beautifully complement the Caramel upholstery and silver wheels

• The car benefitted from 4x new wings and a complete respray in the original Monaco Blue in 2021 (wings replaced due to bubbling corrosion)

• The vendor tells us that the car was fully detailed and ceramic coated in January 2025

• We noted a few minor blemishes and stone chips in the paintwork as well as a small scuff to the lower edge of the front bumper – much less than we’d expect for a car of this type and age

• All of the bodywork looks to be in excellent condition, with no corrosion, dents, misalignment or uneven panel gaps that we could see

• Similarly, the external trim and badging all appears to be complete and sound, with no significant UV damage

• The Xenon headlights and rear light clusters are clean and clear, apparently free from any cracks or chips

• We noted some condensation in the lower front bumper fog lights

• Underneath everything appears to be straight and clean, with some light corrosion to the sill seams

• The vendor tells us that the underside has been Waxoyl treated and more recently has had the rear cleaned and Lanoguarded

• The original alloys became porous after a few years, so the owner fitted a set of 18-inch Veemann alloy wheels

• Finished in silver, the alloy wheels contrast well with the paintwork and suit the car, they show a little wear and some minor kerbing to the lips, but nothing that would concern us

• The wheels are shod in a matched set of Dunlop Sport Maxx tyres (225/40 front and 255/35 rear) that all look to be in fine condition with no obvious sidewall damage or significant tread wear

Mechanical

• 2,996cc naturally-aspirated inline-six (N52)

• Six-speed manual transmission

• Rear-wheel drive

• Power-assisted steering, anti-lock braking, traction control

• Factory performance figures: 262bhp, 232lb-ft, 0-62mph in 5.7 seconds, 155mph top speed

• The service record indicates that the rear springs were renewed in 2012 and a new ABS pump was fitted in 2016.

• The engine bay is very clean and tidy, with no evidence of leaks or other issues we could discern

• We are assured by the vendor that the car drives “like new”, and no mechanical issues or faults are reported

Summary

From the urgent surge and banshee howl of that wonderful inline-six, to the striking, well-proportioned styling, great spec and solid history – everything about this Z4 gets us excited.

If you’re a keen driver, then there’s much here to admire. If you just want a pretty, fast and well-built roadster to wheel out for high-days and holidays, then there’s just as much to love.

To our mind, this era of BMW feels like a last hurrah for the brand’s “ultimate driving machine” mantra, before electrification and hybridisation began to neuter some of the feedback and exhilaration from the powertrains.

No mainstream manufacturers are making cars like this anymore, which is a damn shame in our view. And it means that cars like this will start to garner more attention from collectors and enthusiasts seeking old school thrills. Best jump on it before they go stratospheric then…

To arrange a viewing, click the 'Book Viewing' button located under the 'Place Bid' button. Viewings can be booked up until the day before the auction ends, after which the option will change to 'Contact Seller' for further enquiries. This seller is located in Redditch, Worcestershire.