If your worried..
Discussion
....about running an M you cant afford it?
I currently drive a 111R which has tbh had so much work done to it in the past 18 months i'm just not bothered about the experience of driving it anymore. So i've been looking at a tasty Z4MC over in the Edinburgh dealership. It ticks all the right boxes apart from the lack of sat nav and stereo upgrade which tbh i'm not all that bothered by.
What i have been having sleepless nights (that might be a bit of an exaggeration) is running costs.
It has fresh tyres, next service is an oil service (so cheap in comparison) in 15,000 miles and on my test drive i averaged 25.8 mpg... oh and has BMW warranty. So all is good, to get the Elise to go anywhere you need to be in second cam and i'm not kidding myself that it doesn't go down into mid 20's to get there the rest of the time its not the car you want it to be as i use it as my daily grind car.
But its next year which worries me, £400 tax, £700 service (at least) and £800 on fresh warranty.
Anyway i know only i know if i can afford it but thought i'd tap this out and see if anyone was in the same position as me.
Thanks
Tom
I currently drive a 111R which has tbh had so much work done to it in the past 18 months i'm just not bothered about the experience of driving it anymore. So i've been looking at a tasty Z4MC over in the Edinburgh dealership. It ticks all the right boxes apart from the lack of sat nav and stereo upgrade which tbh i'm not all that bothered by.
What i have been having sleepless nights (that might be a bit of an exaggeration) is running costs.
It has fresh tyres, next service is an oil service (so cheap in comparison) in 15,000 miles and on my test drive i averaged 25.8 mpg... oh and has BMW warranty. So all is good, to get the Elise to go anywhere you need to be in second cam and i'm not kidding myself that it doesn't go down into mid 20's to get there the rest of the time its not the car you want it to be as i use it as my daily grind car.
But its next year which worries me, £400 tax, £700 service (at least) and £800 on fresh warranty.
Anyway i know only i know if i can afford it but thought i'd tap this out and see if anyone was in the same position as me.
Thanks
Tom
Edited by CooperS on Sunday 20th February 18:44
funnily enough, i went from a 111R to a Z4M...
I havent found running costs an issue at all - the service intervals are long, and costs probably less than the Elise overall, with the exception of the warranty.
Though I am selling my Z4M, mainly because its not really a car for a 100-mile a day commute... shame really..
I havent found running costs an issue at all - the service intervals are long, and costs probably less than the Elise overall, with the exception of the warranty.
Though I am selling my Z4M, mainly because its not really a car for a 100-mile a day commute... shame really..
Fidgits said:
funnily enough, i went from a 111R to a Z4M...
I havent found running costs an issue at all - the service intervals are long, and costs probably less than the Elise overall, with the exception of the warranty.
Though I am selling my Z4M, mainly because its not really a car for a 100-mile a day commute... shame really..
LOL try 232 mile a day commute in an E46 M3...........I havent found running costs an issue at all - the service intervals are long, and costs probably less than the Elise overall, with the exception of the warranty.
Though I am selling my Z4M, mainly because its not really a car for a 100-mile a day commute... shame really..
Lovely!
Fidgits said:
funnily enough, i went from a 111R to a Z4M...
I havent found running costs an issue at all - the service intervals are long, and costs probably less than the Elise overall, with the exception of the warranty.
Though I am selling my Z4M, mainly because its not really a car for a 100-mile a day commute... shame really..
Could you tell me more? I.e. what was your length of ownership then associated costs? Sorry i cant help but think it isn't going to be much more but then i go Oerrr about things like warranties (which i dont have now on my elise).I havent found running costs an issue at all - the service intervals are long, and costs probably less than the Elise overall, with the exception of the warranty.
Though I am selling my Z4M, mainly because its not really a car for a 100-mile a day commute... shame really..
Also which did you enjoy more. I comute in mine daily in scotland and some days it really does grind and on others is simply fantastic and gives me the same feeling as i had in my mini's when i was 17.
CooperS said:
....about running an M you cant afford it?
I currently drive a 111R which has tbh had so much work done to it in the past 18 months i'm just not bothered about the experience of driving it anymore. So i've been looking at a tasty Z4MC over in the Edinburgh dealership. It ticks all the right boxes apart from the lack of sat nav and stereo upgrade which tbh i'm not all that bothered by.
What i have been having sleepless nights (that might be a bit of an exaggeration) is running costs.
It has fresh tyres, next service is an oil service (so cheap in comparison) in 15,000 miles and on my test drive i averaged 25.8 mpg... oh and has BMW warranty. So all is good, to get the Elise to go anywhere you need to be in second cam and i'm not kidding myself that it doesn't go down into mid 20's to get there the rest of the time its not the car you want it to be as i use it as my daily grind car.
But its next year which worries me, £400 tax, £700 service (at least) and £800 on fresh warranty.
Anyway i know only i know if i can afford it but thought i'd tap this out and see if anyone was in the same position as me.
Thanks
Tom
On the tax front are there any pre March 2006 Z4MC's? Will be £245 per year then.I currently drive a 111R which has tbh had so much work done to it in the past 18 months i'm just not bothered about the experience of driving it anymore. So i've been looking at a tasty Z4MC over in the Edinburgh dealership. It ticks all the right boxes apart from the lack of sat nav and stereo upgrade which tbh i'm not all that bothered by.
What i have been having sleepless nights (that might be a bit of an exaggeration) is running costs.
It has fresh tyres, next service is an oil service (so cheap in comparison) in 15,000 miles and on my test drive i averaged 25.8 mpg... oh and has BMW warranty. So all is good, to get the Elise to go anywhere you need to be in second cam and i'm not kidding myself that it doesn't go down into mid 20's to get there the rest of the time its not the car you want it to be as i use it as my daily grind car.
But its next year which worries me, £400 tax, £700 service (at least) and £800 on fresh warranty.
Anyway i know only i know if i can afford it but thought i'd tap this out and see if anyone was in the same position as me.
Thanks
Tom
Edited by CooperS on Sunday 20th February 18:44
I've just bought an E46 M3 Coupe (had a 111R before) and think that if you can find the right car there should be nothing stopping you buying it. Try to find one with new brakes, tyres and service and you should have a pretty affordable M car for the first year.
Fuel consumption wise its no worse than any other large engined performace car. Would just suggest that you try to put away a few quid every month to allow for the unforeseen events (tyres etc.)
Don't really have too much constructive to say other than I swapped my Elise s for a z4mc in the summer and I love it!
Both cars are fantasic in their own way and while I do worry about costs sometimes, we only pass this way once so may as well go for it.
My girlfriend is just about speaking to me again now though as she loved the Elise and thinks the M is too powerful and 'drives itself' .....
Both cars are fantasic in their own way and while I do worry about costs sometimes, we only pass this way once so may as well go for it.
My girlfriend is just about speaking to me again now though as she loved the Elise and thinks the M is too powerful and 'drives itself' .....
gjf764 said:
Don't really have too much constructive to say other than I swapped my Elise s for a z4mc in the summer and I love it!
Both cars are fantasic in their own way and while I do worry about costs sometimes, we only pass this way once so may as well go for it.
My girlfriend is just about speaking to me again now though as she loved the Elise and thinks the M is too powerful and 'drives itself' .....
LOL my girlfriend is of the same thinking Both cars are fantasic in their own way and while I do worry about costs sometimes, we only pass this way once so may as well go for it.
My girlfriend is just about speaking to me again now though as she loved the Elise and thinks the M is too powerful and 'drives itself' .....
I think i'll go for it..... how long can she hate me.....
I've had the z4m 2 years and done over 30,000 miles.
Tax is expensive at £440 a year, insurance was the same.
Services are variable - up to 15,000 miles between them, I generally get 13-14k between them. An oil service is about £200, inspection 1 about £650, inspection 2 £800. So for mine, it's just due an oil service, but for over 30k miles it's cost less than a grand for main dealer servicing.
Tyres are a bit more than the lotus, as is fuel, though you can still get over 30mpg if your good.
It's a much better car than the Elise, more usuable and more enjoyable overall, but it doesn't quite measure up to the perfect road on a perfect day thrill of the Elise.
That said, I've had some great moments with it.
Tax is expensive at £440 a year, insurance was the same.
Services are variable - up to 15,000 miles between them, I generally get 13-14k between them. An oil service is about £200, inspection 1 about £650, inspection 2 £800. So for mine, it's just due an oil service, but for over 30k miles it's cost less than a grand for main dealer servicing.
Tyres are a bit more than the lotus, as is fuel, though you can still get over 30mpg if your good.
It's a much better car than the Elise, more usuable and more enjoyable overall, but it doesn't quite measure up to the perfect road on a perfect day thrill of the Elise.
That said, I've had some great moments with it.
Edited by Fidgits on Sunday 20th February 22:03
I don't think there any early 06 MCs as they were released after the MR. On the z4 forum there's only one owner of an early MR. Basically no, but it's hardly the biggest expense. That is saved for warranty/servicing. Don't regret the change a bit but do regret giving away a perfectly good estate for the same price as an insp2 service. Doh!
Salom said:
If you're worried...
lol.... not everyone who can afford these cars can be as confident as others when deciding to put aside a chunk of wage each month for a car. Anyway best quote is £1600 with a 3k excess!!!!! or £1900 with Avia with £300
I'm not sure if its all worth the expense.... which is a shame as i had begun to be comfortable with all the other costs
Edited by CooperS on Monday 21st February 12:21
Lol... Live in city centre Edinburgh I'm 26, full no claims since I was 17. Been driving performance cars for 4 years..... (hot hatches and elise) so yer all a bit confusing. I pay 630 at the moment so 1800 is bit of a jump. What also is new is a mandated warranty in year 2 onwards which I currently don't pay for and the finance to bridge between my car and the M. Im going to sit on it for a bit and see what happens.
CooperS said:
Lol... Live in city centre Edinburgh I'm 26, full no claims since I was 17. Been driving performance cars for 4 years..... (hot hatches and elise) so yer all a bit confusing. I pay 630 at the moment so 1800 is bit of a jump.
Just to cheer you up, im 22 and pay £1,075 with a £2k excess on my M3 
dele said:
Just to cheer you up, im 22 and pay £1,075 with a £2k excess on my M3
Ah it really did. Thanks!Brig serious I think it has now put me in a position that will mean I will sell my lotus private (so getting another 2k for it) and when another comes up I'll only have to worry about the cars price in negotiating a good deal apposed to trying to get both to px and car price to tally up.
I will get a z4mc this year just not yet.
tjlazer said:
I don't think there any early 06 MCs as they were released after the MR. On the z4 forum there's only one owner of an early MR. Basically no, but it's hardly the biggest expense. That is saved for warranty/servicing. Don't regret the change a bit but do regret giving away a perfectly good estate for the same price as an insp2 service. Doh!
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