165k mile BMW Z4 2.5 - 3 Careful PH Owners

[C70R]

Jakg said:

C70R said:

Early Z4 prices are at an all time low, and you wouldn't struggle to get a better car for 2.5-3k.

I'm not sure I agree with that - I say that as someone who's (trying) to sell theirs for (slightly) more than I paid for it thanks to the post-covid used car bubble.

C70R said:

Honestly, I'd cut your losses

However, yes, I'd agree with this. I'm guessing the rust is a poor repair previously?

I say that as someone who recently sold a Z4, and has been watching prices for about 18mths.

There's never been a better time to buy a Z4.

[mholt1995]

C70R said:

Hang on. I thought the rust was "terminal"?

Terminal in the sense that it can't be reasonably cut out and replaced with fresh metal due to ridiculous cost thanks to the location and the inavailability of repair panels.

As a result it will continue to get worse over time as moisture comes into contact with the metal. The remaining metal (there's a couple mm of thickness) will eventually succumb to the rust and make for a nice hole in the body.

But, it can still be treated and protected to create a moisture barrier, which is better than leaving it exposed to the elements like it currently is. This will slow the rate of decline but any work will effectively be temporary and eventually bubble up (as happened with the fibreglass). Avoiding driving it during winter will of course help too. I've got the Volvo and the L322 for that

Without knowing when the original fibreglass repair was done or how thick that metal was originally, it's hard to guess.

Might last a winter, might last several. Just need to figure out what level of prep I am willing to go to. My current thinking is as cheap as I can get away with - sand back as much as I can, apply chemical assistance and then create the barrier. Won't be pretty but nothing about this car is, really.

I'm okay with that.

Jakg said:

I'm guessing the rust is a poor repair previously?

Yeah. Current hypothesis is the moisture and metal mixed from the roof drains being blocked. Previous posts in this thread show that this got all the way through to the rear quarter panel in the same location which lemansky replaced during his tenure.



The rust had been patched over with fibreglass - no idea how well the area was treated before covering but by the time I took ownership of the Z4 it had bubbled back up.

Not planning on going professional for it as I don't think it's worth it, currently looking into various products.

We'll see how it goes but as mentioned, I'm not willing to call time on the car just yet.

[Mr Tidy]

Get over to z4forum as there are a few people on there breaking Z4s from time to time.

All the wings are only bolted on so can be replaced and the sill covers are plastic, but you might want to see what is behind the wing!

[C70R]

Have you considered having an MOT inspector take a look at it? If the corrosion has become structural (I feel like seatbelt mountings at least are in there, maybe roll hoops too), then it might help you make your decision.

[mholt1995]

C70R said:

Have you considered having an MOT inspector take a look at it? If the corrosion has become structural (I feel like seatbelt mountings at least are in there, maybe roll hoops too), then it might help you make your decision.

Good shout - my cousin's an MOT tester and I'm seeing him at a wedding next weekend. Will be sure to ask!

[greggy50]

Hi,

I have had a couple of Z4s and looking at the damage I would suggest you break the car and get another.

The values of them seem to be quite low at the moment.

£3k would get you a decent 3.0 car with circa. 100k miles and £6-7k a nice 3.0 SI with 60-70k miles.

[C70R]

greggy50 said:

Hi,

I have had a couple of Z4s and looking at the damage I would suggest you break the car and get another.

The values of them seem to be quite low at the moment.

£3k would get you a decent 3.0 car with circa. 100k miles and £6-7k a nice 3.0 SI with 60-70k miles.

You're looking at more like £4-5k for that 3.0i and £8-9k for the 3.0si, but the point still stands. It's a buyer's market for Z4s at the moment, and prices are only going one way as we head into autumn.

Lots of owners on the Facebook group in huge denial about values, particularly those who've either bought in recent times or banked on selling while the values were higher.

ETA - if you wanted a like-for-like replacement with fewer miles, then that should be doable for £3k. http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2022082491...

Feels like a better solution than pouring any more cash into something that will be off the road after its next MOT.

Edited by C70R on Tuesday 30th August 15:41

[greggy50]

C70R said:

greggy50 said:

Hi,

I have had a couple of Z4s and looking at the damage I would suggest you break the car and get another.

The values of them seem to be quite low at the moment.

£3k would get you a decent 3.0 car with circa. 100k miles and £6-7k a nice 3.0 SI with 60-70k miles.

You're looking at more like £4-5k for that 3.0i and £8-9k for the 3.0si, but the point still stands. It's a buyer's market for Z4s at the moment, and prices are only going one way as we head into autumn.

Lots of owners on the Facebook group in huge denial about values, particularly those who've either bought in recent times or banked on selling while the values were higher.

I have always been cheeky on offers for Z4s especially as Autumn approaches.

In terms of SIs this one has been up for 2 months now for £6,500 with 85k miles and still hasn't sold and it doesn't look a bad example by any means. I suspect £6k would get it on your drive.

https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=136418

I also think you would get this 3.0 for £3,600-£3,700 and it seems pretty sorted especially mechanically.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/255695576729?hash=item3...

Edited by greggy50 on Tuesday 30th August 15:48

[C70R]

greggy50 said:

C70R said:

greggy50 said:

Hi,

I have had a couple of Z4s and looking at the damage I would suggest you break the car and get another.

The values of them seem to be quite low at the moment.

£3k would get you a decent 3.0 car with circa. 100k miles and £6-7k a nice 3.0 SI with 60-70k miles.

You're looking at more like £4-5k for that 3.0i and £8-9k for the 3.0si, but the point still stands. It's a buyer's market for Z4s at the moment, and prices are only going one way as we head into autumn.

Lots of owners on the Facebook group in huge denial about values, particularly those who've either bought in recent times or banked on selling while the values were higher.

I have always been cheeky on offers for Z4s especially as Autumn approaches.

In terms of SIs this one has been up for 2 months now for £6,500 with 85k miles and still hasn't sold and it doesn't look a bad example by any means. I suspect £6k would get it on your drive.

https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=136418

I also think you would get this 3.0 for £3,600-£3,700 and it seems pretty sorted especially mechanically.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/255695576729?hash=item3...

Edited by greggy50 on Tuesday 30th August 15:48

The 3.0si you linked is an auto, which would explain the lower price and lack of demand. The 3.0i has 125k miles on it and is up for £4k (rather than the 100k you said would be doable for £3k).

I'm not trying to nitpick here. Just pointing out that your first post was in the right ballpark, but a little off the correct values.

[greggy50]

C70R said:

greggy50 said:

C70R said:

greggy50 said:

Hi,

I have had a couple of Z4s and looking at the damage I would suggest you break the car and get another.

The values of them seem to be quite low at the moment.

£3k would get you a decent 3.0 car with circa. 100k miles and £6-7k a nice 3.0 SI with 60-70k miles.

You're looking at more like £4-5k for that 3.0i and £8-9k for the 3.0si, but the point still stands. It's a buyer's market for Z4s at the moment, and prices are only going one way as we head into autumn.

Lots of owners on the Facebook group in huge denial about values, particularly those who've either bought in recent times or banked on selling while the values were higher.

I have always been cheeky on offers for Z4s especially as Autumn approaches.

In terms of SIs this one has been up for 2 months now for £6,500 with 85k miles and still hasn't sold and it doesn't look a bad example by any means. I suspect £6k would get it on your drive.

https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=136418

I also think you would get this 3.0 for £3,600-£3,700 and it seems pretty sorted especially mechanically.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/255695576729?hash=item3...

Edited by greggy50 on Tuesday 30th August 15:48

The 3.0si you linked is an auto, which would explain the lower price and lack of demand. The 3.0i has 125k miles on it and is up for £4k (rather than the 100k you said would be doable for £3k).

I'm not trying to nitpick here. Just pointing out that your first post was in the right ballpark, but a little off the correct values.

The SI that I linked was a manual?

This 3.0 was up for 3,300 recently so probably coild have been purchased for close to 3,000. I wouldnt want to pay much more than that for one as autumm gets close unless it was low mileage

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/155136859777?mkcid=16&a...

I gave 2650 for my 3.0 about 3 years ago

However, I am being pedantic here we both agree in principle 🙂

Edited by greggy50 on Tuesday 30th August 18:38

[Krikkit]

C70R said:

Is this the first time a PHer (or two) has knowingly sold a car with major issues to another member?

No, not least because it was pretty well disclosed through this very thread anyway! What an effluent stirrer you are.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

C70R said:

Is this the first time a PHer (or two) has knowingly sold a car with major issues to another member?

You seem to be insinuating something rather unpleasant. If you're trying to make a point, why not have the balls to come out and say it?

[Phil Dicky]

C70R said:

Is this the first time a PHer (or two) has knowingly sold a car with major issues to another member?

Completely and utterly out of order, yet nothing more than I'd expect from you.

[Ken986]

To be honest , reading the thread from the start , I can’t see anything hidden regards the condition.
Very poor show in my opinion.

[lemansky]

The Amazon river runs for thousands of miles.

At some point it runs through areas of the rainforest that are almost untouched and barely explored. Because of the porous limestone in these areas, the river water leaks through the stone and travels deep into the earth and forms underground pools almost a mile below the surface.

Over thousands of years, small blind, transparent fish have lived and evolved in these pools. These fish have never seen the sun or surface and have never been seen by the human eye. No-one is aware of their existence.

Any one of these fish would trounce C70R in a popularity contest.

[samdy]

I've been following the thread with interest, I hope you get the rust sorted and it's not destined for scrap. I see a lot of these being broken at the moment.

Values do seem to be declining a little at the moment, I picked up a 2003 3.0 manual (in Sterling Grey too) earlier this year for what I thought was a good price but I could probably buy cheaper now. Such is life.

Mine has a few jobs that need doing, I should probably get a thread up at some point too.

[CornedBeef]

A very interesting read! If nothing else, it's certainly lived a long life and provided a lot of fun. I've read this from start to finish at my OH has a 2005 3.0i in silver! Ours has been fine for the 1.5 years we've had it, although I've now got a non functioning headlight lol (if you do break OP, drop me a message as I'll buy yours!).

[Mr Tidy]

CornedBeef said:

A very interesting read! If nothing else, it's certainly lived a long life and provided a lot of fun. I've read this from start to finish at my OH has a 2005 3.0i in silver! Ours has been fine for the 1.5 years we've had it, although I've now got a non functioning headlight lol (if you do break OP, drop me a message as I'll buy yours!).

If that doesn't work out someone on z4forum is breaking a 2003 3.0i at the moment and I'm pretty sure he is selling the headlights.

[greggy50]

Mr Tidy said:

CornedBeef said:

A very interesting read! If nothing else, it's certainly lived a long life and provided a lot of fun. I've read this from start to finish at my OH has a 2005 3.0i in silver! Ours has been fine for the 1.5 years we've had it, although I've now got a non functioning headlight lol (if you do break OP, drop me a message as I'll buy yours!).

If that doesn't work out someone on z4forum is breaking a 2003 3.0i at the moment and I'm pretty sure he is selling the headlights.

The 3.0 ones are pretty pricey used unfortuantly due to being the only xenon ones.

[CornedBeef]

greggy50 said:

Mr Tidy said:

CornedBeef said:

A very interesting read! If nothing else, it's certainly lived a long life and provided a lot of fun. I've read this from start to finish at my OH has a 2005 3.0i in silver! Ours has been fine for the 1.5 years we've had it, although I've now got a non functioning headlight lol (if you do break OP, drop me a message as I'll buy yours!).

If that doesn't work out someone on z4forum is breaking a 2003 3.0i at the moment and I'm pretty sure he is selling the headlights.

The 3.0 ones are pretty pricey used unfortuantly due to being the only xenon ones.

Oddly enough ours has halogens! Poverty spec 3.0i perhaps?