Discussion
I'm debating getting a 3.0 Z4 for around £10k - looks like it should get me an 03/04 with sensible miles.
Thinking I'll probably keep it for about a year and hopefully sell it on for not too much of a loss.
I've not driven one yet so I'll obviously find out for myself what they're like but I thought I'd ask on here too.
Particularly interested in what people think of the ride. My housemate has an E92 3 Series and the ride on that (M Sport, 19s, run flats) is absolutely shocking and I couldn't live with it. Is the Z4 any better or worse? Can it be made decent by ditching run flat tyres?
Also any thoughts on essential spec? I'll be looking for a 3.0 manual (autos are £££ to tax) with heated seats. Would quite like bluetooth but was that only available with satnav?
Thinking I'll probably keep it for about a year and hopefully sell it on for not too much of a loss.
I've not driven one yet so I'll obviously find out for myself what they're like but I thought I'd ask on here too.
Particularly interested in what people think of the ride. My housemate has an E92 3 Series and the ride on that (M Sport, 19s, run flats) is absolutely shocking and I couldn't live with it. Is the Z4 any better or worse? Can it be made decent by ditching run flat tyres?
Also any thoughts on essential spec? I'll be looking for a 3.0 manual (autos are £££ to tax) with heated seats. Would quite like bluetooth but was that only available with satnav?
Check out www.z4-forum.com - you'll find all the info you need, and more that you don't, on there.
I bought a similar spec car - 54-plate 3.0i roadster - in Dec 2008 (costs in my profile) and changed to non-runflats on 18" alloys soon after. It makes quite a difference to the ride quality and is also a cheaper option when replacing tyres. The ride is generally good but the limited suspension travel does limit my speed along bumpy backroads - can't maintain the same speed as I would in something like a small sorted hot hatch.
Now's not the cheapest time to be buying a Z4 roadster (they've picked up compared to mid-winter) but that age/price is ideal if you're planning on selling on later at minimal loss IMO, most of the depreciation is done already (originally £33k+ cars).
Should say I've never driven or been in an E92 so can't compare against that.
Also, spec to look for is heated seats, manual (IMO!), 18" alloys (watch out for corrosion on the 5-spoke split-rim ones), M-sport seats are nice but don't fit everyone (me for one). Uprated stereo is desirable to some folk but again doesn't bother me. The biggest one for me is the heated seats although they can be retrofitted easily and cheaply, as can cruise control.
I bought a similar spec car - 54-plate 3.0i roadster - in Dec 2008 (costs in my profile) and changed to non-runflats on 18" alloys soon after. It makes quite a difference to the ride quality and is also a cheaper option when replacing tyres. The ride is generally good but the limited suspension travel does limit my speed along bumpy backroads - can't maintain the same speed as I would in something like a small sorted hot hatch.
Now's not the cheapest time to be buying a Z4 roadster (they've picked up compared to mid-winter) but that age/price is ideal if you're planning on selling on later at minimal loss IMO, most of the depreciation is done already (originally £33k+ cars).
Should say I've never driven or been in an E92 so can't compare against that.
Also, spec to look for is heated seats, manual (IMO!), 18" alloys (watch out for corrosion on the 5-spoke split-rim ones), M-sport seats are nice but don't fit everyone (me for one). Uprated stereo is desirable to some folk but again doesn't bother me. The biggest one for me is the heated seats although they can be retrofitted easily and cheaply, as can cruise control.
Edited by a11y_m on Wednesday 17th March 10:10
I have just got one and I dont find it as bad as people make it out to be, yes it is stiff but its a sports car it should be, Mine still has the RFT on 18" alloys (PS2's) I would say its only marginally worse than my previous TT. Changing to non-RFT is supposed to make a massive difference.
It don't find it to Tramline much either as people have said, just about as much as any other car ive had.
It don't find it to Tramline much either as people have said, just about as much as any other car ive had.
You'll find a lot more info and advice here http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/
Ditching the runflats will improve the ride. I've done it and it's a lot better, but the difference wasn't as marked on the 120d M Sport.
Bluetooth was £510 option in 03 and, if I read it correctly, only available with one of the two sat nav options.
Heated seats came out as one of the most popular options on Z4-forum, though I don't miss them. Mfsw is good, cruise can be easily retrofitted. 18's weren't standard on the 3.0 but almost universal. Star Spoke 108s have corrosion issues though.
Ditching the runflats will improve the ride. I've done it and it's a lot better, but the difference wasn't as marked on the 120d M Sport.
Bluetooth was £510 option in 03 and, if I read it correctly, only available with one of the two sat nav options.
Heated seats came out as one of the most popular options on Z4-forum, though I don't miss them. Mfsw is good, cruise can be easily retrofitted. 18's weren't standard on the 3.0 but almost universal. Star Spoke 108s have corrosion issues though.
Edited by Sticks. on Wednesday 17th March 11:10
LordGrover said:
What's all this heated seats thing? Any car seat I've sat on is warm within a minute or so even in the depths of winter... Do we have some sensitive-bottomed PHers here? Ooer missus.
Nah, just moronic drivers who like dropping the roof in sub-zero temperatures while retaining some heat in my body 
Not that I'd do such a thing...................
a11y_m said:
LordGrover said:
What's all this heated seats thing? Any car seat I've sat on is warm within a minute or so even in the depths of winter... Do we have some sensitive-bottomed PHers here? Ooer missus.
Nah, just moronic drivers who like dropping the roof in sub-zero temperatures while retaining some heat in my body The 3.0 comes with sport suspension as standard, so is quite hard, but as said above you want it to be really.
I bought one a year ago, 04 plate with 35k miles, heated leather, parking, 18inch 5 spokes, upgraded stereo for 10.5k, and traded it in a few weeks ago with 44k on it for 10k after having it listed at 10-11k for about a month privately. 500 quid loss in a year is pretty good I recon?
Lots of people trying to pick them up for 9-10k now, but 10 should get a sub 60k miler with a few nice options.
Read up a bit first though, the forums above are good, as lots of spec is standard on a 3.0 but may be "bigged" up as extras e.g. electric memory seats and auto lights were standard (I think?)
I bought one a year ago, 04 plate with 35k miles, heated leather, parking, 18inch 5 spokes, upgraded stereo for 10.5k, and traded it in a few weeks ago with 44k on it for 10k after having it listed at 10-11k for about a month privately. 500 quid loss in a year is pretty good I recon?
Lots of people trying to pick them up for 9-10k now, but 10 should get a sub 60k miler with a few nice options.
Read up a bit first though, the forums above are good, as lots of spec is standard on a 3.0 but may be "bigged" up as extras e.g. electric memory seats and auto lights were standard (I think?)
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