Thinking of pulling the trigger on a Z4M
Discussion
As per title, I have always fancied a BMW M and the Z4 appeals most to me. I would be looking at the roadster. Can somebody who has owned on for a decent length of time give me an insight to living with it? Are they reliable? What are the major things to look out for, if any when purchasing? What are the service intervals like and how reasonably priced are they? I know with it being a BMW that OEM parts won't be cheap, so is there a good selection of quality aftermarket parts readily available?
I am currently working in Brazil but I hope to go and look at a few when I return home, but there seems to be a lack of them for sale North of the border.
I am currently working in Brazil but I hope to go and look at a few when I return home, but there seems to be a lack of them for sale North of the border.
I ran one as my only car for a couple of years living in London. They are great cars, amazing engine and surprisingly practical for 2. BM service costs were horrendous (insp 2 = £1200) but you don't need that or a warranty in my view. They are very reliable (if a bit rattily on the inside). Go for it, still thinking about getting another some day but should probably be more imaginative.
Jamie,
Best car i have ever owned,
see below from page 2, there are posts on running costs etc,
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
you will not be dissapointed!
where are you looking at one? is it my old one?
Interlagos, bloody loved it, cant say i ever had turn in problems, in fact the car was about as tail happy as you need :-) see below!
photo by clarkyboySE, on Flickr
Untitled by clarkyboySE, on Flickr
:-)
Best car i have ever owned,
see below from page 2, there are posts on running costs etc,
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
you will not be dissapointed!
where are you looking at one? is it my old one?
Interlagos, bloody loved it, cant say i ever had turn in problems, in fact the car was about as tail happy as you need :-) see below!
photo by clarkyboySE, on Flickr
Untitled by clarkyboySE, on Flickr
:-)
Clark, just the man. I was going to fire you a message on FB. You were the first person I was going to come to. I haven't been able to get them out of my head since that trip back from KH! I know you never had any issues with turn in!! Haha. Is your one the one Gordon Reid (formerly) in Kirkhill are selling? I am preferably going to go for a roadster, providing I can find a decent one.
I have been looking at these two -
http://www.jamespaul.co.uk/bmw-z4-m-roadster-sat-n...
http://www.crossroads-garage.co.uk/bmw-z4-m-in-she...
But I notice there is this one for sale north of the border:
http://www.georgemackay.co.uk/used-cars/bmw-z4-3-2...
That's good to know about the wheels and exhaust. As these are about the only two things I'd want to change - other than brakes and tyres.
I have been looking at these two -
http://www.jamespaul.co.uk/bmw-z4-m-roadster-sat-n...
http://www.crossroads-garage.co.uk/bmw-z4-m-in-she...
But I notice there is this one for sale north of the border:
http://www.georgemackay.co.uk/used-cars/bmw-z4-3-2...
That's good to know about the wheels and exhaust. As these are about the only two things I'd want to change - other than brakes and tyres.
Easty-5 said:
Clark, just the man. I was going to fire you a message on FB. You were the first person I was going to come to. I haven't been able to get them out of my head since that trip back from KH! I know you never had any issues with turn in!! Haha. Is your one the one Gordon Reid (formerly) in Kirkhill are selling? I am preferably going to go for a roadster, providing I can find a decent one.
I have been looking at these two -
http://www.jamespaul.co.uk/bmw-z4-m-roadster-sat-n...
http://www.crossroads-garage.co.uk/bmw-z4-m-in-she...
But I notice there is this one for sale north of the border:
http://www.georgemackay.co.uk/used-cars/bmw-z4-3-2...
That's good to know about the wheels and exhaust. As these are about the only two things I'd want to change - other than brakes and tyres.
That red one looks very nice. The other two are lowish spec with no nav. I have been looking at these two -
http://www.jamespaul.co.uk/bmw-z4-m-roadster-sat-n...
http://www.crossroads-garage.co.uk/bmw-z4-m-in-she...
But I notice there is this one for sale north of the border:
http://www.georgemackay.co.uk/used-cars/bmw-z4-3-2...
That's good to know about the wheels and exhaust. As these are about the only two things I'd want to change - other than brakes and tyres.
Great cars.
I purchased mine last year and the key points I would note are the following:
- Tyres are around £700 a set on standard wheels.
- Brake discs last between 35-45k
- Inspection II is £799 (or a bit cheaper) at a dealer and comes up around 40-45kish generally.
- check for cracked centre rear brake lights
- check the 'fangs' on the front bumper for damage.
- spec varies a lot and some cars don't have an aux port but can be retro fitted.
- check drivers side seat bolsters and the steering wheel for excessive wear.
- glove boxes can be temperamental
I was initially looking at private cars but ended up buying an AUC car and negotiated 2 years warranty and a years tax in with the price and it was about £1k dearer at the time plus it had new brakes all round, new rear tyres and had just been serviced.
Generally speaking any car around 40k miles may require brakes and and Inspection II service which will set you back the best part of £2k, I found this very common during my search.
So far I love my Z4M especially with the Hayward and Scott x pipe and back boxes that I have fitted
ill post up a video soon in readers cars......
- Tyres are around £700 a set on standard wheels.
- Brake discs last between 35-45k
- Inspection II is £799 (or a bit cheaper) at a dealer and comes up around 40-45kish generally.
- check for cracked centre rear brake lights
- check the 'fangs' on the front bumper for damage.
- spec varies a lot and some cars don't have an aux port but can be retro fitted.
- check drivers side seat bolsters and the steering wheel for excessive wear.
- glove boxes can be temperamental
I was initially looking at private cars but ended up buying an AUC car and negotiated 2 years warranty and a years tax in with the price and it was about £1k dearer at the time plus it had new brakes all round, new rear tyres and had just been serviced.
Generally speaking any car around 40k miles may require brakes and and Inspection II service which will set you back the best part of £2k, I found this very common during my search.
So far I love my Z4M especially with the Hayward and Scott x pipe and back boxes that I have fitted
ill post up a video soon in readers cars......Two years in, I'm still really enjoying my Z4M. It replaced a 993C2, which I still miss at times, but put the roof down and give the S54 some stick, it's just magic. Unbelievable value at the ticket price these days.
Mine was bought from a BMW dealer at 14k miles and was given an inspection I service. So just an oil service this year and it'll be all set for another two years. I'm only doing a few thousand per year. Inspection II seems to be about £800, see here http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=113...
26mpg average, half urban, London. Will do 30mpg on a run.
Go for it, snagging a mint example is getting harder now that they are all least five years old now.
Mine was bought from a BMW dealer at 14k miles and was given an inspection I service. So just an oil service this year and it'll be all set for another two years. I'm only doing a few thousand per year. Inspection II seems to be about £800, see here http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=113...
26mpg average, half urban, London. Will do 30mpg on a run.
Go for it, snagging a mint example is getting harder now that they are all least five years old now.
I love mine to pieces. It has ben faultless apart from the fact that I have had to replace (under warranty) a window regulator on the passenger side.
It's also had an Inspection 1 at TWG for £460.
Other than that, it's only other cost has been normal consumables.
Great car, love it to pieces.
It's also had an Inspection 1 at TWG for £460.
Other than that, it's only other cost has been normal consumables.
Great car, love it to pieces.
Have had a 2006 M Coupe for almost 3 years now.
It's not been faultless... So far in no particular order i've had the following repaired or replaced: gear knob come unstuck and replaced, throttle actuator replaced, battery replaced, 2 sets of lambda/oxygen sensors (i suspect dodgy petrol and since i changed petrol brand and station it's been OK), flex disc replaced just a few of weeks ago as it started to tear, a/c belt, a tensioner, replaced the catalytic converters as they were completely destroyed inside, the starter motor replaced when it unexpectedly stopped working during a track day and i'm sure a few other bits and bobs. And that's apart from a set of spark plugs, a MAF sensor and another set of lambda sensors that were replaced trying to diagnose a problem i had with soft and laggy throttle response at lower revs... On top of that there's the consumables, 3-4 sets of tires, air filters, engine oil, brake fluid, a set of factory size pads, factory discs (since went to a big brake kit) etc.
It's not been cheap but even so i still rate this car. I put it under hard use in a demanding environment and despite the above i still think it's done very well for itself!
It's not been faultless... So far in no particular order i've had the following repaired or replaced: gear knob come unstuck and replaced, throttle actuator replaced, battery replaced, 2 sets of lambda/oxygen sensors (i suspect dodgy petrol and since i changed petrol brand and station it's been OK), flex disc replaced just a few of weeks ago as it started to tear, a/c belt, a tensioner, replaced the catalytic converters as they were completely destroyed inside, the starter motor replaced when it unexpectedly stopped working during a track day and i'm sure a few other bits and bobs. And that's apart from a set of spark plugs, a MAF sensor and another set of lambda sensors that were replaced trying to diagnose a problem i had with soft and laggy throttle response at lower revs... On top of that there's the consumables, 3-4 sets of tires, air filters, engine oil, brake fluid, a set of factory size pads, factory discs (since went to a big brake kit) etc.
It's not been cheap but even so i still rate this car. I put it under hard use in a demanding environment and despite the above i still think it's done very well for itself!
Had mine 3 years, it's my daily driver - rain, snow, sleet, hail, sun, storms..... it's done my 60 mile round trip commute 5 days a week, its the most reliable car i have owned by far, and still has me giggling like an eejit.
Buy one - but beware - I toy with the idea of replacing mine every now and then, and never actually do, because you have to spend 20 or 30 grand more to get something better, and then you have to ask yourself - "is it 30 grand better?" to which the answer seems to always be "no"
If you get one you will be trapped!
Buy one - but beware - I toy with the idea of replacing mine every now and then, and never actually do, because you have to spend 20 or 30 grand more to get something better, and then you have to ask yourself - "is it 30 grand better?" to which the answer seems to always be "no"
If you get one you will be trapped!
You have to get one. Bought mine two years ago for £22k with 16k miles on the clock. It's my weekend car but still does around 7.5k miles a year, hooning to the beach and back plus the odd track day.
Depreciation 7k ish, but that is dropping off now.
Ave mpg is 19.2
Tax £880 (Bl~~dy Government)
Inspection 1 was £900, main dealer, at 23K miles
New Vreds cost me £750 at 24K miles
New discs & pads OEM, cost me £840, a few weeks back. at 30k miles
Apart from that I've put a couple of lts of oil in over two years.
Next service due in 2k miles will be brake fluid check. Oil and filters so maybe £200.
Now using a local indy, after the shock of the Insp 1 cost above.
So basically, (Fingers crossed), not the cheapest, but definately the most reliable, fun, great looking car I have ever owned.
Depreciation 7k ish, but that is dropping off now.
Ave mpg is 19.2
Tax £880 (Bl~~dy Government)
Inspection 1 was £900, main dealer, at 23K miles
New Vreds cost me £750 at 24K miles
New discs & pads OEM, cost me £840, a few weeks back. at 30k miles
Apart from that I've put a couple of lts of oil in over two years.
Next service due in 2k miles will be brake fluid check. Oil and filters so maybe £200.
Now using a local indy, after the shock of the Insp 1 cost above.
So basically, (Fingers crossed), not the cheapest, but definately the most reliable, fun, great looking car I have ever owned.
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