Buying Z4 (E85), which one should I go for?
Discussion
My next 'funcar' will be a Z4 I decided. I will only drive it when the sun shines, for the rest we have two other (boring) cars.
I have found two Z4's which match my budget and needs/wants so far:
1. A 2004 2.2i, 70.000 miles, black
Steering box has been replaced
Maintenance reports available
2. A 2004 3.0i, 110.000 miles, silver
Steering box has been replaced, hood (less than two years ago), clutch replacement 1500 miles ago
Slightly tuned: white indicators, black kidneys, sporty exhaust
Maintenance reports available
Both are more or less the same price. I like the second one better: its silver which I think suits the car more (and its easier to keep clean), its the 3.0i and it has had a lot of replacements already.
However: I have this feeling its not the sensible choice. It has high mileage and it has been slightly 'tuned'. Especially the high mileage for a sports car makes me uneasy, as these cars are often bought to be driven hard. That probably goes especially for a 3.0i. Also, I am buying in a country where the odometer is in Km, not in miles. The odometer is now at 180.000 (110.000 miles) and I think I might take a hard depreciation hit when it gets close to (or goes over) 200.000 (125.000 miles).
I have not driven any one of these yet, but I have contacted the sellers yet to make an appointment to have a test drive. However: I have read a lot already on PistonHeads about the Z4 and would like your opinion about it.
Which one should I go for if everything else checks out when I testdrive them?
I have found two Z4's which match my budget and needs/wants so far:
1. A 2004 2.2i, 70.000 miles, black
Steering box has been replaced
Maintenance reports available
2. A 2004 3.0i, 110.000 miles, silver
Steering box has been replaced, hood (less than two years ago), clutch replacement 1500 miles ago
Slightly tuned: white indicators, black kidneys, sporty exhaust
Maintenance reports available
Both are more or less the same price. I like the second one better: its silver which I think suits the car more (and its easier to keep clean), its the 3.0i and it has had a lot of replacements already.
However: I have this feeling its not the sensible choice. It has high mileage and it has been slightly 'tuned'. Especially the high mileage for a sports car makes me uneasy, as these cars are often bought to be driven hard. That probably goes especially for a 3.0i. Also, I am buying in a country where the odometer is in Km, not in miles. The odometer is now at 180.000 (110.000 miles) and I think I might take a hard depreciation hit when it gets close to (or goes over) 200.000 (125.000 miles).
I have not driven any one of these yet, but I have contacted the sellers yet to make an appointment to have a test drive. However: I have read a lot already on PistonHeads about the Z4 and would like your opinion about it.
Which one should I go for if everything else checks out when I testdrive them?
helix402 said:
2.
This.The indicators & grilles aren’t a big deal to change, the exhaust maybe more so, but while the 2.2 is an OK engine, the 3l gives considerably better performance for the ‘same’ economy.
I know this is Pistonheads & all that, but I wouldn’t consider anything other than a 3l z4 were I to be after one (of this generation).
I have a silver Z4 3.0i for 9 years and it’s now on 126,000 miles and it feels as good as the day I got it at 60,000 miles.
They’ll go forever if you look after them.
I’ve decided to sell mine but just stood out on the drive looking at it and I’m regretting placing the advert haha!
They are very good looking in the skin, especially in titanium silver!
They’ll go forever if you look after them.
I’ve decided to sell mine but just stood out on the drive looking at it and I’m regretting placing the advert haha!
They are very good looking in the skin, especially in titanium silver!
The 2.2i, 2.5i and 3.0i are all the same engine, just in different sizes.
So they are going to cost the same to run (apart from maybe insurance, depending on your age).
Which makes the 2nd one the better option IMO - it will go like a sports car should! Which may explain why the 1st one has done so few miles.
You can find out loads more about these if you pay a visit to z4-forum.com.
Good luck anyway.
So they are going to cost the same to run (apart from maybe insurance, depending on your age).
Which makes the 2nd one the better option IMO - it will go like a sports car should! Which may explain why the 1st one has done so few miles.
You can find out loads more about these if you pay a visit to z4-forum.com.
Good luck anyway.
2. The mileage itself is irrelevant, and at 125k it's not going to suddenly either blow up or be worth 2p.
Also, a replacement exhaust isn't 'tuned', at least not to my mind - it won't have put the engine under more pressure or strain. You may not like the tone, or the looks of the tailpipes themselves, but that's personal opinion.
The other changes are merely cosmetic, and can easily be changed.
We have a 3.0si, and IMO the Z4 would be a bit pointless with a smaller engine as it's not quite the sports car I think it should be - at least with lots of power it makes up for it a bit
Also, a replacement exhaust isn't 'tuned', at least not to my mind - it won't have put the engine under more pressure or strain. You may not like the tone, or the looks of the tailpipes themselves, but that's personal opinion.
The other changes are merely cosmetic, and can easily be changed.
We have a 3.0si, and IMO the Z4 would be a bit pointless with a smaller engine as it's not quite the sports car I think it should be - at least with lots of power it makes up for it a bit
I remember reading a review at the time which said that the 2.2 was more agile because it is lighter. But the 3.0 will likely have a much better spec.
I'd be inclined to buy when your budget is a little higher, when a wider choice is available to you. There are some good cars out there.
I'd be inclined to buy when your budget is a little higher, when a wider choice is available to you. There are some good cars out there.
Well when you think about it a 2004 car is 14 years old, so even 110,000 miles looks pretty low (based on the UK average of 10-12K per year).
In 2014 I bought a 325ti Compact with the 2.5i M54 engine that had done just under 80K miles, and the engine was really strong - the issues were the ancillary bits, like the cooling system (I had a new radiator, expansion tank, cap, thermostat, temp. sensor, auxiliary drive belt, etc.) at 82K then a split power steering pipe at 94K.
While you won't ever suffer a split PAS pipe (non-M Z4s have Electric PAS) the higher mileage 3.0i model may be more likely to have already had jobs like that done, whereas the 2.5i might be heading quickly towards needing them!
You really need to try to check out the service history to see what has been done.
But I can understand that hitting the 200,000 km "landmark" may affect value - but how many miles do you plan to put on the car, and how long do you hope to have it for?
If it's practical it would be ideal to see both before you decide.
In 2014 I bought a 325ti Compact with the 2.5i M54 engine that had done just under 80K miles, and the engine was really strong - the issues were the ancillary bits, like the cooling system (I had a new radiator, expansion tank, cap, thermostat, temp. sensor, auxiliary drive belt, etc.) at 82K then a split power steering pipe at 94K.
While you won't ever suffer a split PAS pipe (non-M Z4s have Electric PAS) the higher mileage 3.0i model may be more likely to have already had jobs like that done, whereas the 2.5i might be heading quickly towards needing them!
You really need to try to check out the service history to see what has been done.
But I can understand that hitting the 200,000 km "landmark" may affect value - but how many miles do you plan to put on the car, and how long do you hope to have it for?
If it's practical it would be ideal to see both before you decide.
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