Discussion
If you like your music, make sure the car has the carver system, comes with a 430 watts RMS amp (located in the boot next to the battery) and 10 speakers including sub woofers and even at 70mph with the roof down the sound is still clear, concise and bassy! 
Heated seating is useful in the winter if you want the roof down. I have the 2.2 (although due to upgrade to 3.0 shortly, 2.2. is a good mix of power and economy.
Heated seating is useful in the winter if you want the roof down. I have the 2.2 (although due to upgrade to 3.0 shortly, 2.2. is a good mix of power and economy.
The 2.2i is a nice choice; straight-six soundtrack without the extra running costs of the bigger sixes. 170bhp is plenty of power for any road-legal driving.
Firstly, wheels are an important one. A lot of the cars on the market are kitted out with 18"s, which look nice but as they're shod with runflats it has a pretty big effect on the ride and tendency to follow the camber. I'd recommend test driving one with 18"s and one with 17"s to see if you can live with the ride. I'd also recommend checking the level of wear on the tyres, as if you need to swap the Bridgestones like-for-like you'll be looking at £550 for a pair of rear 18"s from a dealer. Might be a nice point of contention for bargaining...
I'd also check that the ride height is comparable between the driver and passenger sides, especially at the back. I haven't heard of any major problems with the Z4, but I have heard that a lot of E46-related vehicles have had trouble with suspension-sag. Not a massive deal-breaker, but there are plenty of cars on the market so might as well get a good one.
Naturally when buying a convertible give the hood a couple of operations to make sure it opens and closes cleanly, doesn't make any abnormal noises (the motor is quite noisy though so don't be too paranoid) and maintains a nice balanced shape.
Check the service book. It's got a variable service indicator based around intervals of approx. 16k miles, but if it's doing less than 8k per year they recommend changing the oil (i.e. a minor service) every two years. Make sure it's been done and stamped.
And finally... I've noticed an increasing trend for cars (from several brands) to be "accidentally" advertised at a lower price on the internet than they are in the dealership, typcially by about £1k. Don't take any nonesense from them; it's a buyers market.
Good hunting!
Firstly, wheels are an important one. A lot of the cars on the market are kitted out with 18"s, which look nice but as they're shod with runflats it has a pretty big effect on the ride and tendency to follow the camber. I'd recommend test driving one with 18"s and one with 17"s to see if you can live with the ride. I'd also recommend checking the level of wear on the tyres, as if you need to swap the Bridgestones like-for-like you'll be looking at £550 for a pair of rear 18"s from a dealer. Might be a nice point of contention for bargaining...
I'd also check that the ride height is comparable between the driver and passenger sides, especially at the back. I haven't heard of any major problems with the Z4, but I have heard that a lot of E46-related vehicles have had trouble with suspension-sag. Not a massive deal-breaker, but there are plenty of cars on the market so might as well get a good one.
Naturally when buying a convertible give the hood a couple of operations to make sure it opens and closes cleanly, doesn't make any abnormal noises (the motor is quite noisy though so don't be too paranoid) and maintains a nice balanced shape.
Check the service book. It's got a variable service indicator based around intervals of approx. 16k miles, but if it's doing less than 8k per year they recommend changing the oil (i.e. a minor service) every two years. Make sure it's been done and stamped.
And finally... I've noticed an increasing trend for cars (from several brands) to be "accidentally" advertised at a lower price on the internet than they are in the dealership, typcially by about £1k. Don't take any nonesense from them; it's a buyers market.
Good hunting!
As i picking mine up on saturday, what would you suggest as first mods or bits and bobs that improve things: the ones i am thinking so far are:
1: clearhealights without orange indicator strip (anyone know where to purchase these)
2: i have heard you can upgrade the sat nav to a 3d version, is it wroth it and is it easy to do, i have seen a german guying selling instructions on ebay for £3.
3: i dont think i would ever bother but as the sat nav unit uses dvds can they play normal ones?
4: are there any good exhaust mods for it? (ps its a my53 3.0 se model)
cheers
Andy
1: clearhealights without orange indicator strip (anyone know where to purchase these)
2: i have heard you can upgrade the sat nav to a 3d version, is it wroth it and is it easy to do, i have seen a german guying selling instructions on ebay for £3.
3: i dont think i would ever bother but as the sat nav unit uses dvds can they play normal ones?
4: are there any good exhaust mods for it? (ps its a my53 3.0 se model)
cheers
Andy
i know, i know but a change in job role means a lot more motorway miles and time getting in & out in a suit and it would be a daily driver as well.
i really wanted a S2 111R but couldnt stretch to it and think i would have fallen out of love with it during the winter when it would leak etc.
So after a MX5 Sport, Elise & S2000 there's not too many roadsters around that are driver orientated enough to interest me but the 3.0 Z4 goes well!
what was wrong with the Boxster?
i'll def be getting another Elise but need to wait till I move house and geta garage and the funds for a 2nd car!
My advice apart from the normal things to think about when buying are be sure to get a car with heated seats, it's an absolute must for the UK market as there are plenty of days to drop the roof out of the summer period and it WILL effect resale chances, there are no real issues with this car but grab as many options as you can and look hard as there are a fair few about, look to buy private and if you do then consult your local dealer and BMW customers services, there is a wealth of info in the network about every UK registered car which can ease you mind and confirm things like history etc...good luck.
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