Real World Running Costs of a Z4M C?
Real World Running Costs of a Z4M C?
Author
Discussion

After_Shock

Original Poster:

8,751 posts

244 months

Friday 3rd September 2010
quotequote all
Im looking at opting out of my company car and want something a bit more fun to use most days but not everyone.

My mileage would be say 4k a year, I tend not to drive mad my monaro VXR the tyres are upto 7k use on the back and still have half the tread one for example.

As im only doing low ish miles in this potential car mpg isnt really important but what are people getting driving 'normally' on mostly motorway runs? Servicing is always a worry with M cars, say if I got one that had just been done and expected to keep the car 2 years so had to service it once possibly twice whats a rough idea of cost of this? I know its very much what service needs doing but just a rough idea would be good.

Insurance and depreciation arent a concern im just looking at the everyday costs, the best people to ask are those who drive the things!

Cheers

physprof

996 posts

211 months

Friday 3rd September 2010
quotequote all
All the same but here is what I put on another thread.....


As above.

I replied to a thread a while back, done 26k in mine will hit 50k later this week.

Get BMW warranty, or approved extended
Mpg about 22 overall, can see 35 ambling along m way at 58mph
Oil service 180 quid
Insp II was 900 Inc brake fluid change and 4+yrs BMW discount
Set of Conti m3s around 720

Oxygen sensors go frequently and watch out for cracked rear springs are only niggle issues (I've just had a fourth sensor done, this one following a BMW PUMA check and a NSR spring.

All in a great car.love mine.
Check BMW site should be lots about and don't skimp on spec lots were fully loaded so take your time

Visit z4-forum.com as well


O


After_Shock

Original Poster:

8,751 posts

244 months

Friday 3rd September 2010
quotequote all
Cheers for the reply.

How come the oxy sensors go alot? Whats the cost of replacing these?

Any upgrades springs wise to prevent that side of things happening?

Spec wise im really after one without sat nav, might seem an odd choice but hate having it in cars! Also dont want red leather which seems to limit my choice as most have it.

Any idea on build numbers of the coupes? Im in no rush can hand in company car at any time so going to wait for the right car.

Eagerbeaver

386 posts

223 months

Friday 3rd September 2010
quotequote all
Looks like you're in a minority regarding the options you don't want. Most sellers can't give away cars without sat nav and red is very sought after. You will be able to drive a hard bargain without these.

Re running costs - you will be amazed how little a good one costs to run. The BMW warranty is worth having if you get it thrown in but at over £800 there is little incentive to pay for it. You'd have to be very unlucky to have a worthwhile claim but it will give you peace of minf if you worry about stuff like that.

At 4000 miles per year, you are not going to get much use out of the car so your fixed costs such as tax/insurance are going to be the most irritating.

Drive one and enjoy.


After_Shock

Original Poster:

8,751 posts

244 months

Friday 3rd September 2010
quotequote all
Cheers for the reply, tax is an annoyance but has to be paid, insurance is nothing as ive got a block policy so will still pay the same as what I do now.

Ive noticed most have the red leather and I know many like it just im not a fan, could live with it if had to but would rather wait and find one without. Im hoping trying to get one without nav will help with the overall purchase cost, naturally will be reflected come sale time.

physprof

996 posts

211 months

Friday 3rd September 2010
quotequote all
After_Shock said:
Cheers for the reply.

How come the oxy sensors go alot? Whats the cost of replacing these?

Any upgrades springs wise to prevent that side of things happening?

Spec wise im really after one without sat nav, might seem an odd choice but hate having it in cars! Also dont want red leather which seems to limit my choice as most have it.

Any idea on build numbers of the coupes? Im in no rush can hand in company car at any time so going to wait for the right car.
Oxygen sensor failure common on M e85 and e86. I'd guess about 2-300 notes at a dealer.

Springs, some have gone after market eibach? But check z4-forum.com

Ms are either poverty spec of full loaded..goes with the cost of car originally and that a fair few came into UK as dealer / demonstrators.

paulmon

2,204 posts

265 months

Saturday 4th September 2010
quotequote all
Eagerbeaver said:
red is very sought after.
Dont forget to add sepang bronze and wood interior to the list of "Sought after" colours.

AyBee

11,193 posts

226 months

Saturday 4th September 2010
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inkiboo said:
paulmon said:
Eagerbeaver said:
red is very sought after.
Dont forget to add sepang bronze and wood interior to the list of "Sought after" colours.
Yeah right!
I'm pretty sure that was sarcasm ;-) IIRC, Imola red isn't known for being a sought after colour on M cars either...although I personally really like it biggrin

After_Shock

Original Poster:

8,751 posts

244 months

Saturday 4th September 2010
quotequote all
paulmon said:
Eagerbeaver said:
red is very sought after.
Dont forget to add sepang bronze and wood interior to the list of "Sought after" colours.
Lol will give both of those a miss thanks!

TheBaj

181 posts

201 months

Saturday 4th September 2010
quotequote all
Service times are related to the on-board computer, usually every 10-15,000 miles depending on how it's driven, it works it out on gallons of fuel used. However if you're doing low miles then I think they become time dependant every 2 years.

I've been averaging 24.5mpg over mixed use. Increasing to late 20's, maybe 30 over a long motorway run.

Mine's for sale on PH - No SatNav and black leather wink

flimper

580 posts

207 months

Saturday 4th September 2010
quotequote all
After_Shock said:
Spec wise im really after one without sat nav, might seem an odd choice but hate having it in cars! Also dont want red leather which seems to limit my choice as most have it.

Any idea on build numbers of the coupes? Im in no rush can hand in company car at any time so going to wait for the right car.
Glad to hear I'm not the only one to deliberately ignore the desperately poor satnav!

As for numbers, I believe there were 1,055 RHD European M Coupes.

BensZ4MC

481 posts

210 months

Saturday 4th September 2010
quotequote all
I remember reading somewhere that there were only 400 odd MC's in the UK... Might have been after a beer or 2 though.

Oh Behave

342 posts

249 months

Saturday 4th September 2010
quotequote all
I drive mine about 40miles per day round trip, mainly motorway and average between 26-28mpg. Paid about £680 for inspection 1 but thats should last me about 12k miles til the oil service which is about £200 I believe. That will keep you good fot another 12k then inspection 2 which is about £8-900. Tax is £420 per year, just got a new set of Conti's which cost me £650 for 4. For the performance I's say they are not that expensive to run, certainly if you are only doing 4k per year.

If you buy one that has just had service and has a good set of boots on you shouldn't be dipping into your pocket for the first year of ownership, assuming nothing mechanically goes wrong!

Go for it though, you won't be disappointed!;)

After_Shock

Original Poster:

8,751 posts

244 months

Sunday 5th September 2010
quotequote all
Thanks for the rest of the replies.

Whats the situation with the VANOS on these cars? In the past ive nearly bought a Z3M Coupe and E39 M5 but both times the horror stories of the VANOS has put me off! Dont get me wrong ive had a few BMW's, E39 525i Sport, E90 330d Coupe (bloody hated the electronic interface in that, literally put me off modern cars!) and currently got an E46 325i cabrio but the M itch continues and its time that it finally got scratched!

Good news with the servicing relating to how they are driven, my commute is basically motorway miles and I dont drive cars hard so I should see decent intervals on the servicing.

milu

2,493 posts

290 months

Sunday 5th September 2010
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what's wrong with Sepang may I ask??smile

Vroomer

1,880 posts

204 months

Monday 6th September 2010
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Eagerbeaver said:
Looks like you're in a minority regarding the options you don't want.

1. Most sellers can't give away cars without sat nav

2. red is very sought after.
1. This is true. You will pay £2k less for a car with no sat nav. Not logical when a Tom Tom is better, but there you are.

2. No idea where Eagerbeaver got this idea from – red interior is a complete no-no for most folk.

mmm-five

12,128 posts

308 months

Monday 6th September 2010
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milu said:

what's wrong with Sepang may I ask??smile
If you think it looks good in the photo's, wait till you see it in the flesh.

I got mine in the colour I was after, and had discounted Sepang Bronze due to the photo's I'd seen, but I could have had the same spec (bar the colour) for £3k less if I'd bothered to go and see it.

Vroomer

1,880 posts

204 months

Monday 6th September 2010
quotequote all
milu said:

what's wrong with Sepang may I ask??smile
Almost nobody likes it.

milu

2,493 posts

290 months

Monday 6th September 2010
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Funny that cos everyone that sees mine loves it!!

Vroomer

1,880 posts

204 months

Monday 6th September 2010
quotequote all
milu said:
Funny that cos everyone that sees mine loves it!!
You would have to be pretty thick-skinned to tell someone to their face that their car colour stinks! Much easier on the net!