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How much should I pay for a Z4?

2003 - 2009, roadster, coupe, facelift
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CountZero23
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How much should I pay for a Z4?

Post by CountZero23 » Thu Dec 07, 2017 11:31 pm

Hey guys!

I've been pointed in your direction from Pistonheads as the go-to place for Z4 questions.

After much deliberation, I'm fairly confident it will be my next car and fits my 'grown up' MX5 criteria.

I've been spending far too much time on the classifieds including the ones on this board and have found quite a wide variation in prices.

I'm looking for a manual 3.0 E85 in great condition with a full service history and no more than around 80,000 on the clock. The only colours I want to avoid are grey or light blue.

After seeing a few cars which met my criteria and looked enthusiast owned for £4,500 a month or two ago it looks like the market has either dried up for prices have risen.

There are a couple which meet the spec up on Autotrader, but most of these are closer to £6,000, though admittedly dealer cars.

What's a fair market price to pay currently?

From what I've read it seems like prices have bottomed out and might be rising slightly for good cars.

Should I hold out for a decent car at £4,500 or expect to pay a bit more?

Is it worth taking out a bit of a loan and spending a few more grand and going for the E86 coupé, these seem to be tipped as the ones which will be appreciating the fastest?

Thanks!

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How much should I pay for a Z4?

Post by Monkeydonkeyratmagic » Thu Dec 07, 2017 11:38 pm

Coupe won't appreciate whilst there is an M in the market. Not by anything worth worrying about anyway. 4.5k will get a decent 3.0i.honestly don't worry about mileage to an extent. A high miler that is actually proof of use is far better imo than a car that's done 20k and sat around doing nothing (hiding an expensive problem perhaps?) plus you may find as it been used a lot... its been loved over some old dear that just "bought a convertible" for the sake of saying she has one in the office or at the hairdressers and just gone to Halfrauds for a cheap service. 1 lady owner sales pitch is worthless and dangerous imo.
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Yep no Z yet. On the hunt.

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How much should I pay for a Z4?

Post by Marlon » Thu Dec 07, 2017 11:44 pm

Pity you've ruled out grey - there's a corker for sale here for 3k
viewtopic.php?f=41&t=102162
High miles admittedly, but fastidiously maintained by the sounds of it.
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How much should I pay for a Z4?

Post by CountZero23 » Thu Dec 07, 2017 11:48 pm

Cheers Monkeydonkeyratmagic,

Yea - the M is an almost different car when looking at price, performance and running costs.

Been tempted at buying one as an 'investment' but I imagine any appreciation will probably be swallowed by the M tax. My man maths clearly needs some work :wink:

I agree with with you about millage to an extent and could be flexible for the right car, however, there's no getting around the fact that a lot of components are starting to reach the end of their life around 100,000 miles. The last car was an A3 with 120,000 and there was always something which needed doing as it had just worn out.

If there was a car with evidence of plenty of work having been done with higher miles I might be interested.

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How much should I pay for a Z4?

Post by CountZero23 » Thu Dec 07, 2017 11:56 pm

Cheers for the link Marlon.

She does look very well cared for with a lot of the consumables refreshed, nice list of options too.

Grey and light blue are both out, ideally looking for white, black or dark blue.

Incidentally whats the deal with white Z4's, I've only seen much newer cars (2006+) with it. Did they not offer it on the earlier cars?

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How much should I pay for a Z4?

Post by Marlon » Fri Dec 08, 2017 12:07 am

White are as rare as hens teeth, unless you want a long wait I'd focus on black or dark blue (Montego Blue)
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How much should I pay for a Z4?

Post by CountZero23 » Fri Dec 08, 2017 12:48 am

Marlon wrote: Fri Dec 08, 2017 12:07 am White are as rare as hens teeth, unless you want a long wait I'd focus on black or dark blue (Montego Blue)
Odd, as there seem to be plenty when looking at the newer cars. Maybe a fashion thing?

Buying in February so don't want to get too picky. Might move earlier if the right one turns up!

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How much should I pay for a Z4?

Post by b19rak » Fri Dec 08, 2017 12:52 am

I just paid £7,500 for this mint 07 Si 99k on the clock with a big wad of history, full eibach suspension refresh and new Michelin’s. A fair price in today’s market imo.
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DA81ED1D-37B9-42D1-9EA1-5836DC52CFB6.jpeg
DA81ED1D-37B9-42D1-9EA1-5836DC52CFB6.jpeg (526.1 KiB) Viewed 940 times
07’ Z4 3.0si
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How much should I pay for a Z4?

Post by tomoz4white » Fri Dec 08, 2017 1:08 am

Rare but auto
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Screenshot_20171126-095025.png
Screenshot_20171126-095025.png (380.24 KiB) Viewed 934 times
Only UK OEM White Manual
E85 3.0i SE Still Rolling!
Mileage 36,000 Miles

4 x White 3.0i OEM UK E85's Made...
= 2 UK Pre-Facelift / 2 UK Facelift

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How much should I pay for a Z4?

Post by srhutch » Fri Dec 08, 2017 7:57 am

CountZero23 wrote: Fri Dec 08, 2017 12:48 am
Marlon wrote: Fri Dec 08, 2017 12:07 am White are as rare as hens teeth, unless you want a long wait I'd focus on black or dark blue (Montego Blue)
Odd, as there seem to be plenty when looking at the newer cars. Maybe a fashion thing?

Buying in February so don't want to get too picky. Might move earlier if the right one turns up!
It’s known as recession white on here, as in 2009 with the recession in swing it became a popular no cost option colour. Tbf on the right car it looks good. Generally M sport bmw models.
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How much should I pay for a Z4?

Post by earthdweller » Fri Dec 08, 2017 8:31 am

I don’t think white was initially offered on the early E85 cars

It became available on the facelift cars from 2006 onwards .. but I don’t think it was very popular at the time ... there seem to be a few “resprayed” white cars knocking about though

IMO if you can stretch to a facelift car then its well worth it for the N52 3.0 engine, which is said to be one of the best engines ever made !

The Si is like an M car lite with 265bhp

With regards to mileage I wouldn’t be too hung up on it ., I think buying a car privately where you can judge the previous owner and how the car had been used helps

I’ve seen tatty high milers tarted up by dealers and equally neglected low milers

There’s high mile cars on here that are loved and spared no expense .. driven by enthusiastic loving owners .. equally the same with the lower mileage ones

The Zed is pretty bombproof though and there’s lots of very good advice on here

Good luck with your search and welcome to the forum
07 3.0si Sport Roadster Titanium Silver/Syrah Blue Individual Leather, CSL reps ZHP

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How much should I pay for a Z4?

Post by tomoz4white » Fri Dec 08, 2017 9:03 am

earthdweller wrote: Fri Dec 08, 2017 8:31 am I don’t think white was initially offered on the early E85 cars

It became available on the facelift cars from 2006 onwards .. but I don’t think it was very popular at the time ... there seem to be a few “resprayed” white cars knocking about though

IMO if you can stretch to a facelift car then its well worth it for the N52 3.0 engine, which is said to be one of the best engines ever made !

The Si is like an M car lite with 265bhp

With regards to mileage I wouldn’t be too hung up on it ., I think buying a car privately where you can judge the previous owner and how the car had been used helps

I’ve seen tatty high milers tarted up by dealers and equally neglected low milers

There’s high mile cars on here that are loved and spared no expense .. driven by enthusiastic loving owners .. equally the same with the lower mileage ones

The Zed is pretty bombproof though and there’s lots of very good advice on here

Good luck with your search and welcome to the forum
White was available from launch but their isn't many of them (mines a 2004) - see attached colour breakdowns....
Attachments
z4uk_white_breakdown.png
z4uk_white_breakdown.png (484.78 KiB) Viewed 878 times
Only UK OEM White Manual
E85 3.0i SE Still Rolling!
Mileage 36,000 Miles

4 x White 3.0i OEM UK E85's Made...
= 2 UK Pre-Facelift / 2 UK Facelift

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How much should I pay for a Z4?

Post by Marlon » Fri Dec 08, 2017 10:36 am

The colour breakdown chart always frustrates me as they lump all the E85s together - I'd love to know how many E85 3.0si were produced in Bright Red
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How much should I pay for a Z4?

Post by kis » Fri Dec 08, 2017 11:10 am

Marlon wrote: Fri Dec 08, 2017 10:36 am The colour breakdown chart always frustrates me as they lump all the E85s together - I'd love to know how many E85 3.0si were produced in Bright Red
and I'd love to know how many SMG models rolled off the line...
My E85 Z4 3.0i SMG

BMW Family History (past and present):
1 Series - E87
3 Series - E46 Coupe, E46 M3, E90 (x3)
4 Series - F36, F82 M4
5 Series - E34 (x2), E39
7 Series - E32
X5 - E53, E70
X6 - E71

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How much should I pay for a Z4?

Post by earthdweller » Fri Dec 08, 2017 11:26 am

tomoz4white wrote: Fri Dec 08, 2017 9:03 am
earthdweller wrote: Fri Dec 08, 2017 8:31 am I don’t think white was initially offered on the early E85 cars

It became available on the facelift cars from 2006 onwards .. but I don’t think it was very popular at the time ... there seem to be a few “resprayed” white cars knocking about though

IMO if you can stretch to a facelift car then its well worth it for the N52 3.0 engine, which is said to be one of the best engines ever made !

The Si is like an M car lite with 265bhp

With regards to mileage I wouldn’t be too hung up on it ., I think buying a car privately where you can judge the previous owner and how the car had been used helps

I’ve seen tatty high milers tarted up by dealers and equally neglected low milers

There’s high mile cars on here that are loved and spared no expense .. driven by enthusiastic loving owners .. equally the same with the lower mileage ones

The Zed is pretty bombproof though and there’s lots of very good advice on here

Good luck with your search and welcome to the forum
White was available from launch but their isn't many of them (mines a 2004) - see attached colour breakdowns....
I’ll stand corrected then

I thought they weren’t available in the uk initially .., is that chart just for uk sales and pre-post facelift ?
07 3.0si Sport Roadster Titanium Silver/Syrah Blue Individual Leather, CSL reps ZHP

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