What makes a Z4M mint?

[flimper]

A lot of this has been spoken of before but not necessarily all in one place and documented. Thought this might help potential buyers and also remind some of us long term owners where they should invest their cash in order to get top dollar once selling.

My thoughts on what you need to secure top whack, sure I'll miss plenty though

Running in service done before 1200 miles
Full Service History at reputable garages, including brake service and at the right intervals
Premium tyres, new or nearly new
Alloys in top shape, in no need of a refurb
Brake Discs, new or nearly new
Low mileage, less than 60k say?
Inspection 2 done, with documented valve clearances
Cosmetically A1 inside and out, no wear on seat, minimal stone chips, no dings & scratches
Sat Nav - only put this so PVR doesn't soil himself, personally don't think it's necessary, a well specced car important in any case, specifics arguable


Anything else that should be included on the list?

[JAD]

Although I disagree with some of that, perhaps add "spec list"?


Back to why I disagree, mine is on 62k and looks 10x better than most others I've seen because I care for the paint/interior. Can a 10 year old car that's been driven and thus is on 30-40k miles be mint? In short, no.

[flimper]

I agree to be fair, each car should be judged on it's merits, but difficult to command top money for a 60-80k car, for the moment anyway.

Maybe I'll do a poll for the most important spec a bit later

I've a feeling I may have opened up a can of worms here!

[Ewazix]

Sat-nav is definately a negative for me, it means I'm paying for something I will rarely use (I've got a TomTom if necessary) and it's a fairly clunky old piece of kit in the e85 now anyway. A zed will always be a 3rd/4th car for me so the simplicity of 'Flimper' spec is my preference as cars get older and things go wrong

[flimper]

the simplicity of 'Flimper' spec is my preference as cars get older and things go wrong

[Angelus666]

I'd say it would have had to had a new clutch, 10 years old and 60k on the same clutch isn't mint!

Also new springs are a must....I'd probably also say a refreshed steering wheel would be needed.

[flimper]

How many Z4Ms on the forum have had a new clutch? Not something I've seen much of that I can remember

[pHilli0]

Not sure MINT is necessarily the right description. Overall condition, and what work has been carried out. A stack full of paper work should be included in the list, with shims before and after ideally. Oh what about preventative engine maintenance like replaced bearing shells? 60k miles seems good but not sure how much difference in the car another 20k would be if the conditions were still met.

[srhutch]

Looks like you are looking for the Unicorn.

Everybody's view is going to be different, but finding a mint car is going to be very hard whatever your requirements are. Can it be made into a mint car from your point of view though is the question, and at what cost.

[Z4M-2006]

Mint to me..

Impeccable history
Never had paintwork,must be arrow straight,no dings,minimal stonechips.
Seat condition must have no damage on the bolsters,shiny leather of baggy bases.
Steering wheel,no scratches on switches or leather,
Brake discs/pads must be nearly new or replaced recently.
Wheels must be undamaged,preferably without refurb and in 95% OEM condition.


These are a good start point for me..

[mr wilks]

Good thread Flimper & all good points to look for when hunting
As with JAD I also don't agree that low miles makes a "mint" car as it has been proved time over that cars with twice the miles can be in better order both mechanically & cosmetically
Navspec loses value with every year but does add a trinket that many look for
I would say low number of owners holds great allure for a potential buyer but as we know these cars do change hands at a fair rate so myself i wouldn't be put off by how many previous owners if the car ticked out on the other things listed
Also have to agree with hutch in that some negative points can't be changed but many can so bear in mind when looking that a couple of £hundred gets you a A1 steering wheel & £200/£300 gets a gleaming set of alloys

[MrPT]

Good list. Don't think spec should be a factor at all though.

Doesn't need to be mechanically perfect but everything must function correctly. No electrical or mechanical niggles.

No funny smells.

[srhutch]

Most fail on the exhaust tips for starters

[cj10jeeper]

I don't think 'mint' has anything at all to do with much of what's been listed.
Such a term would correctly refer to a car being in the condition in which it left the factory

You can have a basic spec BL Allegro with velo0ur seats, painted beige, zero service history, 100k mileage, rebuilt from a shell and it be 'mint'

Take a stroll around a classic car show and see what's mint

Are you really looking for what makes the car most saleable, desirable, highest value, etc. ?

[markos]

A lot of this has been spoken of before but not necessarily all in one place and documented. Thought this might help potential buyers and also remind some of us long term owners where they should invest their cash in order to get top dollar once selling.

My thoughts on what you need to secure top whack, sure I'll miss plenty though

Running in service done before 1200 miles
Full Service History at reputable garages, including brake service and at the right intervals
Premium tyres, new or nearly new
Alloys in top shape, in no need of a refurb
Brake Discs, new or nearly new
Low mileage, less than 60k say?
Inspection 2 done, with documented valve clearances
Cosmetically A1 inside and out, no wear on seat, minimal stone chips, no dings & scratches
Sat Nav - only put this so PVR doesn't soil himself, personally don't think it's necessary, a well specced car important in any case, specifics arguable


Anything else that should be included on the list?

Wow, this is quite a big question, and as others have said perhaps 'mint' isn't the right term as there has to be some wear on just about any used car. I think you can describe a Z4M as 'fantastic conditon' and command top money for it but that 'top money' is on a sliding scale with regards to mileage, and for me the amount of wear acceptable is dependent on miles too, so for me a Z4M with 100k on the clock in what I'd describe as 'fantastic condtion' would not be in as good a condition as a Z4M with 30k on the clock also in 'fantastic condition': I guess I expect a little more wear to occur – even with very careful use – on a 100k car than a 30k car. As an example, imagine a car has been owned by the original purchaser who happens to be extrememly OCD about putting any wear on his car: surely at 100k miles the car isn't in as good a conditon as in was back when it had 30k miles?

As for the list above:

1) I think running in service around the 1200 mile is OK (my old M3 had it at 1340 miles I think)
2) Premium tyres yes, but if they have a year left on them, I'd not expect anyone to change them even if they were down to 3mm, seems a bit of a waste
3) Wheels should be unmarked/perhaps one mark on a wheel in total
4) Discs, again same point on tyres: if they have a year or more left I'd not expect them to be changed, price can be negotiated to factor in this cost as it's not a cheap one
5) Miles as mentioned above: price will reflect miles, and any car can (should!) have been looked after impeccably regardless of miles
6) Full main dealer history (for me anyway), with all services done acording to schedule
7) Cosmetically in excellent condition, very few or no stonechips, no dings or scuffs. However, does ANYONE have a drivers' bolster with ZERO wear on it? Close up pictures please!
8 ) Paint. I do feel for someone if their car has been pranged and it's needed paint. You'd rather have one which hasn't had paint but these things can happen. On my Z4M I had the front bumper, bonnet, wings and A pillars all painted as it had stonechips that I could notice that I didn't like (bought it like so) so I had them all sorted. Many dealers will do this too as part of their prep when getting a car ready for sale
9) Spec. I like a lot of spec but this is down to personal preference. I'd only have a Z4M with nav PURELY to get an intravee (which I really miss!)

Nice thread though, some interesting thoughts on it