Looking to buy a Z4 - Any advice on things to look out for?

Hi,

new to the forum and new to Z4's really, me and the girlfriend have decided our next car is going to be a Z4 and I was hoping for any advice when viewing cars, problems to look out for etc.

Our budget means we will be looking for 2004 kind of age and will be getting the 3.0 roadster.

Thanks in advance for any help & advice,

Chris

You have to come to the right place - have a browse around for common things

Welcome to the forum

Welcome & Good luck.

There isn't really a lot of faults with them, that's why there's no real Buyers Guide or similar.

Chris,

All obvious but if you take a check list with you, you can tick of the various elements as you go:

INTERIOR
Do all the controls, switches and displays work properly?
Take a music CD with you and check operation
Check the A/C works (an expensive repair)
Do all the lights work? Get someone to stand behind and check the brake lights.
Are the carpets and seats all dry? If not, is there a leak?
Does the wear on the interior reflect the mileage - high wear low mileage WALK AWAY?
If Sat Nav fitted check the maps are up-to-date

BODYWORK
Is the bodywork free from dents, scratches and rust?
Check panel fit on all panels for signs of accident repair
Make sure you are not checking the car in the wet or the dark, as you are more likely to miss problems
Squat down and look along the sides of the car to help you spot mild dents
Pull back rubber seals around windows. Is the paintwork free from over-spray and suspect repair signs?
Look for signs of additional layers of paint, or ill-matching spray marks where an additional layer of paint has been added but the finish is not right. These are signs of an accident repair
Open the boot and bonnet. Is the metal work in good condition? Wherever there is exposed metal you need to look for ill-matching colours or buckling. These are signs of an accident damage.
Try the roof – up and down smoothly

ENGINE / MECHANICALS
Is the exhaust smoke-free when the engine is warm? If not, there may be a problem
Is the coolant reservoir full of brightly coloured coolant? It should not be empty or brown. If not, are there any leaks that need further inspection?
Is there plenty of clean oil in the engine?
Take filler cap off and look for signs of emulsion (white/yellow gell) which may indicate head gasket problems – not a common issue on BMs but worth a quick check
Check service history and documentation - BMW is probably best if a car under 3 years old but not essential (there are some excellent independents out there)
Note: BMW will help confim history if you provide reg. number and VIN
Check valid MOT – will assist in confirming mileage, if less than a year insist on a full year MOT (this at least will give you an up-to-date check on mechanical condition)
Link to DOT MOT register: http://motinfo.direct.gov.uk/internet/jsp/ECHID-Internet-History-Request.jsp
Check brakes/pads for wear (when were they last changed)
When was brake fluid last changed (every 2 years)?
Check excise licence (tax disc) details match the car
Tyres – good tread left and all tyres match (are they quality tyres or cheap options)
Z4s have had coil spring failure – have any been replaced (if not they may need it in the future)

TEST DRIVE
Does the car drive in a straight line when you loosen your grip on the wheel?
Is the steering accurate and free from play or judder?
Does the car pull away and brake easily without any noises or judder?
Warning lights should all extinguish when car is started
Cruise control if fitted – does it work?

ACCESSORIES
If there are any get them thrown in for the price of the car - don't pay extra for them

HPI checks for private deals are worth doing and should reveal any accident history.

IF IN DOUBT WALK AWAY – THERE ARE PLENTY OUT THERE!

IF YOU LIKE IT AFTER ALL THIS OFFER A SILLY PRICE - YOU NEVER KNOW!


Hope this helps and good luck.

Welcome

AJ has given some very good advice.

I bought my 2004 3.0.Auto Roadster back in Jan 08 they are a lovely car and i am still smiling everytime i look at her or go for a drive.

The front Bushes tend to wear had to have mine changed

Rear coils as said

The sticky steering prob is something to look for on 2004 cars check on here for posts re this prob.

Mine was fixed goodwill and only cost me £200 but should have been around £2k as the part is £1500 i am lucky my friend is a BMW tech so saves me a lot of money as i can do certain jobs on the drive

All the best in your search

Thanks for all the help fellas, very much appreciated.

Cheers
Chris

Maybe if people are going to the trouble of typing things out, there should be a buyers guide faq as a sticky ? :!:

Andy said:

Maybe if people are going to the trouble of typing things out, there should be a buyers guide faq as a sticky ? :!:

Click to expand...

Good idea

Z4's are getting older and more faults will unfortuantely rear their heads, so this could be a good idea

What about the swirl flaps? Easiest way to check?

I live 20 miles from Spartanburg, SC where the Z4's are built, but strangely there aren't TOO many around here----even the one BMW dealership in town has no used or certified Z4's, only new 09's.

I THOUGHT it might be easier or cheaper to get repairs in this town, but I haven't had anyone confirm that to be the case.
Still, the deals on USED but NON-CERTIFIED Z4's are...well they're all too good to be true. I wouldn't expect to get a Corolla with 20k miles on it for less than $18k, but you can easily find a Z4 with the same miles at the same price and I feel skeptical because it looks like many people are getting rid of them at a tremendous loss.

I still want one, I'm just not sure what it's going to take to tip me over the edge and know which one IS the one I want.

Great post though----gives me a printable checklist for sure.

DEFINITELY check to see if the springs have been replaced or need replacing. They seem to be the first (and most frequent) thing to go in all Z4's, seemingly regardless of year or version.

For an 03/04 car I would be checking history/documentation carefully. Make sure services are done on time. And look into things like has the owner put a warranty on it at any point outside of the 3 year manufacturer one? It suggests to me that someone cares about their car if they do, as they're not particularly cheap (£300-500), and it's something that swayed me towards my purchase.

Thanks for the info Gents

Thanks so much AlanJ

Looking for a Z4 at the moment. After a 3.0i in Sterling Grey. Want to try and get an SE, with Xenons, under 40k on the clock for £12k or less.

Your list will be so helpful when I go and see come next weekend.

daveg said:

Thanks so much AlanJ

Looking for a Z4 at the moment. After a 3.0i in Sterling Grey. Want to try and get an SE, with Xenons, under 40k on the clock for £12k or less.

Your list will be so helpful when I go and see come next weekend.

Click to expand...

Then you'll be one fairly lucky guy. If you'd tried in January you'd have got that for <£10k but right now you'll be way over £12k for a good condition, less than 40k, 3.0i and some sort of service history and no walk away type worries.

That comes from an owner of a 3.0i with xenons (and a fair few more mods) Sterling Silver is the top colour (I know some are in denial) and the large engine is sought after due to the general level of accessories.

I've just been reading how the prices have been going up. This one seems a good deal just too far away from me:

http://www.pistonheads.com/SALES/1244502.htm

BMW Z4 3.0i SE Roadster in Sterling Grey,

Manual Six-Speed Gearbox,
2005 on 54 plate,
Only 38000 Miles,
Full BMW Service History,
Professional Sat Nav,
MP3 player CD,
Parking Distance Control,
Aux (iPod etc) input,
18" 108 Split Rim Alloys,
Electric Memory Leather Heated Seats,
Climate Control/Air Con,
Xenon self-levelling auto headlights,
Auto Wipers,
Auto Dimming rear view Mirror,
and more.

I got mine at the weekend,

2004 3.0i SE Sterling grey with red leather
Manual
climate
108s
parking sensors
xenons
retracting wing mirrors
auto wipers /dimming mirrors

Absolutely love it, real fun car. Better then I expected. Will post some pics when I get time.

That's the exact spec I'm after! Mind telling what price/miles it was and where you found it?

sent you pm dave

Greetings to all - I just purchased a 2004 Z4 3.0 with auto trans (wife...) - Car has 59K miles on it and 6 months on the warranty. What should I do to be sure that I have everything serviced prior to the warranty expiration? What are the "common" items that go bad at 60K? I have dreamed about this car for years, just don't want that dream to become a nightmare.