Can I afford a high-mileage Z4?

[KPM3_30]

Honestly, I would do everything I can to take Solo's car vs. the 2.5i. You will just feel short changed in the long run, should you get the 2.5i.

So many options to explore if you choose to, as mentioned by the other gents. Else you can arrange with a dealership to dealer stock the car and they can arrange finance for you. It will cost a few grand but rather get what you truly want and pay a bit more, than buyer's remorse later down the line. The fact that Solo is negotiable will help your cause. Just my 2c.

 

[eben007]

Hi Good luck on your search it can be quite daunting. Not too long ago I was also searching for a 3.0i Manual however settled for a 3.0si auto
you can check it out here https://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/showthread.php?tid=81730.

The one you test driving is most likely a 2005 registered in 2006 as i believe the 2006 was a facelift (different fogs, notice mines does not have the round fogs).

all the luck :thumbs:

Just read your thread, very nice car! I wonder if I'm having a mid-life crisis too...
I thought those only start happening at 40+

Anyway, yeah I see what you mean about the fogs/bumper, weren't the 2005's a bad batch? Thought I read that somewhere...

Thanks for the well-wishes bru!
:thumbsup:

 

[Deren]

Hi Good luck on your search it can be quite daunting. Not too long ago I was also searching for a 3.0i Manual however settled for a 3.0si auto
you can check it out here https://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/showthread.php?tid=81730.

The one you test driving is most likely a 2005 registered in 2006 as i believe the 2006 was a facelift (different fogs, notice mines does not have the round fogs).

all the luck :thumbs:

Just read your thread, very nice car! I wonder if I'm having a mid-life crisis too...
I thought those only start happening at 40+

Anyway, yeah I see what you mean about the fogs/bumper, weren't the 2005's a bad batch? Thought I read that somewhere...

Thanks for the well-wishes bru!
:thumbsup:

Thanks!!!

No i dont think they were a bad batch, just wanted to bring it to your attention so if you really like the car you can use it to bargain with the dealership :biglol:

 

[eben007]

Honestly, I would do everything I can to take Solo's car vs. the 2.5i. You will just feel short changed in the long run, should you get the 2.5i.

So many options to explore if you choose to, as mentioned by the other gents. Else you can arrange with a dealership to dealer stock the car and they can arrange finance for you. It will cost a few grand but rather get what you truly want and pay a bit more, than buyer's remorse later down the line. The fact that Solo is negotiable will help your cause. Just my 2c.

Still first on my mind as well, trying things now to see if I can make it work, but I can only do so much, it's a tricky situation with me owing more on my current car than I'll get for a trade, (almost 50%) more and that amount cannot be added to Solo's car by a dealer because of values etc. I don't wanna go into too much detail but ya...tricky.

Thanks!!!

No i dont think they were a bad batch, just wanted to bring it to your attention so if you really like the car you can use it to bargain with the dealership :biglol:

Hahaha no I seriously read somewhere that the 2005's were booked into BMW repair centres (globally) more than any other year...

But yeah it will come in handy when I start talking price!
Thanks!

---

Interesting.. the car I'm seeing tomorrow is apparently a 2.5si and not a 2.5i as I thought...

ONE QUESTION

Which is more reliable? i or si

 

[Deren]

Honestly, I would do everything I can to take Solo's car vs. the 2.5i. You will just feel short changed in the long run, should you get the 2.5i.

So many options to explore if you choose to, as mentioned by the other gents. Else you can arrange with a dealership to dealer stock the car and they can arrange finance for you. It will cost a few grand but rather get what you truly want and pay a bit more, than buyer's remorse later down the line. The fact that Solo is negotiable will help your cause. Just my 2c.

Still first on my mind as well, trying things now to see if I can make it work, but I can only do so much, it's a tricky situation with me owing more on my current car than I'll get for a trade, (almost 50%) more and that amount cannot be added to Solo's car by a dealer because of values etc. I don't wanna go into too much detail but ya...tricky.

Thanks!!!

No i dont think they were a bad batch, just wanted to bring it to your attention so if you really like the car you can use it to bargain with the dealership :biglol:

Hahaha no I seriously read somewhere that the 2005's were booked into BMW repair centres (globally) more than any other year...

But yeah it will come in handy when I start talking price!
Thanks!

---

Interesting.. the car I'm seeing tomorrow is apparently a 2.5si and not a 2.5i as I thought...

ONE QUESTION

Which is more reliable? i or si

---

The Si has more power than the I it is the sport variant have a look here although I would think the Si should have been the facelift I may be wrong though https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_Z4_(E85)

 

[eben007]

The Si has more power than the I it is the sport variant have a look here although I would think the Si should have been the facelift I may be wrong though https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_Z4_(E85)

Thanks Deren! Yah it looks like the dealer advertised the i as an si on some ads and an i on other ads, the badge is "2.5i" so I assume it's a sales tactic.

It has the SPORT button though, not sure if this was only on the Si?

I'll take a good look at the car today and take some pics, I'm going to be paying particular attention to:

Rear springs
Roof motor
Mileage tampering dot
All controls/lights etc work
Any sign of milkyness under oil cap
Signs of leaking coolant res
Age of battery
Sticky steering
Tires/brakes
Signs of previous accidents/bad repairs/respray/panel gaps etc.


Anything else come to mind?

 

[Deren]

The Si has more power than the I it is the sport variant have a look here although I would think the Si should have been the facelift I may be wrong though https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_Z4_(E85)

Thanks Deren! Yah it looks like the dealer advertised the i as an si on some ads and an i on other ads, the badge is "2.5i" so I assume it's a sales tactic.

It has the SPORT button though, not sure if this was only on the Si?

I'll take a good look at the car today and take some pics, I'm going to be paying particular attention to:

Rear springs
Roof motor
Mileage tampering dot
All controls/lights etc work
Any sign of milkyness under oil cap
Signs of leaking coolant res
Age of battery
Sticky steering
Tires/brakes
Signs of previous accidents/bad repairs/respray/panel gaps etc.


Anything else come to mind?

Get the Vin and use https://www.bmwvin.com/ to check the Specs of the car it will tell you if it is a i or Si

 

[PLV]

Mileage tampering dot?

What / where's that?

:fencelook:

 

[eben007]

Get the Vin and use https://www.bmwvin.com/ to check the Specs of the car it will tell you if it is a i or Si

It's an i... BUT production date shows "Prod. Date 2004-12-07"
First reg. date they told me 2006... possible? Would it qualify as a 2004 then?

Mileage tampering dot?

What / where's that?

:fencelook:

Apparently if the odo and ECU mileage doesn't match the car will throw a little dot before the km reading on the dash to warn of this... I found it on the UK BMW forum..

 

[Deren]

Get the Vin and use https://www.bmwvin.com/ to check the Specs of the car it will tell you if it is a i or Si

It's an i... BUT production date shows "Prod. Date 2004-12-07"
First reg. date they told me 2006... possible? Would it qualify as a 2004 then?

Mileage tampering dot?

What / where's that?

:fencelook:

Apparently if the odo and ECU mileage doesn't match the car will throw a little dot before the km reading on the dash to warn of this... I found it on the UK BMW forum..

I dont think a car can run for a year without being registered, maybe get Coisman on this forum to check it out Pm him the Vin. Sounds fishy to me if it is a prod 2004 I assume reg date could have been 2005 but not 2006

 

[that_guy_Ettiene]

Hi,

I've sent you a PM with my details.

Think I might have got the one for you

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

 

[eben007]

Hi guys, so took the Z for a spin, sounded and drove incredible, a little under powered for what I was expecting, maybe just me, or maybe Vanos.... everything worked and it was magical, and it looks amazing, but then when it was hot it didn't wanna start when the guy was leaving. So he pushed and I bump started it and then it would start again immediately after... bad battery or something more sinister?

---

Hi,

I've sent you a PM with my details.

Think I might have got the one for you

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

Replied! :thumbs:

 

[momo1]

Hi guys, so took the Z for a spin, sounded and drove incredible, a little under powered for what I was expecting, maybe just me, or maybe Vanos.... everything worked and it was magical, and it looks amazing, but then when it was hot it didn't wanna start when the guy was leaving. So he pushed and I bump started it and then it would start again immediately after... bad battery or something more sinister?

---

Hi,

I've sent you a PM with my details.

Think I might have got the one for you

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

Replied! :thumbs:

---

probably bad battery
did you check If all electronics were fine?
roof, aircon etc?

I know when I purchased my Z4 the car was in ''Transport mode" as meaning the cluster instruments were on standby, no Aircon, slow fan speed, no demister, agents wanted to charge me over R1000 to clear faults, I took it to an indy, plugged it in and 15 minutes later all was well..
although I don not have any starting issues.

 

[eben007]

All the lectrics worked 100%, all the dash lights came on but car wouldn't start, no click or anything, after it push started I immediately switched it off, and started and it worked fine. Didn't really have time to play with the problem, guy said he'll replace the battery (The one in there now is marked 2015). Just REALLY don't want some big expense right off the bat, in fact if that issue didn't pop up I probably would have owned the car by now....

---

Oh the airbag light was also on, guy said it's because he replaced the switch on the passenger seat and he'll get the light cleared?

 

[PLV]

Uhm, maybe do yourself a favour and have a voltage meter and check that the alternator/regulator are working ok.

:thumbs:

 

[eben007]

Uhm, maybe do yourself a favour and have a voltage meter and check that the alternator/regulator are working ok.

:thumbs:

Yeah, wish I had those with me when the car was here... it's an hours drive away now... what does an alternator cost?

Damn these pretty cars and my stupid emotions.. common sense telling me I'm k@k dumb for even considering buying it, but my heart is telling me "doooo iiiitttt son"

Oh it also showed up on MFC loss control in 2010, meaning accident/total loss/repossessed according to Cois.

It's the right price tho...

 

[PLV]

This may be a tricky one... but to be honest, I would suggest you use your head and not your heart!

Seems like there are a few indicators here on what you really should be doing...

... problem starting (could just be battery, could be worse)...
... was a write-off... hmmm.... you never know how bad and what else could be problematic...

I honestly believe that the right one will come along at the right time...

Don't rush after the first car that you find...

Just my thoughts!

 

[eben007]

Thanks PLV, not necessarily a write off, can also mean a repo from a client that coudln't pay. And I looked at the paint/panels etc, and can see NO indication of repair, it looks fantastic to be honest, in my opinion. It's very clean, interior wear is consistent with age/kilos, it has a new roof motor (old one in the boot)...
Am I just trying to convince myself?

I am torn

 

[PLV]

Thanks PLV, not necessarily a write off, can also mean a repo from a client that coudln't pay. And I looked at the paint/panels etc, and can see NO indication of repair, it looks fantastic to be honest, in my opinion. It's very clean, interior wear is consistent with age/kilos, it has a new roof motor (old one in the boot)...
Am I just trying to convince myself?

I am torn

Ok fair enough - thought it was write-off only.

Like I said... tricky one this.

Realistically - if you have been looking for quite a while (several weeks) and this is the best considering your wishes and budget... then maybe it's ok and the right one.

But if you could maybe (if you honest with yourself) do a little more due diligence - then you never know - maybe something better will come along.

Either way - you are the guy that will make the call and enjoy the outcome!

:smilebounce:

 

[KPM3_30]

If it felt under powered now, on your 'honeymoon' drive, spare a thought for a few months down the line after you've gotten used to the power. Based on your feedback, if it were my money, I would wait.

That said, your money and your choice.. If it works for you, grab it.