Considering a Z4

[Alan W]

Haha.. dont laugh but having just sold Gloria my Z3... l have now been offered a 2003 Z4 2.5 manual with 107,000 mls for £3.5k and l am tempted, reason being that whereas my Z3 was a pristine garage queen used only on dry summer days, in some ways l always wished that she was a bit more ropey around the edges so l could drive/thrash/abuse/bling her up.. but to do so would have been sacrilege!

Looking at the Z4 it has a couple of little flaws on the body but reasonanly tidy.. l just want something l can just get in and drive and not spend my life cleaning and polishing..

So what does anyone think of the price and driveabiliy of a car of this age and engine configuration? And most importantly what to look out for if buying and any known issues?

Thanks in advance

 

[billz]

Alan. The only real issue on the Z4 is the rear springs and the Roof motor. You will find it a completely different car to the Z3. Its more sedate.
It did take me around 2 years before i started to really like the Z4 now i love it. The price looks really good just make sure as with any car it has been regularly serviced. I would assume the 2.5 will be on par performance wise with the 2.8 z3

 

[Redline]

Alan. The only real issue on the Z4 is the rear springs and the Roof motor. You will find it a completely different car to the Z3. Its more sedate.
It did take me around 2 years before i started to really like the Z4 now i love it. The price looks really good just make sure as with any car it has been regularly serviced. I would assume the 2.5 will be on par performance wise with the 2.8 z3

Z4. Sedate? I'll find you a re-education program Bill

You're right of course - its a completely different car compared to a Z3 by all accounts. More cultured if you like but still not bang up to date modern. Love my Z4 but I find the Z3 lines more pleasing.
The 2.5 is supposed to be a more balanced car compared to the hooligan 3.0L
Broken Springs easy to spot - Pre-facelift roof motor can go at anytime unless its been moved to the boot if it is working. Worth doing by all accounts. A faulty one can be expensive to fix .

 

[GazHyde]

Once you get in to the swing of owning and driving a Z4 you'll be fine. It's a different animal, so much more roomy and capable as a car - more of an all rounder. As a result perhaps initially not as much fun, until you get over that it's not a Z3.

They are great cars, just a different kind of great compared to the Z3. Everyone should ideally have one of each

 

[raymond]

I had a Z4 last year a 2.5 in maldive blue. Great looking car but plagued with electrical issues. The electric power steering failed and BMW wanted £2500 for the new part! In the end I converted it to hydraulic. ABS/ traction control can also prove troublesome and expensive. Small things like expansion tank, water pump and thermostat housing can fail so make sure the car has had them done

 

[Antm72]

I had a Z4 last year a 2.5 in maldive blue. Great looking car but plagued with electrical issues. The electric power steering failed and BMW wanted £2500 for the new part! In the end I converted it to hydraulic. ABS/ traction control can also prove troublesome and expensive. Small things like expansion tank, water pump and thermostat housing can fail so make sure the car has had them done
View attachment 56057

Love that colour on a Z4

 

[raymond]

Which was why I bought it ! Unfortunately the rose had thorns

 

[billz]

I had a Z4 last year a 2.5 in maldive blue. Great looking car but plagued with electrical issues. The electric power steering failed and BMW wanted £2500 for the new part! In the end I converted it to hydraulic. ABS/ traction control can also prove troublesome and expensive. Small things like expansion tank, water pump and thermostat housing can fail so make sure the car has had them done
View attachment 56057

You must have gotten either a bad one or one that was not well maintained. We have had ours for over 4 years and have only had an o2 sensor and rear spring go. So maybe 1 or 2 bad cars should not put he OP off as the majority are actually as reliable as the Z3s

 

[Paul Rice]

l just want something l can just get in and drive and not spend my life cleaning and polishing..

Buy the Z4 and i bet within a week your cleaning and polishing it?

 

[Nodzed]

Haha.. dont laugh but having just sold Gloria my Z3... l have now been offered a 2003 Z4 2.5 manual with 107,000 mls for £3.5k and l am tempted, reason being that whereas my Z3 was a pristine garage queen used only on dry summer days, in some ways l always wished that she was a bit more ropey around the edges so l could drive/thrash/abuse/bling her up.. but to do so would have been sacrilege!

Looking at the Z4 it has a couple of little flaws on the body but reasonanly tidy.. l just want something l can just get in and drive and not spend my life cleaning and polishing..

So what does anyone think of the price and driveabiliy of a car of this age and engine configuration? And most importantly what to look out for if buying and any known issues?

Thanks in advance

Resist Resist ..... the urge will go away and you will get another Z3

 

[Sean d]

I had a Z4 last year a 2.5 in maldive blue. Great looking car but plagued with electrical issues. The electric power steering failed and BMW wanted £2500 for the new part! In the end I converted it to hydraulic. ABS/ traction control can also prove troublesome and expensive. Small things like expansion tank, water pump and thermostat housing can fail so make sure the car has had them done
View attachment 56057

I have to say, thats the prettiest Z4 I have seen. that colour really suits it

 

[Ianmc]

I have to say, thats the prettiest Z4 I have seen. that colour really suits it

Is it a girl, my two Zs are boys. Perhaps Z4s are female (I think I will regret saying this!!!!)

 

[Sean d]

Is it a girl, my two Zs are boys. Perhaps Z4s are female (I think I will regret saying this!!!!)

Boys can be pretty too ......................................................................Apparently

 

[Ianmc]

Can't think of a PC reply!!!

 

[Sean d]

Can't think of a PC reply!!!

Depends which side of the fence you sit.

 

[Ianmc]

Best stop now!!!!

 

[t-tony]

Love that colour on a Z4

That's the colour of the one I saw in Orlando with a hard top on, looked great.

Tony.

 

[andyglym]

Boys can be pretty too ......................................................................Apparently

 

[Paul Rice]

Some very nice low milage 4's about on Auto trader.

 

[andyglym]

The Z4 surely has to be a better car? I can't imagine BMW going backwards with a new car (over the Z3).