Had a Z3 and now thinking about a Z4

lightning · Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 10 Location: Stockport

I sold my Z3 2.8 in April 2008 and am now thinking of buying a Z4 3.0 as the prices for 2003/2004 models seem to be dropping below £10k.
Are there any issues with the Z4 that I should be aware of (on the Z3 it's the rear diff mount failing)

lightning · Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 10 Location: Stockport

So there's nothing at all I should look out for (except the obvious crash damage etc) ?

myredzed · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 1753 Location: Lytham St Annes

....apparently not. Z4 owners appear to have gone quiet!

The only things I've picked up from frequenting this forum and zed-cars.eu (more z4 based IMO) are:

- Dodgy Sat Nav screens
- Rattly roofs
- Intermittent roof operation
- Corrosion of the 108 style wheels

however I don't own a z4 so can't substaniate any of that lot Wink

Chris Xoe · Joined: 19 Nov 2003 Posts: 208 Location: Worcester

Broken rear springs.

squeeking wiper arms (not blades!)

108 wheel corrosion (again!)

PVR

2003 model: Petrol cap falling off, no roof open with remote until April 2004, no brake force display until April 2004.

Broken spring seems to be mainly on 2003 cars.

PhoenixCoupe · Joined: 02 May 2007 Posts: 821 Location: Mars

Broken spring happened to my 2007. Although, it had just spend the day being thrashed round the track, which may not have helped.
Also happened to Justinius' 2007 / 08 2.0.

PVR

Hence the "mainly" Very Happy

It seemed to be more rule then exception on the 2003 models, whilst in later models it is more the exception then the rule.

Chris Xoe · Joined: 19 Nov 2003 Posts: 208 Location: Worcester

Maybe worth mentioning that it's really easy to retro-fit cruise control to the earlier 2003-2004 cars (if you want it, and your 'target' car does not have it Wink

).

- Kit from BMW is about £100 and it takes about 10 minutes to fit it.

- later cars require a bit of re-wiring I believe.

lightning · Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 10 Location: Stockport

Thanks for the replies. I'm going to look at a silver 2005 3.0 today on offer at £10,000 at a local dealer.

PVR

Early 2005 has orange indicators, later have the clear ones. Just to keep in mind.

Alpina Al · Joined: 01 Jul 2008 Posts: 18 Location: Douglas

I have owned one for 7 months.

Check automatic wipers been known to fail, new windscreen to fix this.

Check the gears especially 1st and 2nd go in easily, I had a small problem with this and replaced the clutch plate which fixed this.

See if the car has a wind deflector, makes a difference when driving with the hood down.

Other than the above just the basic checks, service history, oil cap etc.

These cars are a great driving cars, although I have heard the run flats compromise the ride a little. I have 19" wheels with standard tyres.

Best of luck on the purchase.

Al

lightning · Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 10 Location: Stockport

I wanted to get a Z4 3.0 but they are still too dear...you need £10,000 upwards for one and I just don't have the funds.

I've bought a Porsche 928. 5 litre V8 with 320bhp for £5,000! Not a Z4 of course, but a great car until I can afford one.

gookah · Joined: 07 Aug 2008 Posts: 445

hmmmm

mjet · Joined: 15 Apr 2008 Posts: 6

lightning · Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 10 Location: Stockport

I sold the Porsche 928...it was a nightmare. Cost me £500 a month in repairs!
Mind you I bought it last year for £5,000 and sold it on ebay last week for £8,000 so at least I got my money back.
Thinking I should purchase something that will give me less grief, I went to a dealer in Kent to look at a Z4 3.0 they had in, and came away with a Ferrari Mondial 3.4t
Still can't quite work out what happened, but the Ferrari is fabulous.

PaulSutters · Joined: 09 Feb 2006 Posts: 67 Location: London N13

Nice, any pics?
Shame about the 928 - what happened?

trigg35 · Joined: 18 Sep 2009 Posts: 131 Location: newquay

good luck with that one.if 928 repairs were costly wait until the ferrari needs something.is that the one they had on wheeler dealers?And to think i worry about my z3 going wrong.....Perhaps like me you are just going to have it for a short time and then sell it with the hope of it not going wrong while youve got it.my pockets are not deep so the z is not a keeper.just hope it does not go wrong or get vandalised during the year ive got it.then its back to my toyota hiace van.slow but i love it.220,000 miles and totally reliable - and i can park it anywhere without a care in the world.happy days

lightning · Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 10 Location: Stockport

The Porsche 928 was great, but they are known for bills. Mine was a good one, but for example a week after I got it the sump gasket started to leak and it's 14 hours labour to replace it. By the time they'd done that, and changed the oil etc I got a bill for £1,000. Then the aircon packed up...£500. New radiator £700 just for the part, and two new front side lights £300. Driveshaft boot split, £150 and then the automatic gearbox started to play up, the resulting overhaul came to £1500.

When I sold it the engine had started to misfire on idle and the torque convertor had developed a rattle. I could see another £1,000 bill looming.

Trouble is I didn't love the car enough to keep throwing money at it, I got fed up. A Ferrari is a different matter, I can live with spending money on that.

paddy wright · Joined: 06 Aug 2009 Posts: 6

check www.z4-forum.com