Running costs 330i/Z4 3.0

Prophet

Prophet

Prophet

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Just testing the water here.

I may have to buy a car and it could be either of the above. I'll have a 10K budget.

Doing say 15K miles per year what will the running costs be?

Does MPG differ much?

As they're both 3.0 RWD using similar technology, is there a huge difference in handling?

I don't need the car to be practical as long as I've got some boot space. Both are pretty equal in terms of how much I want one.

Any info would be great :)
 
How long is a peice of string? Depends what breaks as to how much it'll cost but leaving breakdown aside you'll average about 25-30mpg in mixed usage (Z4 is noticeably more economical than the bigger cars with the same engine) and go through a set of rear tyres about once every 9-12 months @ 320quid a set (Provided you dump the Z4's runflats, tyre size on both cars are the same btw), front tyres every 18-24 months at 220ish a set, and a service about every 9-12 months at 120ish for an oil service, 220ish for an Inspection 1 and 330ish for an Inspection 2. Tax is 240 quid a year or so IIRC.

Once every 2 years you will pay 60 quid for a brake fluid change and once every 4 years you'll pay the same for a coolant change.

The Z4 will cost more to insure as for some reason its Group 19 iirc.

Then its just down to whether anything goes wrong. Roof motor is very common fault on the Z4 - it went on my parents last month, final bill was 800 quid. Looking for cooling system issues as well, budget 500 quid to replace the lot if anything goes wrong as its loads easier. Both cars eat rear coil springs. Also watch out for propshaft centre bearings which can fail at anything from 50k miles. No idea how much thats going to cost to repair, I'll let you know once I've booked the Z4 in :D

Otherwise they are fundamentally reliable, if the DSC system throws a wobbly its big bill time (I think mine is going to need a steering angle sensor at some point @ 400 quid fitted, it's gone away at the moment but I bet the fault will come back) but this isn't guaranteed to happen, its just a potential.

Keep a grand tucked away for bills and stuff and it'll be fine, IMHO.

The Z4 handles well - better than a 330i because obviously its got quite a bit less weight - but the steering is electric not hydraulic so it lacks the good steering feel of the 330i. This is a shame. The Z4 is obviously a raw car compared to the 330i - the 330i is a better car when its raining, you just want to get home from work, or its freezing cold or whatever. The Z4 is fantastic with the roof down but kinda sucky with the roof up.
 
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Top stuff, thanks for all that :)

Bar big repairs they both sounds very reasonable considering what you get for your money.

I'll be using savings to buy the car so the Monthly allowance will be used for the extra personal fuel bump and ongoing maintenance.

Not worried about insurance as it generally costs me peanuts after years of getting shafted.

I think the main factor is whether I can live with a 'rag top' day to day.
 
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The problem with running costs on these are when you own a Corsa and think that by paying a bit more in petrol you can upgrade. You can't.

You seem to know exactly what to expect and therefore will probably enjoy owning one :)
 
[TW]Fox;15493018 said:
The Z4 is fantastic with the roof down but kinda sucky with the roof up.
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Fox gave a great assessment there, except I strongly disagree with this last bit. It's absolutely fine on a day-today basis, even when my temperature indicator says it's 2 degrees outside.
 
The Z4 roof is fantastic! From someone who has owned one and not talking about their parents car I can assure its great for daily driving and it keeps the warmth in and noise/cold/water out fantastically! Ice, rain, car washing no worries at all.

The insurance is a lot on the Z4 and I got about 25mpg. The Z4 Forum is a great place to go and read up. There are very few major problems with them, rear springs can break and the 108 wheels (Best looking) can corrode where they join. I didn't have any problems with that but a lot do.
 
Big-Mac-Please said:
The Z4 roof is fantastic! From someone who has owned one and not talking about their parents car
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Is there any need for that? :confused:

Your experiences are no more or less valid than my own. My opinion on the Z4 is formed from buying, driving and sorting out the issues with one. The name on the V5 is not a prerequisite for experience on something :confused:

He is comparing the 330i and the Z4 - the Z4 is not as nice a place to be as a 330i when the roof is up, that is my opinion. With the roof down the Z4 is fantastic. With it up, it is less so. The roof on the Z4 really is only for stopping the rain getting in, it should be down the rest of the time :p

Putting the roof up robs the car of its appeal. Sure its warm and dry but it's noisy, etc. For some people this is not concen for others it is. As he is considering a 330i instead, it is surely a consideration for him? It's a noisy unrefined sports car compared to the 330i which is a more refined sports saloon. I do not deserve derision for pointing this out.
 
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You need a seperate module for auto roof open/close off the keyfob. It's made by a third party company. Cannot remember the name though and you CAN program some of the later ones without such a module.
 
My point was that you don't drive it daily, its nothing personal ;)

The aftermarket module is for one touch auto/open close as with standard you have to hold the button on the key. It cost me £20 to have the option turned on. The two press easy entry function is also very handy for tight spaces :)
 
Big-Mac-Please said:
My point was that you don't drive it daily, its nothing personal ;)
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I drive it often enough to make judgements on it and have made several long trips in it. Nobody in the household drives it daily :p

The aftermarket module is for one touch auto/open close as with standard you have to hold the button on the key. It cost me £20 to have the option turned on. The two press easy entry function is also very handy for tight spaces :)
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You cannot open/close the roof on the key with the earlier Z4's without an aftermarket module. I'm pretty sure only late 04 onwards have this facility. The only way to open the roof from the key on the earlier models is to place the key in the lock and turn it and hold :)
 
[TW]Fox;15493117 said:
The problem with running costs on these are when you own a Corsa and think that by paying a bit more in petrol you can upgrade. You can't.

You seem to know exactly what to expect and therefore will probably enjoy owning one :)
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I'd be going from a company car (Mondeo Zetec) to either of the BMW's. I've had expensive to run cars in the past so know what to expect in one way or another. The tax I pay plus my current fuel cost should cover the extra fuel I'll be using and business millage will be paid out at the usual rate. If I was only using my allowance to fund the car I'd probably go for something else however as the allowance will only be for running costs I'd hope to have a healthy pop left over at the end of each year.


Qeffects said:
I used to read you say this all the time and just thought 'rubbish, hes just too used to his cruiser of a 5 series' but now that i've bought one i have seen the light.

First few days after i bought my z4 i had the top down and was loving the whole experience, driving around town was great. Now it's been raining everyday since so i've been driving about with the top up and i swear if the top was fixed then it would be pointless. It is noisy in comparison to a 3 or 5 series (though my friend who owns a clio thinks its comfortable on the motorway so make what you will of that) and it is just tiring to drive in comparison to my dads e39.

However everywhere i go is a short trip, ranging from 30 seconds to 10 mins drive max so getting the top up and down is just going to be such a waste of time once the sun comes round and i can actually do it. However i will still do it! It's a totally different experience. If you're going z4 route i'd recommend finding out about getting the roof programmed to your keyfob so you can do it remotely, this is what i plan to do! I'm worried that the roof motor may go through all that use if i open and close it a few times everyday though.

Also if you testdrive one and find it really hard to change gear between 1st and 2nd - this is the clutch delay valve which can be removed/modified. It was designed to stop rubbish drivers from stalling the car but really just ruins the drive and most people remove/modify it for smoother driving (i also plan to do this)
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I'll be driving the usual 11 Miles to work and back every day plus odd trips around the country. Most millage I do on any one trip would be 300 miles, which happens around once a Month. I'm a little worried about cabin noise, however unless it's like a wind tunnel I think I'll be OK. I really should test drive one!
 
[TW]Fox;15494156 said:
You cannot open/close the roof on the key with the earlier Z4's without an aftermarket module. I'm pretty sure only late 04 onwards have this facility. The only way to open the roof from the key on the earlier models is to place the key in the lock and turn it and hold :)
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Everyone on the forum used to go to a place called autologic in Hull and had the remote ope/close done for around £75 (I called and got a price). Since then one member found a place in Telford which is only an hour away from me. The owner said that anyone who mentions they are from the forum can get as many options installed as they want for £25. Including the remote open/close. BMW tell you it can't be done however they are plenty of people who have had it done. Im off to get mine done at the start of next week.
 
[TW]Fox;15493018 said:
the steering is electric not hydraulic so it lacks the good steering feel of the 330i.
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When I had my Z4C in the garage yesterday, I was given a new 318i as loan car.

Now I'm converted, I want to get rid of the Z4 and get a 330d. The 3 series just feels so much better than the Z4. The steering makes a massive difference.
 
smokedog said:
When I had my Z4C in the garage yesterday, I was given a new 318i as loan car.

Now I'm converted, I want to get rid of the Z4 and get a 330d. The 3 series just feels so much better than the Z4. The steering makes a massive difference.
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:eek: Blimey mate don't say that, your opinion on the Z4C has been helpful in me deciding to get one. :)
 
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