What Z4?

Mint_Sauce

Mint_Sauce

Mint_Sauce

Soldato
Joined
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Myself and the soon to be wife have decided on a second car to our basic Focus being a Z4. I know a few people on here have them as I have lusted at the pics people have posted.

Done a bit of research on them after deciding on one over the Boxster S and Mini Cooper.

Would be looking to spend up to a max of £12k really, ideally more around the £9k mark but for the right vehicle a bit more is ok.

I think the one we want is the 3.0 Si sports pack manual with leather interior. What's the general consensus on the Z4s, which is the model to go for? I think a 2003-2004 model is going to match our requiremements.

We are just looking for some advice on things to look out for, avoid, must have optional extras and things like that so we know what to look for!
 
You'll not get a 3.0Si Sport for your budget. You'll have to aim for a 3.0i. Don't bother with the smaller engines. Running costs are exactly the same throught all the engines but the 3.0i is obviously the best performing.
 
Mint_Sauce said:
Done a bit of research on them after deciding on one over the Boxster S and Mini Cooper.

Would be looking to spend up to a max of £12k really, ideally more around the £9k mark but for the right vehicle a bit more is ok.

I think the one we want is the 3.0 Si sports pack manual with leather interior. What's the general consensus on the Z4s, which is the model to go for? I think a 2003-2004 model is going to match our requiremements.
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It will be the 3.0i that you'll be getting for that kind of money.

I paid £10.5k for my 53 plate 3.0i with 50,000 miles on the clock in November.

Excellent choice might I add ;) Not sure if you've had a look around one but I was really impressed with the storage space (will be a plus point for your wife Im sure :p).

Anything specific you want to know rather than me blabbing on?
 
All prefacelift cars are 3.0i SE's. There is no Sport and no Si until the 2006 facelift and as Scuzi has pointed out, you wont get one for your budget.

Get a 2003-2005 3.0i SE with the options that take your fancy, and dont bother with any of the other engines.
 
Ok, great info - so difficult to find this stuff out trawling the internet. I now know I'm basically looking for a 2003-2005 3.0i SE with as many options as possible depending on price. Any options that are a must?

What about common problems or things to look out for when buying?
 
No, not really. It's a fun Sports car, you dont really need things like sat nav and electric leather memory seats are standard on the 3.0i SE anyway. Go for condition over spec. It's nice to have cruise, though.
 
Thanks, we will try and have a test drive in one tomorrow and see what we think. I'm thinking the sat nav might work against us for reselling. I can see the unit looking very dated in 3-5 years so will probably try and avoid and stick with Tom Tom.

Does the pop up sat nav unit give any other info or is it just sat nav?
 
I'd definately look for one with the 18" alloys. Either the ones in my sig, or the one that Herminator has in his sig. They are more desireable and the car doesn't look half as good without them.

The Style 108 alloys on my car are split rim and they a prone to corrosion. Refurbishment is between £60-80 per wheel so that's definately something to take into consideration if your not bothered either way between the 2 sets.

The main options I have on mine are the Sat Nav :

IMG_9920.jpg


Which looks pretty cool, which is probably its main job in my car at the moment :D

The sat-nav is particularly handy if you ever thing about having the Ipod kit install as it all works through your sat nav screen and buttons.

Cruise Control as fox says is very good, but its an easy retro fit so don't let it put you off.

Heated seat really are a must as they provide you with a few extra months worth of roof down driving if thats your thing :)

Not sure if Xenons are standard on the 3.0i.

EDIT

I forgot to add, mine has the Carver 10 speaker upgraded audio. Its great for me as I love my music but if your not a big music fan then I wouldn't bother.

Oh also the bluetooth & phone preperation is extremely useful, especially with the crackdown on driving with mobiles.

Mint_Sauce said:
Does the pop up sat nav unit give any other info or is it just sat nav?
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My sat-nav displays the DSP setting (for fine tuning the sound), Computer (2 trip mpg calculators & average speed), Telephone (gives you a keypad for dialling out & phone contacts are on there), and then the sat-nav. Which is dated but I haven't had to use my tomtom since I bought my car so its not terrible.
 
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Cool, we are swaying towards the 18" alloys with Sat Nav now, having looked around on auto trader as well there's a nice one not too far away. Do they all come with reversing sensors (she's asking!). :D
 
I can't remember if thats an option or not. I think isn't standard. From the dealer details ours has Cruise Control, Rear PDC, 18" Style 108's, Dream Red Oregon leather and BMW Aerokit as options, everything else is stock.
 
They are pointless anyway. You only sit 2ft away from the rear bumper :p. If anything they'd be a hell of a lot more useful on the front. Its deceptively long.
 
This is the break down so far

2003-2005 3.0L SE - Silver, Gun metal or black (but only with cream seats if black)

------------
Must Have options
------------
Sat Nav
18" alloys

------------
Not essential but nice to have options
------------
sports seats
parking sensors
Carver audio
bluetooth & phone preparation
heated seats
wind deflector

------------
Not essential, can retro fit
------------
Xenons (better with as expensive to add or use aftermarket kits)
cruise control

ok, I think we are well armed to know half of what we are talking about now. Thanks loads, we have been researching for the last few days and got no where really, hour or two on here and we know the full low down!

EDIT:

Didn't really think about the fact I... I mean she, could basically almost just peer over the back of the car rather than using parking sensors :)
 
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There isn't that many with cream seats I wouldn't have thought.

While the Xenons are an easy retrofit, I don't think its particularly cheap.

The cruise retrofit is just over £100 IIRC and is a 10 minute job to do. (from what Ive heard)
 
[TW]Fox;13505992 said:
I think I am the only person who doesnt think heated seats are that important.
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It was more her want than mine. They're really not important to me at all, in fact every time I've used heated seats it just felt a bit weird but she loves to be warm.
 
Do you enjoy driving the Z4 with the roof down even when its not hot?

I do. I had the roof down a couple of times this week just gone. As long as its not stupidly cold or raining and the sun is shining then the roof is off and the heated seats are on.

Plus the car sounds even better :cool:

mint_sauce - Not sure if they are standard but the wind deflectors are very useful. (will be black mesh in between the seats.

Ive been meaning to make a video with and without the sound generator foam in. Its a bit too loud for everyday, but every sunday when I go for a drive I can't get enough of the sound :D
 
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