Buying a BMW Z4 - What You Need To Know | BMW Z4 Buyer's Guide (E85/E86)
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The E85 and E86 BMW Z4's are bordering on classic status at this point, and I think their popularity is really starting to grow given the value for money prospect they offer.
In this video, I cover some of the main points I think you should consider and be aware of, ahead of making the purchase.
As always, this is not an exhaustive list and I cannot stress enough the importance of doing your own research and most importantly, test driving the car before purchase!
Subscribe if you enjoyed!
00:00 Intro
00:50 Engines - N46
01:32 Engines - M54
06:20 Engines - N52
09:45 Engines - S54
12:30 Which Engine Should You Choose?
13:10 N52 Tunability
16:10 Other E85 & E86 Issues
20:54 Maintenance Costs
22:34 Prices
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#e85bmwz4 #e86bmwz4 #bmwz4
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2004 3.0i Z4 E85 owner here. M54 engine. 6 speed manual transmission. Sport and cold weather package. Currently 60k original miles. If you have the time, tools and like doing the work, the car is not hard to maintain. Use only OE or OEM parts. The car is a joy to drive in warm, dry weather. It is not made to drive in the snow. Front and rear tires are different sizes on my model, so forget about rotating the tires to extend tire life. I agree with his choice of Pilot Sport non run flats. Timely oil changes are essential. I enthusiastically recommend the E85 Z4 if you want a smile on your face every time you hop in for a drive.
Would you recommend your car or the newer e89?
Other things to consider as maintenance is the oil seal for the variable intake system located on in the rocker cover, which can weep and ruin the sensor that it is plugged into it. To change the sensor is not only expensive but means the rocker cover removal. If the seal is damp and the sensor is dry then just change the seal. Remember that some panels on the E86 are unique and not available. Rear wings and boot lids are used only. Front end is the same as E85. Always check for rust inside the bootlid by opening it and looking up . BMW did warranty once upon a time as an issue. Creaky plastic panels can let the car down on quality. You can use black felt between some panels, such as bootlid inner plastics to stop the noises. Watch for scuffing on the front lip as very low and also check undertrays for damage as common and also frontal stone chipping. The wheel arch rust can be prevented by fitting a thin rubber U shape and gluing onto the wheel arch edges. This then stops the wheel arch liners from rubbing the paint on the wings . I also painted with additional rust prevention paint , just as a precaution. Early E85 cars showing rust where sill panel meets the rear wing area. Dont slam the bootlid or you could crack the centre brake light, which are expensive to replace. M engined cars, I believe came with normal tyres. Changing to non run flats does give much more comfort and worth doing. I bought a 3 series space saver and although takes some boot space , fits in a bag with jack and brace with some tools , fitting inside. I prefer a spare wheel anyway with all my cars. Remember though, you will need a 17inch steel with the 3.0si as has larger discs from the E46 CSL on the front and 16 inch space saver wont fit over it. Handbrakes are pretty rubbish and need to be maintained, cleaned and adjusted correctly. Usually ignored until they fail the MOT. Mine works and MOT man said it was good , but still not good compared to other cars. Mostly they get the cables tightened in the cabin but they need the adjustment on the drum to work. Hope that all helps, but they are really good cars , although they are getting on a bit and plenty of poor cars now around and also some great ones, but do your homework before you spend your money. Head over heart on the decision.
Thanks for all your useful insights Justin!
Love my E86, never get bored of watching videos about them.
They are great cars to own!
Really thorough video 👍🏾 Loads of decent information which is presented really well. A good advert to persuade someone to buy one of these 👌🏾
Glad you found it useful! This a brilliant platform, can highly recommend!
Extremely informative and well put together! I have the same car so it’s very much appreciated!
No problem man, thanks for watching!
Great review thanks
The ticking noise is more common on the pre 2007 e86 with the silver engine cover . They made several changes in 2007 to the black top (N52k) engine which also rectified the problem with tapping to an extent.
Cheers bud on this! I’m looking to get a 3.0 - great vid 👍🏻
No worries man, good luck with the purchase!
Thanks for the info
Excellent as always, you sure do your homework, as for the gearbox, I have not heard that sound although it’s not the most graceful transmission I have ever used, but that’s because I was spoiled by my MX 5. I absolutely love this car In spit of its balky gearbox. Keep up the great reporting!
Thanks very much Dennis! Yeah this one took a decent amount of researching 😂 Yeah the transmission isnt the smoothest overall! Appreciate your support
i sold a 986 and kept my mx5 because the porsches box was rubbish compared to any mx5...the gearbox is such an important part for me so i would probably not get on with the Z4 either if its that sloppy ?
Mine is a 2015 with 60,000 miles of pure joy. No problems.
I have also a e86 3.0si (pack M ;-). 9 years now, and I will probably never sell it, I bought a touring 3 to drive my kids and kept the z4... I have the clutch lightly clicking on neutral only when gearbox is hot, like you. After one year owning it, I asked my bmw specialist to check the gearbox, no problem found, normal noise in fact. Since it was opened, we changed the half-used clutch flywheel (the previous and first owner, german lady, was mainly city driving it)... and still clicking since. From my side, the only problem I have/had is a small electrical leak in the system, even with the DVD player disabled which is draining the battery a bit too fast when sleeping for a week... nothing really serious. This car is just a dream to drive and listen.
Very useful to know, thanks Guillaume! Yeah definitely seems like the noise is totally normal and harmless. Agreed, these cars are awesome to drive. Thanks a lot for watching!
Great vid, appreciated 👏
Thanks for watching!
I’m late to the party, life long BWM fan and owner. Looking at a low mileage 30si coupe as a weekend toy, so your videos have been very informative.
Thanks Daniel, glad you found the videos useful. Good luck with the search!
I have enjoyed my e86 si for almost 4 years and I don’t what to replace it with, it has been a meticulous experience owning this masterpiece, it is more usable than the M version for day to day driving and less snappy on the edge. Two cars that may replace my outstanding e86 are Porsche 981 or Jaguar F type as more contemporary alternatives. Talking of mods, gents save your money on any mods except a LSD that will transform how that free spinning stra8 six engine delivers power.
Awesome, great to hear about your ownership experience. It seems that everyone who owns these cars says the same thing, about how special they are. That's certainly the way I feel too, it's always an occasion to drive and I honestly don't know what could replace it. Currently no plans to do so but I think a 981 Cayman S would be good. Thanks for watching!
I think it's a common owner's dilemma when you consider moving on. I think I'll go for a manual N55 M2. As much as I love the e86 I sometimes wish I had some cabin room.
Had mine a decade. 58 plate like the one in the video. Can’t bring myself to sell it. There really isn’t anything else quite like it.
Bought one a few weeks ago exactly the same spec mine has the same noise from the box had a coil pack fail yesterday otherwise great motor look forward to future videos 👍
N52B30 is a gem
Awesome Ryan, glad you enjoy the car. Thanks for watching and stay tuned for more!
Great video. 👍I also have an e86, my gearbox also makes the same noise. I replaced the clutch and flywheel a few years back and noticed play I the main input shaft to gearbox. There is a 'GS6 37BZ problem' (our gearbox code) on KZhead illustrating this. Its a shame really cos mine is getting a tad louder and bugs me. I've tried a few different oil to quieten but no joy.
Thanks Bobby, interesting to hear your experiences. Yeah it is an intriguing issue, I'll have to check out those videos. I fully imagine it will get louder as the gearsets wear - I find it annoying at times because outside the car it'll sound like there's an issue with the drivetrain when running 😂
It is the flywheel rattling not the gearbox/shaft. ;)
In the states make sure which disa valve you have.sulev is California emissions and has longer flap valve.mine was non sulev.was a headaches figuring out.also after 2003 brake pad and roters went massive bigger
Great video. It's been an amazing car, best thing I have ever bought. So much fun and very reliable. No major problems and great performance. I've had mine 13 years and it is superb. The shaft noise in neutral with the clutch out, mine has always had this and I wondered if it was just me, seems to be worse when the car has been run for a while. Put the clutch in, it goes away totally. Can it be fixed? Do you still have yours? Enjoyed the video
Thanks for watching and sharing your experience! Yeah the gearbox noise is also louder on mine when everything is up to temperature I would say. I assume this is just a quirk of the gearbox, sounds like chatter from the gears themselves and doesn't seem to cause any issues at all, just noticeable! Yeah still have mine, I'm at the 2.5 year mark now and have really enjoyed my time with it. May consider parting with it next year to move onto the next thing, but these are great cars and I'm sure it won't be the only one I own!
Really good review. Thanks. My E86 suffers from diff clunk which is slightly annoying. Did you not come across this in your research or did I miss it in your review?
Thanks Richard! Yes quite a common issue that, mine does it and I've heard of many people with the same thing. In reality it's very minor and I believe its just as a result of grease wearing out on a couple of drivetrain components such as a the prop shaft connections and/or the diff input shaft connection. Of course quite easy to fix but it will eventually come back - interestingly my E30 Touring has the same thing sometimes so clearly common on BMWs!
@@FootToPedal guibo joint or diff bushings. Its not a minor grease problem.
@@pistachiobandanos904 Yeah it's true, but also when grease gets chucked out of some of those joints you can get a knocking under acceleration or decelleration changes that isn't just a worn bushing allowing the diff to rock about
Great video! How are you finding the e86? You had a mini before? Do you use this as a daily or do you have another car?
Thanks Pete! I'm loving the E86 so far, I had a JCW before and this has been a contrast to that but by no means a compromise. A very enjoyable car to own and a rewarding drive each and every time. I use this as my daily yeah, although these days that doesn't mean daily use, usually several times a week. Works brilliantly for me though 👍
Thanks this video will help a ton. I'm currently looking to get an E85 3.0 automatic for daily use. They've been a head turner for me for such a long time now
Glad you found it useful! Yeah they're great looking cars, best of luck with the purchase 👍
Nice video again. Whats that, bimmermilfs…??! Got a link?
Here you go man! www.bimmermilvs.com/
Nice and informative video. Been doing a lot of research into this platform. Here in the US, the e86 coupes are 2x the already inflated cost (20+k vs 9+k), so although I'd prefer one, it's going to have to be the e85. Maybe ill do the worlds first hard top that mimicks an e86, lol! Interesting that they had such a power variation from the n52 between the 3.0si and 3.0i standard. Is this just due to tuning or was there more to it?? Either way I will be getting the 3.0 m54 which is a bit more powerful than the standard n52 offering. Of course it will be a 6-spd ZF same as your transmission. Hopefully it isn't too noisy. Have you tried doing a full flush or change to different fluids to address this? Just curious. Oil Pressure sensitive and leaky seals? sounds like my cadillac CTS's. Why not add another drama queen to the mix?? XD
Thanks for watching! The N52 (3.0si) was basically an all new engine compared to the M54 (3.0i). It had variable valve lift, variable length intake, higher compression ratio, higher rev limit and used a magnesium alloy for the block. The M54 is a great engine though, N52 just takes things a step further. The transmission noise isn't bad at all, and it's really only something I noticed when standing outside the car with it idling in neutral. I haven't bothered with changing the fluids at this stage, just because from what I understand they all seem to make the noise. However at some point I will change the fluid. Hope you enjoy whatever you end up buying!
@@FootToPedal perhaps wiki is incorrect, but in the table for motors it shows the n52 was also used in later model 3.0i e85s, 06 and up I believe- and made less HP on paper than the earlier 3.0i m54 by 13hp. 228 vs 215. Hence my bewilderment. Why would they decrease power and performance in an updated model? It then shows the n52 in the 3.0si model as making 261hp. Actually looking at the table again, it shows the n52 motor applying to 2.5i and 2.5si models as well. Different bore sizing to alter displacement and different tunes? Very confusing! I'm sure they have something wrong. Either way I enjoyed the vid! Thanks for your effort in making it!
@@Dokuji That's interesting, I thought all models using the N52 gained the "si" wording, but yeah I see on wikipedia there is a 3.0i model showing as using the N52. Not entirely sure if that's correct or not, but if they did it would have almost definitely been due to emissions standards changing. But yeah there is definitely a 2.5si and 3.0si, with the 2.5si it will just be a smaller bore and/or stroke as you say to lower the output. I can't fault the 3.0si though! No problem at all, appreciate you watching man.
@@Dokuji You're being misled by wiki. The 3.0i is 234bhp, the Si has 265. It's also lighter due to the ally block and revs higher. Apparently they sound less grunty and more rapsy, but I'd recommend the N52 over the M54
N52 3.0is has a better intake manifold and a tune, compared to the n52 3.0
very fair video.
Thanks Tom 👍
I love this car 😍
Its superb.
So do I!
very very nice video...
Thanks!
Of all of the Z4 videos I have watched, your N52 sounds the best.
That's good to know I guess 😂 however mine is totally standard
@@FootToPedal Even more impressive then.
Great video again as always ! One piece of feedback if you don’t mind…… empty your front pockets 😅
Thanks! Ahaha yeah unfortunately the nature of the video shoots require me to have things in my pockets 😂
The ZF320 5-speed in the E36 328i and 3.0 M3 suffer from layshaft rattle too. The Z320 oddly takes ATF and I found that Redline's DX4 ATF shut it right up. Though it will come back if the oil level drops past a point - which it will as they all spit oil out the breather when subject to hard use! I don't know if there's any commonality here with the 6 speed but maybe worth a look?
That's very interesting, I'm actually hearing of more and more people running ATF in older BMW manual transmissions and with good results too. The noise on mine is very quiet at the moment, but if it does get louder then I may try using ATF in it. I'd imagine there are some commonalities with a lot of the older ZF transmissions!
🔥🔥
Excuse me 😅May I know how many mileage you will change the engine bush of n52b30 🙏🙏🙏 I’m e85 3.0si owner 😁Love your video so much ❤️
Assuming you mean oil change but let me know if not! In which case I'd probably do mine on an annual basis or every 6k or 7k miles. You could definitely do it less frequently but for the use my car has that seems reasonable. Thanks for watching!
reference pictures of the engines and cars you described would be cool.
Yeah fair point 👍
Hello My auto rhd coupe is not so loud as yours We have the same engine same exhaust but manual'seems to be louder in the way of m3 e46 and i dony have this sound on mine Any infos ? I dont think gearbox type change the sound of engine as in neutral mine has not the same sound It is an idea of video to compare an auto z4 coupe vs manual to check how sound is different Please also let me know if you remove sound generator foam and if so did you remove 2 or 1
When coolant problems show up 130k miles on mine recommend replacing everything.will keep popping up leaks.
Great video, a little question, i’m 6’4 nearly, can i fit in it by lowering the seat? Also i’m buying one with 62 k miles on it imported from Switzerland, what about the fuel consumption? And lastly will i have too many problems with the roof?
Thanks for watching! I've had several people in mine who are taller than 6ft and there's plenty of legroom/headroom. However I can't speak from experience so I'd suggest you take one on a decent test drive so you can be sure. Fuel consumption, I usually get 30 to 35mpg ish on long motorway journeys, probably about 25mpg around town and in the mid teens when pushing on. Having not owned an E85 it's difficult for me to comment on the roofs, I've not heard of many issues though, although there are bound to be a few maintenance items that need sorting. I think its common for the motors to break after a while, but that's the case with any electrically operated convertible really. Hope you enjoy the car!
@@FootToPedal thank you so much! Amazing video,so i’m talking with a E85 2005 2.5i owner who wants 7K$ for the car and it looks pretty clean even though i think its well used because well 98k Km is a high number, red on silver, do you recommend it? Or do you have any useful question to ask fir the owner before buying it?
No problem! Difficult for me to say without seeing the car in person, but sounds like a decent one. Just make sure you have good service history and that you give the car a thorough test drive to be sure everything is working as it should be. Good luck!
@@FootToPedal you’re the best , earned a subscriber
Thank you sir 👍
Have you got any links to performance cats for the N52? I haven't been able to find anything for right hand drive E86s.
Afraid not at the current time, were you meaning cats and not manifolds right?
@@FootToPedal The main cats are part of the manifolds if I remember correctly. I've seen mentions of performance cats on other N52 cars in the US but nothing for the UK/RHD cars.
@@jordanb97 Ah yes you're right, the cats are integrated with the manifolds. I think choices for the RHD market are limited and a lot of people seem to have gone the custom route. It's a shame so many of the options are LHD only.
I have a 2003 3 liter in Florida with 28k miles, my major issues have been door locks won’t unlock and my top only unlocks but does not retract, so I think I have door actuator issues as well as the motor or linkage for the top issue. Had a bad experience at the dealership so need to find someone who has experience with these issues.
Damn, they must be really annoying issues. It's stuff like that I really hate messing with, hope you get it sorted and can enjoy the car!
The clutch release bearing noise is really quite embarassing, but i count it as character on my E86 N52b30. When i replace the clutch i"ll find out if a new bearing changes much.
Yeah it is weird that it's so loud specifically on the E86, I've heard different theories but would be interesting if new clutch release bearings did make a difference
I have the dreaded run flats (Bridgestone) on my e86. I'm sure that the PS4's are run-flats?
There might be run flat versions of the PS4s, they usually have like RF at the end of the name or something similar. Mine aren't run flats though
@@FootToPedal ahh 👍. I must check them out in the New Year. Thanks
My radio does same.with new battery power issues cleared for a bit then came back.pressing on and off up to 10 times.problem seems inherent with the business model.
Interesting to hear, thanks for sharing!
There are variants of the M54 engine 6cyl... One dishes out 228 bhp and the other 231 bhp... And 0 to 60 is 5.9 seconds...
My E85 2.5si makes the same transmission noise when in neutral and clutch not pressed. It is a sort of clicking noise. When you press the clutch it dissapears.
Yep that's exactly what I say, doesn't seem to cause any issues, just transmission noise I guess!
@@FootToPedal Potentially dual mass flywheels. Pretty common and unless it gets very rattly, leave alone .
I had same problem on e85 3.0, just replace flywheel and clutch pack altogether and problem is gone.
Perhaps do the same for E89?
That n52 does sound amazing in that car though
It sure does
Do you know why auto coupe z4 are not'so raspy sound like manual like yours It is same engine but in neutral engine sound on manual'gearbox is really raspy like a M I dont understand why If you have an idea please let me know
Can't think of any reason why the exhaust sound would differ purely due to the transmission the car has, as far as I know all E86 3.0si Coupes came with the same exhausts from the factory. However I'm sure depending on the emissions regulations in the country where the car is sold, there could be subtle differences. For example, nowadays US market cars tend to be much louder than European market cars because the regulations are stricter in Europe on both emissions and noise pollution. The best way to increase the sound would be to fit an aftermarket exhaust system!
I can assure you the sound is different On the manual, sound at low rpm is raspy almost like a M but on auto sound is not same If you can try an auto you will see the difference immediately When i hear you engine on the video it seems like my friend's z4 manual coupe from Germany My coupe is an auto rhd gearbox and there is a massive difference in sound when we compare I will try soon a coupe auto z4 Lhd in order to check if it is due to rhd model or auto transmission On realoem rear backbox has different number on auto and manual maybe is it the culprit
p.s. I have a Valeo SMF and clutch kit... 5 speed ZF... When I am in neutral, I have gear chatter that sounds identical to an old Porsche 911 (I think it was a green one) I remember seeing when Jason Cammisa was doing Ignition with Motor Trend (back when it was cool and free on KZhead!). But... my car is not nearly as cool, lol. Jason Cammisa is, however, cool as sh-t!
Yeah it seems like this could be a common theme with some of these older ZF transmissions then! Ahaha indeed, which reminds me, I must catch up with his stuff on Hagerty soon!
@@FootToPedal Good stuff!
What are you going to replace your Z4 with?
Nothing as of yet! I enjoy it too much :)
@@FootToPedal was I imagining things when I saw it on a dealer website a couple of days ago?
@@mpkback Possibly, either a fake ad or a very similar spec car. Send me the link if you come across it again!
On my 2006 z4 coupe water pump went at 100,000miles
pump cost £365 labour cost £240
That's similar to what I paid
Make sure you fit in one ,,, I went to buy one , and simply didnt fit inside , I bought a 130i instead .
130i definitely a great buy too!
@@FootToPedal I had my heart set on a Z4 ,,, and there were only two I knew of in NI , I eventually saw one ,, followed the guy to the shopping center and asked if I could sit in it , and most importantly move the seat to suit , he said yes , I simply couldnt get enough distance between the steering wheel and the seat back to make it suitable for me to drive , that saved me a flight to England to discover I didnt fit , so I bought the 130 and have not regretted it , but I thought Id mention it as a point to be aware of ,,, Im only six feet tall , but Im 250lbs and have big arms and shoulders ,,,,
Yes very good point for taller folks, they're not the largest of cars inside especially with the limited movement of the seat backwards!
The OE part is inexpensive. Less than $50 US. Even a Stewart high performance pump is only about $200 US. Both plus labor.
That wasn't my experience, the OE pump was about $500 plus labour to fit it, I'm sure there are cheaper options though
Get better lighter nicer and less rolling suspension from MeisterR, EU approved, race winning, made for road and track versions. Made in UK
Did you say that those cars aren't meant to be driven? Then what is the cars purpose lol
You'll have to give me the timestamp, but no these cars are definitely meant to be driven!!
On british roads the suspension gets abused? You should see the romanian roads bro🌚☻️😂😂😂😂😂
Damn, must be rough for you!
Do not buy a z4 i have owned one for nine years and from day one it has cost me the price of a really good second had Rolls Royce soft top the dash boards light up like Blackpool illuminations on a regular basis plus soft top motor in in the wrong plce as it fills with water from the roof drains a lovely car to drive but please steer clear of this one i have spent a large amou t of money keeping it on the road beware at your peril .
Welp i already bought it so uhhh lets see how screwed i am
You'll be fine I'm sure!
@@FootToPedal idk my clusters freaking my airbag and traction lights are on and I need to replace the top and possibly hydrolics
Damn, that's a shame. Hope you get it sorted!
@@FootToPedal she runs good though some poor guy spent a lotta money repaint her so its a worthy trade off
That's good, paint is always crazy expensive so atleast you're saving something there
Youd have to be a madman to prefer the n52 over the m54 engine. The internets will agree lol. Disa is a 5min job to replace, 30seconds to diagsnose. full vanos rebuild i a 2 hour job if you havent done it before. Unlike alot of other bmw cars the m54 vanos doesnt require you to time the engine again, like all the M models bmw engine in that timeframe does. Valvw cover gaskets.. thats just bmw and their practice of tilting the engine. The reason you dont see it alot on many other cars are the engines are often not tilted like a bmw straigt six. Oil pump sprocket bolt coming loose is very seldom. If he actually wanted to complain about stuff he should complain about the ccv system isnt particularly good and will need replacement by now if not already done. Do the cooling system too. And vanos. I did the entire cooling system, radiator, all hoses, clutch fan etc, ccv, new intake gaskets, vanos and disa valve i 7 hours and had never wrenched on the m54 before doing so. The m54 is by no means perfect, but m54b30 is a damn good engine and will run forever if taken care of
Choosing which engine you prefer isn't solely down to how easy it is to maintain, there is way more to it than that. I also don't really care what the Internet thinks, its purely subjective. M54 is a great engine, very reliable and sounds great. If you think I was criticising it then you've misunderstood the video entirely. The whole point was just to note some of the key things to be aware of IF purchasing a Z4 with the M54. But yes the M54 is more straightforward and likely easier to maintain. However for me it's a blend of maintenance and what it's like to drive. N52 makes way more torque at low RPMs, also revs to 7k and makes peak power right at the top of the rev range. That to me just made it a bit more exciting.