Z4 Roadster (E85) Where have all the good Z4 3.0 gone?

For the past couple of weeks I've been looking for a new car, initially considering some E46 M3's but ultimately deciding to find a Z4 3.0. Trouble is, every Z4 I find turns out to have a storied past (wrecks, damage, etc) or is neglected and has no service records.

Do you have a decent southern car which has been maintained? Post your contact info and I'll get in touch!

Requirements:
3.0i. 6MT. Under 100k miles. No black or red paint. No tan or red leather. No nav. Must have heated seats. Sport package preferred.

Thank you!

Originally Posted by M3 Coupe

Requirements:
3.0i. 6MT. Under 100k miles. No black or red paint. No tan or red leather. No nav. Sport package preferred.

My guess is THIS is going to really limit your search.

Originally Posted by BeemerMikeTX

My guess is THIS is going to really limit your search.

Yep, I'm seeing more automatics than manuals. Oh well, I like shifting gears. Also, needs to have heated seats.

They are out there....my 04 3.oi has both sport and premium packages, everything but Nav, 60K miles, sterling grey with black leather, no accidents...I picked it up locally last fall.

It's hard to find any car that's 10 years old that has never had a scratch. But they are out there. Just rare.

Originally Posted by Droptop85

It's hard to find any car that's 10 years old that has never had a scratch. But they are out there. Just rare.

I'm not expecting perfection. All used cars are bound to have some patina, a few blemishes... it's part of the charm? I just want something of a known entity, a documented car which has not been crashed.

I'm even flexible on colors.

I did a quick search on Craigslist and found these in various cities..

http://www.adhuntr.com/2012/05/all.h...sa=Search#2211


If you are willing to travel to pick one up you will expand your selection

Originally Posted by Stromtech

I did a quick search on Craigslist and found these in various cities..

http://www.adhuntr.com/2012/05/all.h...sa=Search#2211


If you are willing to travel to pick one up you will expand your selection

Thanks Stromtech. I have been using searchtempest to scan Craigslist pages nationwide.

Congrats on finding your car. It sounds pretty much like what I am trying to find. Sterling over Black is a great combination!

I know what you mean. I originally had to have the white 3.0 with the 6 speed. I couldn't find a white e85 3.0 to save my life so when I finally found it after 8 months of lookin I had to buy it. Downfall was it has an automatic. I still love the car. But I could live it that much more if was exactly what I wanted. Take your time and buy exactly what you want. Now my friends see me driving an auto and look at me sideways... I think my dog even thinks less of me now. But hey when I'm stuck in traffic I'm all smiles.

Originally Posted by Droptop85

Take your time and buy exactly what you want.

As long as it's a 3.0 with manual gearbox and not one of the colors mentioned above, I'm pretty open to whatever I can find.

Originally Posted by M3 Coupe

For the past couple of weeks I've been looking for a new car, initially considering some E46 M3's but ultimately deciding to find a Z4 3.0. Trouble is, every Z4 I find turns out to have a storied past (wrecks, damage, etc) or is neglected and has no service records.

Do you have a decent southern car which has been maintained? Post your contact info and I'll get in touch!

Requirements:
3.0i. 6MT. Under 100k miles. No black or red paint. No tan or red leather. No nav. Must have heated seats. Sport package preferred.

Thank you!

I've got a 2007 Z4 3.0i down in Huntsville; unfortunately, I'm not selling until I find the Z4M I'm looking for. They seem to be equally hard to find. Everything is black or gray with black interior, and I'm sorry but it's just too damn hot for black interior in the south.

Originally Posted by M3 Coupe

Thanks Stromtech. I have been using searchtempest to scan Craigslist pages nationwide.

Congrats on finding your car. It sounds pretty much like what I am trying to find. Sterling over Black is a great combination!

Hey, I'm Nathan - I run SearchTempest. Fun fact: I actually drive a 2003 Z4 3.0i. Got it about 4 years ago. (I took over the last 8 months of a guy's lease, then bought it out at the end. Which was great, because I wasn't sure whether I could adapt to a two-seater, and the 8 months gave me enough time to realize that roadsters are Awesome. Especially the Z4.)

Anyhoo, sadly mine isn't for sale, but best of luck!

Originally Posted by ST Nathan

Hey, I'm Nathan - I run SearchTempest. Fun fact: I actually drive a 2003 Z4 3.0i. Got it about 4 years ago. (I took over the last 8 months of a guy's lease, then bought it out at the end. Which was great, because I wasn't sure whether I could adapt to a two-seater, and the 8 months gave me enough time to realize that roadsters are Awesome. Especially the Z4.)

Anyhoo, sadly mine isn't for sale, but best of luck!

Nathan, your site rocks! I've been using it all day every day for a couple weeks now.

This will be my first roadster too, but I've had friends with Z3's and Z4's and they've shown me how much fun "top down motoring" can be. It's a relaxing zen thing. Surfers have it too. Must be the wind in your face.

When I left the 3.0 ranks I asked my dealer to find me a black or white M with everything, he came back with what I bought and it has everything but....drum roll please..."Heated Seats". Almost became a deal breaker if I just had not seen the car and fell in love with the drive. The crazy things dealers do when ordering package cars from the factory, but I see the guys logic, it was ordered for the mid Florida market where it don't get that cold. But it's like I explained to him heated seats give you some serious extended driving in the cool winter months of Georgia.

Just about all the 08's have come off lease and are out there in the market place, I would suspect you might have a better chance of getting a 3.0SI like you want than a regular 3.0i

Good luck.

Originally Posted by STIHLBOLTS

Just about all the 08's have come off lease and are out there in the market place, I would suspect you might have a better chance of getting a 3.0SI like you want than a regular 3.0i

Good luck.

I will expand my search to see if anything pops up. Thanks for the tip!

I've got one that I might be willing to part with, but it's AT. Has everything else you're looking for though.

Originally Posted by Rainman519

I've got one that I might be willing to part with, but it's AT. Has everything else you're looking for though.

Thank you sir, but that's not something I can fudge on. Got to have a manual gearbox.

Originally Posted by M3 Coupe

Thank you sir, but that's not something I can fudge on. Got to have a manual gearbox.

:thum bup:

Post in the buy for sale in all the forums and tell your local dealer, you never know what gets traded in.

Best of luck.

One of them is sitting in my driveway !!

The Z4 3.0 is one of the cars where I definitely prefer the automatic. Differences in performance is negligible - something like 0.1 seconds from the the official times, if I remember correctly. I was seduced by the tech of an SMG. The auto is like an SMG that works properly

The DSG transmission in my VW GTI can shift much faster than me. Resulting in much better performance.

The DSG is a great compromise with a wife who wants an automatic. But a manual is still more fun.

Found a clean car locally. Thanks for everyone's help. Happy motoring!

Congratulations. When you get it cleaned up, post some pictures.

Hello- I bought a 2008 Certified Pre-Owned that came off of a lease. No wreaks and had 21,000 miles @ 12-2011. Negotiated a price (less than they wanted) with the dealer. Space Gray 3.0I with 6-speed and your everloving heated seats. I added a full sized spare and new Conti DWS tires. Great car. Enjoy your search-Gnatthecat