2006 BMW Z4M Roadster

Highlights

• 3.2-litre straight-six also seen in the E46 M3
• 6-speed manual transmission
• Good service record and long MOT
• Current owner since 2013
• Handsome specification, presented in great condition

Overview

Remember when Chris Bangle’s new design language set the automotive internet on fire back in the early 00s? It was an interesting era for BMW, where bold, modernist design was twinned with the reassuring door thunks and tight panel fitment the company was renowned for. Heady times. Some of those designs have remained… divisive (we’re side-eying the E65 here). Others have aged incredibly well, for instance we adore the E60 and E63, particularly in ‘M’ guise.

The E85 Z4, successor to the handsome but under-appreciated Z3, definitely falls into the latter camp. It’s a well-proportioned and nicely detailed roadster, with a traditional cab-back, long bonnet design and wide, curvaceous hips. Frankly, if we age half as well as the Z4 has, we’ll be very happy indeed.

Cherry-picking some of the best bits from the E46 M3 range (screaming 3.2-litre straight-six, brakes from the CSL) and wrapping them in that pretty roadster body was a great move by BMW, producing a car that many still regard as a highlight of the era’s ‘M’ range. By today’s standards for performance cars, the styling is restrained, with crisp swage lines and that smart integrated duck-tail doing a bit of peacocking. It just looks right, and we have the feeling it’s a future classic in the making.

This particular example is ideal for anyone who loves a good B-road attack on a weekend, but wants to just reliably burble around under the radar for the rest of the week. The silver-over-black colour scheme is suitably minimal and understated, suiting the car’s character perfectly. It’s presented in fine condition too, with a good service record, long MOT and a specification that provides exactly what you want from a roadster and nothing more.

There’s no fat here, no waste or extravagance, just a brilliant little driver’s car with a cracking powertrain for you to ring out to its yowling zenith with each gearshift. It’s as close as you get to driving nirvana these days, and we can’t recommend it highly enough.

History and documentation

• First registered on 29th September 2006
• Current owner since 20th August 2013, four former owners
• 91,841 miles on the clock, verified by the service and MOT histories
• Full document pack and stamped service book
• Collection of invoices for maintenance and servicing
• Combination of service stamps and invoices shows the following services: PDI, run-in check Jun 2007 @ 1,165 miles, Aug 2009 @ 15,420 miles, Aug 2012 @ 25,658 miles, Oct 2015 @ 50,197 miles, Oct 2017 @ 61,609 miles, Aug 2020 @ 73,452 miles, Mar 2022 @ 82,568 miles
• Two keys
• Classic Additions soft cover
• Current MOT with no advisories expires 1st December 2025
• V5 present in owner’s name
• HPI clear

Interior

• Black leather upholstery, which presents in very good condition, with a little patina from age and use, but no sagging, rips or damage we could identify for the most part
• We did however note a very small tear on the fabric at the rear of the passenger head rest
• Heated, electrically adjustable seats
• 3-position memory function on the driver’s seat
• Black carpets and matched over-mats, which looks to be in fine condition, with no threading or damage apparent
• Electrically operated door mirrors and side windows
• Electric convertible roof, which operates smoothly, quietly and quickly
• Air conditioning
• Multifunction steering wheel
• We noted a little wear to the steering wheel and gear lever, commensurate with the vehicle’s age and mileage
• The main instrument cluster is clear with crisp graphics, and all the rest of the cabin switchgear and trim looks to be in nice condition, with minor wear from use
• Tyre pressure monitoring system
• Radio and 6CD changer system
• The vendor has added a Bluetooth radio transmitter
• Rear parking sensors
• Removable wind-break between the seats
• The boot space is good for a convertible, thanks to the fact BMW chose to stick with a fabric roof
• The boot is trimmed with black carpet which looks to be in good order, and also contains a small toolkit
• The vendor tells us that everything in the cabin functions just as it should, with no faults or issues reported

Exterior

• Metallic grey paintwork suits the Z4’s lines perfectly and highlights the sharp creases and arching curves of Bangle’s design
• The paintwork is is great condition overall, with a few stone chips and some minor blemishes
• We noted from the paperwork that the front bumper was repaired and resprayed in October 2023, and the work looks to have been completed to an excellent standard
• That curvaceous bodywork is in fine fettle, with no corrosion or damage on display – the swage lines are crisp and unbroken and all of the panel gaps look to be aligned and tight
• The black fabric roof appears to be in excellent condition, with no notable UV damage, tears or damage we could discern
• A new convertible roof pump was fitted in August of 2020
• External badging and trim all looks to be correct and in place, with no major damage, just a little UV fading to some of the badging
• We’re informed that a new front windscreen has recently been fitted
• All of the light lenses seem to be in good condition, with no cracking or chipping – although the headlamps may benefit from a light polish
• The car features integrated headlamp washers
• Factory correct ‘Style 224’ 18-inch alloy wheels, which have been recently refurbished and present in very good order with no lacquer peel or significant kerb damage
• A matched set of Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres is fitted (225/40 front and 255/35 rear), all of which look to have decent tread levels and no apparent sidewall damage

Mechanical

• Naturally aspirated 3,246cc 24-valve straight-six (as also seen in the E46 M3)
• Factory performance figures: 338bhp, 269lb-ft, 0-62mph in c.4.9 seconds and a limited top speed of 155mph
• 6-speed manual transmission
• Rear-wheel drive
• Fitted from the factory with brakes from the M3 CSL – cross-drilled discs, 345mm at the front and 328mm at the rear
• The engine bay is clean and tidy, with no evidence of leaks or other issues that we could see
• Power-assisted steering, ABS, DSC with EBD
• Switchable ‘sport’ mode
• August 2018 - new alternator, rear ABS sensor and auxiliary drive belt
• March 2021 - new power steering oil cooler
• Comprehensive service record and long MOT with no advisories
• The engine fires up first time, idling smoothly with a subtle baritone rumble
• We’re told that the car drives beautifully, and the vendor reports no mechanical faults or issues that they are aware of

Summary

The Z4 M Roadster is exactly the kind of car that many petrolheads say they wished car companies still made. Relatively light and simple, compact, rear-wheel drive, manual transmission, with a rev-hungry, characterful and sonorous straight-six flinging you towards the horizon – if you could spec the perfect driver’s car, you’d probably come up with something like this.

We think the subtle specification of this example makes it even more desirable. It doesn’t need to shout about its abilities, it’s the kind of car that will garner knowing nods and thumbs-up from fellow enthusiasts wherever you go.

Whether you want a daily driver that can double up for fun weekend drives, or something special to wheel out just on sunny days, this Z4 M really does fit the bill.

To arrange a viewing, click the 'Book Viewing' button located under the 'Place Bid' button. Viewings can be booked up until the day before the auction ends, after which the option will change to 'Contact Seller' for further enquiries. This seller is located in North London.