Convertibles - Z4 vs 125i vs 630i vs…

[junglie]

Good morning,

I have just sold my lovely BMW E46 330ci (why?) and obviously now would like another convertible!

Will be a 3rd car, only needs to be used for pleasure and will probably live in the garage.

Budget up to £6000

I have had a couple of E85 Z4 3.0i in the past and loved them.

Thinking of what I might get next:

Z4 3.0si - want the N52 over the M54. A few around but still seem to be commanding strong money. Proper 2 seater car.

125i - more ‘modern’ than the Z4. Updated Sat nav. Simple map to 270 hp as in the 130i. Back seats very small but could be useful for kid pick up / ferrying on occasion.

630i - feels more GT. Dated interior? Perhaps more choice available. Higher running costs.

Or something else:

SLK 350 - hard top so easier to leave outside. Decent power. Post 2007 so no balancer shaft issues.

Any thoughts or input from those that have owned?

Thanks,

Junglie

[jonwm]

I got my wife an E93 as a stop gap this time last year, she wont let me sell it she loves it, I've got the 330d but they do the 30i in that, mines the lci 2010 model.

[Mad Maximus]

The slk’s are bargains for what you can get so that’s hard to look past but depends what your use is gona be. The 630 might be a little “slow” by the standards of the z and slk but if you prefer a cruiser job jobbed. I wouldn’t even look at the 1’ you may as well have either or if it’s going to be an occasional car. I would probably want the slk but then play it safe and buy the z.

[Deep Thought]

I'd vote for E85 Z4 3.0Si.

Proper 2 seater, as you say. Looks really great.

I've never been a fan of 4 seat convertibles. The only person who looked good in one was Hitler.

[culpz]

My advice would be to get a convertible that was essentially made to be a convertible. So, from that list, I'd go for the Z4.

[cerb4.5lee]

The Z4 is a good choice I think as said, and you could also consider the 350Z Roadster as well I reckon.

[ZX10R NIN]

junglie said:

Good morning,

I have just sold my lovely BMW E46 330ci (why?) and obviously now would like another convertible!

Will be a 3rd car, only needs to be used for pleasure and will probably live in the garage.

Budget up to £6000

I have had a couple of E85 Z4 3.0i in the past and loved them.

Thinking of what I might get next:

Z4 3.0si - want the N52 over the M54. A few around but still seem to be commanding strong money. Proper 2 seater car.

125i - more ‘modern’ than the Z4. Updated Sat nav. Simple map to 270 hp as in the 130i. Back seats very small but could be useful for kid pick up / ferrying on occasion.

630i - feels more GT. Dated interior? Perhaps more choice available. Higher running costs.

Or something else:

SLK 350 - hard top so easier to leave outside. Decent power. Post 2007 so no balancer shaft issues.

Any thoughts or input from those that have owned?

Thanks,

Junglie

E350 Coupe with the Pano roof that gives you the best of both worlds, with it's pillarless windows it makes the car airy. They're also very practical so ferrying exyra people about.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202401085...

Non Pano:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402156...

[junglie]

culpz said:

My advice would be to get a convertible that was essentially made to be a convertible. So, from that list, I'd go for the Z4.

I think I agree with you.

The issue is I have found a late 125i M Sport, that looks really well looked after, which I would be able to get for around £5,500.

A similar quality Z4 would be £7500 - £8000.

Man maths then says add a few grand more for a ‘new’ SLK 350 or E89!

[Shedding]

How about a MX5 or Porsche Boxster 986?

[Shedding]

....or if you add a few grand, I can recommend a 987 or VX220

[Mr Tidy]

junglie said:

I think I agree with you.

The issue is I have found a late 125i M Sport, that looks really well looked after, which I would be able to get for around £5,500.

A similar quality Z4 would be £7500 - £8000.

Man maths then says add a few grand more for a ‘new’ SLK 350 or E89!

I think part of the reason 3.0Si Z4s are pricey is that less than 1,000 came to the UK, but both my Z4 Coupes felt so much more fun to drive than my 1 or 3 series' so it might be a price worth paying!

Although a 125i would give you back seats for occasional use, much like a 630i even though it is so much bigger externally.

As you seem to like the N52 engine maybe a 30i E89 would work? Although they seem to be pretty rare too compared to the 23i which unlike the 125i can't be mapped because it's only a 2.5 litre.

Good luck anyway.

And I haven't ignored other options, I just don't have any experience of them.

[Z4MCSL]

I would bear in mind the z4 will hold its value better, the 3.0si coupes are on the rise money wise, not sure about the convertibles

[bennno]

junglie said:

I think I agree with you.

The issue is I have found a late 125i M Sport, that looks really well looked after, which I would be able to get for around £5,500.

A similar quality Z4 would be £7500 - £8000.

Man maths then says add a few grand more for a ‘new’ SLK 350 or E89!

Was it this one?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402256...

[junglie]

bennno said:

Was it this one?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402256...

Benno,

The one I am looking at is dolphin(?) grey with red leather.

The one you have posted looks absolutely fantastic; good find

[cerb4.5lee]

junglie said:

bennno said:

Was it this one?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402256...

Benno,

The one I am looking at is dolphin(?) grey with red leather.

The one you have posted looks absolutely fantastic; good find

That does look lovely and clean I agree. Very nice.

[trevalvole]

It's worth keeping an eye on the CO2 figures for some of these, as some are around the 225g/km point, where £400ish a year VED becomes £700ish e.g. iirc SLK350 (270ish hp) is >225g until the 300ish hp version came out in 2008 with the facelift where the auto drops below 225g, but iirc the manual stays above. Also, even on late post-facelift R171 SLKs, there are examples where the front wings have rusted where they meet the bumper.

[junglie]

Good point regarding RFL but I’m not too bothered as a price to pay for the right car.

[bennno]

cerb4.5lee said:

junglie said:

bennno said:

Was it this one?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402256...

Benno,

The one I am looking at is dolphin(?) grey with red leather.

The one you have posted looks absolutely fantastic; good find

That does look lovely and clean I agree. Very nice.

It’s being replaced with a new f type, not many with a full dealer history and unmolested

Edited by bennno on Wednesday 6th March 20:21

[junglie]

bennno said:

It’s being replaced with a new f type, not many with a full dealer history and unmolested

Edited by bennno on Wednesday 6th March 20:21

Ahhh, I hadn’t clocked it was yours; not quite as alert as I should have been this morning!

It does look good and more tempting now I know it is a PHers car!

[jj2908]

Helpfully just posted on the tube..
https://youtu.be/XoGd22_4qjM?feature=shared