Autodealer Dream Buy: BMW Z4

It’s time for another Autodealer dream buy, where we browse through our own list of cars for sale and pick a car that we’d like to own. This time, we wanted to take the top down in a sporty German, the BMW Z4 to be exact.

BMW Z4 (e85)

After the rather iconic Z3 roadster BMW needed to come back with a bang in 2002. The problem was of course that this was the Chris Bangle design era where many BMW models looked rather ungainly. Luckily the Z4 that ensued was a looker, with the right mechanicals and dynamics to match its rather funky roadster looks. These days the e85 shape Z4 can be had for the price of an entry-level hatchback.

What to watch out for:

• Check for oil leaks in the engine compartment, under the car and the smell of burning oil as this could mean a faulty valve cover gasket;
• Check for leaking coolant as this may be a leaking expansion tank. If left untreated your vehicle could overheat;
• Make sure the brake pads, discs and shoes have been replaced as these are known to be costly items to replace from the BMW agents;
• Check that the wiper blades work properly as these are known to have intermittent problems;
• Check that the electric folding roof works as the hydraulic motor is known to fail or run low on fluid. Also, ensure that the roof is still in good condition in terms of wear and tear;
• Check the service history and make sure that the oil gaskets have been replaced as these wear over time;
• Check that the struts and shocks have been replaced in the suspension as these are very costly to replace;
• The car should fire-up easily and if not, the starter could be on its way out, which means a costly repair bill.