Hello,

First time poster. -

I'm looking to get a Z4 as a pre-mid-life crisis/pre-marriage car.

Here's what I had in mind. (I'm building this from the BMWUSA site)

Z4 3.0si (Stratus Gray Metallic)
NAV System
Sports Package
Brushed Aluminum interior/Black Interior
Steptronic Automatic
Sports Package
Xenon Headlight
Bluetooth
Heated Seats/Headlight Washer (optional)
Premium Package
Wind Deflector/With Removable Center (does anyone recommend this?)

What's a good ball park price to go with on a model with these features? What's the drop dead line? (= meaning do not pay for more than this)

Currently I'm thinking about 2 options.

I've read that BMW is getting ready to do a refresh of this car. I'm not in a hurry to buy. I can wait for the new model is announced and -

1. Wait until the new model is announced and then go in to get a good negotiation price on the Current model.
2. Lease 1 now (with maybe a 2 year lease and a good mileage allowance) - and when the new one comes out get that one if it's much better.

I keep reading threads in here where people are getting really good deals on Z4s and I would appreciate any good tips or dealers (in the LA Area) where they gave you a really good deal.

Thanks!

Not quite sure about the price, but are you sure you really want an auto? I mean.. the manual is so easy to drive, and the automatic transmission pretty much ruins the car in my point of view. Everything else is exactly the same as mine except for the si. I think you will love your car!

I knew I was gonna get flak about it. (My friends all but practically disown me for thinking about an automatic).

Does anyone have their Z4s in automatic? (what's their experience like?)

There are practical considerations as I commute in the LA area so I don't want to be shifting excessively in a traffic crunch. I have stick-shift friends that nodded about the pains of stick-shifting in traffic. Also - I'm not going to take this to go street racing so I'm not looking to get max performance that the car can give me. I'll probably not break more than 100mph a few times over the lifetime of the car.

I knew I was gonna get flak about it. (My friends all but practically disown me for thinking about an automatic).

Does anyone have their Z4s in automatic? (what's their experience like?)

There are practical considerations as I commute in the LA area so I don't want to be shifting excessively in a traffic crunch. I have stick-shift friends that nodded about the pains of stick-shifting in traffic. Also - I'm not going to take this to go street racing so I'm not looking to get max performance that the car can give me. I'll probably not break more than 100mph a few times over the lifetime of the car.

The auto is quite fun (puts on flame suit). It had the manual mode, so if you want to act like a race car driver you can. But I kinda wish I waited and got a manual so I could play w/ the revs all day long.

Don't let them scare you into a 6 speed. It sounds to me like you know what you want. GH

Have you gone to Edmunds.com and specked the price out there? They have a feature called TMV (True Market Value?) which is what other people in your area are theoretically paying for the same car. That can get you in the ballpark.

You will hear people on this board quote really low prices that they negotiated but remember that not all markets are the same. Just find a price that you are comfortable with and go for it!

I've had my Zed for about 2 months and it still puts a smile on my face and I still look for reasons to drive it.

I got mine for $46,500 which was 3,300 under MSRP, over $500 invoice. I think it was not a bad deal. did some research/quotes online and ended up asking my local dealership if they'd match the terms from the best quote (it's a lease), they did. You may want to email/visit your local dealerships and see what price they give you.

Last week I bought a 2007 3.0SI Coupe for $35940, Premium, Sport, M seats,heated seats. 24 miles on od, Montego Blue

Not quite sure about the price, but are you sure you really want an auto? I mean.. the manual is so easy to drive, and the automatic transmission pretty much ruins the car in my point of view. Everything else is exactly the same as mine except for the si. I think you will love your car!

That is a good question, auto or stick. I have never had an auto ever, it's always a stick, that's a rule. When I got the Z4 I thought I'd try it and see. #1, I think the auto adds to the value of the car on resale. Most people want one out here anyway. Downside is if you buy a new Z4 it's like $1275 for it, plus $500 for the paddle shifters I think was on the sticker. For what I use my car for, driving to work 1 to 2 days a week 15 miles each way and weekends just have fun, I would have preferred the stick. However if I was driving to work every day an auto would be sure is nice to have especially with Starbucks in the car and traffic all around you. The paddle shifters look cool and work well (people comment on them to me and ask me how well they work), although I would like them to shift a little faster. You can easily drive into a parking lot and as you slow down blip the paddles from 4th down to 1st sounding cool the whole way. You can do the same thing with the shifter as well in manual mode. The difference between the shifter and the paddles is the shifter puts you in sports mode and you shift as long as you have it clicked over. The paddles do the same however they go back to normal mode if you don't touch them for 10 seconds or so. The only downside to the paddles is if you are using them and turning, the paddles turn with the wheel and the 3.0 revs up so fast you can't get to them in a tight turn to shift, and you hit the rev limiter when you would not have liked to. I'm much better at it now and can plan ahead, but it takes some getting used to. Hope this helps.

Somebody told that no auto harms Z4 sales. So probably it loses price so fast because stick. I do not understand how possible to buy a sport car without stick. Want auto?, buy SC430.

I bought an auto, & at times I must admit, I miss the stick. I do a lot of commute type traffic & steep hills in the city so the auto is good for that. Bonus # 2 is my wife can drive the car. She used to drive my other sticks once in a while, but her shifting made me cringe. I like the automatic. I rarely use the paddle shifters.

Auto sure is easier in traffic, no doubt about it. But IMO you give up a large chunk of the car's 'fun factor.' And as opposed to Midnightrambler, the biggest advantage to my manual tranny is that my wife can't drive it!:evil2

Some wives drive stick better than auto, especially those who were born in Europe.

I brought an auto 3 weeks ago. Although I regret that I didn't buy the stick, I think it's much better to drive an auto when there is so much traffic, especially in LA!!! You can email couple dealerships around your area with the spec you want and see what offer they can give you. That can save you time from negotiating.

Woah! Sorry to have started all of that. I must say though, automatics just don't thrill me, they're too simple to drive. I get joy from knowing I'm actually driving well when I execute a perfect shift or perfect my heel-toe downshifts. It's just something to fiddle with I guess, but to each his own.

Got mine w premium package, sport package, and auto w paddle shifters (wife cant drive stick) for 43 otd. If she could drive stick, we would have purchased the z4 coupe m...didnt buy any of the extended warranties, will do so next yr.

So the follow up question is - are the extended warranties worth getting?

I have an auto and it is pretty good. One of the reason I got the auto is because I did not by it new. A lot of people think they know how to drive a standard but they don't. If you are getting new for sunday driving, non traffic, non commuter get the standard, otherwise get the steptronic it is just as much fun just not as cool to brag about. If you are getting a used standard trany vehicle be certain the car has never been red lined and that the clutch is not burned.

If you can find a 2007 model, that is the best deal you'll get. There is $6,500 market allowance for the si roadster. 2008 models have none. You should expect at least 3% discount, more than 4% is rare.