2011 BMW Z4 3.0

BMW’s should all be powered by six-cylinder engines – they’re just better that way. We’re pleased to report that this three-keeper Z4 is powered by one of the best six pot engines Munich’s ever made. The 3.0-litre N52B30 provides its glorious 255bhp au naturel, there’s none of that nasty four-cylinder turbo nonsense going on here. This is proper old-school Munich muscle and it’s all the better for it.

Owned by the vendor for just over a year, this Z4 has taken him to and from his winter bolt holes in France and Portugal. Were it not for a recently acquired Triumph TR4 (not to mention the 750i and 840i also in the garage) he’d be holding on to this fantastic driver’s car. Blissfully simple for such a recent modern classic, this Z4 lacks the faff of sat nav and iDrive, however you will have to trust transmission to make its own shifts. Meticulously maintained and used regularly for recreation, it benefits from up-to-date servicing as well as near new brakes and tyres.

Finished in eye-catching Orion Silver Metallic (gold in full sunlight) this Z4 has beautifully contrasting tan leather seats. Brushed-metal effect highlights in the cabin pinpoint the central heater controls, transmission and steering spokes. Every panel gap is as perfect as it’s possible to achieve with a mass-produced vehicle. All of which adds up to a mixture of touches that allow this BMW to feel every bit the premium product, top up or down.

That’s not to say it’s beyond reproach, there are a few very minor areas of wear visible. Several stone chips can be found up front (mostly to the bumper’s nearside) and some paint peel in between the two grille halves. There’s also a scuff to the very lower edge of the front splitter (offside). The faces of the alloy wheels are largely clear of any marks but a glance into the bolt holes does show mild corrosion beginning. All four wheels are, however, shod in excellent, near new Uniroyal Rain Sport 3 tyres.

For a car made just a decade ago, there’s a pleasing lack of electronic gubbins in here. The usual on-board iDrive computer is conspicuous by its absence and ‘infotainment’ consists of a CD player, remember those? The transmission is the less-sporting automatic version but this seven-speeder does allow some driver interaction via a pair of steering-wheel mounted thumb shifters. The ‘box also has a split personality, once the SPORT button is pushed, livening the driving experience significantly. The flip side is a NORMAL setting, allowing you to sit back and cruise in relative comfort. Something the vendor can attest to personally, having driven this car from Scotland to Portugal.

The 67,518 miles displayed are still well below average, with the last few thousand of these being racked up on the aforementioned continental motorways. Everything works as it should however, the rear parking sensors (reported to be aftermarket by the vendor) cause the tone to sound as soon as reverse is selected. Not considered a fault, but perhaps a deviation from factory standard. A BMW wind deflector, complete with its accompanying storage bag, is included in the sale. The only wear we could spot worth mentioning was some very mild creasing to the upright portion of the driver’s outer seat bolster.

As this BMW is only a decade old, it’ll likely come as little surprise to hear that we couldn’t find any significant corrosion. There’s the odd bit of light surface crud on heat shields and the odd exposed nut and bolt, but with the majority of the chassis making extensive use of aluminium, everything still appears to be in near-new shape. Though obviously, we couldn’t remove the plastic shrouds that cover the majority of the underside.

The engine bay appears tidy and dry but a detailer would have a field day making it spotless. This appears to simply be an honest under-bonnet area. Nothing has been steam cleaned to hide a leak for example. It’s also reassuring to note that BMW took chassis bracing seriously with this generation of Z4, as a substantial brace can be seen linking the suspension struts.

There’s a decent chunk of paperwork to accompany this car, reinforcing what an inspection already reveals, that it seems to have led a charmed life. New rear discs, pads and wear indicators were fitted in March 2017; the front brakes given the same treatment in May of this year. The documented service history shows annual fluid and filter swaps (at least) from 2016 to the present, several (though not all) carried out by BMW dealerships. The last of these was a plug, filter and oil service at Sytner BMW in Leicester in Feb 2020 at 47,784 miles. The most recent round of maintenance was a 90,000km service (engine oil & filter plus cabin pollen filter) carried out by a specialist in Portugal, in November 2020 at 54,876 miles.

A little further back, it’s clear that care was still forthcoming with a bill for £655.02 for four new Bridgestone tyres from November 2015. Starting this autumn/winter shouldn’t be an issue either as the history file includes a receipt for a new Lucas Premium battery in April 2019. This fine Z4 also comes with a full owner’s book pack – in its leather binder – and a pair of keys.

The M Power Z4s always seem to grab enthusiast attention, with good reason, but these mega horsepower brutes sacrifice refinement in their quest for ever quicker lap times. The GT qualities of this stylish BMW are often hidden in a haze of atomised rear tyres. Though this naturally aspirated six-pot Z4 has a certain old-school appeal. It’s certainly no slouch either, in fact an Alpina sticker could suggest a little tuning (though the vendor couldn’t confirm this) but even in factory tune it’ll get to 60mph in just over six seconds.

If you’re after a driver’s car with some modern refinement, that’s not overburdened with tech or a lack of feel, then this Z4 makes a very strong case for itself. Better still, we’re offering it without reserve, so there’s the opportunity for a bargain too.

Our estimate for this car is £11,000 - £15,000.

Viewing is always encouraged and as stated this car is located at THE MARKET headquarters near Abingdon; we are open Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm and to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.