Future value of a Z4M

[yakswak]

Interesting as I've been thinking the same. I'm not in the snowbelt but here in PAC NW it gets very wet and cold in winter months for me to be very comfortable on summer tires. Add a toddler that needs lots of attention (not complaining about that!) and I don't have much time to drive it. I came one signature away from selling it before my baby was born and maybe back in those shoes now. It feels wrong to keep a car like this garaged so much...future values be damned I think it needs to be driven!

[Huz-Z]

Originally Posted by itdnwiwbp

To be fair the company is (was founded) on their turf.

Yup, I know, but I was trying to be playful and poke fun at Clarkson.

[gtMc]

Originally Posted by Kgolf31

Obviously, I wouldn't be able to cope with such a loss on a car of this value.

So, I've thought about it, and taking the money that I would of invested into the Z4M and throwing it to the E82 128. Will be purchasing APEX 17x9 wheels and TCKline DA suspension for the E82 as a start, and hopefully a LSD.

Yeah this and the way Fin went is a great way to go. Fin, nice choice on the E36 M3 there too. Kgolf, your reasoning above is probably what deters most of us from tracking it all the time (atleast those of us who mostly keep it off the track). Couldn't agree more.

[Beedub]

this is why i sprint circuit mine, which are small-ish circuits that are timed.... ive had my car since new basically (800 miles old) and it still looks factory fresh, actually its in better now that when i got it....... i tend to do around 5-8 sprint days per year which are all day events, but being on the circuit alone means very little possibility of damaged unless i fuck up and come off the circuit which is a real possibility but, i've built the car around sprint work and its the only way i can fully enjoy the performance of the car and REALLy push it safely... if i couldn't drive the car on a circuit i think id sell it.......

i am however one of those sad people that enjoy cleaning and maintaining NEARLY as much as driving :-)

Good luck with whatever you choose OP.....

[krusty]

Originally Posted by Philly_sweden

Keep it!!
You only live once, drive hard and fast

That's the problem. You only live once.

[Wickerman]

Donkey vans! That is great and describes the M label on an SUV perfectly. I love my Z4M, even if I am just tinkering in the garage with it. I have owned an M3 and an M5 but for sheer handling this guy has them beat hands down. Having said that, I will take care of "Natalya" because she will be a collector's item at some time when I too long in the tooth to enjoy her.

[Finnegan]

Originally Posted by gtMc

Yeah this and the way Fin went is a great way to go. Fin, nice choice on the E36 M3 there too. Kgolf, your reasoning above is probably what deters most of us from tracking it all the time (atleast those of us who mostly keep it off the track). Couldn't agree more.

Thanks!

If you're going to do a lot of HPDEs, or think about going beyond that, it may make sense to pick up a car someone else has sunk some track prep $$$ into (and is relatively cheap to buy) and costs less for care and feeding than the Z4M. But, it's really the emotional attachment factor to the Z4M, plus the relative rareness of the car, that were the deciding factors for the wife and I. And why the E36 was our 10th anniversary (tin, aluminum) gift to each other.

[z4msteve]

Originally Posted by Kgolf31

The track, however, isn't as forgetting. Every event I've attended I've seen at least 1 totaled car.

I've never seen a car totaled at a DE. I've seen them totaled in the club races but even that's rare. I think you're going to destruction derbies or something because that's unheard of.

[RobMCoupe]

Fin. I didn't know you picked up an E36 M3. I've been working on a. 99 M3 for daily and occasional track event. My Z4MC is approaching 75k. My plan is to drive it once a month. E36 M3 is a good compromise.

[Finnegan]

Originally Posted by z4msteve

I've never seen a car totaled at a DE. I've seen them totaled in the club races but even that's rare. I think you're going to destruction derbies or something because that's unheard of.

Yeah, that's a bit usual. However, seeing an expensive "off" here or there isn't unheard of. But, having something happen is possible, and the question is how much the car is worth to you. If you can't afford--financially or emotionally--to part with a car, then it's worth considering.

Then again, given what I see day in and day out on the road, there's always someone doing something stupid. Tonight being just one example of what I see all the time and why I have a dash cam. Pickup vs. 3 series. (Ignore the date, I need to replace the dashcam battery to retain the time/date; new battery came in the mail tonight.)

Originally Posted by RobMCoupe

Fin. I didn't know you picked up an E36 M3. I've been working on a. 99 M3 for daily and occasional track event. My Z4MC is approaching 75k. My plan is to drive it once a month. E36 M3 is a good compromise.

Thanks. You're got bit more on me with that S52 vs. my S50 and a better suspension design. Hope to see you out there this year!

[Kgolf31]

Originally Posted by z4msteve

I've never seen a car totaled at a DE. I've seen them totaled in the club races but even that's rare. I think you're going to destruction derbies or something because that's unheard of.

Every single track event I've been to so far there has been a totaled car.

First one I was at Nissan 370z and a FRS kissed a wall. The 370z had total frame damage, the FRS needed a new bumper.

A 135i put itself into the tires once, and then a E92 M3 went on throttle too quick and spun at start/finish where there is absolutely no run-off and hit the pit wall with rear wheel/frame damage

At Mid-Ohio, if you don't think about run-off area you're in trouble. There isn't much compared to other courses

[schwank]

I started buying specific track insurance for the events I attend. I really only go to 2 or 3 events a year, so I Id rather enjoy my Mcoupe. maybe someday if I do more events Ill get a dedicated track car like an e36 m3.

[David70]

Originally Posted by schwank

I started buying specific track insurance for the events I attend. I really only go to 2 or 3 events a year, so I Id rather enjoy my Mcoupe. maybe someday if I do more events Ill get a dedicated track car like an e36 m3.

I haven't done any track events since I got this car. Kind of ironic as I now have a much higher performance car but don't want to take it to the track. I did a number of them with my GTI but it was only worth about $6k and I could have afforded to leave it there if I had to. Now I also plan on getting track insurance when I do go. I also wouldn't get a track car for the few events I plan on doing. When I think about general insurance, maintenance, and depreciation of a dedicated track car to do 2-3 track events a year that I would do the price looks really high.

As far as the value of the car going up, I am just happy to have a car that at worst is slowly losing value. I don't expect enough appreciation to keep it for this reason and if I decide I want to move on I will do it. I also keep mods limited to easily reversible and keep the OEM parts (wheels and exhaust). If I do keep it for a long time, my feeling is OEM increases the value more than what I could get for the parts (or at worst I sell them then).

[gtMc]

Originally Posted by David70

As far as the value of the car going up, I am just happy to have a car that at worst is slowly losing value. I don't expect enough appreciation to keep it for this reason and if I decide I want to move on I will do it. I also keep mods limited to easily reversible and keep the OEM parts (wheels and exhaust). If I do keep it for a long time, my feeling is OEM increases the value more than what I could get for the parts (or at worst I sell them then).

Ding Ding Ding this is the key right here, the entire paragraph.

Aside from the enjoyment of ownership, After I introduce the car to folks that are new to it, I love saying 'oh and if I put it up for sale, i'd easily list it for 2-3k more than what I paid for it 2 years ago. But I have no plans to sell it.'

Its not an investment car, but it is a smart purchase as far as performance / daily drivers versus other options out there in this price range.

[3002 tii]

Originally Posted by Kgolf31

Every single track event I've been to so far there has been a totaled car.

First one I was at Nissan 370z and a FRS kissed a wall. The 370z had total frame damage, the FRS needed a new bumper.

A 135i put itself into the tires once, and then a E92 M3 went on throttle too quick and spun at start/finish where there is absolutely no run-off and hit the pit wall with rear wheel/frame damage

At Mid-Ohio, if you don't think about run-off area you're in trouble. There isn't much compared to other courses

Every driver and incident is different. I don't have the "not if but when" mentality of wrecking my car on track although if it happens I'll be as best prepared as I can be (safety hardware + DE insurance).

The way I see it, life is finite so make the most of it. Even if this car were pristine I don't see it as something I'd pass down. So if you compare memories of driving the car hard vs memories of keeping her a garage queen, I'd rather hold onto the former.

With that said the E82 will still be a great track car =)

[Kgolf31]

Originally Posted by 3002 tii

Every driver and incident is different. I don't have the "not if but when" mentality of wrecking my car on track although if it happens I'll be as best prepared as I can be (safety hardware + DE insurance).

The way I see it, life is finite so make the most of it. Even if this car were pristine I don't see it as something I'd pass down. So if you compare memories of driving the car hard vs memories of keeping her a garage queen, I'd rather hold onto the former.

With that said the E82 will still be a great track car =)

I'm taking that mentality with the E82.

Reason being, is that is has a lemon law on the title because of a stupid airbag light that was fixed, and the owner complained.

That is why I got it so cheap

So anyways, iF I destroy it, at least I know the totaled value will probably be worth more vs resale

[3002 tii]

Originally Posted by Kgolf31

I'm taking that mentality with the E82.

Reason being, is that is has a lemon law on the title because of a stupid airbag light that was fixed, and the owner complained.

That is why I got it so cheap

So anyways, iF I destroy it, at least I know the totaled value will probably be worth more vs resale

Smart move, like we mentioned before I treat my 135is the way you treat your s54, but we both choose to track our n52's.