So who buys 10 year old Z4 roadsters?

My brother wants me to help him sell his '04 Z4 roadster. Its a 3.0l automatic with sport package and power top. It has under 100k miles and is in average condition.

He thinks its worth about $11,000, but hasn't been able to sell it after several months of trying. I don't know how hard he was trying or where he's listed it up to now.

He wants me to help him now because he's leaving for an off-shore job soon, and he's running out of time to unload it.

In my opinion the car is a bit of a white elephant. Its too pricey for most of the GRM crowd, its to old to interest the high rollers, and its lack of stick shift will turn away most sports car people that fall in between GRM and the high rollers.

So where would be the best place to list this car? I have an account on Bimmer forums, so I'll try that, and some other BMW forums too. Spring is coming soon, so the cars marketability will be improving soon, but the biggest problem IMO, is that I just don't know who spends that much on a play car. I also think that he is asking a bit to much, but KBB seems to support his price.

So what would GRM do to unload a car like this profitably?

Thanks in advance. .

Maybe try listing it on the BMW CCA classifieds? I have no first hand experience selling on there but it could be a start. If you get really desperate you could always sell it to car max.

I've used autotrader.com and been happy. You reach a larger audience than craigslist. Find similar cars that are listed, price it below them and see what happens.

If it were Z3 I'd consider it but Z4's got ugly to me.

Marque specific forums tend to shred any vehicle offered for sale. Too many people with too much information who need to show off by finding fault. The MG guys routinely slag nearly concourse cars down to scrap metal value.

The first thing you do is stop using the word "Average". You lost all of us at that point. Sports cars are an ego trip and nobody wants to go on an "average" ego trip!

Next you need to figure out how to take pictures. Really nice clear pictures of the car that just got detailed to death. The car should look loved. Make me think you took this good a care of it all its life even if only took average care of it.

Now, if you have been on the BMW board, you will know what the sore points are with this model. Use the camera and/or the add-copy to tell people how your car has beaten those odds or had them dealt with.

If the car was bought new, milk the one owner status for everything it is worth. People like one owner cars.

The going overseas to work story, even though kinda lame, can work to indicate that you are a motivated seller. However, do start with a realistic price or else the only people who will call are the real hardcore low-ballers who smell blood and offer to buy everything as long as they can steal it. I hate these clowns.

If you really DO need to sell the car, then price it at a point where people can't help but buy it.Not saying you need to give it away, but don't spend all your time trying to get top dollar against the moving clock and get caught at the last minute with a no-sale where you do have to give it away. Take your lumps and move. Not being stressed out has value.

You need to sell this to a high school or college are girl with parents who will "help" her buy it. It represents a decent value for someone who wants a prestigious convertible, and is statistically not likely to know how to drive a stick or care to learn.

precisely. park in an upscale neighborhood, near the high-school, with prominent FOR SALE signs. I'm continuously amazed what some parents will spend.

The reason that He/You are having trouble is because that is a 8500$ car on a good day to the right buyer if you want to sell quickly.

9250$ if you can hold and it is perfectly clean.

BAMF basically said what I was going to say.

BAMF/belteahazzar are correct (as were you in your OP, Andy). Too old a car for rich adults, too lame a car for enthusiasts. High rollers buying something for the kid to take to school is what your bro is looking for. Culturally, it's no different than those of us in the lesser classes giving our kid the wife's old Civic when we buy a new Accord.

EDIT: mixed metaphors. Should have said "..buying an old Civic for the kid.."

Although I think it is to much for that car i looked at CL and he is spot on what he is asking compared to others I found. In fact if you want a z4 it is about as cheep as you can get. Most are higher millage for that money. It is probably just the time of year.

I may be the odd one out in that I like the Z4s looks. It may not be as pretty as the Z3.. but the 4 has grown on me over the years.

For me it is the auto that seals the deal. I have never owned a car with an automatic transmission (even my volvo 850 is a 5 speed) and I have no urge to start now.

If the car does not sell at 11,000.. might be time to consider trying 10,000

If it doesn't sell you have to keep lowering the price until it does.

Roadsters are unfortunately a dime a dozen. I would personally try bmwcca and bimmerforums, but I agree the price is slightly high. I was looking at coupes a while back and could get one for what you're asking if I wanted to travel a bit. Coupes hold value a lot better though.

dean1484 wrote: Although I think it is to much for that car i looked at CL and he is spot on what he is asking compared to others I found. In fact if you want a z4 it is about as cheep as you can get. Most are higher millage for that money. It is probably just the time of year.

For what it's worth Kelly Blue Book agrees with this - they have a price spread of $12,600 to $14,810 for private sales, depending on condition.

One thing I've found is online car boards are the worst place to ask about car prices...no matter how cheap a car is priced, people will say it's too expensive.

In another month or two I'll bet the market for roadsters will heat up, if you can wait a little longer to sell it.

He thinks its worth about $11,000, but hasn't been able to sell it after several months of trying.

That tells you everything you need to know.

Put it on ebay with a $8000 opening bid and no reserve.

Echo every commenter, particularly BAMF.

Forget book value, forget what they are "selling" for. Some sources even add value for the auto, which is the exact opposite of the case with these cars.

Take photos of the car as clean as it will ever be, TOP DOWN, in the best locations you can find. Foothill overlook, state park, deserted beach area, etc and use those. I once woke up at 4am at the beach for pics, got 3 great sand & ocean shots at sunrise.

To answer the post title, people who want to show off the roundel. This coming from someone who dailys a steptronic for kid-hauling. I freaking stole it, and it was a CPO. Good luck.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:

He thinks its worth about $11,000, but hasn't been able to sell it after several months of trying.

That tells you everything you need to know. Put it on ebay with a $8000 opening bid and no reserve.

Every single 04 that has sold with under say 70k miles on eBay has gone for just about 8K.

Thanks for the input guys. My brother has about a week of his own time left to sell it. If I take on the project I'll be taking a commission on the sale, but to be honest, I'd rather just see him sell it.

I will check out car max and I know of some other similar buying services.

Also, I never considered the offspring of the high rollers as a potential pool of buyers. I'm just to grounded to envision a responsible adult putting a child behind that engine, but I also often forget that the relationship between wealth and good sense is often inverse

I've actually thought about a Z4 to replace my miata, but the prices always seem too high. I haven't seen any listed so low. This makes me think the seller's issue is either in the ad or that there is something other than it being an automatic wrong with it. A quick search on ebay shows cars listed with much higher prices. Spending $200 on a nice detail job and getting some good photos should make for a quick sale.

As for the automatic, there are plenty of buyers out there. To me, its a 45-60 year old that wants a summer car. This buyer probably has some cash coming to them in the form of tax refund in the next 3 months. I don't know much about the A/T in the Z4, but if its anything like the Porsche Tiptronic it can't be THAT bad.

J308 wrote: Echo every commenter, particularly BAMF. Forget book value, forget what they are "selling" for. Some sources even add value for the auto, which is the exact opposite of the case with these cars. Take photos of the car as clean as it will ever be, TOP DOWN, in the best locations you can find. Foothill overlook, state park, deserted beach area, etc and use those. I once woke up at 4am at the beach for pics, got 3 great sand & ocean shots at sunrise. To answer the post title, people who want to show off the roundel. This coming from someone who dailys a steptronic for kid-hauling. I freaking stole it, and it was a CPO. Good luck.

Top down, gorgeous woman in the pic with her top down, betcha get LOTS of hits on it.

Too many people with too much information who need to show off by finding fault.

Hah, i see you too have noticed this habit of E-dickwaving. You should have seen when i listed my old 242 on turbobricks. I ended up turning my snark level up to over 9000 and E36 M3ting on some heads in response, but i knew the audience i was getting over there couldnt afford to buy the car at the 1/2 price it was already listed at so i wasnt willing to listen to their E36 M3 when i was already trying to give something away.

I have to say, your entire post was excellent! I love good post content and you just nailed it. I used a similar approach to sell my mom's 01 Integra GS for $6200 a couple of years ago, and ive still never seen another one go for that money in the time since.

Most women I know with these are driving manuals.

The automatic 3.0L ought to be decently unusual, but highshool/college age should be the crowd to target for around 7-9k......don't bother with going to carmax, they'll offer you below dealer trade in for it.....and you might even get an shiny happy person to warp your rotors for you.

Andy, a convertible is a tough sell in the winter.

The affluent parents buying for a kid seems the best path. Have your brother leave a power of attorney form with you to sell the car. Drive around the Main Line and look for a good parking space. Maybe around Villanova.

If you happen to have some fun while driving it around, no need to tell your brother.

HappyAndy wrote: Also, I never considered the offspring of the high rollers as a potential pool of buyers. I'm just to grounded to envision a responsible adult putting a child behind that engine, but I also often forget that the relationship between wealth and good sense is often inverse

First radio station I worked for, circa 1983: Owner (passed for rich in North MS) bought her college-aged son a new Ford Escort. When he put it in a ditch two weeks later, she replaced it with a new Mustang GT. Seems she thought he'd be more responsible in a 'fancier' car. We all thought she should be arrested for 'attempted manslaughter'..but it actually worked. Since he had a nice car, he wanted to keep it nice. He even stopped driving drunk, which was astonishing to anyone who knew him.

Rich people are weird. I agree with Rob. Power of attorney, and wait until spring. The landed gentry will be looking for high school graduation presents. Good luck!