The AutoHunter Spotlight for today is a 2004 BMW Z4 3.0i roadster that has only covered 23,300 miles from new and is being offered by a private seller in Miami. The auction ends on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at 12:30 p.m. (PDT).
I am writing about this car as I have actually owned a 2005 BMW Z4 3.0i roadster. I bought the car just after the Amelia Island Concours in 2020, just before the spike in prices we saw later that year. My wife Ann had actually seen it parked in our neighborhood with a “For Sale” sign on it and told me I should go see it. It was the same color combination as the car featured on AutoHunter, but it had higher mileage and a manual transmission.
That Z4 was such an improvement dynamically and comfort-wise over my old Z3, it was simply in another category altogether. The chassis is simply incredible, and the performance from the 3.0-liter M54 engine is fantastic. Sure, the M version of the Z4 is faster, but I found the standard car’s powertrain performance perfect. I put around 15,000 miles on my Z4 and then sold it in 2023 to a friend in Pennsylvania who continues to enjoy it.
As far as running costs, there was only one non-regular service item I needed to do on the Z4: replace the oil filter housing seal. Not an expensive repair! Beyond that, all I ever did was regular oil changes. These are truly amazing cars that are both reliable and incredibly fun to drive. A good example of an E85/86 Z4 is a car that you can drive for years without any real issues . . . and have a lot of fun doing it.
This Z4 is painted in Titanium Silver Metallic and features a black power convertible top over a black leather interior. This low-mileage German roadster is offered by the seller with a CARFAX report and a rebuilt title. The details on the title cite water damage, but I looked everywhere in the provided photos of this car and could not find any evidence of this. The interior is in terrific shape with no evidence of ever getting wet; even the underside of the car looks excellent. I am guessing some of the ECUs got wet and the cost to replace them caused the title issues. That being said, this BMW really does look to be an excellent example of a first-generation Z4.
The exterior pictures show a car that looks like it has never had any issues as well. The paint looks original and in great condition. There is some slight curb damage on one of the wheels, but that is all I found.
The interior leather, carpets, door cards and such also all look to be in great condition. I doubt the interior of this car ever suffered getting wet due to the flood damage claim, unless they replaced literally everything. This well-optioned car includes BMW’s high-end sound system, which has to be heard to be believed, one of the best sound systems I have ever experienced in a roadster.
Yes, this car is equipped with a five-speed automatic transmission, but it really does not dull performance. While it doesn’t offer the same amount of interaction of the six-speed manual, it makes getting stuck in stop-and-go traffic much more stress-free. Even the automatic transmissions, when powering the M54 engines, offer strong performance and are nothing like the automatic-equipped Z3s.
The engine compartment is more of the same, being very clean, again with no signs of flood damage. You will notice some orange film on some of the bodywork under the hood, but this is the sealant BMW used on these parts of the body and is not rust.
There is one caveat about the Z4, especially when comparing it to a classic car like a Jaguar E-Type or Austin-Healey 3000: it does everything those cars do, only better. Again, I say that as someone who has spent a lot of time in these cars. The Z4 offers the great open-air driving experience of a classic roadster, has a fantastic view over the hood, and has a terrific engine sound and exhaust note. It also offers very comfortable seats, a top that does not leak, air conditioning, and reliability that a Jaguar or Healey could only dream about, even when new. Once you are spoiled by a Z4, you might not want to go back to your old roadster.
I also like that this Z4 still includes its full set of manuals and factory tool kit, as these somehow get lost over time. What are the risks with a car like this? I would go contact the owner and get an inspection done by a qualified BMW mechanic. If they give the car a clean bill of health, bid on it. If you win, you will have a terrific Z4 at what will likely be a bargain price.
If you are interested, I would do bid quickly (yes, you do have time), as the auction for this 2004 BMW Z3 3.0i ends on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at 12:30 p.m. (PDT).
Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery
