Imola Red 2007 BMW Z4 M Coupe with 46k Miles
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For November 29, 2020, our used car find is this low-mile 2007 BMW Z4 M Coupe in striking Imola Red with a matching interior. It’s offered on craigslist by a private seller in the Sacramento area for $34,950.
Here’s what makes this one special.
Introduction
BMW launched the E86 generation Z4 M Coupe in 2006 and ended production just two years later, making the car something of a rare find, with only about 1800 total units out there.
While its design is not quite as distinctive as the prior Z3 M Coupe — which earned the nickname “clown shoe” for its quirky charm — the Z4 M Coupe is arguably better looking. Adding a roof softens and completes the Z4 roadster’s exaggerated lines (aka “flame surfacing”), creating an elegant shape that is aging remarkably well and dare we say even harkens back to the best of the Zagato-penned coupes of automotive lore.
Performance-wise, the E86 M Coupe clearly has the edge over its predecessor. It retains the magnificent, high-revving S54 inline-six under the hood, now producing 330 naturally-aspirated horsepower (up slightly from the final year of the Z3 M). And to help get that power down, the newer Coupe adds a more sophisticated multi-link rear suspension, plus an extra cog to the (manual only) transmission, for a total of six forward gears. The Z4’s chassis is also far stiffer than the outgoing Z3’s, making it more responsive on the road.
The Listing
This particular example checks pretty much every box on a Z4 M Coupe buyer’s checklist. It’s a two-owner, accident-free car that’s lived most of its life in the mild Pacific Northwest, accumulating a modest 46k miles. While red may not be everyone’s favorite color, the Coupe wears it well, and the two-tone red and black interior is quite stunning, especially without the addition of the optional nav screen.
At five bucks short of 35 grand, the asking price here may cause some to balk. But the fact is: this is the going rate for a nice Z4 M Coupe. And that represents some mighty strong retained value. These cars stickered for mid $50,000s when new, so this one’s shed a mere 35% of its original cost. Considering the Z4 M Coupe’s low production numbers, and its desirability as one of BMW’s last best M cars, that trend is likely to continue.
And when you reflect on the fact that its predecessor is well on its way to collector car status, with recent examples fetching prices as high as $100,000, this one almost seems cheap.
Details and Specs
- 2007 BMW Z4 M Coupe (E86)
- 46k miles
- 3.2 liter inline six cylinder engine (330 hp)
- 6-speed manual transmission
- Imola Red exterior with Imola Red (and black) interior
- for sale by owner for $34,950
- Carmichael, California
- 5UMDU93467LL93578