My Z4 Saga

[Dusty78]

4 years ago I moved to Charlotte NC. I grew up in the Northeast and spent 6 years in Pittsburgh. Convertibles weren't really that practical. I have been a VW GTI guy for years and still am. I'm currently on my 6th GTI (daily driver.) When I moved here the thought of owning a convertible peaked my interest. I started looking around and found a 2003 Z4 3.0 in silver in Miami FL with only 27k miles on it and jumped on it.

I truly loved that car and wish I still had it. Here is a pic from the day I picked it up in Miami. I drove it all the way back to Charlotte.

[img]https://i.postimg.cc/Jzq277Ln/A59478...4781_D0_C3.jpg[/img]

Savannah, GA

[img]https://i.postimg.cc/Y94nx1mG/BB46_D..._A6_B04370.jpg[/img]

Next to the GTI

[img]https://i.postimg.cc/GpggYM9n/DC796_...0900_E23_D.jpg[/img]

Pilgrimage back to its birth place in Spartanburg SC at the BMW plant

[img]https://i.postimg.cc/3JjL9rWB/D0_A45...40_F8_A851.jpg[/img]

Fast forward a year and I decided I wanted to try out an E89. I loved the hard top and sold my E85 for decent money and found this 2011 3.0i in Johnson City TN with only 35k miles on it.

[img]https://i.postimg.cc/7YrsgJPh/C4_DDC...88261_A9_D.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i.postimg.cc/2yh0srGC/0_C568...0_BFFD1_A0.jpg[/img]

Photo op with mini me at the BMW plant in Spartanburg SC

[img]https://i.postimg.cc/0NyHzgkC/951_D7...16_F553883.jpg[/img]

At Camp Toccoa in GA (for all the Band of Brothers fans)

[img]https://i.postimg.cc/c1nkgBSP/7_F5_F...12_E3_AE56.jpg[/img]

A glamour shot

[img]https://i.postimg.cc/g2Yg79ZP/1_BDBF...82439_E8_F.jpg[/img]

I kept the 2011 Z for a little over a year and stupidly thought that I wanted something more practical. Wanting to keep the hard top convertible I got a 2016 430i. I immediately missed the feel of the roadster.

[img]https://i.postimg.cc/N0Fpg1DJ/64819_...F2_B836_D4.jpg[/img]

The 430i was a nice car and all the tech is great but it just didn't hit the spot. Last week I came across a 2012 Z4 2.8i that was technically still new. It had been used as a dealer demo at a dealership in SC and I guess they held on to it for too long and couldn't sell it as new. It went to auction and I got a screaming deal from a local Mercedes dealership that ended up with it. It only has 8k miles and I'm the only owner on the Carfax. I traded in the 430i and just about got my money out of it since I got a really good deal on it originally. I'm happy to have a Z back in the stable.

[img]https://i.postimg.cc/tgcD7YmX/788_A8...3_D82585_F.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i.postimg.cc/tTVk6pLF/4_DE33...41800_ABA8.jpg[/img]

The rest of my stable (the Z is a weekend fun car)

[img]https://i.postimg.cc/TwZkNprk/CECE18..._E87544_E7.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i.postimg.cc/RZXg5P7J/911944..._E01_E7566.jpg[/img]

The moral of the story is that if you find something you like....hold on to it

[impulsE89]

I enjoyed your saga, and photos These stories are why I read these forums. I can relate to the GTI part as well.
Unfortunately the E89 forums and sports car forums in general seem to be getting quieter lately.

[NoQuarter]

Originally Posted by impulsE89

I enjoyed your saga, and photos These stories are why I read these forums. I can relate to the GTI part as well.
Unfortunately the E89 forums and sports car forums in general seem to be getting quieter lately.

Lot more activity over on sp oo l st re e t

[blueridge]

Great story and welcome back to a Z. I live in Charlotte too and your don't see E89 too often. Everyone seems to drive SUVs.

[Dusty78]

Originally Posted by blueridge

Great story and welcome back to a Z. I live in Charlotte too and your don't see E89 too often. Everyone seems to drive SUVs.

I've heard tell of a E85 Z meet that used to take place every summer in Spartanburg where they were built. That would have been cool to attend.

[Eltee]

When the Z3s and Z4s were built in Spartanburg BMW would host "Homecoming". I had 3 Z3s over the years and made it down there one year. (and did the Tail of the Dragon)
Tremendous event with great food, entertainment, track time, tours etc. I think they charged like $25 that covered everything and then they mailed me a free BMW folding camp chair.
Anyway, off topic but just thought I'd expand on an extremely cool event.

[blueridge]

Originally Posted by Eltee

When the Z3s and Z4s were built in Spartanburg BMW would host "Homecoming". I had 3 Z3s over the years and made it down there one year. (and did the Tail of the Dragon)
Tremendous event with great food, entertainment, track time, tours etc. I think they charged like $25 that covered everything and then they mailed me a free BMW folding camp chair.
Anyway, off topic but just thought I'd expand on an extremely cool event.

That sounds awesome and great value, plus a great reason to drive the Z.

[impulsE89]

Check out your chapter of the BMWCCA and the ZSCCA.

The Greenville/Spartanburg chapter is especially strong for

Driving events, social events Track time, etc.

also local Cars and Coffees are fun.

[Lurcher]

I think we are about at that point where the cars are cheap enough to start getting a new "breed" of owners in who will be asking a lot of questions instead of searching.

They will also do mods on these now cheaper cars that we would not have though of on a +$30K vehicle.

Seen this on a few others I've owned - but keeps things interesting out here.

There's also all of the other n54 forums that can keep you interested....

[impulsE89]

I think we are about at that point where the cars are cheap enough to start getting a new "breed" of owners in who will be asking a lot of questions instead of searching.

Yes and this would mean a much younger cross section and as you said, more likely to mod. However there just aren't very many E89s out there. And BTW the market seems quite strong.