2002 BMW Z8/ 7k miles ...

Very nice car. GLWS

 

I worked for BMW when these first came out. Very cool cars. GLWS!

 

Price is really testing the waters.

 

I never understood why BMW didn't install a LSD on the Z8.

 

Amazingly, these cars bring this. The Alpina variants have been posted asking $300k+

The Z8 is an awesome car. Designed by Henrik Fisker, produced in limited numbers, and the V8 from the E39 M5. I see them going nowhere but up.

 

Agreed. Also holds true on the E39 540i....

 

To much money !!!

 

I own one, it's a great car. The build quality is like no other BMW. Big V8 with a stick, all aluminum. If this was a Ferrari it would be 2 to 3 times the price.

 

It'll ultimately be regarded and valued in a manner similar to the 300SL of the 50s. The materials and build quality in a Z8 is top shelf. If you haven't spent time with one, take a close look when you get a chance. The S62 engine is a jewel.


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I was looking at these also when I bought my DB7. Fiscally I made the wrong decision (again) but I just could not get jazzed about the looks of the Z8. Great car no doubt... GLWS

 

I remember quite vividly when they cut one in half on the dock one of the old Pierce Brosnan James Bond movies. During that very short period when he drove the German marque. I was in Jr. High, and an absolute car nut. I thought the Z8 was one of the coolest cars then, and still do to this day. Good luck

 

I love the Z8.

 

Love the red guts.

Good luck with the sale, old friend.

 

Not to jack your thread, but one of my favorite aspects about the Z8 are the signal/brake lights. They are made of neon and are super bright and reliable. They even look better in "euro" form as the rear signals are yellow as opposed to red. I am currently a BMW employee and I for one must say that the Z8 is one of the best built cars in the modern time. I always refer to it as a German Cobra.

 

I love the German Cobra call!. The stock Z8 exhaust is a little too tame IMO. A mild aftermarket like the Meistershaft really wakes the car up.


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The Alpina Z8 (asking) price premium is pure nonsense. Original Z8 used the M5 engine and trans; Alpina used the 540i engine with automatic.

 

I've not driven an alpina z8 but have heard suspension set up is better than base Z8. I don't know if that's accurate.


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Is that a compliment? 😉



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Sorry but this is not the complete story. What you say is correct but it ignores:

1- The limited production of the Alpina model to 555 units.

2- Alpina specifically tuned the motor, transmission and suspension for this car. The founder of Alpina son worked for BMW and did the suspension for the Z8 and then went back to Alpina and did the suspension for the Alpina V8 Roadster. Its a more refined calibration.

3- Exterior and interior changes.

So you could say this was an end of model run but I think it really is more than that and the market is speaking.

Also, you may not know, originally the Z8 was supposed to have the N62 motor from the 540 along with the automatic transmission along with the drive train (open diff etc) from the 540 and brakes from the 740. The car was to be more of a cruiser. There were no plans for an M5 as the 540i/6 was thought to be more than enough power (282hp I think). Then Mercedes did the 355 HP E55 AMG and BMW had to respond and in short order. Some M magic (back when they did magic) turned the N62 into the S62 with 398 hp! That goes into the M5, and all M cars get a LSD etc. However, the Z8 was designed for the non M motor and drive train, someone realized they couldn't sell a halo car like the Z8 with the less powerful motor- so they went ahead and dropped the M motor into a non M car- only the second time (and not done since) a non M car got an M motor... (first time was on a South African 7 series for some reason that I forget now)... They didn't think anyone would really miss the LSD which is useful for burn out starts and power sliding- neither of which is really in the Z8 personality. Also a LSD makes a car slightly less eager to turn in. The Z8 steering ratio is already slow. Did you know the Z8 is the first BMW with a V8 motor to have rack and pinion steering?

Ok so where is this going? First- one could argue the Alpina is how BMW intended the Z8 to be all along- though I won't argue that, give me the S62 with that nice stick shift- but please ditch those run flats!

Second and most importantly- I know the seller and he is very for real and I don't think his price is unrealistic.

GLWS. The tan top on a silver car is rare.

 

Very educational post! Thanks! 👍


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