2008 BMW Z4 E85 3.0 Si SE Bright Red

Description

So, I’ve had this Z4 for about four years now — bought it in 2020 from a Z4 forum moderator, and honestly, it’s been one of the most reliable cars I’ve ever owned. It’s a 2008 E85 3.0 Si SE, bright red (Hellrot), and I’ve driven it mostly for fun — long weekends, road trips, just getting out and about. Never used it for daily commutes or short trips, which I think helps it stay in better shape.

I’ve done about 45k miles since I got it, and it’s never let me down. The MoT history is solid — it’s been good for the age and mileage, and the only warning was a quick rust notice on an exhaust clamp during a recent test, which I fixed right away. No other corrosion issues.

It’s got a full service history, two working keys, and the V5C is still with it. I’ve had two owners in the last ten years, including me — so it’s not been passed around to strangers.

Inside, it’s got the original BMW Z4M seats — electronically adjustable and heated, which I’ve actually used quite a bit in winter. The steering wheel is an M-Tech 2 from an old E36 M3 — tricolour stitching, looks cool, and feels great. Cruise control, factory windbreaker, and I’ve had the roof motor moved to the boot. That’s a small but useful upgrade — original ones were prone to water getting in, and this one’s been working fine ever since.

I’ve got four Bridgestone Weather Control A005 Evo all-season tyres on it — I originally thought I’d switch to summer tyres, but these actually worked better than expected, so I stuck with them. I also did a suspension refresh around 90k miles — new dampers, Eibach lowering springs, top mounts, bump stops front and rear, and front anti-roll bar bushes. Then a full four-wheel alignment with a Hunter machine.

The engine’s an N52B30 — not the most flashy, but very reliable, and it’s been in hundreds of thousands of cars across the 1, 3, 5, 6, 7 series and SUVs.

Service history:
- 2019 (83k): inspection
- 2020 (92k): oil service
- 2021 (103k): inspection
- 2022 (113k): oil service
- 2025 (119k): oil & filter

Mods I’ve added:
- Veemann V-FS25 wheels with locking nuts (one has a flat spot — balanceable, but I’d recommend straightening)
- Non-run-flat tyres — better ride, less bounce
- Eibach lowering springs
- Rear spoiler from the aero kit
- Quantum Tuning remap (claims 288bhp — I haven’t had it dynoed, so I’m not sure how realistic that is)
- DLV mod to the exhaust backbox — makes the sound more aggressive on throttle, but doesn’t drone at cruising speed
- aFe Pro Dry panel filter
- Clutch delay valve deleted — feels better when shifting
- Stubby aerial
- Weighted aluminium gear knob
- Alpine Bluetooth head unit

A few things to note:
- I haven’t driven it since 2023 because of illness, but I started it again and drove it up and down my driveway once a week to keep things moving. The brake discs looked bad before the MoT, but after a few sharp stops on the way to the test centre, they cleaned up and the MoT didn’t flag them.
- The paint has faded a bit — especially on the front wing and boot lid — that’s common with reds of this age, honestly.
- Three brake callipers are red, one is unpainted — doesn’t affect performance, just looks a bit odd.
- One rear number plate holder doesn’t stay in place — cheap fix to replace it, but not a big deal.
- Tiny chip on the windscreen — doesn’t affect visibility and hasn’t grown.

It’s SORN, so no test drives possible. Not a show car — it looks decent from a distance, but not great up close. I’ve kept it simple, driven it for pleasure, and it’s been reliable through thick and thin.

If you’re interested or have questions, just shoot me a message. I’m happy to chat — no pressure, just sharing what I’ve got.

Location: kirkby-in-furness, Kirkby Ireleth