Here's How Much It Costs To Own A BMW Z4 For 10 Years... The CAR NINJA Has Worked On THIS CAR Before

The Car Ninja is familiar with my "new" BMW Z4... Is that a good thing or a bad thing?
Today, I go over one of the main selling points for my 2003 BMW Z4 2.5... It's 10 years of documented service history. But just because there are 10 full years of service records, doesn't mean this car is sorted...
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#BMW #Z4 #CarNinja

[@HooviesGarage]

M parallels must happen. Makes it look like a hooptie Z8

[@ReginaTrans_]

Can u ask Jon to let Josh open his own channel 😭😭

[@ElliottAlvis]

I love the idea of a discount Z8...

[@airsol]

@@ElliottAlvis I could be mistaken, but they make actual Z8 kits for the Z4 so you could just have the worlds cheapest Z8 too.

[@theslavsyndicate8524]

Cmon Hoovie, dont give him ideas. I want them

[@TheeNerdyDad]

is there any other life than the Hooptie life?

[@joriuschuwa]

Wichita is becoming a KZbin collab heaven

[@babaluigi]

of all cities I did not predict that one.

[@Hacker4life]

Wichita is becoming the beta male capital of KZbin.

[@drewping2002]

Hoovie's Garage, Wizard's Shop, Westin Champlin, WatchJRGo, 100 Percent Jake, and Elliott Alvis, crazy that KZbin's automotive epicenter is Central Kansas!

[@daddynichol52]

Don't forget Velocity Garage.

[@VentureAHighway]

Who would have thought

[@TheZProtocol]

I like how Elliot says "it clunks when put into gear" and immediately the Car Ninja runs to his suspicion and finds the culprit just 2 seconds later.

[@ElliottAlvis]

He knows these cars like the back of his hand. It’s incredible!

[@frontspring1]

He literally tells the ninja what he thinks the problem is. Not that hard to figure out

[@pottunen007]

Also everybody knows that bmw diff mounts crack

[@TheZProtocol]

I wouldn't have thought to go to the rear of the vehicle for that

[@keithprinn6900]

@@pottunen007 bushings not mounts

[@privateuser3725]

That is the thinnest pile of 10 years of service records ever.

[@Tripp426]

$10,531 over 10 years is an average of $87.76 a month. That's seriously all it took to keep a high-mileage BMW sorted? Incredible!

[@Lenticular67]

These Z4 videos are making me miss my '07 Z4 (3.0i). And yes, M parallels will be much better.

[@ElliottAlvis]

The Z4 is a great car, I can see why you miss it. Thanks for watching!

[@jhawk1977]

Just got my 04 Z4 3.0 SMG two months ago. Most of the work done on those invoices can be done at home for a fraction of the cost. It's such an easy engine work on. I've already done coils, plugs, DISA and valve cover gasket for under $400. All of that work can be done at home in about an hour.

[@ElliottAlvis]

I've always wanted to try the SMG version of the Z4, that's great! Thanks for the tip. I will be taking care of as many of the repairs as possible at home.

[@robster6868]

400 bucks for cruise control lol you can buy the stalk for €100 and fit yourself on 2004 and before plug and play and cut cowl yourself.

[@newzealandroadster]

Yoo i got 06 z4 2.5i, I noticed theres a leak on coolant when i try to fill it up.. just wondering how much would it cost. its my first car so i dont know anything.. thank you so much

[@kevincross8659]

The ninja really knows his stuff.

[@ElliottAlvis]

He really is a master of these cars, it's incredible to witness.

[@redporschekilla]

Elliott, don't listen to them all!! I love the look of the M Parallels, WAY BETTER than those gungbung wanna be's you've been rocking.....

[@jake05sti]

This is exactly the content I come here for! That great dental hygiene advice!

[@ElliottAlvis]

You know it! 🦷

[@ajw828]

LOL - literally lol'd at the denture technology is pretty great these days comment. It's crazy how quickly the emblems get faded or damaged. Definitely spruces it up replacing them every once in awhile. Anything is better than the wheels that are on there now.

[@ElliottAlvis]

I'm a big fan of fresh emblems! And I totally agree with you about the wheels.

[@100PercentJake]

Mpar get hype! Get that clutch delay valve out of there too!

[@ElliottAlvis]

Yeah, that is pretty annoying. But its a luxury feature! lol

[@daviddennis7558]

The Ninja is such a class act! You guys are lucky to have such a great resource!

[@ElliottAlvis]

We truly are. He and the Wizard are a blessing

[@johnwatson9826]

Again, change the rims ! Go with the parallels. 👍🏽

[@ElliottAlvis]

I'm leaning that direction!

[@christopherkraft1327]

Always brush your teeth!! Interesting intro, you got my attention. Yes, Yes, Yes, put the m parallel wheels on Pennyslot, now!!! Thanks again Elliott for a fun Friday video. And yes, I'm feeling better than a poke in the eye with a stick!!! 👁️👁️

[@ElliottAlvis]

Glad you're feeling better Christopher! Hope you have a good weekend man!

[@christopherkraft1327]

@@ElliottAlvis thanks, you too my friend!! 🙂

[@anthonybarton2103]

I am with you on them Rims Elliot 👍

[@ElliottAlvis]

Thanks Anthony!

[@thatoldshitbox]

Another great video. I feel like the z4 will be great for future videos considering an older bimmer is notoriously fragile. I would definitely slap the m parallels on it.

[@ElliottAlvis]

Thanks Aaron! Yeah, I think this car is going to be a great thing. It already is!

[@keithprinn6900]

@@ElliottAlvis still not one of the shockers and great engine and box

[@trendel13]

You really need to add the hydrogen system back in. Your life is too easy these days.

[@ElliottAlvis]

I need to find out more about it! I wouldve been interested to see what in the heck it was!

[@robertbeirne9813]

@@ElliottAlvis please let us know when you do.

[@trendel13]

@@ElliottAlvis Maybe one of those HHO generators that's supposed to electrolyze water into hydrogen gas. But who knows. ...

[@ve_wake]

Switch to those wheels powder coat it to high gloss black ❤️

[@ElliottAlvis]

Thats an idea!

[@JonBlondell]

3 tops??? Yikes! A lot has been fixed, though!

[@ElliottAlvis]

Right?! Thats a lot of tops

[@balesjo]

Noticed that too. They ended up accounting for a significant percentage of the past repairs.

[@Catanana07]

I like you to call it Penny Benny You know Because Bmw Benny?

[@ElliottAlvis]

I like that!

[@Catanana07]

@@ElliottAlvis Then Penny Benny it is

[@Explocify]

I have 2 2005 Z4s a 2.5 and 3.0. The 3.0 is currently with an engine getting fully Forged and I will be swapped in a DCT 7 spd from a 2015 M4. I love this car and I've only put about $600 in between both of them since 2018. Super reliable as long as you keep up on maintenance

[@ElliottAlvis]

Holy smokes that 3.0 with a DCT is going to be amazing!

[@RiddlerG3]

I think the z4 is the only bmw those m pars don’t look good on. Still, they are 2747372 times better than what is on the car now...

[@jedifire.]

Lol'd hard on the intro. Definitely put the Parallels on, it makes it seem more roadster and less "midnight club". That Z4 is one pretty car for its age

[@ElliottAlvis]

It sure is a pretty car. Hard to believe the design is 18 years old!

[@joebloggs4191]

Do all car KZbinrs live in Wichita Kansas? I've owned BMWs since 1995 and have not spent nowhere near $10,000 in repairs and maintenance in all these years and yes I do keep my cars in tip top condition so I don't know what owners in the US are doing or could it be that all mechanics in the US charge the same as lawyers?

[@ElliottAlvis]

All car KZbinrs love in Wichita, yes lol.

[@mitchellbarnow1709]

Elliott, you are fast becoming a well deserved KZbin icon! Congratulations, my friend.

[@ElliottAlvis]

You're too kind Mitchell. Thank YOU!

[@airsol]

I do not know if I can bear to watch another Z4 video with those rims still on it. Looking forward to seeing how you transform it.

[@dave11686]

I learned the hard way about my teeth 🦷. Great video Elliott!

[@ElliottAlvis]

Thanks Sock!

[@geoffpearl1713]

Those M parallels would look fantastic! Best BMW wheels of the 90s

[@ElliottAlvis]

I agree!

[@houseofno]

@@ElliottAlvis they were OE on the E38 through 2001 model year and also featured OE on E39 M5 through '03. Very popular period looking wheels. Try to stick with real BMW M-Parallels. The real ones are lighter and better balanced. Copycats are typically cheaper, spray painted iron or steel (not alloy), heavier, not balanced. look for BMW part number stamped on wheel. You can get staggered (wider in back, narrower in front - better handling but more expensive because front and tires are different widths) or do the same size on all fours (essentially four front wheels).

[@ghall7763]

@elliott Stealies would look better on it than those aftermarket “things”

[@ElliottAlvis]

I agree! Stealies would actually look kinda cool...

[@MarkusGrimm83]

What are stealies? Wheels prone to be stolen?

[@cpscps2679]

@@MarkusGrimm83 steelies. Steel wheels.

[@MarkusGrimm83]

@@cpscps2679 Oh, thank you for the explanation, appreciate it. Makes way more sense now.

[@MapOfEurasia]

Yesss! Go for the M Parallels 😎

[@jimwong2823]

My 2006 530 last 16 yrs total $2800 Inc tires. Oil change. Brake . spark n coil. Key is if you could do simple maintenance you save a lot of money

[@rhollyday]

It's not a "hybrid" system, it is a just hydrogen generator as seen in many utoob vids. It uses DC from the battery to split salt water into hydrogen and oxygen gas which is very explosive, then pumps it into the intake to improve performance. But the electrolysis load draws current from the battery which will make the alternator apply an equal and opposite force to the engine to recharge the battery. Add the losses from alternator and battery inefficiencies and you get a net loss.

[@ElliottAlvis]

Thanks Rich! I've been wanting to learn more about the system.

[@johanslecht2636]

what a neglected car and interior. the previous owner should be ashamed. put a set of style 107 underneath that is an original E85 Z4 rim. My 3.0 has them too.

[@pablopicaro7649]

New Tires on those other wheels will be at least another $800

[@maggieandjim1934]

FIRST OF ALL ANY CAR WITH AFTERMARKET RIMS LIKE THAT MEANS IT BELONGED TO AN ABUSER 9 TIMES OUT OF 10.......BUY STOCK OR PAY THE PRICE

[@kyongjinoh5053]

you should change it. I had a 03 BMW Z4 and I loved it better looking than 07.

[@ModelA]

Noticed how different Ninja is on your videos vs. when he is on Tyler's videos. You have yourself a winner here, Elliott! I was skeptical when I first saw it, but I am now thinking I was wrong. Good work!

[@ModelA]

Oh, by the way... Please change the wheels. The wheels on there now look like the garbage Pep Boys wheels you buy to get home after you leave the theatre and find your car on blocks.

[@ElliottAlvis]

Thanks Paul! And I agree, the wheels need to go... In a big way.

[@retroj4634]

Love the content!!

[@snowdog993]

I know a name. Who won the Jackpot on this one Elliot?

[@anthony2816]

Switch the wheels out. It's good for the environment to use them up.

[@ElliottAlvis]

I like that angle lol

[@donsirsimon]

1k a year running cost is not bad actually... I have owned newer 2009 E89 Z4 35i for 5 years and i estimate i have spent around 7000 eur, maybe max up to 8000 eur on services repaires, detailing, paint correction and tires. And as this car is getting older im sure my repair bills would get bigger. I dont usually go to dealer, i have a friendly indy shop that does most of the work... easier stuff i do myself... lot of information and guides available for n54 engines... If there are any special problems then i would go to dealer... like i had to replace my seat heating element... so dealer did that for example. Was laughing about the badge replacement. I actually have replaced every single bmw badge on my car... like 240 eur worth of badges :D they just go bad and start looking rubbish... first rear trunk badge startet flaking... then replaced wheel center caps and finally got front and side badges... and steeringwheel badge i replaced 2 weeks ago along with wheel leather retrim.

[@ElliottAlvis]

Sounds like you are a Z4 expert! Glad you've had such great luck with your car. That's funny that the badges just "expire" on these cars 😂

[@VanekLarson]

Getting famous off of comments day 273, so I can live the dream, live every day like it’s your last🤙🚀

[@ElliottAlvis]

You're famous in my book Larson

[@P.Galore]

Amateur with your puny Z4 invoice pile....try keeping an E31 8 Series on the road! Parallels? YES...New console? YES....New Storage Console Box Button? YES Headlight Restore? YES

[@ElliottAlvis]

This car is going to get it all! I can't imagine trying to keep an 8 Series on the road! 😱

[@AlfaGiuliaQV]

I´m sure you know about M539 restorations and his YT channel, i think he could tell you about leaking BMW gaskets all night long😂

[@barbaraalvis2881]

Another great video! That’s wild that Johnny had worked on that car in the past...

[@richardmclellan6212]

The M Parallels need to go on the E39, they will make it! Then some OE wheels on the Z4.

[@1stimefixer]

The gambler should be the name

[@joelharris3073]

I like this channel, subscribed 🤙🏼

[@ElliottAlvis]

Thanks for subscribing Joel!

[@elijahnelson3185]

How many cat shirts do you have?

[@ElliottAlvis]

Ummm..... I think too many to count lol

[@wjadams2]

The high stakes Z4!

[@Wildman2291]

Mismatched headlights. My dad has owned a 2004 and since new it’s just been oil changes, brakes, tires, batteries. No leaks whatsoever. I’ve owned two 2006s and both no problems at all

[@ElliottAlvis]

Yeah the headlights are bothering me, but they are $500 to replace! 😱

[@ftby59mikeD]

Z4 hell yes!....love my '04....it is a 'slot car'😁...wheels are subjective, I personally like the 'M's but spacers put undue loads on suspension parts. K.I.S.S. method ...find some stock wheels you like and drive it till they fall off!!👍

[@ElliottAlvis]

A fellow Z4 enthusiast! Glad you’ve been loving yours man. Thanks for checking out my channel!

[@ralphlongo1975]

No real BMW person would be against switching the M Parallels in there, none. You have to make sure you have the space for the tires on the outside too, it will be close.

[@ElliottAlvis]

I agree with you Ralph. And I think the tires will have to be *very* low profile.

[@ekaftan]

Car Ninja is getting much less camera shy with time...

[@irou95]

I have z4 2006 and it's so much fun, I live in Finland where I can use the roof like 4 months in a year but it's worth it, I also have winter tyres for this thing and I can tell you it's the most dangerous (and fun) car on snow.It's so light on the rear and so heavy on the front so in heavy snow it feels like it's understeering and oversteering at the same time :D It's suprisingly warm inside if the roof doesn't leak, wouldn't expect that from a convertible.

[@peterjohnson5014]

I used to have a Porsche 944 S2 , three liter four pot. Rear wheel drive. A nightmare in snow. My cure was 6000 RPM in first gear and wait for it to burn through. Always worked. I had a MGB , rear wheel drive , for ten years and at the first hint of snow managed to find myself facing backwards on lifting off the throttle. I don`t care, l`m happy with my tiny little 2.0 Z4 and l will do whatever it takes over the next winter. Including flagstones in the boot and a pack of Saxa salt.

[@JohannHBotha]

Love my 2.8 Z4. Fantastic car. I love it!!! ANDE.. I'm 72 years old!!!!!

[@ElliottAlvis]

I loved this one too! I wish I had gotten more time with it.

[@TheBarberShopScott]

Yup the M Parallels need to go on for sure! I'd say less than $5k for a fully sorted fun cruiser is not bad at all!

[@ElliottAlvis]

I’m certainly happy with it!

[@The_Mace]

Don't second-guess yourself, Elliott...the wheels that came with the car must go.

[@mitchellbarnow1709]

The M parallels will look great on your Z4 and I would budget at least $1,000 per year to fix whatever will normally break, plus regular maintenance items.

[@ElliottAlvis]

I think the M parallels will look great too. And you're right, so far its been about $1,000 a year to fix, so I'll have to anticipate that!

[@edgarmunoz6496]

Hit up fitment industries they got some cool wheels not gonna lie

[@Mab0fSteel]

M Parallels are much better looking; still not great, but better than those hideous ones. Too bad getting rid of them will cost you even more money...

[@ElliottAlvis]

I know, I wish I didn't have to do this at all lol

[@zoommccloud9280]

Yes for the m parallels can’t wait to see them

[@zacharyariail134]

I bought an 03 beetle convertible for $2k she spent about 40k maintaining the car up until this year

[@ElliottAlvis]

Oh wow! That’s pretty incredible

[@AncientAudiophile]

When you buy an old BMW, you are not in fact paying of the car. You are paying to get inside a car repair club. As a member you can and need visit as many times at "club house" as possible and at the same time meet other BMW owners. There is always someone repairing. You will also learn a lot more about codes, parts and labor pricing that you would with Toyota.

[@ElliottAlvis]

Haha, I love this description!

[@EvolvedApe]

I just bought an 05 3.0 smg from an employee who is retiring. Not a big fan of the smg, but yeah.

[@ElliottAlvis]

That’s great! The SMG can be tons of fun, but I understand it’s not everyone’s favorite transmission.

[@maggieandjim1934]

I THINK THIS GUY NEEDS TO BUY A SMART CAR HE JUST DOESNT GET IT

[@emenny81]

Switch the wheels !!

[@ExTrumpet]

Haha, $4500 is only the price of admission to the carnival! Gotta pay to ride!!

[@ElliottAlvis]

You aren't wrong!

[@blaakrose]

Spend the money to fix the car. It's your car. Put the wheels you want on there. Enjoy the car for once.

[@ElliottAlvis]

Thats the plan with this one!

[@hackfabrication139]

BMW Bring Money Wads. Or Buyer Money Woes

[@drewping2002]

I think the M Parallels are unanimous! And "Penny" is leading the pack as far as names! 😁

[@ElliottAlvis]

I think you're right on both counts Drew!

[@terrylessmann2274]

Penny's Slot, where you can insert... coins. Then she'll take you for a ride.

[@ElliottAlvis]

😂 aint that the truth!

[@romeoalphafoxtrot9517]

Put on the M Parallels. Anything is better than the junky clapped out ones that came with it.

[@ElliottAlvis]

Tell me about it!

[@TheZProtocol]

Wichita, Kansas is the headquarters location for the Hooptievengers

[@ElliottAlvis]

😂

[@alanleclair1]

Another vote to switch the wheels. Or sell the bigger ones and buy period correct wheels, or replicas.

[@ElliottAlvis]

Either way, the wheels will be changing.

[@hydewhyte4364]

Penny Slot ... Piece of S ... same same

[@victorbaird8220]

Call the car “Penny Pincher” because you have to pinch your finances to pay for the cost of repairs on the car.

[@ElliottAlvis]

Not bad!

[@ttbalog]

Call it the BMV (for Vegas)

[@izzdidit64]

I seen that with your other BMW and also commented on it on this one

[@shawnhain7085]

Anything but those aftermarket wheels - UGH-lee

[@ElliottAlvis]

Tell me about it Shawn. They are so bad!

[@ameenkhalid8512]

The wheels are amazing

[@BlackyBrownDestruction9337]

Your shirt says it all

[@ElliottAlvis]

It’s an accurate shirt lol

[@kavinskysmith4094]

Honestly considering what this car ran against, the porsche boxster with its really bad IMS bearing failures around this same period, which also badly sunk alot of non turbo 996's and how this was one of the first of the Z4 line, and that the car was free, and cost about 50 to 60 grand new, 10 grand for 17 years of service with 230K miles isnt bad, especially considering how bad every hoovie and JR GO BMW is, where you might as well call it a boat with how many times you have to break out another thousand. hell it probably would have been 5 grand had it been a hard top or a folding one of those, pitty this is THE Best BMW had to offer with that however as seriously with how bad I've learned how the icons were with this, like the E39 M5, and Even the 3 series cars apparently with some problem with the oil pump that grenades the motors, where apparently like some piece of the pump breaks off into the damn oil pan and does that I'm starting to think I should ask the german government to mandate that bavarian motor werkes gets renamed Broken Motors Weekly under some pro consumer tell the customer what their getting into type law. and the biggest kicker is for the longest time they were the only ones making cool german sedans too, and there were models of engine that worked and worked well, its just this damn modern era of last till the lease falls out type engineering that really sink them as fun long term cars really.

[@sebastiend.5335]

Sorry Elliott, this time I watched Hoovies first. Because I wanted to see how shit his G wagen was. Lol. Edit: I made the same face when I saw the wheels with which the car came. Replacements looks sooo much better! ;)

[@ElliottAlvis]

That's ok Sebastien, I forgive you for watching Hoovie first. 😂

[@sebastiend.5335]

@@ElliottAlvis You are a gentleman! ;)

[@kevinjessel8809]

OH my ears. AAAAAAHHHHHHHH like nails on a chalk board. Give the car to your better half in the spring :)

[@johntarver5684]

What about “PennyW” for a name?

[@ericsmith1453]

To only have spent USD 11000 on 280 000mi (450 000 km) for repairs is really not that much ( 0.024 c per km) and the car still looks good.

[@Finishthefight100]

The costs spent maintaining and repairing my 94 e32 would blow your mind.

[@TakenSlays]

I’m 21 and my 1st car was a 2003 z4 and now it has 350kmiles

[@ElliottAlvis]

That’s awesome! I’m glad you’ve had such good luck with yours.

[@raymondrizzuto7997]

I had an '06 Z4, and the oem strut tower brace cracked the same way. I just removed both and got an aftermarket one when the dealer quoted a huge cost to replace them.

[@ElliottAlvis]

Thats not a bad idea, it must be a common issue for these cars

[@zigzagrz]

After looking at Ninja's face... call it the Meh-4

[@ElliottAlvis]

I think he just remembers this car in it's worst form and its bringing back bad memories 😂

[@kirklongmire6022]

Switch the wheels!!!

[@ElliottAlvis]

Working on it Kirk!

[@BSGSV]

Now whenever I brush my teeth, I will think about Elliot.

[@ElliottAlvis]

Whatever it takes 😂

[@zacharyariail134]

Yes the m parallels are much better

[@peteratkinson1939]

A thousand away from perfect.. for now

[@sleepyhollow783]

Some considerations. The rim look will improve & i hope they fit. However, will the ride be too negatively affected with the lower profile tires? Will they also be more prone to tearing if they encounter rails or potholes?

[@Stanley-u4me]

Great video though. Keep em coming i watch all the advertisements.👍

[@ElliottAlvis]

Thanks Basil!

[@janpristach3073]

Switch them please!

[@LifeOfPaPaMark]

I have a 2003 Z4 that was built here in GREER SC the first month they were produced in March. I was actually working there at the time on the Z4 line and may have touched this car being built. My son bought it in 2007 and I bought it from him last year with 79,000 miles on it. It just turned to 85,000. It drives like new and I absolutely love it. Still looks awesome too. Still the original gray and black.

[@ElliottAlvis]

That’s so cool! Glad you’ve had a great experience with your Z4, and it’s awesome that you may have had a hand in building this one! Thanks for watching!