BMW Z8 doesn’t depreciate!

Those who do not follow high-end  pre-owned cars market on regular basis might suffer a mild shock after they’ve checked current market prices for 6-8 years old BMW Z8s. Such low levels of depreciation have not been observed in luxury car market for a long period.

BMW Z8, stunning high-tech 5.0 V8 roadster produced between 2000 and 2003, is widely considered a commercial failure. Steep price (around €135,000 when new) combined with slight world-wide post-September 11th recession resulted in surprisingly disappointing sales of this car despite being mostly praised by motor journalists (with the exception of J.Clarkson who hated it).
Its commercial failure (only around 5700 units have been sold) and inevitable rarity recently helped this car achieve unprecedented slow depreciation. The market with Z8s appears to have reached its bottom in approx. 2004, when cars changed hands for approx. €60 000. Since than, despite the car got 4 years older, the value increased to approx. €100 000 for early cars and later models with low mileage are now being sold with sticker of around €120 000. That makes rivaling Ferrari 360 Modena, which can be yours for as little as €60 000 look like a bargain.
This is especially remarkable since another German high-end roadster – Mercedes SL65 AMG is considered one of the worst depreciating cars of modern times as value loss can be as much 50% within 18 months.
What is unclear though, is where the luxury car market will go now as US is definitely heading into recession and Germany may follow.
In any case, buying a Z8 could still be an interesting alternative to e.g. a brand new M3 Convertible as in terms of depreciation running the Z8 might actually be cheaper because the car will most probably not loose 50% of its value during 4 years of ownership as the M3 will.

Do not hesitate posting your thoughts in discussion below regarding how do you think the value of Z8s might be over the next few years.