Z3M Roadster - opinions?
Discussion
So, I've been having a bit of a peruse on AutoTrader, and these seem very keenly priced. They're a good deal cheaper to insure than I was expecting too, which has set me thinking! 
Anyhow, is there anything I should know about these cars? Weak spots? Common issues? Servicing and running costs - are they insanely expensive to keep going? Cost of replacement tyres, pads, etc?
Any and all thoughts welcomed - particularly regarding the direction you see their prices heading over the next year or so. As the Z4 continues to hit the used car forecourts, will the Z3M prices collapse?
I'm very close to looking at one for sale near my parents over the Xmas period, and I may get carried away...
Cheers,
Dan
Anyhow, is there anything I should know about these cars? Weak spots? Common issues? Servicing and running costs - are they insanely expensive to keep going? Cost of replacement tyres, pads, etc?
Any and all thoughts welcomed - particularly regarding the direction you see their prices heading over the next year or so. As the Z4 continues to hit the used car forecourts, will the Z3M prices collapse?
I'm very close to looking at one for sale near my parents over the Xmas period, and I may get carried away...
Cheers,
Dan
I used to own the hardtop version. Check here for rag top info:
www.z3roadster.net
If you manage to find an S54 engined one (they're very rare) it should hold value well.
Check the status of the VANOS unit. Suspension is fairly bomb proof. Tyres, expect about £150 each for the rears, £120 for fronts.
Servicing is intelligent system of intervals.
Oil service +/- £200
Insp 1 +/- £400
Insp 2 +/- £700
roughly, I'm sure that website will be more help.
www.z3roadster.net
If you manage to find an S54 engined one (they're very rare) it should hold value well.
Check the status of the VANOS unit. Suspension is fairly bomb proof. Tyres, expect about £150 each for the rears, £120 for fronts.
Servicing is intelligent system of intervals.
Oil service +/- £200
Insp 1 +/- £400
Insp 2 +/- £700
roughly, I'm sure that website will be more help.
Mine is fantastic! Absolute snip at <=15k - far better than my old TVR in every respect (except engine sound). Also, it seems to get far more favourable looks and comments than the griff as well which is surprising.
Build quality is outstanding, does about 240 miles to a tank (35 quid), roof down action when you need it, M engine (
). Only downsides really are cramped driving position for tall people (I'm right on the limit at 6ft3) and not much stowage space.
Not sure on the depreciation front, but don't really care. This will keep up with 911s! The handling is also fine for road driving in my opinion (then again, I'm no boy racer).
Build quality is outstanding, does about 240 miles to a tank (35 quid), roof down action when you need it, M engine (
). Only downsides really are cramped driving position for tall people (I'm right on the limit at 6ft3) and not much stowage space. Not sure on the depreciation front, but don't really care. This will keep up with 911s! The handling is also fine for road driving in my opinion (then again, I'm no boy racer).
Raify said:Cheers for the replies! The S54 engine? Presumably, this is in cars built from some year or other - any more info here? What's the difference between this and the other engine?
If you manage to find an S54 engined one (they're very rare) it should hold value well.
Cheers,
Dan
S54 has later M3 engine (343bhp rather than 321) - from about 2001 (?) - also got traction control too i think!
I wouldn't worry too much about which you get and there are probably more issues (re M3 rebuilds etc) with the later engine.
We had one for a couple of years and had no problems at all (had to go due to baby daughter!) only thing with ours was handling was a bit "exciting" when we got it but this was improved no end by a KDS alignment adjustment at local dealer.
I wouldn't worry too much about which you get and there are probably more issues (re M3 rebuilds etc) with the later engine.
We had one for a couple of years and had no problems at all (had to go due to baby daughter!) only thing with ours was handling was a bit "exciting" when we got it but this was improved no end by a KDS alignment adjustment at local dealer.
I can wax lyrical for hours on this.
Got mine in April this year AND I ABSOLUTELY LOVE HER TO PIECES.
I have done a couple of track days in her and 'he who must be obeyed' (drives a Tuscan S) really enjoys her as well.
Had an oil service at Woolaston (BMW Dealer) in Northants last month and it cost £138.
If you are round and about my neck of the woods let me know and we can arrange a spin.
Got mine in April this year AND I ABSOLUTELY LOVE HER TO PIECES.
I have done a couple of track days in her and 'he who must be obeyed' (drives a Tuscan S) really enjoys her as well.
Had an oil service at Woolaston (BMW Dealer) in Northants last month and it cost £138.
If you are round and about my neck of the woods let me know and we can arrange a spin.
midgetmagoo said:
I can wax lyrical for hours on this.
Got mine in April this year AND I ABSOLUTELY LOVE HER TO PIECES.
I have done a couple of track days in her and 'he who must be obeyed' (drives a Tuscan S) really enjoys her as well.
Had an oil service at Woolaston (BMW Dealer) in Northants last month and it cost £138.
If you are round and about my neck of the woods let me know and we can arrange a spin.
Amanda - we should go for a Midlands blast some time...
AllTorque said:
I can wax lyrical for hours on this.
Got mine in April this year AND I ABSOLUTELY LOVE HER TO PIECES.
I have done a couple of track days in her and 'he who must be obeyed' (drives a Tuscan S) really enjoys her as well.
Had an oil service at Woolaston (BMW Dealer) in Northants last month and it cost £138.
If you are round and about my neck of the woods let me know and we can arrange a spin.
Amanda - we should go for a Midlands blast some time...
Just let me know where and when
Good advice already above;
I'd also suggest www.zroadster.net (but it's down at the moment).
There were 74 or something S54's which are rated on the named website as being a fair bit better than the S50 engined car's and also have the advantage of DSC. S50's have regular issues with Vanos units which are >£1k to replace. S54 motor's have gone pop in quite a few already and BMW are not yet doing a replacement as a policy as per the E46 M3. I've also heard that they're quite sensitive to tyres, Pilot Sport 2's being highly regarded on this car.
Other problems are standard for a car of it's age, bushes getting worn, crash damage, but they're pretty robust.
Join the BMW CC GB and get 10% off at German & Swedish. I get Pagid fast road pads for £35 and they're superb - but don't manage 3 track days!
PhilR (posts in the Midlands section) organises a monthly evening 'drive & dine', which is ususally a spirited drive and then high quality cuisine in a nice country pub. We've driven down many times from Yorkshire to join in and it's always a good laugh.
HTH
>> Edited by StuB on Tuesday 21st December 20:37
I'd also suggest www.zroadster.net (but it's down at the moment).
There were 74 or something S54's which are rated on the named website as being a fair bit better than the S50 engined car's and also have the advantage of DSC. S50's have regular issues with Vanos units which are >£1k to replace. S54 motor's have gone pop in quite a few already and BMW are not yet doing a replacement as a policy as per the E46 M3. I've also heard that they're quite sensitive to tyres, Pilot Sport 2's being highly regarded on this car.
Other problems are standard for a car of it's age, bushes getting worn, crash damage, but they're pretty robust.
Join the BMW CC GB and get 10% off at German & Swedish. I get Pagid fast road pads for £35 and they're superb - but don't manage 3 track days!
PhilR (posts in the Midlands section) organises a monthly evening 'drive & dine', which is ususally a spirited drive and then high quality cuisine in a nice country pub. We've driven down many times from Yorkshire to join in and it's always a good laugh.
HTH
>> Edited by StuB on Tuesday 21st December 20:37
Interesting stuff so far! Not sure I like the sound of engines grenading, but still - I assume it's rare? Choice at the moment seems to be S2000, Z3M or Audi TT - possibly Boxster if I really push the boat out.
TT's very insurable (only +100), S2k's expensive, Z3M's middle ground. Boxster expensive. Hoping for a test drive in the next week or so - should make my mind up!
Dan
TT's very insurable (only +100), S2k's expensive, Z3M's middle ground. Boxster expensive. Hoping for a test drive in the next week or so - should make my mind up!
Dan
Bought my ///M as I wanted a Fast, cheap car I could garage for long periods and not worry about it starting again..
But WOW, its so much more than that.
I really wasnt expecting to like it as much as I do..
It feels SO rapid.. faster than my 911 felt..
with the Roof down.. its so much fun.
There are a few around now due to it being winter..
£15k gets you a decent one, £14k gets you a rattier one.. £16k gets you a pristine S50 with hardtop etc.
www.z3m.co.uk for some pix of mine.
It doesnt just destroy a TT / s2k, it obliterates them..
This is in the Porsche 911 performance range, kills boxsters like they were stopped. (3.2s isnt murdered, but is still shown who is boss!)
I had a few offers on mine, but actually found myself turning them down.. I just couldnt justify selling such an excellent car for such a small amount..
Well, not till after Xmas anyway
Test one, you wont even think twice about the other 2.
But WOW, its so much more than that.
I really wasnt expecting to like it as much as I do..
It feels SO rapid.. faster than my 911 felt..
with the Roof down.. its so much fun.
There are a few around now due to it being winter..
£15k gets you a decent one, £14k gets you a rattier one.. £16k gets you a pristine S50 with hardtop etc.
www.z3m.co.uk for some pix of mine.
It doesnt just destroy a TT / s2k, it obliterates them..
This is in the Porsche 911 performance range, kills boxsters like they were stopped. (3.2s isnt murdered, but is still shown who is boss!)
I had a few offers on mine, but actually found myself turning them down.. I just couldnt justify selling such an excellent car for such a small amount..
Well, not till after Xmas anyway
Test one, you wont even think twice about the other 2.
JamieBeeston said:
Bought my ///M as I wanted a Fast, cheap car I could garage for long periods and not worry about it starting again..
But WOW, its so much more than that.
I really wasnt expecting to like it as much as I do..
It feels SO rapid.. faster than my 911 felt..
with the Roof down.. its so much fun.
There are a few around now due to it being winter..
£15k gets you a decent one, £14k gets you a rattier one.. £16k gets you a pristine S50 with hardtop etc.
www.z3m.co.uk for some pix of mine.
It doesnt just destroy a TT / s2k, it obliterates them..
This is in the Porsche 911 performance range, kills boxsters like they were stopped. (3.2s isnt murdered, but is still shown who is boss!)
I had a few offers on mine, but actually found myself turning them down.. I just couldnt justify selling such an excellent car for such a small amount..
Well, not till after Xmas anyway
Test one, you wont even think twice about the other 2.
I owned 2 M Roadsters prior to buying my current S2000.
Absolutely brilliant - both of them. The later S54 engined car was better though (this engine DOESN'T suffer VANOS issues).
N.B. As far as the S2000 is concerned - don't write it off and never understimate one - it is a much better car than the M Roadster in a general sense and is just as quick once up and rolling.
Andy
Smartie said:
S54 has later M3 engine (343bhp rather than 321) - from about 2001 (?) - also got traction control too i think!
Mosty right but the engine is detuned to 325 bhp which in this respect means there are slightly less VANOS issues with the S54 Coupe / Roadster.
Further reading :
www.z3mcoupe.com/forum2/viewtopic.php?t=1348&start=0
Dan,
If you're serious about buying one of these then you have to try one first and compare to the other cars on your list, and I don't mean a sunday drive in one, you get the best out of these cars when you push them, and any decent salesman will know this, so they won't mind you driving it a bit hard, ( I assume that you will do your test driving through a dealer and then decide wether to buy private or dealer ).
At present I own the coupe version of this car, but have owned the roadster, E36 M3 conv, E46 M3 conv and an E30 M3 sport evo, so have had the good fortune to compare a few M3's.
By far the most exciting of these is the ZMCoupe ( s54 ), purely for the fact that it is so much stiffer than the others, so when you do push it, it seems much more planted, and when you are talking of a car that has this sort of power you need to have confidence in it, of course the traction control helps a little, but on a dry day when the tyres are warm you have to be really caning it for this to come on.
Have driven the boxter s and it's a very quick car, but in a different way to the M Roadster, straight line speed you will walk all over it, but around the twisties it will match the M and more.
Haven't driven the others on your list so can't comment, but again, drive all of them and compare.
Good luck, steve.
If you're serious about buying one of these then you have to try one first and compare to the other cars on your list, and I don't mean a sunday drive in one, you get the best out of these cars when you push them, and any decent salesman will know this, so they won't mind you driving it a bit hard, ( I assume that you will do your test driving through a dealer and then decide wether to buy private or dealer ).
At present I own the coupe version of this car, but have owned the roadster, E36 M3 conv, E46 M3 conv and an E30 M3 sport evo, so have had the good fortune to compare a few M3's.
By far the most exciting of these is the ZMCoupe ( s54 ), purely for the fact that it is so much stiffer than the others, so when you do push it, it seems much more planted, and when you are talking of a car that has this sort of power you need to have confidence in it, of course the traction control helps a little, but on a dry day when the tyres are warm you have to be really caning it for this to come on.
Have driven the boxter s and it's a very quick car, but in a different way to the M Roadster, straight line speed you will walk all over it, but around the twisties it will match the M and more.
Haven't driven the others on your list so can't comment, but again, drive all of them and compare.
Good luck, steve.
running costs?
tried keeping mine upto date at:
[url]www.pistonheads.com/members/showcar.asp?carId=6458[/url]
the big numbers. 3.5k a year over 3 years for 8k miles a year. thats all in - fuel, insurance & servicing. add another 3k in depreciation. could be a lot worse.
nothing much gone wrong. the odd little thing here or there, but most covered under the bmw warranty. definately get one covered by that. on reflection its about paid for itself, but the piece of mind + ease of selling makes up the extra.
might have to sell it next summer. no back seats or a boot is getting to be a real pain :-(
a.
tried keeping mine upto date at:
[url]www.pistonheads.com/members/showcar.asp?carId=6458[/url]
the big numbers. 3.5k a year over 3 years for 8k miles a year. thats all in - fuel, insurance & servicing. add another 3k in depreciation. could be a lot worse.
nothing much gone wrong. the odd little thing here or there, but most covered under the bmw warranty. definately get one covered by that. on reflection its about paid for itself, but the piece of mind + ease of selling makes up the extra.
might have to sell it next summer. no back seats or a boot is getting to be a real pain :-(
a.
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