Considering Z3 ownership, opinions please
Discussion
What are they like to live with? I've not heard great things about them.
I'm thinking of the 2.0 - 2.2l versions that will be used to commute in all weather. Moderate milers - 40K - 70K. About £5K - £7K's worth.
How is the mpg?
What's the handling like in the dry and wet? Fun/scarey?
How is the roof in the wet or is it worth getting a hardtop?
What's reliability like? I heard the rear suspension bushes can be an issue and the water pump?
Build quality up to BMW spec? Do they rattle?
I'm thinking of the 2.0 - 2.2l versions that will be used to commute in all weather. Moderate milers - 40K - 70K. About £5K - £7K's worth.
How is the mpg?
What's the handling like in the dry and wet? Fun/scarey?
How is the roof in the wet or is it worth getting a hardtop?
What's reliability like? I heard the rear suspension bushes can be an issue and the water pump?
Build quality up to BMW spec? Do they rattle?
Hi,
I had a Z3 a while back 2.8 Roadster. I tried the 2.0 and the 2.2 but found them pretty gutless to be honest and not much fun on long runs.
Never had any problems with my roof, but the fella that owned it before me used to cover it up which probably helped. No leaking etc at all.
Handling was reasonable, didn't find it scary at all. I actually found it good fun with traction control off and easy to slide about.
In the wet they'll always keep you on your toes as they are pretty light and rear wheel drive.
I had a Z3 a while back 2.8 Roadster. I tried the 2.0 and the 2.2 but found them pretty gutless to be honest and not much fun on long runs.
Never had any problems with my roof, but the fella that owned it before me used to cover it up which probably helped. No leaking etc at all.
Handling was reasonable, didn't find it scary at all. I actually found it good fun with traction control off and easy to slide about.
In the wet they'll always keep you on your toes as they are pretty light and rear wheel drive.
Well, if you've only not heard great things about them, then you already have a head full of biased opinions. 
I hang around on zroadster a lot, and there are several people there who use or used the Z3 as a daily driver. I can't comment on MPG, the handling is fun rather than scary, hardtops are for pooves and the standard roof is good (I been on a lot of wet runs out).
As to reliability, they are getting on a bit now but in general, I don't seem to see a lot of people asking the same questions over and over. It's worth asking the question there, as people will be quite honest about it.
And the 2.0/2.2 is the best sounding one of the lot, IMO.
I hang around on zroadster a lot, and there are several people there who use or used the Z3 as a daily driver. I can't comment on MPG, the handling is fun rather than scary, hardtops are for pooves and the standard roof is good (I been on a lot of wet runs out).
As to reliability, they are getting on a bit now but in general, I don't seem to see a lot of people asking the same questions over and over. It's worth asking the question there, as people will be quite honest about it.
And the 2.0/2.2 is the best sounding one of the lot, IMO.
The 2.0 is a weedy 6, the 2.2 more of a screamer.
Go for a 2.8 or 3.0 as economy isnt much different and there's loads more torque. The M52/M54 motors are pretty reliable and the bushes are a common BMW wear and tear part.
Hoods are fine nearly all of the time and there's quite a few cared for cars around to choose from if you have any doubts.
Handling - depends on you. If really pushed hard, the E30 rear end reveals itself and the Z will swap ends pretty quickly, so you need good reactions or luck. If you drive at 90%, they've fine. Easily improved with a few aftermarket upgrades too, like strut braces and good rubber. Front bushes can also be changed for M3 items, which tightens things up quite a lot.
Hang on though, I'm biased (but won't admit to knowing Spokey).
Go for a 2.8 or 3.0 as economy isnt much different and there's loads more torque. The M52/M54 motors are pretty reliable and the bushes are a common BMW wear and tear part.
Hoods are fine nearly all of the time and there's quite a few cared for cars around to choose from if you have any doubts.
Handling - depends on you. If really pushed hard, the E30 rear end reveals itself and the Z will swap ends pretty quickly, so you need good reactions or luck. If you drive at 90%, they've fine. Easily improved with a few aftermarket upgrades too, like strut braces and good rubber. Front bushes can also be changed for M3 items, which tightens things up quite a lot.
Hang on though, I'm biased
(but won't admit to knowing Spokey).Cheers.
Do you get much scuttle shake or would that indicate that a particular example is fooked?
Also, the mx5 is pretty progressive on oversteer, would any of you guys say the Z3 is comparatively snappy? I.e. trailing arms are a worry for the wet! And I'm thinking the large choice of wheels makes for quite variably handling versions (that aren't fooked)
I'm thinking the 2.0 might be a bit too gutless, if I believe the 8.9 sec 0-60 stats I can find and the 2.8 a bit too nose/tax/insurance-heavy for a commuter.
How are they on rust round the arches and underside?
Do you get much scuttle shake or would that indicate that a particular example is fooked?
Also, the mx5 is pretty progressive on oversteer, would any of you guys say the Z3 is comparatively snappy? I.e. trailing arms are a worry for the wet! And I'm thinking the large choice of wheels makes for quite variably handling versions (that aren't fooked)
I'm thinking the 2.0 might be a bit too gutless, if I believe the 8.9 sec 0-60 stats I can find and the 2.8 a bit too nose/tax/insurance-heavy for a commuter.
How are they on rust round the arches and underside?
Hey I know these guys as well -- wouldnt trust a word they say - hee hee.
The hard top is brilliant in winter if you are going to use the car everyday like I do. Warm and cosy. The soft top is perfectly adequate though ie no leaks etc..
There are no issues with the cars - I've had a 2.8 and currently an S54 M -- no problems with either. Unless pushed hard in the wet everything is pretty surefooted.
Checkout zroadster for info.
The hard top is brilliant in winter if you are going to use the car everyday like I do. Warm and cosy. The soft top is perfectly adequate though ie no leaks etc..
There are no issues with the cars - I've had a 2.8 and currently an S54 M -- no problems with either. Unless pushed hard in the wet everything is pretty surefooted.
Checkout zroadster for info.
I owned a 3.0 z3 sport for about 18 months. Lost a stack on depreciate at the time. Personally I only found it to be ok, but I wouldn't buy another.
On the positive side, I liked the cabin, snug but good IMO. And I also liked the look of the car after BMW facelifted the car to beef up the rear of the car. Plus, with roof down, at moderate driving speeds on summer days it was very good.
However, when pressing on the handling felt very wooden to me; not very enjoyable at all. It would slide the near end when a wet but I never found it that progressive.
Performance of the 3.0 was ok, not as good as you would think (from memory I think the 3.0 at the time developed around 231bhp). Accelerate was really dulled above 90mph.
TBH I think there are better cars out there for the money.
Ed.
On the positive side, I liked the cabin, snug but good IMO. And I also liked the look of the car after BMW facelifted the car to beef up the rear of the car. Plus, with roof down, at moderate driving speeds on summer days it was very good.
However, when pressing on the handling felt very wooden to me; not very enjoyable at all. It would slide the near end when a wet but I never found it that progressive.
Performance of the 3.0 was ok, not as good as you would think (from memory I think the 3.0 at the time developed around 231bhp). Accelerate was really dulled above 90mph.
TBH I think there are better cars out there for the money.
Ed.
If your asking my opinion, I would strech the budget to get an e46 convertible. Ideally with sport pack but would be fine in SE spec also.
This one is high miliage but there are a quite a few around that I think you could get a discount on the asking price.
http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/BMW+...
I've spent quite a bit of time driving an e46 330cd sport (convertible) and I think that its a much better car than the z3 to both commute in and drive for fun (all of course imo).
Cheers, Ed.
This one is high miliage but there are a quite a few around that I think you could get a discount on the asking price.
http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/BMW+...
I've spent quite a bit of time driving an e46 330cd sport (convertible) and I think that its a much better car than the z3 to both commute in and drive for fun (all of course imo).
Cheers, Ed.
My Wife had a 2.8 for about 2 years before the birth of our daughter when she traded it in for a 318 touring. She used it mostly on the motorway and a roads as a daily driver.
She would get about 350 miles from a tank and the servicing costs were pretty reasonable (About £250 for a full stage II service from our trusted independent). Didn't miss a beat except for when a pin in the gear stick linkage dropped out that meant she couldn't get a gear (Garage said that the previous owner must have been a been very heavy handed as they had never seen this before). Only cost about £15 to fix though so no major problems.
Can't speak for the smaller engines in the range though my wife did test drive a 1.9 before purchasing and she absolutely hated it.
Anyway, I drove it for about 6 months when my wife was in the last stages of pregnancy and on maternity leave. I wasn't looking forward to it as I am quite tall and was very used to driving my e32 in a wafty way. I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by it. I thought it was great fun. Well built, reasonable performance and surprisingly refined and usable even in winter without a hard top!
Things I would look for if you get one:
Electric roof (Std on 2.8 and above)
Air con - Even in winter keeps windows clear
Check spare tyre - located under car and not particularly well protected from the elements so the fancy air top up device can corrode very quickly.
Tyres - Quite sensitive to quality of tyres. My wifes came with no name brands and was a bit of a pig with tramlinining until we replaced 'em with Conti's all round
Upgraded stereo - the BMW unit is useless so alot of em' are ripped out and replaced. Can cause problems if wires are cut etc
Just a little bit biased but I hope you find some of the above useful. Needless to say, now my daughter is two the missus is looking to dump the touring and get back into a Zed!
Hope this helps
She would get about 350 miles from a tank and the servicing costs were pretty reasonable (About £250 for a full stage II service from our trusted independent). Didn't miss a beat except for when a pin in the gear stick linkage dropped out that meant she couldn't get a gear (Garage said that the previous owner must have been a been very heavy handed as they had never seen this before). Only cost about £15 to fix though so no major problems.
Can't speak for the smaller engines in the range though my wife did test drive a 1.9 before purchasing and she absolutely hated it.
Anyway, I drove it for about 6 months when my wife was in the last stages of pregnancy and on maternity leave. I wasn't looking forward to it as I am quite tall and was very used to driving my e32 in a wafty way. I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by it. I thought it was great fun. Well built, reasonable performance and surprisingly refined and usable even in winter without a hard top!
Things I would look for if you get one:
Electric roof (Std on 2.8 and above)
Air con - Even in winter keeps windows clear
Check spare tyre - located under car and not particularly well protected from the elements so the fancy air top up device can corrode very quickly.
Tyres - Quite sensitive to quality of tyres. My wifes came with no name brands and was a bit of a pig with tramlinining until we replaced 'em with Conti's all round
Upgraded stereo - the BMW unit is useless so alot of em' are ripped out and replaced. Can cause problems if wires are cut etc
Just a little bit biased but I hope you find some of the above useful. Needless to say, now my daughter is two the missus is looking to dump the touring and get back into a Zed!
Hope this helps
Thanks for the opinions!
I don't need a fast one as I have my other car for fast fun. I want the sports-car driving position above all else (easiest clue is the gear stick gator should be higher than the drivers seat). £7K is my absolute ceiling and it needs to be reliable.
I'll arrange a test drive soon, but I just can't see one being as good as a mk3 MR2 - that's the toss-up.
I don't need a fast one as I have my other car for fast fun. I want the sports-car driving position above all else (easiest clue is the gear stick gator should be higher than the drivers seat). £7K is my absolute ceiling and it needs to be reliable.
I'll arrange a test drive soon, but I just can't see one being as good as a mk3 MR2 - that's the toss-up.
Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff