BMW Z3

[nottyash]

The wife is after a sporty car. she has been looking at an MR2 Roadster, but I would rather not.
She also likes the Z3. we have seen a couple but not in the flesh.
What are they like to live with? Are they based on a E36 chassis?
She has a E36 328i now so will not buy anything under the 2.8. I noticed a nice 3.0 wth low miles but sold straight away.

Budget up to £8000... any info on them?

[BMWBen]

They're based on the e36 compact chassis, make sure you get a 6pot one. They're generally ok to live with, no major problems and can be a great sportscar with the bigger engines.

Mine's a 2.0 which gives a decent insurance premium wilst taking you into the 6pot range. Quite rare though.

Check out:
www.zroadster.net

for more info.

[adycav]

What do you not like about the MR2 Roadster nottyash?

I used to have one and it was bloody great fun, albeit not for the hamfisted when it's icy/slippy etc.

[Mattt]

I'm a bit shocked - given how cheap Z4s are getting, I was expecting Z3s to be even worse - but seemingly not!

How are the Z4 and Z3 so close in value?

[BMWBen]

Z3 is cool, Z4 is for kept middle aged women

[nottyash]

adycav said:

What do you not like about the MR2 Roadster nottyash?

I used to have one and it was bloody great fun, albeit not for the hamfisted when it's icy/slippy etc.

The lack of a boot really, and lack of power. (she has a 328i now)
I think she likes the look of the Z3 but I dont want to pay top dollar for old technology, and were both not keen on the Z4 looks.It Could still end up being a MR2 in the end.

Thanks for your help BMWBen
.

[noumenon]

MR2s are a fantastic little sports car. I'm encouraging my sister to buy one at the moment.

MX5 is also brilliant.

Z3 is a flawed design and wobbles and the suspension is based on the e30, no z axle here. I like the looks, but would never buy one, at any price.

Z4 is a proper sports car.

[adycav]

MR2 handy hint:

If you remove the spare wheel from the front storage area and stick a can of tyre weld in the cabin, this frees up enough luggage space for a couple of squishy bags/a weeks shopping etc.

There's a little luggage space behind the seats in the cabin too.

Lack of power? Well undoubtedly you have to rev the thing but this is all part of the fun - all the 'go' is at the top end, kind of like a toned-down V-TEC.

Make no mistake, the MR2 is a serious drivers car which belies it's slightly cutesy looks.

[noumenon]

adycav said:

MR2 handy hint:

If you remove the spare wheel from the front storage area and stick a can of tyre weld in the cabin, this frees up enough luggage space for a couple of squishy bags/a weeks shopping etc.

There's a little luggage space behind the seats in the cabin too.

Lack of power? Well undoubtedly you have to rev the thing but this is all part of the fun - all the 'go' is at the top end, kind of like a toned-down V-TEC.

Make no mistake, the MR2 is a serious drivers car which belies it's slightly cutesy looks.

+1

[BMWBen]

noumenon said:

MR2s are a fantastic little sports car. I'm encouraging my sister to buy one at the moment.

MX5 is also brilliant.

Z3 is a flawed design and wobbles and the suspension is based on the e30, no z axle here. I like the looks, but would never buy one, at any price.

Z4 is a proper sports car.

So I guess the e30 M3 was a flawed design too then? Strange, seeing as a fair few people seem to like them.

[noumenon]

BMWBen said:

noumenon said:

MR2s are a fantastic little sports car. I'm encouraging my sister to buy one at the moment.

MX5 is also brilliant.

Z3 is a flawed design and wobbles and the suspension is based on the e30, no z axle here. I like the looks, but would never buy one, at any price.

Z4 is a proper sports car.

So I guess the e30 M3 was a flawed design too then? Strange, seeing as a fair few people seem to like them.

Would it be flawed if you cut the roof off it?

[BMWBen]

noumenon said:

BMWBen said:

noumenon said:

MR2s are a fantastic little sports car. I'm encouraging my sister to buy one at the moment.

MX5 is also brilliant.

Z3 is a flawed design and wobbles and the suspension is based on the e30, no z axle here. I like the looks, but would never buy one, at any price.

Z4 is a proper sports car.

So I guess the e30 M3 was a flawed design too then? Strange, seeing as a fair few people seem to like them.

Would it be flawed if you cut the roof off it?

I'm not sure I see your point.

Edited by BMWBen on Sunday 18th January 19:02

[noumenon]

BMWBen said:

noumenon said:

BMWBen said:

noumenon said:

MR2s are a fantastic little sports car. I'm encouraging my sister to buy one at the moment.

MX5 is also brilliant.

Z3 is a flawed design and wobbles and the suspension is based on the e30, no z axle here. I like the looks, but would never buy one, at any price.

Z4 is a proper sports car.

So I guess the e30 M3 was a flawed design too then? Strange, seeing as a fair few people seem to like them.

Would it be flawed if you cut the roof off it?

I'm not sure I see your point.

Edited by BMWBen on Sunday 18th January 19:02

To work properly any suspension needs a stiff chassis. The z3 chassis was rubbish. Add to that an old suspension design and you get...

[BMWBen]

noumenon said:

BMWBen said:

noumenon said:

BMWBen said:

noumenon said:

MR2s are a fantastic little sports car. I'm encouraging my sister to buy one at the moment.

MX5 is also brilliant.

Z3 is a flawed design and wobbles and the suspension is based on the e30, no z axle here. I like the looks, but would never buy one, at any price.

Z4 is a proper sports car.

So I guess the e30 M3 was a flawed design too then? Strange, seeing as a fair few people seem to like them.

Would it be flawed if you cut the roof off it?

I'm not sure I see your point.

Edited by BMWBen on Sunday 18th January 19:02

To work properly any suspension needs a stiff chassis. The z3 chassis was rubbish. Add to that an old suspension design and you get...

I'd agree that stiffness is good - I'd say that there's really nothing wrong with the "old" suspension design. Yes, there are now better designs, but that doesn't change the absolute level of performance. I'd also say that the Z3 is pretty stiff for a small roadster.

You're entitled to your opinion, but I haven't noticed any stiffness issues with mine. I guess if you were to compare it to a boxter S then I would see your point but I would also highlight the fact that it's twice the price.

[noumenon]

BMWBen said:

noumenon said:

BMWBen said:

noumenon said:

BMWBen said:

noumenon said:

MR2s are a fantastic little sports car. I'm encouraging my sister to buy one at the moment.

MX5 is also brilliant.

Z3 is a flawed design and wobbles and the suspension is based on the e30, no z axle here. I like the looks, but would never buy one, at any price.

Z4 is a proper sports car.

So I guess the e30 M3 was a flawed design too then? Strange, seeing as a fair few people seem to like them.

Would it be flawed if you cut the roof off it?

I'm not sure I see your point.

Edited by BMWBen on Sunday 18th January 19:02

To work properly any suspension needs a stiff chassis. The z3 chassis was rubbish. Add to that an old suspension design and you get...

I'd agree that stiffness is good - I'd say that there's really nothing wrong with the "old" suspension design. Yes, there are now better designs, but that doesn't change the absolute level of performance. I'd also say that the Z3 is pretty stiff for a small roadster.

You're entitled to your opinion, but I haven't noticed any stiffness issues with mine. I guess if you were to compare it to a boxter S then I would see your point but I would also highlight the fact that it's twice the price.

The suspension does change the absolute level of performance. It has a huge impact. Modern suspension keeps the tyres on the road better, especially over rough surfaces. If your tyre isn't on the road, well...

The z3 isn't stiff at all. 5,600nm/degree in fact. Compare that to the z4 (14,500), z3 coupe (16,400), TT (19,000), Z4M (32,000), Cayman (31,500)....

Even the mk1 mx5 which was designed almost 10 years earlier is stiffer at over 6,000NM/degree. And that has fully independent double wishbone suspension all round.

The z3 was nothing more than a cobbled together roadster. It wasn't stiff and used old suspension technology.

They're quite pretty and very cheap, but they're no drivers car.

[StuB]

noumenon quoted loads of numbers and technical stuff and said:

They're quite pretty and very cheap, but they're no drivers car.

Bugger, I'd better sell mine then had I?

[noumenon]

StuB said:

noumenon quoted loads of numbers and technical stuff and said:

They're quite pretty and very cheap, but they're no drivers car.

Bugger, I'd better sell mine then had I?

Keep it if it makes you smile.