is a z3m reliable enough as a daily runner.

[chrisdurham]

hi guys,

looking for an interesting daily driver. i do 150 to 300 miles a week in total.
Ive an XJR at the mo and fancy a change,

considering the z3m is getting on a bit now - assuming they have been well maintained, are they reliable enough to be used for an everyday runner?

ps, ive got a tvr as my toy and a little fiat for the shopping trips. lol

[TEKNOPUG]

chrisdurham said:

hi guys,

looking for an interesting daily driver. i do 150 to 300 miles a week in total.
Ive an XJR at the mo and fancy a change,

considering the z3m is getting on a bit now - assuming they have been well maintained, are they reliable enough to be used for an everyday runner?

ps, ive got a tvr as my toy and a little fiat for the shopping trips. lol

No weaknesses if well maintained. Like any 12-15 year old car, keep on top of the consumables and you're laughing.

[Pig Skill]

Yes, they are very reliable if you get a good 'un.

They wear their miles very well - just make sure the boot floor is OK and the vanos operates as it should and is not too noisey

Are looking for coupe or roadster?

[deuchars]

I've been using my MC everyday for 9 months and just over 7000 miles, has been trouble free and easy to live with.

The boot floor and vanos issues are over hyped imo.

[chrisdurham]

id love the coupe - specially in black!

but i think in my budget it would be a roadster and get a hardtop

[Pig Skill]

deuchars said:

I've been using my MC everyday for 9 months and just over 7000 miles, has been trouble free and easy to live with.

The boot floor and vanos issues are over hyped imo.

I agree about the vanos, but it does seem that the higher milage, harder driven cars are starting to display boot probs.

Look for popped spot welds as this is an early indicator

[khushy]

Z3M (S50 version, up to 2000)
+ fast as fk, a grin at every turn of the key, the noise, the noise, the noise! Begs to be thrashed - character in droves
- rattles, wobbles, brakes are made of cheese, old-fashioned rear suspension, rear sub-frame is weak, service intervals = SHORT, the hood can wear, the rear window can unseat itself, no traction control, vanos, vanos, vanos!!! Eats tyres for breakfast, needs all 3 x strutt braces - then it handles like a dream!

Z3M (S54 version, 2000 onwards)
+ traction control, bomb proof engine, fast as fk, rare as hens teeth, longer service intervals, kinder on your wallet, quieter hood
- slightly more refined, rare as hens teeth, brakes are made of cheese, hood wear is an issue. needs all 3 x strutt braces - then it handles like a dream!



My advice - get one with good BMWSH, buy/install the 3 x Strutt Braces - enjoy - bang for buck, not much can touch it at full chat!

[chrisdurham]

cheers,

im also considering an E46 M3 bit bigger and safer dont suppose they would be much slower?

[Luke.]

chrisdurham said:

cheers,

im also considering an E46 M3 bit bigger and safer dont suppose they would be much slower?

Just bear in mind they're about twice the price to insure. And will depreciate faster.

[chrisdurham]

yeah thats a few of the negatives, more common too, but had a shot in a 330d and thout it was a great car - just needed more power lol.

My insurance doesnt seem to be too bad for m3, s4 STI etc..

[ady702]

330d remapped? near M3 power maybe more but less time at the pumps!

I had a ZM Coupe, loved it, changed nearly everything but drank like a b1tch lol
Half a tank, 70mph Banbury to Sutton Coldfield light came on! Although mine was mapped to 340bhp, but went like stink scarey sometimes with no traction! Miss it really bad but looking for M6 now.

[chrisdurham]

hey,

i drove a 330d conv at the weekend - was a manual - was really really dissapointed in it. it didnt have the kick in the back i expected