E46 to MZ3 Coupe - what do you think?
E46 to MZ3 Coupe - what do you think?
Author
Discussion

Scotty996T

Original Poster:

433 posts

226 months

Thursday 10th September 2009
quotequote all
Needing to trade down a bit and get a few quid out of my car which is a full spec '03 E46 SMG Cab.

Always fancied a MZ3 Coupe.

Anything to look out for? what do you think - am I barking - seems like much more fun than an R32 which is the more sensible option.

My Car:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1230888.htm

One I fancy:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1070099.htm

Cheers

Scott.

Great Pretender

26,140 posts

237 months

Thursday 10th September 2009
quotequote all
I think you'll have a massive amount of fun in the Zed. Of course I presume I don't need to tell you that the roadsters are cheaper still, if convertibles are your thing?

Main things to look out for are worn/damaged rear top mounts and or cracks to the turret itself. The diff mount brackets also have a habit of tearing if the car has been driven excessively hard.

At that mileage I would also budget for four new dampers as they will likely be knackered if original.

Of course make sure the engine makes all the right noises and pulls as it should; hard from 2500 and then banzai from 5000+. A little noise from the VANOS is acceptable, a lot could point to worn gears. The car should idle smoothly also. If it doesn't there may be an issue with one of the VANOS solenoids and or the MAF if the car feels hesitant at any point throughout the rev range.

MC99

427 posts

209 months

Thursday 10th September 2009
quotequote all
I loved my M Coupe (Z3 S50 Engine); at the time the VANOS was done on warranty; as where the rear top mounts. But it was totally reliable and I drove twenty something thousand miles in 18 or so months without breaking down, unlike the 996 after it which liked a flat battery. You'll certainly find it less refined and it'll "feel" older, (if you get an S50) you won't have traction control, at high speed the front end goes light but I still look at Estoril blue ones and wish I'd kept mine in mothballs...

Scotty996T

Original Poster:

433 posts

226 months

Friday 11th September 2009
quotequote all
Thanks for the advice chaps. Unfortunately I decided I needed to go for 4 seats and have grabbed an R32 as a runaround manwhile.

Thanks nevertheless.

Scott

coltonbob

138 posts

246 months

Friday 11th September 2009
quotequote all
Would be interested to hear how you find the R32 after the M3 Scotty. I'm currently thinking about changing my 330ci for an M3 but am tempted to also have a look at an R32 DSG I've seen. I know the M3 will be an improvement over the 330 but I quite fancy just trying something completely different. I've never owned a 4x4 either, always wanted to try one...

Cheers

falkster

4,258 posts

226 months

Friday 11th September 2009
quotequote all
MC99 said:
I loved my M Coupe (Z3 S50 Engine); at the time the VANOS was done on warranty; as where the rear top mounts. But it was totally reliable and I drove twenty something thousand miles in 18 or so months without breaking down, unlike the 996 after it which liked a flat battery. You'll certainly find it less refined and it'll "feel" older, (if you get an S50) you won't have traction control, at high speed the front end goes light but I still look at Estoril blue ones and wish I'd kept mine in mothballs...
The two main reasons I wouldnt get another are those....ok you can get an s54 which has traction but that feeling when the front end goes light isn't nice at all.....and it doesnt have to be that fast.

Broccers

3,237 posts

276 months

Friday 11th September 2009
quotequote all
Not experienced this 'light front' mentioned above.

Mr Fix It

500 posts

291 months

Friday 11th September 2009
quotequote all
Yep, I also would not get another one without trying to fit some traction control, ie the racelogic or try the later cars which had a TC system as standard. I never drove the later cars so dont know what their TCs were like, but my early car was really bad at aquaplaning and would easily spin. I have had quite a few other rear wheel drive cars, so its not all related to my driving ability, or lack of!

The seats are also quite slippery so I would also look at aftermarket ones.

However, they are fun to drive and look mad on the road. Thought about getting another recently as the are only 10k!

MC99

427 posts

209 months

Friday 11th September 2009
quotequote all
had moments in mine, but all catchable and only when pushing on; I don't think they were hard to drive or unruly in any great way (even my non t/c s50) and I would say the front end lightness was only at >100 leptons

falkster

4,258 posts

226 months

Saturday 12th September 2009
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Didnt catch mine!!!

[URL=http://img36.imageshack.us/i/umbay.jpg/][/URL]

MC99

427 posts

209 months

Saturday 12th September 2009
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ouch!!! The coupes were more predictable than the roadsters, but that's not nice to see.

Windymiller

1,937 posts

263 months

Monday 14th September 2009
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Bet that gave you a headache!

Mr Fix It

500 posts

291 months

Monday 14th September 2009
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My coupe looked similar.

I would also add mine spun at a speed between 20 - 30 mph and I was going in a straight line at the time......although it was damp/freezing conditions in November. It did make me wonder if something with the suspension broke as you would not expect it to break away under those conditions!