1999 2.8 Z3 - with only 31k on the clock!
Discussion
Lurker here for a long time, about time I chucked a post up!
Had my heart set on a 350z when I got a call from the pub about a Z3. "It's been sitting for a year, non runner". Got a visit booked in for the next day, after half hour of faffing in the drizzle, fluids checked, chucked a new battery in and brum. Six firing cylinders to cheer me up. 3/4 of a tank of premium, too!
Talked money (less than a third what I had budgeted for a doggy 350...) , shook hands, called the insurance company, got it in for an MOT. Apart from an advisory for rusty discs (quickly resolved with some less than gentle stops), no worries!
31,700 miles on the clock when I picked it up... MOT showed it had only average 500 miles a year for the past 4...was that was about to change!
After the first country lane trek.. that was not to be the last time I saw the amber
The day I got her (pre wash)
Next to the old daily driver:
Engine bay, before and after a quick scrub
After the first bit of TLC:
Old man insisted on getting it out of the previous owner's driveway.. occupied by the 3ft sheer drop on the nearside, I neglected to watch the offside and he planted it into a fence - hence the broken sidelight, which is now sorted
The good:
- Starts on the button every time. 5000 miles in 5 months without a single issue
- Four new Bridgestones fitted just 500 miles or so before it came off the road
- Full BMW stamps. One only 15 miles before it came off the road
- Brand new rear screen fitted by BMW, again right before it came off the road
- Full leather interior in mint condition
- Msport badges in all the right places. Think of the extra BHP
- mohair hood in perfect nick, beads well
- full chrome package
The bad:
- The newly fitted tyres didn't like storage for 12 months. WIll need replacing soon.
- Notorious Z3 bump steer/tram-lining. Noticeable on the motorway, those big front wheels find a rut in the road and follow it...
- Few niggles - broken seatbelt clip, small amount of rust on offside speaker grill (all now fixed)
- Key marks around keyholes in door, bonnet and fuel cap.
- To-primer chip in the bonnet
- scuffs on both wing mirrors
Work so far (I'll find time for more, eventually):
- Replaced whip with a stubby sports aerial, new internal/external grommet
- Door handle seals replaced
- New MSport gear knob
- New bonnet badge
Plans:
- Stock audio is awful. Full refit, will try to maintain OEM dash wherever possible
- Strut brace/bushings/bearings - whatever I can to mitigate bumpsteer/tracking
Too long, didn't read: Bought a 2.8 Z3 with 31k on the clock for an insanely good price 5 months ago and got the beamer bug
Cheers!
Had my heart set on a 350z when I got a call from the pub about a Z3. "It's been sitting for a year, non runner". Got a visit booked in for the next day, after half hour of faffing in the drizzle, fluids checked, chucked a new battery in and brum. Six firing cylinders to cheer me up. 3/4 of a tank of premium, too!
Talked money (less than a third what I had budgeted for a doggy 350...) , shook hands, called the insurance company, got it in for an MOT. Apart from an advisory for rusty discs (quickly resolved with some less than gentle stops), no worries!
31,700 miles on the clock when I picked it up... MOT showed it had only average 500 miles a year for the past 4...was that was about to change!
After the first country lane trek.. that was not to be the last time I saw the amber
The day I got her (pre wash)
Next to the old daily driver:
Engine bay, before and after a quick scrub
After the first bit of TLC:
Old man insisted on getting it out of the previous owner's driveway.. occupied by the 3ft sheer drop on the nearside, I neglected to watch the offside and he planted it into a fence - hence the broken sidelight, which is now sorted
The good:
- Starts on the button every time. 5000 miles in 5 months without a single issue
- Four new Bridgestones fitted just 500 miles or so before it came off the road
- Full BMW stamps. One only 15 miles before it came off the road
- Brand new rear screen fitted by BMW, again right before it came off the road
- Full leather interior in mint condition
- Msport badges in all the right places. Think of the extra BHP
- mohair hood in perfect nick, beads well
- full chrome package
The bad:
- The newly fitted tyres didn't like storage for 12 months. WIll need replacing soon.
- Notorious Z3 bump steer/tram-lining. Noticeable on the motorway, those big front wheels find a rut in the road and follow it...
- Few niggles - broken seatbelt clip, small amount of rust on offside speaker grill (all now fixed)
- Key marks around keyholes in door, bonnet and fuel cap.
- To-primer chip in the bonnet
- scuffs on both wing mirrors
Work so far (I'll find time for more, eventually):
- Replaced whip with a stubby sports aerial, new internal/external grommet
- Door handle seals replaced
- New MSport gear knob
- New bonnet badge
Plans:
- Stock audio is awful. Full refit, will try to maintain OEM dash wherever possible
- Strut brace/bushings/bearings - whatever I can to mitigate bumpsteer/tracking
Too long, didn't read: Bought a 2.8 Z3 with 31k on the clock for an insanely good price 5 months ago and got the beamer bug
Cheers!
Edited by zedchoice on Monday 15th December 23:27
In the 3 way test with the SLK and Boxster in the US, Georg Kacher said the Z3 didn't let go nicely at the back compared to the SLK. I'm not knocking the Z3s as they have some appeal, when they came out the woman I was seeing had just bought an MX-5 and said if she'd known about Z3s she'd have considered one.
They're tempting at the price, and can see some benefits over SLKs, Z4s and Crossfires. I'm thinking runflats.
They're tempting at the price, and can see some benefits over SLKs, Z4s and Crossfires. I'm thinking runflats.
Nice 
In the summmer I bought a 2000 Mercury Grand Marquis with only 32,000 miles on the clock. The thing is like brand new. Looking at the MOTs it spent a long while doing only 1000 miles per year.
Don't blame the previous owners as it only does 12mpg in town
I love driving it though.
Enjoy yours, she looks a beauty.
In the summmer I bought a 2000 Mercury Grand Marquis with only 32,000 miles on the clock. The thing is like brand new. Looking at the MOTs it spent a long while doing only 1000 miles per year.
Don't blame the previous owners as it only does 12mpg in town
I love driving it though.Enjoy yours, she looks a beauty.
carinaman said:
In the 3 way test with the SLK and Boxster in the US, Georg Kacher said the Z3 didn't let go nicely at the back compared to the SLK. I'm not knocking the Z3s as they have some appeal, when they came out the woman I was seeing had just bought an MX-5 and said if she'd known about Z3s she'd have considered one.
They're tempting at the price, and can see some benefits over SLKs, Z4s and Crossfires. I'm thinking runflats.
Ah yes we couldn't have a Z3 thread without debating it's rear suspension. They're tempting at the price, and can see some benefits over SLKs, Z4s and Crossfires. I'm thinking runflats.
Only on a couple of occasions whilst driving on the public roads have I been caught out by the BMWs aggressive switch from balanced > back end like a pendulum. Good rubber and decent suspension helps enormously, those who have driven a tried E30 with 100K plus old shocks will probably not have anything good to say about a Z3/E30/ E36 Compact.
Those who have been lucky enough to drive one with good suspension & tyres have little to complain about. The Z3 with it's quicker steering rack ought to be more driver friendly than a non M E30 to which helps.
Riknos said:
Sounds like a bargain - and sounds like it was well looked after before it was taken off the road. Surprised the roof still looks as good as it does after being left. You got lucky!
Z3s seem to be a bit funny to me - why offer a 2.8 and a 3.0? What's the point?
Because the M54 engine replaced the M52TU engine across the range. They weren't offered at the same time. Z3s seem to be a bit funny to me - why offer a 2.8 and a 3.0? What's the point?
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