Z3 2.8 owners/people with knowledge !

[obscene]

EDIT : SEE LAST POST

Edited by obscene on Saturday 1st May 19:24

[paoloh]

obscene said:

I should be going to look at one for my friend as he plans on buying one rather soon. What should I be looking for ? What usually goes wrong ?

Check the engine has had Nikasil issue dealt with.

Roof fits properly.
Windows do up.
Air con works.
Coil springs.

[TheEnd]

Anything with a build cate of mid 98 onwards will be nikasil free, apart from that, the engines never have major problems outside of servicing. I don't think rust is an issue with them yet, but take a look over arches and wings.

if it has had any kind of servicing, then it'll carry on forever.

[obscene]

This all sounds like pretty simple stuff. Car he is looking at is a 97, what's the problem regarding the Nikasil ? What can happen ? I've read about it on 8 series but as I have an E46 I've never had to find out about the problem.

[TheEnd]

if the engine has been swapped already, you should see a covering plate over the crank position sensor hole part 15 in the diagram.

if there is just a blank casting with out a metal tag bolted on, it will be a nikasil lined engine

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=CJ32...

i can't see any reason to risk a nikasil engined car unless its cheap enough to allow fitting a different engine if needed

[StuB]

No nikasil issues with z3 2.8's.

Check footwells for telltale signs of a poor roof fit. Some have corrossion on door mirror mounting.

Main point to check for is failed welds in boot floor and cracks.

More info on zroadster.net

Hth

Stu

[obscene]

StuB said:

No nikasil issues with z3 2.8's.

Check footwells for telltale signs of a poor roof fit. Some have corrossion on door mirror mounting.

Main point to check for is failed welds in boot floor and cracks.

More info on zroadster.net

Hth

Stu

Fooking ace, cheers Stu.

[obscene]

Going to see a 3.0 tomorrow, any suggestions ? Just about to sign up over there and ask the guys at zroadster.net

[StuB]

obscene said:

Going to see a 3.0 tomorrow, any suggestions ? Just about to sign up over there and ask the guys at zroadster.net

Ask about oil consumption on the M54, check for usual battle damage & service history. Make sure the car is dry inside, passenger footwell is a possible place to check and check the boot welds, visible if you lift the boot mat out.

Cars are also tyre sensitive, especially across the front/rear, so check the rubber and the way it drives. If it has not strut brace it way feel a little vague on rutted roads, but a brace fixes this fairly cheaply.

Good luck with the viewing.

[obscene]

StuB said:

obscene said:

Going to see a 3.0 tomorrow, any suggestions ? Just about to sign up over there and ask the guys at zroadster.net

Ask about oil consumption on the M54, check for usual battle damage & service history. Make sure the car is dry inside, passenger footwell is a possible place to check and check the boot welds, visible if you lift the boot mat out.

Cars are also tyre sensitive, especially across the front/rear, so check the rubber and the way it drives. If it has not strut brace it way feel a little vague on rutted roads, but a brace fixes this fairly cheaply.

Good luck with the viewing.

Many thanks once again Stu. Saw a 3.0 Sunday which was an absolute dog. Roof didn't work properly, boot welds didn't look great, oil filler cap coated in mayo. Not happy. Got back that day, luckily early so gave a phone call to a guy locally who had one up who we should of seen first to be honest. Went today, overall the car is fantastic. Only bad thing is one mirror has some rust on it, regarding that, is it just change the mirror or does it relate to the whole door at all ?

Other than that issue, whole car was very nice. It has about 88k on the clock, just had an inspection 2 about 900 miles ago and he managed to get it for 5.5k (was up for 5.8) which I feel was fairly good after looking for 3 litre Zeds and it was within his budget. How is ASC ? I could have sworn all 2000 Zeds had DSC (the dodgy one did) but this has ASC, any idea what it's like compared to DSC ?

Should be picking it up next Friday and I think he's just happy to be out of his god awful (and free) Daewoo Matiz 0.8. He deserves a proper car for putting up with that !

[StuB]

As far as I know, all UK 3.0's had DSC, which is miles better than ASC (cr@p IMO).

Check that it is new shaped and has all the correct id for a UK 3.0! You should be able to ring BMW and give them the VIN ID and get them to confirm the car back to you.

That price sounds good to me.

Mirror bases are not made from steel AFAIK, so you can rub down/re-paint quite easily. Again, paint code is available from the chassis number at any dealer.