RE: PH buying guide: BMW Z3 M Coupe
Discussion
Always used to see 1 parked right against a mini roundabout, as you drive into guildford near the old merc garage, always expected it to be stoved in at some point by somebody misjudging it, but it was always there looking good,don't think I would of left it there tbh, a friend had a black 1 but he wrote it off few days after picking it up,
Always used to see 1 parked right against a mini roundabout, as you drive into guildford near the old merc garage, always expected it to be stoved in at some point by somebody misjudging it, but it was always there looking good,don't think I would of left it there tbh, a friend had a black 1 but he wrote it off few days after picking it up,
Owned a Sapphire Black S54 Z3MC for 18 months soon after my CSL, I absolutely loved the little thing, as did almost everyone who ever saw the car first hand - it got so much positive attention, those who knew what it was loved it, those who didn't know what it was were always keen to ask. No other car I have owned got such a positive reaction.
The things that annoyed me were the bus like steering wheel and the soft wobbly suspension, I should have fired a set of coilovers on and fitted a nice Momo wheel.
I also had a Sapphire Black Z4MC, and it was a better car in every way with the exception of looks. The rear quarter of the Z3MC is just totally classic and unmistakable. The Z3 is the better investment if you can live with the dated interior.
The things that annoyed me were the bus like steering wheel and the soft wobbly suspension, I should have fired a set of coilovers on and fitted a nice Momo wheel.
I also had a Sapphire Black Z4MC, and it was a better car in every way with the exception of looks. The rear quarter of the Z3MC is just totally classic and unmistakable. The Z3 is the better investment if you can live with the dated interior.
had my '99 Oxford green MC for eight years and no problems with boot cracks or similar - despite it first owner sideswiping a truck in its first six months (cost me a replacement diff six years later when I could no longer stand the whining). Lovely car and still driving as well as ever. Minor suspension mods and use of Green filter etc have 'tuned out' the softish ride to improve handling and helpedc breathing.. it now gets driven about twice a year when I am at home - a shame for something which is such fun!
I have just discovered this thread by chance and whilst I see many of you love the Z3M Roadster, there are a few things perspective owners should know...it has the ride quality of a concrete block, the refinement of a gorilla with toothache, a fine engine that sounds angry all of the time, terrible seats set too high up so that even at 5' 9" the top of my head was constantly blasted by wind flowing over the top of the windscreen, poor build quality with more rattles than Mothercare, water leaks all around the hood and is constantly trying to kill you. It is like riding a mad horse whilst wielding a sledgehammer in one hand. Many will call it challenging fun but for me, I thought it one of the worst cars I have ever encountered!
I'm about 5.9 too (1.81) and can not find those things in anything what you said about the M roadster (Z3) I also had one of those before I'm on my 4th M coupe 
no leaks not to high, remember you can lower the seats electrically...and those go ' pretty low' although you can save some weight with those heavy electric seats and then also save some height if you wished, but not much.
Maybe you just had a bad example?
But indeed, we are talking about M coupe's here and I can not rate them high enough!
of course, some things I wished they designed a bit better/different, but not by much.
Its a BMW without saying so if you know what I mean, its very classic shaped with a timeless design, also not many are made and they will become a great wanted classic in the near future.
no leaks not to high, remember you can lower the seats electrically...and those go ' pretty low' although you can save some weight with those heavy electric seats and then also save some height if you wished, but not much.
Maybe you just had a bad example?
But indeed, we are talking about M coupe's here and I can not rate them high enough!
of course, some things I wished they designed a bit better/different, but not by much.
Its a BMW without saying so if you know what I mean, its very classic shaped with a timeless design, also not many are made and they will become a great wanted classic in the near future.
Edited by GTRene on Sunday 2nd March 14:08
I’m new to all this online forum carry on, but just bought myself a Z3M Coupe as a weekend toy. I’ve wanted one of these since I was at University and one of my Lecturers had one, needless to say he was never short of female attention!
I’ve been lucky enough to stumble across the last RHD UK car which came off the production line (as verified by BMW) and it’s absolutely immaculate. Laguna Seca blue with only 21k miles, completely standard and every little bit of service history anyone could ask for.
It arrived last weekend and I’ve not stopped smiling ever since! I even smile knowing it’s sat in the garage awaiting some fun tomorrow! In terms of the driving experience it’s a real hoot, even though its nowhere near as fast in the real world as my modern Audi TTS, it is a lot more fun, especially once you get over 4000rpm!
I look forward to driving this car for the next ten years, and hopefully making a good return on my investment long term?
I’ve been lucky enough to stumble across the last RHD UK car which came off the production line (as verified by BMW) and it’s absolutely immaculate. Laguna Seca blue with only 21k miles, completely standard and every little bit of service history anyone could ask for.
It arrived last weekend and I’ve not stopped smiling ever since! I even smile knowing it’s sat in the garage awaiting some fun tomorrow! In terms of the driving experience it’s a real hoot, even though its nowhere near as fast in the real world as my modern Audi TTS, it is a lot more fun, especially once you get over 4000rpm!
I look forward to driving this car for the next ten years, and hopefully making a good return on my investment long term?
deejay005 said:
I can't add a lot to the buying guide but I can give a wholehearted endorsement to this motor. My dad used to have one and at the age of 21 he put me on his insurance and let me drive it to Wales (from Birmingham) on my own for the weekend with my mates.
Yes, he was mad but I made it there and back in one piece...very quickly.
I remember getting in for the first time and turning the key, I could hear the blood pumping through my ears with excitement. The engine/exhaust combo produced a glorious sound, so much so that I drove most of the way there with the window down so that I could listen to it.
Needless to say it was brilliant on the Welsh roads, a hard ride but so well planted in the corners. The heavy clutch and short throw shift just added to the enjoyment. It felt like I was piloting the Flying Scotsman.
This car will become a classic in years to come.
Great post. I can imagine the feeling.Yes, he was mad but I made it there and back in one piece...very quickly.
I remember getting in for the first time and turning the key, I could hear the blood pumping through my ears with excitement. The engine/exhaust combo produced a glorious sound, so much so that I drove most of the way there with the window down so that I could listen to it.
Needless to say it was brilliant on the Welsh roads, a hard ride but so well planted in the corners. The heavy clutch and short throw shift just added to the enjoyment. It felt like I was piloting the Flying Scotsman.
This car will become a classic in years to come.
Chris Chaganis said:
I’m new to all this online forum carry on, but just bought myself a Z3M Coupe as a weekend toy. I’ve wanted one of these since I was at University and one of my Lecturers had one, needless to say he was never short of female attention!
I’ve been lucky enough to stumble across the last RHD UK car which came off the production line (as verified by BMW) and it’s absolutely immaculate. Laguna Seca blue with only 21k miles, completely standard and every little bit of service history anyone could ask for.
It arrived last weekend and I’ve not stopped smiling ever since! I even smile knowing it’s sat in the garage awaiting some fun tomorrow! In terms of the driving experience it’s a real hoot, even though its nowhere near as fast in the real world as my modern Audi TTS, it is a lot more fun, especially once you get over 4000rpm!
I look forward to driving this car for the next ten years, and hopefully making a good return on my investment long term?
For sure you will. EnjoyI’ve been lucky enough to stumble across the last RHD UK car which came off the production line (as verified by BMW) and it’s absolutely immaculate. Laguna Seca blue with only 21k miles, completely standard and every little bit of service history anyone could ask for.
It arrived last weekend and I’ve not stopped smiling ever since! I even smile knowing it’s sat in the garage awaiting some fun tomorrow! In terms of the driving experience it’s a real hoot, even though its nowhere near as fast in the real world as my modern Audi TTS, it is a lot more fun, especially once you get over 4000rpm!
I look forward to driving this car for the next ten years, and hopefully making a good return on my investment long term?
Chris Chaganis said:
I’m new to all this online forum carry on, but just bought myself a Z3M Coupe as a weekend toy. I’ve wanted one of these since I was at University and one of my Lecturers had one, needless to say he was never short of female attention!
I’ve been lucky enough to stumble across the last RHD UK car which came off the production line (as verified by BMW) and it’s absolutely immaculate. Laguna Seca blue with only 21k miles, completely standard and every little bit of service history anyone could ask for.
It arrived last weekend and I’ve not stopped smiling ever since! I even smile knowing it’s sat in the garage awaiting some fun tomorrow! In terms of the driving experience it’s a real hoot, even though its nowhere near as fast in the real world as my modern Audi TTS, it is a lot more fun, especially once you get over 4000rpm!
I look forward to driving this car for the next ten years, and hopefully making a good return on my investment long term?
Come on, you can't post that and not include some pictures! I’ve been lucky enough to stumble across the last RHD UK car which came off the production line (as verified by BMW) and it’s absolutely immaculate. Laguna Seca blue with only 21k miles, completely standard and every little bit of service history anyone could ask for.
It arrived last weekend and I’ve not stopped smiling ever since! I even smile knowing it’s sat in the garage awaiting some fun tomorrow! In terms of the driving experience it’s a real hoot, even though its nowhere near as fast in the real world as my modern Audi TTS, it is a lot more fun, especially once you get over 4000rpm!
I look forward to driving this car for the next ten years, and hopefully making a good return on my investment long term?
Yes, they do seem to be going up - I should have bought one while I could afford it! They look fantastic!
Still I did have the good sense to sell my 123d in July 2014 and buy a Z4 Coupe (albeit Si not M) but it never fails to make me smile!
Shame the 2.8 Z3 Coupe never came to the UK or I might have bought one of those - the Z3C just looks so distinctive - lovely cars!
I hope all the earlier posters are still enjoying theirs.
Still I did have the good sense to sell my 123d in July 2014 and buy a Z4 Coupe (albeit Si not M) but it never fails to make me smile!
Shame the 2.8 Z3 Coupe never came to the UK or I might have bought one of those - the Z3C just looks so distinctive - lovely cars!
I hope all the earlier posters are still enjoying theirs.
Leins said:
Did the Hartge V8 one ever sell?
Yes it did, I now have a pretty rare Z3 coupe 3.0 in the same colour I wanted to buy something else, but on that moment no really interesting old TVR's or fast Elise's and others I had on my list.
Then came across this Z3 coupe 3.0 (last model) without sunroof and I could not resist
the ride was a bit soft, although it had some reasonable fresh sport suspension original BMW, but it was not really low and to comfy.
So I ordered new suspension( coli-overs) with uni-ball top-mounts and lowered the car a bit, it really changed the car with driving, so much better, so much more sport/direct, very pleased with the result.
Its a nice car, then went to a car builder/tuner and made a deal to put in a S65B40 with original 6-speed etc etc.
But that has still to be done, they are 'busy' I already have the materials like engine gearbox ecu stuff, prop-shaft etc etc.
I already changed some stuff and now waiting for the call/mail that I can bring the car for the engine conversion, although the M54B30 runs really great.
Changed the wheels also, although I loved the 17 inch staggered set style 32, I went for 18 inch, also
have other seats (black bucket seats) upstairs and alcantara steering wheel, but those things come in after
the conversion, also the bigger brakes etc.
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