Z3 M Coupe - barn find...ish
Discussion
Hi All - I'm visiting from the dark side of Tvr ownership so bear with me 
So - after years of various tvr's I've found myself recently 2-seater less - and as much as I love my current Merc, it's not really in the same league as a small sports car!
Long story short - I've recently acquired a z3m coupe from a friend of mine who no longer had the time to spend on it - and why does it need time spent on it? Well - unfortunately it's suffering from the common boot floor issue - spot welds gone, diff brackets split and the floor itself is sagging. The car is also a Cat d, from a number of years back - reports suggest the repair work is fine but tbh the paintwork in places is a little tatty and overall she just looks a little tired. My friend owned it for just over 6 years.....and it spent just under 6 years in his garage!
The repair work itself doesn't concern me too much, having refurbed a number of TVR's I don't mind getting the spanners out, and have a garage lined up for the boot floor welding and alignment, etc - so it will be good as new when completed. Equally the paintwork, although tatty, wouldn't take much to rectify and once done would make a really nice overall car.
Now to the point of my post......I'm struggling to decide if all of this work is worthwhile or not? That may seem harsh, and I'm definitely not suggesting I'd consider breaking for parts as these cars are rare enough as it is without needlessly destroying another one - but I also don't want to poor good money after bad sorting this one out. My other thoughts are to accept the paint issues, get the car structurally sorted and then track it - which I have to say does appeal
So - my question is - what do people think the work above would cost to bring the car to either a sorted weekend toy or to a solid track car? Also - just as importantly - what would the car be worth once completed to either state? Appreciate this is a tough ask without specific details, just after a ballpark so I can decide whether it's financially viable or to just whack it on ebay and let someone else enjoy the refurb process
Oh - and just because I know every thread needs pics.....
As she was delivered with 6 years of dirt.....
After a quick clean - how anyone can not appreciate the looks of these cars is beyond me!
Thanks
So - after years of various tvr's I've found myself recently 2-seater less - and as much as I love my current Merc, it's not really in the same league as a small sports car!
Long story short - I've recently acquired a z3m coupe from a friend of mine who no longer had the time to spend on it - and why does it need time spent on it? Well - unfortunately it's suffering from the common boot floor issue - spot welds gone, diff brackets split and the floor itself is sagging. The car is also a Cat d, from a number of years back - reports suggest the repair work is fine but tbh the paintwork in places is a little tatty and overall she just looks a little tired. My friend owned it for just over 6 years.....and it spent just under 6 years in his garage!
The repair work itself doesn't concern me too much, having refurbed a number of TVR's I don't mind getting the spanners out, and have a garage lined up for the boot floor welding and alignment, etc - so it will be good as new when completed. Equally the paintwork, although tatty, wouldn't take much to rectify and once done would make a really nice overall car.
Now to the point of my post......I'm struggling to decide if all of this work is worthwhile or not? That may seem harsh, and I'm definitely not suggesting I'd consider breaking for parts as these cars are rare enough as it is without needlessly destroying another one - but I also don't want to poor good money after bad sorting this one out. My other thoughts are to accept the paint issues, get the car structurally sorted and then track it - which I have to say does appeal
So - my question is - what do people think the work above would cost to bring the car to either a sorted weekend toy or to a solid track car? Also - just as importantly - what would the car be worth once completed to either state? Appreciate this is a tough ask without specific details, just after a ballpark so I can decide whether it's financially viable or to just whack it on ebay and let someone else enjoy the refurb process
Oh - and just because I know every thread needs pics.....
As she was delivered with 6 years of dirt.....
After a quick clean - how anyone can not appreciate the looks of these cars is beyond me!
Thanks
Prob best asking on http://www.z3mcoupe.com/forum/index.php
Being a Cat D it's going to worth alot less than others out there, also if it doesn't have FBMWSH then thats another problem.
Turning it into a track day will cost abit, new suspension, bushes etc, roll cage? engine work/mods?
Personally I would get it upto scratch and just track it now and again.
Being a Cat D it's going to worth alot less than others out there, also if it doesn't have FBMWSH then thats another problem.
Turning it into a track day will cost abit, new suspension, bushes etc, roll cage? engine work/mods?
Personally I would get it upto scratch and just track it now and again.
Edited by ady702 on Wednesday 7th August 21:21
Sound advice Ady, thanks.
Agree regarding the cat D element, fortunately I only paid a token amount for it so I have room for some investment - just not sure what a sorted cat D would go for nowadays?
My guesstimate - £5-6k max - but I've got to be honest I'm not close enough to the BM world to know the values of these so really struggling to decide what route to take.
Cheers
Agree regarding the cat D element, fortunately I only paid a token amount for it so I have room for some investment - just not sure what a sorted cat D would go for nowadays?
My guesstimate - £5-6k max - but I've got to be honest I'm not close enough to the BM world to know the values of these so really struggling to decide what route to take.
Cheers
Keep it, get the required work done, remove needless weight that doesn't decrease everyday drivability (believe me there will be lots) and track it whenever you can. These cars will make you smile alot.
Value wise the Cat D will put alot people off come resale but as you paid peanuts this shouldn't bother you. These will eventually gain cult status and values will increase regardless of individual history.
Value wise the Cat D will put alot people off come resale but as you paid peanuts this shouldn't bother you. These will eventually gain cult status and values will increase regardless of individual history.
So....track day car then??? 
Fair comments though - cat D has never put me off buying a car before but I do understand that it'll impact the value, but you're both right that it'd make a great track day car with fairly limited work.
Funnily enough since posting this I've had a fair bit of interest in potential buyers - so now trying to decide whether to put it up for sale and let someone else have all the fun, or keep it, prep it and have a well sorted trackday car?? I guess as far as dilemmas go there are worse ones to have
Thanks for the advice so far though If I do end up keeping it I'll keep you posted with progress and build pics
Cheers
Fair comments though - cat D has never put me off buying a car before but I do understand that it'll impact the value, but you're both right that it'd make a great track day car with fairly limited work.
Funnily enough since posting this I've had a fair bit of interest in potential buyers - so now trying to decide whether to put it up for sale and let someone else have all the fun, or keep it, prep it and have a well sorted trackday car?? I guess as far as dilemmas go there are worse ones to have
Thanks for the advice so far though
If I do end up keeping it I'll keep you posted with progress and build pics Cheers
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