Z3 coupe position today?

[Mickeym]

I'm one of the people who happen to like the Z3 coupe. I think it looks cool, unique and exotic. Long hood, backwards cabin, that straight six screaming. It's rwd and you can have it with 3-pedals.

There was a time when they were affordable enough to be everyday drivers without breaking a sweat. Nowadays in M guise the prices are going up fast. The non M cars are now basically the same price M cars used to be just a few years ago. M cars are about double or more. It's getting to that strange place where, because of a handful of factors, it is becoming a bit awkward for everyday use. But yet, is it special enough for a weekend only car?

Things like a 350Z are not special enough for a weekend car IMO. But I think they are still ok everyday drivers. Nobody cares about putting miles on them and they are still plenty cheap to buy and all that. Prices are not going up anytime soon. It will never cost as much as a Z3 M coupe. I guess even the non M cars will go up more in price than a 350Z will ever see.

But what is the position of the Z3 coupe today in your opinion? Both in M and no M guise. Non M cars are widely available in Europe. Some have made their way to the UK. U.S. also has them. To me the Z3 coupes are in that awkward position. Not longer practical for everyday use or at least getting there quickly. Not really special enough for a weekend only car. At least not for another 20 years or so at least.

What are your thoughts?

[Leins]

Love these, although I don't have a hope of fitting in them.

Are they special enough for a weekend car? Very much so IMO. I wouldn't take one over an E46 CSL or an E30 M3 though

As for prices, are asking prices even rising that fast now? I thought they'd peaked a year or so ago

Non-M LHD versions look a bit odd to me

[Trevor555]

My thoughts.

The prices got silly over the last few years.

And my guess is that they're on the way down now.

If you're not bothered about an M model look at the Jap imports, but they'll pretty much be all automatics.

Nice cars though.

I've been a serial Z3 roadster buyer for years.

Zroadster.org is a very friendly forum.

[Greg the Fish]

Still fugly.

[shirt]

I love em and have been lucky enough to drive both m and non m versions as I have a good mate who’s a tad obsessed with them. IMHO, the m is twice the car of the none-m. Driving it around north yorks for a week is still one of my most memorable motoring events.

They’re a relatively rare car, only around 18,000 built and circa 6,000 m coupes. Values for good examples will always be strong. If you go none-m, at least get the 3.0. The 2.8 feels lacking.

Same mate also has a genuine m car with an e39 m5 drivetrain. Been thinking about that car a lot recently...

[anonymous-user]

I like them, nearly bought a LHD 2.8 last year but thought £10k asking price was a but too much..although I think I would have got money back if I want to sell.

It's the novelty factor more than anything that appeals. Most non-M cars are automatic too which slightly detracts.

There was also a 3.0 one on autotrader not that long ago.

[Mickeym]

Leins said:

Love these, although I don't have a hope of fitting in them.

Are they special enough for a weekend car? Very much so IMO. I wouldn't take one over an E46 CSL or an E30 M3 though

As for prices, are asking prices even rising that fast now? I thought they'd peaked a year or so ago

Non-M LHD versions look a bit odd to me

I'm not sure I agree they are special enough . BMW made and sold a lot of the Z3 roadsters, which apart from the roof look identical. Interior is the same and not really special. A bit too similar to the common Z3 to be that special. They are after all, despite of the lower numbers, still mass produced cars. Maybe if only the coupe existed and in the lower numbers it was made, I would say they would be truly special. But that is naturally a matter of opinion.

But why do you say the non M cars look odd? The main differences are wheels and bumpers. Plus small details like side mirrors and side vents. Or do you mean because of the license plate placement at the rear?

Edited by Mickeym on Friday 24th January 16:18

[s m]

Leins said:

Non-M LHD versions look a bit odd to me

I’d have to go for an M version in one of these

Non-M 3 litre at 10k? I’d be looking for a newer 3-dr 130i for less money and hassle - bit more poke too

[MDL111]

My brother just bought an M Coupe and I briefly sat in it - feels very special, still really really regret selling mine. Now that he owns one, at least I don’t have to buy another one. To me they feel very special, and wouldn’t hesitate to have it as an occasional / weekend car

[anonymous-user]

s m said:

Leins said:

Non-M LHD versions look a bit odd to me

I’d have to go for an M version in one of these

Non-M 3 litre at 10k? I’d be looking for a newer 3-dr 130i for less money and hassle - bit more poke too

I think the appeal with these (it was to me in a way when I was looking) is that you're very unlikely to see another one coming the other way, something that wont happen in a 1-series 3dr.

It was a rare BMW coupe, some may say rare for a reason, but compare that to any recent BMW.

[mrtwisty]

Like these very much. Saw one in southern Crete a couple of years ago and remember thinking what a lucky bugger the owner was to have that car and those roads to play on!

I never realised there was a non-M version of the coupe? Euro LHD only?

[Mickeym]

s m said:

I’d have to go for an M version in one of these

Non-M 3 litre at 10k? I’d be looking for a newer 3-dr 130i for less money and hassle - bit more poke too

Yes but they are totally different cars and experience. E81 or F21. I don't think anybody buying a Z3 coupe would really cross shop a 130i. If I'm looking at a Z3 coupe, even if in non M guise it's because I'm looking for a more back to basics, analog and even more visceral experience. Looking for something a bit different. The Z3 coupe is still a sports car of sorts. The 130i is a plain hatchback. Very different proposition. Different ride, different seating, different seating height, feedback, looks, I mean totally different cars IMO.

[redguy]

Saw a yellow one parked up the other day - actually forgotten how good they looked. I think they've aged quite well!

[Mickeym]

Agree . Arguably better looking now than when they came out.

[rallycross]

Prices are silly now for these in the UK. I had an early Z3M coupe about 10 years ago, was fun in that its an odd ball car, the driving dynamics are a bit crap though certainly not justify the value of these today, an E46 M3 coupe is still a far better car to drive.

I'm currently driving an early 350z which does remind me a bit of my Z3m only its a much better car to drive, better handling, better steering, better gearbox, only the engine is not quite a match for the M engine but it makes it up for it by having bucket loads of torque, something BMW never quite got the hang of in their na 6 cylinder cars. And the up side is it costs a tiny fraction of what a Zm coupe costs today!

[Mickeym]

rallycross said:

Prices are silly now for these in the UK. I had an early Z3M coupe about 10 years ago, was fun in that its an odd ball car, the driving dynamics are a bit crap though certainly not justify the value of these today, an E46 M3 coupe is still a far better car to drive.

I'm currently driving an early 350z which does remind me a bit of my Z3m only its a much better car to drive, better handling, better steering, better gearbox, only the engine is not quite a match for the M engine but it makes it up for it by having bucket loads of torque, something BMW never quite got the hang of in their na 6 cylinder cars. And the up side is it costs a tiny fraction of what a Zm coupe costs today!

As well as has about 1/8 of the charm of a Z3 coupe.

But honestly, I'm surprised you think the 350Z is a better car. Is your modified? Because my experience with the 350Z is that it is heavy and a bit lethargic. Specially the earlier cars. And handles more like a heavy GT than sports car.

It has been a while since I drove the Z3 coupe, so maybe my mind is just playing tricks on me. But it felt more live and it was a riot to drive. Handled better than the 350Z too in my opinion. It's not a sharp car like something modern. But neither is the 350Z. The Z3 feels old school and I like that. Should probably have bought one when they were cheap.



Maybe just a different point of view of what a better or more exciting car is.

But the 350Z is definitely one of the best, if not the best bang for the buck at the moment.

Edited by Mickeym on Friday 24th January 20:15

[shirt]

I wouldn’t call the z3m a sports car either. The non m’s even less so. It’s a gt, better suited to open flowing roads.

How much is an early cayman s in UK these days? Less of an event but a far better car by any conceivable metric. Easier day to day, more practical, and more nimble on tighter back roads. Vs the 2.8/3.0 it’d be the porsche every time. Vs the m then emotions come in to play and it’s less of a rational decision.

[2 GKC]

Always loved them. Only downside for me is the interiors, most had bloody awful two tone leather and hideous steering wheels.
I’d have one in black or Imola in a heartbeat though

[s m]

shirt said:

I wouldn’t call the z3m a sports car either. The non m’s even less so. It’s a gt, better suited to open flowing roads.

Mmm, those were my thoughts too. I’m not averse to the Z3M Coupe, the engine elevates it IMO and could imagine it as a weekend blaster ... but the normal 2.8/3.0 coupe to me seems to have no particular USP other than looks over an early 3-dr 130

I’ve only driven a z3 2.8 ( so not the Coupe ) but with that you have the open air effect
The non-m coupe wouldn’t seem special enough to me for a weekend toy over here to not have the available practicality of extra seats plus having to put up with LHD

if I lived In Continental Europe might make more sense to me as a daily driver if not too much. I’m not particularly bothered about looks so the non-M would have to have more special bits

Enjoy watching Mike’s ‘Welsh Rarebit’ though - can see the attraction there

Besides, the local traffic island is a Bermuda Triangle for the M version so may not last long here!

[Mr Tidy]

I've always loved these, but was never in a position to buy one as prices starting climbing.

But as I'm an even bigger fan of the Z4 Coupe I've owned 3 of those in the last 5+ years.

The last non-M Z3 Coupe I saw advertised was an LHD 2.8i auto and the asking price was more than I paid for my manual RHD 3.0Si Sport Z4C I bought at least 2 years prior to that - I don't love the Z3 Coupe that much.

And last month I managed to get a really good deal when I bought a Z4M Coupe for less than 2/3 of the price of the cheapest Z3MC on AutoTrader that isn't a "Cat" car or doesn't have mega-miles on it.

If I could easily afford a Z3MC I'd look for one as they are really special but apart from the styling I think the Z4MC offers a very similar recipe, complete with the iconic S54 engine.