Z3 - put some money into it or time to move on?

[torqueofthedevil]

I’ve had a 2.8 z3 for 2 years and it’s been brilliant as a second car - trips around Europe and all over uk. The engine is running perfectly and it drives great.

It does have a lot of rattles and squeaks though which makes it feel very old. Looking underneath there is a fair bit of corrosion and bits of oil staining, bits hanging off etc!

I know a garage will give a poor assessment - nobody seems willing to work on older cars now - especially bmw independent types - so trying to decide whether to keep and put some effort into restoring it or sell now and get something a bit newer, maybe a Boxster or F Type?

Any suggestions?!

[MarkJS]

I’d keep it - especially being a 2.8. Whenever I see a Z3 these days I always think to myself that they have aged really well. Almost timeless. I haven’t driven one for a long time but do remember the sitting low over the rear axle feeling and the long bonnet etc. A proper roadster and becoming increasingly rare.

If you got the time/money/patience, it would be great to get it refreshed.

[Mr Tidy]

There don't seem to be too many around these days and the 2.8 is the one to have!

If you still like it I'd give it some TLC and keep it.

[helix402]

I’ve worked on a few older Z3s. IMHO the less you use them the more they rust. Garaged second car ones seem to rust rapidly.

[Collectingbrass]

Give it the TLC it deserves, they pay it back in spades. I had an E36 328 cab that I was slowly dealing with. A suspension refresh helped, and tightening up the roof. Next would have been sorting the roof liner and all the door cards, but someone stole the CAT over lock down and it was just easier (for me) to get a Z4.

[motco]

I have a 2.2 six cylinder Z3 Sport with about 50,000 miles on it. It was built in the last few days before the line in Spartanburg was dismantled in readiness for building the new Z4 range. I love mine and I've had it for thirteen years this year. I drove it for 250 miles last Thursday and I saw two Caterham/Westfield type of two seater sports, and an Alfa Romeo Spyder like the Graduate one. But no other Z3s of any model. Good ones will slowly appreciate if only for their rarity, of that I feel sure.

Edited by motco on Sunday 19th June 18:09

[Bemmer]

Do know how these guys www.cramag.com have managed to get TWO twenty year old one lady owner Z3 2.2 Sports one done 33,000 miles there asking top money but maybe in another 5/10 years we'll think why didn't i...!

[MarkJS]

Bemmer said:

Do know how these guys www.cramag.com have managed to get TWO twenty year old one lady owner Z3 2.2 Sports one done 33,000 miles there asking top money but maybe in another 5/10 years we'll think why didn't i...!

I’m relatively close to Cramag and they’ve been going a long, long time so have to assume they know their stuff. Looking at their stock proves (to me) that the Z3 is far better looking than the Z4 that replaced it.

I’d take the cheaper Z3 out of those two and fit some decent tyres with some of the savings.

[Trevor555]

Bemmer said:

Do know how these guys www.cramag.com have managed to get TWO twenty year old one lady owner Z3 2.2 Sports one done 33,000 miles there asking top money but maybe in another 5/10 years we'll think why didn't i...!

I thought I did well selling one of mine about 6 years ago for £8,300

It wasn't one owner, but had only 37,000 miles.

Garaged from new when not in use, and very near to zero rust.





I guess that'd be worth well over 10k now

OP if the car has sentimental value to you then spend the money on it.

If you're thinking of throwing cash at it in the hope they'll go up HUGELY in value then I'd have to say not such a good idea.

Why?

Because people like me, who has been known to pay large amounts for low mileage cars,(dealers call it "well into book") want low mileage, with low ownership, and largely original bodywork (or at least underneath) and a decent service history to boot.

Z3's I bought for stock with the intentions of putting them up for sky high prices also had to have a good MOT history. Any mentions of corrosion underneath, or brake pipes, and they weren't for me.

But I guess those cars are getting pretty hard to find nowadays.

[Bemmer]

The same guys with the two one owner Z3's also have a TWENTY ONE YEAR OLD 330D Sport with 6,000 miles....!!! Were do they find such cars...???