BMW Z3....Good/Bad/Ugly
Discussion
What are peoples thoughts on the BMW Z3?
What with the MX5 being a bit tatty, I keep thinking about replacements. But with more power.
There's 1,000,000 different types of engine BMW fitted, and there has to have been some revisions. But in general they look quite cheap to buy.
Are they a reliable, fun, reliable, 2seat, easy to insure, reliable, good handling car? Or are they a bag of randomly selected bolts on a soggy chassis which constantly need attention?
What with the MX5 being a bit tatty, I keep thinking about replacements. But with more power.
There's 1,000,000 different types of engine BMW fitted, and there has to have been some revisions. But in general they look quite cheap to buy.
Are they a reliable, fun, reliable, 2seat, easy to insure, reliable, good handling car? Or are they a bag of randomly selected bolts on a soggy chassis which constantly need attention?
GPSS said:
From what I have read, the only ones worth having are the bigger engines, 2.8, 3.0 straight six's etc. Build quality is good, handle well etc, I think they make a better buy than an MX5. A 98S 2.8 with 60K FSH went through the auction recently for £3750.
With the 2.8 at those prices (+ a bit if not auction obviously) it's starting to look like a good buy..... Any good on occasional track days?
Yes yes looks pretty/ugly. But so far we have one opinion that it's handling isn't exactly great.
Dave my friendly in head voice is saying (Stop asking on the internet and bloody well drive one you prat....) but it'd be nice to get sme more opinions from owners about running costs etc.....
Dave my friendly in head voice is saying (Stop asking on the internet and bloody well drive one you prat....) but it'd be nice to get sme more opinions from owners about running costs etc.....
Have only driven the coupe version (which looks much better than the convertible IMO), a 2.8. Steering is very good. Quick, a little on the heavy side (which I prefer), linear, with good feel. At the time, it was rated even higher than the M version's. Fun car, but the stock damping, especially at the rear, leaves a lot to be desired. Owners report switching to Bilsteins improves the handling as well as the ride. Semi-trailing arm design was a step behind when the car was introduced.
Ravell said:
The chassis of the Z3 supposedly lacks stiffness, comprimising the handling in convertible form, although apparently it's fine as a hard top.
Steering is quicker than e36 3 series (including m3) upon which it's based and is said to be quite good.
Unfortunately I'm not seeing any tin top versions in my bottom of the barrel price range.Steering is quicker than e36 3 series (including m3) upon which it's based and is said to be quite good.
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/663535.htm Is about what I was thinking. Floppy softtop chassis and soft rear suspention doesn't sound great though. And I'm wanting to replace the MX with a car I can keep "stock" to avoid increased insurance premiums.
Edited by Munter on Friday 28th November 10:42
I had a 2.8 with m-tech suspension fitted at the factory - I had it for four years and I loved the handling. The build quality was excellent - all of that age were built in America, then shipped over to Germany for a final fitting.
Re handling - it's the same chassis set-up as the E36 compact, which is (near enough) the same as the previous E30. So rear-trailing arms, not the much 'better' z-link axle thing at the back which was fitted to the rest of the E36 range.
Oversteer happens when called for, and in a controllable fashion - yes even in a lowly 2.8 (which has a wider track and bodywork at the back than the smaller engined models). If you can find one with the 17" 'round-spoke' alloys, they fill the arches and look good AND are easy to clean.
A 'good' handling car? No.
A superb, entertaining and yet forgiving drivers car, on real roads and real driving experiences? Oh yes.
(ps I only got rid of it because we had kids and so I changed to a 2+2.)
Re handling - it's the same chassis set-up as the E36 compact, which is (near enough) the same as the previous E30. So rear-trailing arms, not the much 'better' z-link axle thing at the back which was fitted to the rest of the E36 range.
Oversteer happens when called for, and in a controllable fashion - yes even in a lowly 2.8 (which has a wider track and bodywork at the back than the smaller engined models). If you can find one with the 17" 'round-spoke' alloys, they fill the arches and look good AND are easy to clean.
A 'good' handling car? No.
A superb, entertaining and yet forgiving drivers car, on real roads and real driving experiences? Oh yes.
(ps I only got rid of it because we had kids and so I changed to a 2+2.)
Edited by Orangecurry on Friday 28th November 12:15
The 3.0's are really good value now... was having a look last night actually 
I think StuB still has his Z3s, it's a 2.8 with an ESS supercharger for about 320bhp, and has the older style Alpina alloys. It really does look VERY smart and goes very well too!
If I ever had a Z3 I'd have to copy that look
Dave
I think StuB still has his Z3s, it's a 2.8 with an ESS supercharger for about 320bhp, and has the older style Alpina alloys. It really does look VERY smart and goes very well too!
If I ever had a Z3 I'd have to copy that look
Dave
Orangecurry said:
I had a 2.8 with m-tech suspension fitted at the factory - I had it for four years and I loved the handling. The build quality was excellent - all of that age were built in America, then shipped over to Germany for a final fitting.
Re handling - it's the same chassis set-up as the E36 compact, which is (near enough) the same as the previous E30. So rear-trailing arms, not the much 'better' z-link axle thing at the back which was fitted to the rest of the E36 range.
Oversteer happens when called for, and in a controllable fashion - yes even in a lowly 2.8 (which has a wider track and bodywork at the back than the smaller engined models). If you can find one with the 17" 'round-spoke' alloys, they fill the arches and look good AND are easy to clean.
A 'good' handling car? No.
A superb, entertaining and yet forgiving drivers car, on real roads and real driving experiences? Oh yes.
(ps I only got rid of it because we had kids and so I changed to a 2+2.)
Nothing broke, fell off, was unexpectedly expensive? I might have to find one to test drive... Re handling - it's the same chassis set-up as the E36 compact, which is (near enough) the same as the previous E30. So rear-trailing arms, not the much 'better' z-link axle thing at the back which was fitted to the rest of the E36 range.
Oversteer happens when called for, and in a controllable fashion - yes even in a lowly 2.8 (which has a wider track and bodywork at the back than the smaller engined models). If you can find one with the 17" 'round-spoke' alloys, they fill the arches and look good AND are easy to clean.
A 'good' handling car? No.
A superb, entertaining and yet forgiving drivers car, on real roads and real driving experiences? Oh yes.
(ps I only got rid of it because we had kids and so I changed to a 2+2.)
Edited by Orangecurry on Friday 28th November 12:15
I drove one for a couple of weeks around New Zealand.
Handling is, err, not very sharp. But it had a good ride and was comfy on a long journey. Roof goes up and down in a hot minute. Boot's a bit small. Build quality was excellent.
We drove the 2.2 and it was a tad gutless. Some more grunt would definitely suit the car. The Z3M is, by repute, a monster but comes with bigger servicing bills.
Handling is, err, not very sharp. But it had a good ride and was comfy on a long journey. Roof goes up and down in a hot minute. Boot's a bit small. Build quality was excellent.
We drove the 2.2 and it was a tad gutless. Some more grunt would definitely suit the car. The Z3M is, by repute, a monster but comes with bigger servicing bills.
hmmm - I'm getting quite tempted by one of these myself. I've always liked the looks, and I think they've aged well (would like one in black with crome bits...)
When the Elise goes in the summer I can't really justify another £25K+ car in these 'uncertain' times, so a 3.0 Z3 is an intersting proposition...
Given that nothing will be able to compete with the Liz on the handling front, I'm not too bothered, but for a nice bit of top down motoring, with a good engine up front, it seems a nice idea...
When the Elise goes in the summer I can't really justify another £25K+ car in these 'uncertain' times, so a 3.0 Z3 is an intersting proposition...
Given that nothing will be able to compete with the Liz on the handling front, I'm not too bothered, but for a nice bit of top down motoring, with a good engine up front, it seems a nice idea...
TTwiggy said:
Given that nothing will be able to compete with the Liz on the handling front, I'm not too bothered, but for a nice bit of top down motoring, with a good engine up front, it seems a nice idea...
I think as with most cars, you can get it more for your wants/needs, rather than the generic ones BMW chose for their target demographic.Afaik, there are some good suspension packages out there for the Z3's!
Dave
TTwiggy said:
hmmm - I'm getting quite tempted by one of these myself. I've always liked the looks, and I think they've aged well (would like one in black with crome bits...)
When the Elise goes in the summer I can't really justify another £25K+ car in these 'uncertain' times, so a 3.0 Z3 is an intersting proposition...
Given that nothing will be able to compete with the Liz on the handling front, I'm not too bothered, but for a nice bit of top down motoring, with a good engine up front, it seems a nice idea...
It's just the comments like Dons "Handling is, err, not very sharp." that put me off a bit. The MX and I presume the Elise have such great steering feel. And I like that. I have the Vectra for vague handling if I want that....When the Elise goes in the summer I can't really justify another £25K+ car in these 'uncertain' times, so a 3.0 Z3 is an intersting proposition...
Given that nothing will be able to compete with the Liz on the handling front, I'm not too bothered, but for a nice bit of top down motoring, with a good engine up front, it seems a nice idea...
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