Looking for a Z3 - anything to watch out for?

[Ray Singh]

I am helping a good friend in his quest to buy a BMW Z3.

What should we look out for?
Does anyone have a buyers guide that we could use?
Any particular engine size that is best or perhaps to be avoided?
Any commmon problems to watch out for?

Cheers

[JM1962]

I've had 2 Z3s, a 2.8 roadster and a Z3 M coupe, both were good cars and the only issue I had was the vanos on the M car. Make sure you avoid the weedy 8v engine. Personally I would go for another 2.8 or the 3.0 if the budget stretched that far.

[Ray Singh]

Insurance is going to be a limiting factor. We have been looking at the 2.2 engined cars.

[Vladimir]

...people pestering you for a quick trim and a blow dry?

[pattyg]

I am a big a BMW fan as the next man but wouldn't entertain any Z3 bar the M. Even then I'd probably still go with a Z4. M Coupe on the other hand Had a shot in a 2.8 Z3 and wasn't impressed.

[pangsterz3]

Ray Singh said:

I am helping a good friend in his quest to buy a BMW Z3.

What should we look out for?
Does anyone have a buyers guide that we could use?
Any particular engine size that is best or perhaps to be avoided?
Any commmon problems to watch out for?

Cheers

Hi Ray,

hopefully these links might help? (buyers guide attached to the second link - although it is 'Americanised' so some of the reference's aren't valid i.e. no 2.3 or 2.5 in the UK market):

http://www.bimmerforums.co.uk/forum/f146/z3-2001-3...

http://www.bimmerforums.co.uk/forum/f69/newbie-loo...

here's my car: http://www.bimmerforums.co.uk/forum/f82/journal-19...

Owned it for a little over 2 years and it has been faultless.. you tend to find that the people who bad mouth them, haven't actually had too much first hand experience of them.

Edited by pangsterz3 on Tuesday 5th April 15:40

[RemainAllHoof]

There's something about a sheering bulkhead on the bigger engined cars?

[steve_bmw]

my girlfriend has a z3, 1.9 16v. its a nice car but you realy dont want a 4 pot z3.

Get the later model, with the m54 engine, 2.2 or 3.0. Cant realy go wrong, simple to maintain, get parts easily enough.

But if you can strech your budget a bit, get a z4.

much more manly.

[mikey3028]

Vladimir said:

...people pestering you for a quick trim and a blow dry?

ohhhhhhh how i laughed....

[shantybeater]

Great cars, and as pangster said a lot of bad press is by people who haven't given them a chance.

Insurance is VERY cheap, my M which has exactly the same engine as an e46 m3 but weighs less is almost half the insurance.

The higher powered models are a handful since you are sitting on the rear wheels but they are very capable

The only major issue to worry about is a weak rear differential mount, check the boot floor for rusty broken spot welds

Vanos is played up a lot, and in most cases thanks to Mr vanos not usually a big cost if failure happens. With the s50 M's make sure the vanos bolts are replaced every inspection service, they can sheer off which is quite frightening

Edited by shantybeater on Thursday 7th April 10:23

[Fallon]

I've just sold my Z3. It was a 2.2 and seemed to have an issue with simply cutting out every now and then. For example, when reversing on full lock.

Then, it would occasionally just stop when slowing with the clutch depressed all the way down. There didn't really seem to be an consistency as to how/why/when this would happen. I had two different mechanics check this out - to no avail. They couldn't pin-point the source of the problem. Anyone else experienced this?

Seals are the obvious thing to look out for around the soft-top. Then again, having previously owned two Lotuses (Loti, whatever), the few drips I experienced in the Z3 were heaven compared to the deluge I was treated to in every downpour in my Elan and Elise!

[Gunk]

pattyg said:

I am a big a BMW fan as the next man but wouldn't entertain any Z3 bar the M. Even then I'd probably still go with a Z4. M Coupe on the other hand Had a shot in a 2.8 Z3 and wasn't impressed.

They are a bit of a parts bin special, IMO biggest mistake BMW made was not using the E36 Z Axle, the Z3 had to do with the old obselete E30 rear end. I have driven a few over the years and found them pretty dull and uninspiring to drive.