zroadster.net

Hello

Currently researching my options around a Z3 or Z4 - so will likely be doing lots of reading on here, I'm sure. Lots of info!

Any (all) recommendations on what to choose will be very gratefully received!

Cheers

J

Currently tending toward a 6 cyl - rather than a 1.8/1.9

Depends on your budget and whether you want something to do up or just buy and drive.

I went for a Z3 2.2 sport in Titanium silver. One owner car from new with full BMW service history, leather heated seats hifi audio power roof but no air con. I have enjoyed immensely bringing it up to my very high standards cosmetically and mechanically. Have spent about £3.5k on him so this car stands me at £7.5k.

As we don't track race the car and just cruise around the 2.2 is a fine blend of performance and economy getting mid 30's on a run. Lovely sound from engine and never feels under powered.

3ltr models come with higher standard spec.

Z4 with canvass roof has a bigger boot and should have zircon as standard (I think). Not as classic looking but better for really long cruises like a European road trip.

Lots of choice out there. Don't let mileage put you off the M54 2.2 is bomb proof if maintained correctly. Mine has 94,000 miles on and is sweet as a nut. No belts to snap on the engine it's all chain driven. Do 5,000 mils a year and he gets an oil change and service before winter storage every year.

If you need anything else just ask the forum.

Thanks - Yours sounds nice!

I'm after a low number of previous owners, ideally BMW / specialist serviced one - ideally ready to go - but don't mind a few simple tasks!

I'd like air con ideally but can do without most other things. The post face lift model appeals as I heard it has a better insulated roof?

Do you have any advice on good dealers or ways of finding a good example? Lots around but lots of unloved money pits I expect!

Just do your research. Look on piston heads, eBay and auto trader. You may find the same car advertised in several places.

I purchased my Z3 from a guy down in Swansea called GB cars. He has a nice Z4 for sale at the moment

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/272303280852

He tends to sell high quality cars. This is a 3.0ltr SE manual. It has heated seats and air-conditioning. It's an early Z4 as it has the amber indicators but sounds well maintained and relatively low miles at 65,000.

You are right about the facelift Z3 it does have a 3 layer insulated roof together with broader stance at rear.

I am thinking of selling mine next year and upgrading to a Z4 but meeting lots of resistance from the wife as she is so attached to him!!

Once you have selected a car try and get the vin number off the seller and the reg number. You can check its spec on the BMW vin decoder web site and also do an H P I check.

If you want to send the links to the forum of the cars you are looking at we can give you our opinion.

The earlier 4cylinder cars are very low value and some can be rot boxes so choose carefully. Buy the newest lowest mileage you can afford. However a 130,000 mile car with new exhaust, clutch, cooling system overhaul, all bushes and suspension changed, new brakes all round, all fluids changed Inc diff and gearbox oil and regular engine oil changes should be an excellent and reliable car.

I'll have a standard 2.0 for sale within the next couple of weeks

BeemerBoyo wrote:Just do your research. Look on piston heads, eBay and auto trader. You may find the same car advertised in several places.

I purchased my Z3 from a guy down in Swansea called GB cars. He has a nice Z4 for sale at the moment

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/272303280852

He tends to sell high quality cars. This is a 3.0ltr SE manual. It has heated seats and air-conditioning. It's an early Z4 as it has the amber indicators but sounds well maintained and relatively low miles at 65,000.

You are right about the facelift Z3 it does have a 3 layer insulated roof together with broader stance at rear.

I am thinking of selling mine next year and upgrading to a Z4 but meeting lots of resistance from the wife as she is so attached to him!!

Once you have selected a car try and get the vin number off the seller and the reg number. You can check its spec on the BMW vin decoder web site and also do an H P I check.

If you want to send the links to the forum of the cars you are looking at we can give you our opinion.

The earlier 4cylinder cars are very low value and some can be rot boxes so choose carefully. Buy the newest lowest mileage you can afford. However a 130,000 mile car with new exhaust, clutch, cooling system overhaul, all bushes and suspension changed, new brakes all round, all fluids changed Inc diff and gearbox oil and regular engine oil changes should be an excellent and reliable car.

Many thanks that's really helpful. Much appreciated!

That ebay link you posted is really really nice; tempting!

g8jka wrote:I'll have a standard 2.0 for sale within the next couple of weeks

That could be interesting - keep me posted!

BeemerBoyo wrote: If you want to send the links to the forum of the cars you are looking at we can give you our opinion.

Well this looks nice: http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.vi ... 2205369108

Looks a very clean car. Biggest problem for me would be no heated seats. They make a huge difference in the early and late months and extend your driving time by a few months in the year.

No CD changer in the boot which again for me is good especially on the Z3 as this eats into valuable boot space. I hardly have any music on with the roof down as you cant hear it !! My Z3 gas the HiFi speaker system with a sub speaker between the seats below the roll bars are. If this is not fitted this gives a lockable compartment which is useful.

Another desirable extra on the Z4 is the factory Satellite navigation system but not sure how good it is.

That car is the 2.5i with 192bhp. You can get a 2.5Si 212bhp and a 3.0 Si 268bhp which would be my choice when I change next year. Still have yet to find the car I am looking for in manual with the right spec and provenance. Many automatics out there and they are not for me in a sports car.

Keep looking. !!!it's part of the fun and a great time of year to buy especially from dealers who know if they don't sell in the next few weeks they could be lumbered with the car until the spring.

Thanks. This advice is great! Is there an easy way to see if it has heated seats from the picture; is there a dash button or do the seats look different somehow? Thanks again for the steer.

Z3 heated seats;

Its the 2 outer buttons with the heated seat symbol on, 2 position. if there is a blank there no heated seats. They were an extra cost option. So with air con as well the switch order would be from right to left:

Drivers heated seat
DSC on off (or ASC if its an older car not as effective)
Central analogue clock OR trip computer option (extra cost)
Air conditioning (extra cost option £1200 in 2002!)
Passenger heated seat

Ideally all 3 extra cost options fitted AND the trip computer would be fully loaded

The power roof switch (again an extra cost option-many roofs are manual operation) is between the seats at the rear of the oddments tray behind the handbrake area.

Z4 heated seats:

There is a row of buttons behind the gear lever below the dash board. If the car has heated seats fitted the two outermost switches will be fitted, they are quote some way from the other 3-not sure what they do as I don't have a z4.

All the seats in both cars do not look any different if heated or not.

Sometimes you cant have everything and you will drive yourself mad. I had to settle for a car without aircon. that's my biggest regret. Its not worth trying to retrofit as you would have to take the car apart to fit it.

these are my personal views of what I want from a car, some may not so important to you.

The ideal Z3 for me would be a Z3 3.0ltrsport manual 2002/2003 in Topaz Blue, black blue leather interior with sport seats, extended leather on dash board, heated seats, trip computer, air conditioning, Business CD radio still fitted, 17" style 78 alloys with staggered tyres, headlamp wash and 25% limited slip diff. Maybe 50,000 miles 1 owner from new FULL BMW main dealer service history. Right, I have just spent about £9,000!

The switches on my 1998 2.8 Z3 are in a different order to that though. From the right; computer, air con, electric roof, seat heaters, A.S.C.. I think they changed switch positions on the ass lift Z3



Bonzo.

Jcc wrote:Thanks - Yours sounds nice!

I'm after a low number of previous owners, ideally BMW / specialist serviced one - ideally ready to go - but don't mind a few simple tasks!

I'd like air con ideally but can do without most other things. The post face lift model appeals as I heard it has a better insulated roof?

Actually it can't be a post face lift, or as I call it, an ass lift,( because that's what it really was ), It can only be a pre face lift , or a face lift.

Bonzo wrote:

Jcc wrote:Thanks - Yours sounds nice!

I'm after a low number of previous owners, ideally BMW / specialist serviced one - ideally ready to go - but don't mind a few simple tasks!

I'd like air con ideally but can do without most other things. The post face lift model appeals as I heard it has a better insulated roof?

Actually it can't be a post face lift, or as I call it, an ass lift,( because that's what it really was ), It can only be a pre face lift , or a face lift.

Ah, I see. I mean a 'face lifted' model - one built after the face lift was released (hence post face lift)

Any thoughts on this one please?

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.vi ... 1991965234

I might have to swing by and have a look at this at the weekend. I live in Swansea half the week and my mate is after a Z3 or a Z4 as his main car. As he's used to a 5 Series I'm inclined to steer him towards a Z4 much that my interest is Z3s.

I'm intrigued this seller has his postcode as Fforestfach and he brings his cars across to SN1 to photograph them. And he's appointment only. Not sure I can be bothered with that. It's only a casual enquiry so I just want to swing by.

mrscalex wrote:I might have to swing by and have a look at this at the weekend. I live in Swansea half the week and my mate is after a Z3 or a Z4 as his main car. As he's used to a 5 Series I'm inclined to steer him towards a Z4 much that my interest is Z3s.

I'm intrigued this seller has his postcode as Fforestfach and he brings his cars across to SN1 to photograph them. And he's appointment only. Not sure I can be bothered with that. It's only a casual enquiry so I just want to swing by.

Which one are you looking at? I hope I'm not creating competition for myself here!

Jcc wrote:Any thoughts on this one please?

Lowish mileage, well serviced - what's not to like for around £3k+. How much money can you lose on a car like that - very little risk. I'd get those wheels returned to silver though!

Del wrote:

Jcc wrote:Any thoughts on this one please?

Lowish mileage, well serviced - what's not to like for around £3k+. How much money can you lose on a car like that - very little risk. I'd get those wheels returned to silver though!

Thanks for this. I just wonder if I should go £5-6k and go lower mileage etc.?

Entirely a personal decision My logic was that discs/pads all round cost £200 DIY, £400 @ kwik fit and probably £600+ at BMW. Plus 4 X new tyres at say £400. It's had a £1,000 worth of recent work which is typical "to do" stuff on any 2nd hand car with 50k+ miles, and he's only asking £3,000+

Jcc wrote:Which one are you looking at? I hope I'm not creating competition for myself here!

The one in Fforestfach as per my message That's Swansea.

No. I'm seeing my mate Wed night and wanted to just sit in a Z4 over the weekend to give him some advice.

mrscalex wrote:

Jcc wrote:Which one are you looking at? I hope I'm not creating competition for myself here!

The one in Fforestfach as per my message That's Swansea.

Showing my Welsh ignorance!