M Roadster or 2.8 wide body?
M Roadster or 2.8 wide body?
Hi just joined the site. I'm in the process of buying a Z3, minimal 2.8 requirement! preferably wide body. However Bro' in law might sell me his M roadster which is a beaut' in red, 3.2 etc. 100,000 on the clock. 2.8 is a tried and test unit very reliable. the roadster more technical unit 'Vanos' timing are there potential problems there? Also heard of diff/boot floor issues! Appreciate any comments, its head vs heart time, the roadster is a beauty, so spoils it when looking at 2.8 none wide bodies, altho' there are some cracking buys and spec on some of the none wides! help me guys, plus I can save a bundle by not buying the roadster! .... Eddie.
P.S Seen a nice 2.8 wide body, needs a bit of work around the windscreen, it a sort of black tape/vinyl covering can this be repaired?. Nothing major but would be nice to get it done!
P.S Seen a nice 2.8 wide body, needs a bit of work around the windscreen, it a sort of black tape/vinyl covering can this be repaired?. Nothing major but would be nice to get it done!
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- Joined: Sun 19 Jan, 2014 18:30
- Posts: 71
Re: M Roadster or 2.8 wide body?
Take a look in the knowledge base for Z3, plenty of information and advice there. I believe all 2.8s are wide body with smaller (4cyl) engines having the narrow body until facelift after which all were wide body with restyled rear wings. I have a 2.8 and there is plenty of power for my needs, however, the model of choice for many seems to be the far more powerful M which is rarer and attracts a goods premium on price. Happy hunting and enjoy driving it; whatever you end up getting!
Re: M Roadster or 2.8 wide body?
Hi, roadvoyager is correct that all 2.8's are wide body. There is the 3.0 to also consider which super ceded the 2.8 and although I haven't driven one myself is reported a smoother quicker more refined unit. I have a 2.8 and also find it a superb all rounder. The spot welds on the diff mount can be a problem on any car. Just check when viewing. As said above there is a huge difference in price. You can pick up a 2.8 needing a bit of work for £2000 or less. A good M will set you back £1000's more.
Good luck and welcome to the forum.
Cheers
Dave
Good luck and welcome to the forum.
Cheers
Dave
Re: M Roadster or 2.8 wide body?
The black surround is easily removed using a hair dryer to ease the backing. Done myself a few years ago when I had a 2.8. There is a post somewhere on here that outlines the process.
Re: M Roadster or 2.8 wide body?
Last edited by Mint on Sun 25 May, 2014 13:11, edited 1 time in total.
Re: M Roadster or 2.8 wide body?
Thanks guys, also heard post 99 engine is the better engine on the 'M', plus two tone leather on 2.8s post 99 models only?
Re: M Roadster or 2.8 wide body?
If you can afford to buy an M go for it.. You won't regret it
///M Roadster - Evolve Stage 3
Re: M Roadster or 2.8 wide body?
The ///M had a facelift from 04/99 production but was same S50 engine. These cars don't attract a premium but have the later lined roof which is worth having.
The engine was changed to the later S54 m3 engine from 2001 to 2002 but there were only 73 RHD cars made so very rare and attract a premium. They also got traction control.
There was not that much real world difference between the 2.8 and 3 litre so to me it more depends on condition and which style rear you prefer. I prefer the earlier pre arse lift looks but again there is not much in it.
The engine was changed to the later S54 m3 engine from 2001 to 2002 but there were only 73 RHD cars made so very rare and attract a premium. They also got traction control.
There was not that much real world difference between the 2.8 and 3 litre so to me it more depends on condition and which style rear you prefer. I prefer the earlier pre arse lift looks but again there is not much in it.
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- Joined: Thu 08 Mar, 2012 23:41
- Posts: 137
- Location: Cornwall
Re: M Roadster or 2.8 wide body?
Is there a 3.0 in the pre facelift body as I currently have a 2.8 pre facelift(I also prefer this body shape) but was thinking of getting a 3.0 with the bit more power over the 2.8.
2001 3.0 Z3, 2008 Subaru Forester Xten
- BladeRunner919
- Joined: Fri 17 Feb, 2012 20:18
- Posts: 2225
Re: M Roadster or 2.8 wide body?
No, there isn't.Gareth 161 wrote:Is there a 3.0 in the pre facelift body as I currently have a 2.8 pre facelift(I also prefer this body shape) but was thinking of getting a 3.0 with the bit more power over the 2.8.
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- Joined: Thu 08 Mar, 2012 23:41
- Posts: 137
- Location: Cornwall
Re: M Roadster or 2.8 wide body?
Shame-Means I will either have to play around with my current 2.8 to improve the output or look for an early pre facelift Z3M, presumably with the S50 engine?
2001 3.0 Z3, 2008 Subaru Forester Xten
Re: M Roadster or 2.8 wide body?
All M's are pre-faceliftGareth 161 wrote: look for an early pre facelift Z3M, presumably with the S50 engine?
Gazza
"Understeer is when you hit the wall with the front of the car, oversteer is when you hit the wall with the rear of the car. Horsepower is how fast you hit the wall and torque is how far you take the wall with you"
Z3 S54 M roadster , BMW Z1, BMW M3 CSL, Z4M Coupe
"Understeer is when you hit the wall with the front of the car, oversteer is when you hit the wall with the rear of the car. Horsepower is how fast you hit the wall and torque is how far you take the wall with you"
Z3 S54 M roadster , BMW Z1, BMW M3 CSL, Z4M Coupe
Re: M Roadster or 2.8 wide body?
Gareth you could always get your 2.8 super charged it would run at about 400BHP about 80 more BHP than Z3?
Bazza (East Dorset)
Re: M Roadster or 2.8 wide body?
That's if you prefer forced induction over NA. To me one of the main appeals of the striaght 6 BMW s is they are not forced induction.
Give me 325bhp NA over 400 forced any day
Give me 325bhp NA over 400 forced any day
Re: M Roadster or 2.8 wide body?
I would look at the Z3 3.0
It has 231bhp where the 2.8 is 193. Also they strengthened the boot floor on the later ones, meaning diff mount failure is less likely.
I had a 2.8 and now l have a 3.0.
Both are great cars but the 3.0 is better, and noticeably faster. Plus the 3.0 came with uprated "sport" suspension which gives improved handling.
Or so l am told. The 3.0 seems to have a slightly firmer ride, but l never pushed either car to their limit.
It has 231bhp where the 2.8 is 193. Also they strengthened the boot floor on the later ones, meaning diff mount failure is less likely.
I had a 2.8 and now l have a 3.0.
Both are great cars but the 3.0 is better, and noticeably faster. Plus the 3.0 came with uprated "sport" suspension which gives improved handling.
Or so l am told. The 3.0 seems to have a slightly firmer ride, but l never pushed either car to their limit.
Re: M Roadster or 2.8 wide body?
Well in the end I got a 2.8, 97 model 68,000 on the clock good natural clean engine. Black paint wide body, very good condition all round. A little bit of work on the alloys, plus a little corrosion on the bottom of the wheel arches. All very minimal, I will get the wheels done, with only one wheel having the most work required! it will pay to have them all done To match. Looked at a few 3.2s, a 90m+ trip to Manchester was the best seen, this car had clearly been stood outside for a while as the was a lot of corrosion on the engine, and the discs were well brown with rust, wheels were quite blown too. The other 3.2 at Bedford was a waist of a journey ( 120 miles each way! ) never again will I trust a dealers photo set. The car looked great on the photos, an unusual green. The guy swore blind it was good, getting there from 30ft away I could see it was rough at £8000, it needed a lot of work. He dropped it a grand, but it still wasn't enough! after 10 mins I drove home again. I'd seen the 2.8 before and knew it was a good motor, I just wanted to look around a bit, there's a lot out there! In the end I love this car, plenty fast enough and looks great. Get the little rust sorted on the wheel arch bottoms and the wheels done, with some new hub badges and she''ll look great. ...... 'well chuffed' as they say! ...... Oh yeah there's a 3.2 estoril blue, in Bristol with a two and a half grand Schnitzer exhaust, for nearly £9,000 a really nice motor, would have sounded amazing. But it was the schnitzer that put me off, I like original! The 2.8 cost me less than half that and does it for me! ...... Happy days!
- Southernboy
- Joined: Thu 07 Oct, 2010 12:39
- Posts: 6437
- Location: Johannesburg
Re: M Roadster or 2.8 wide body?
Congrats Eddie.... My last Z3 was a '97 2.8... and a really magic car it was too. I know you'll enjoy your new toy.... and if you kid yourself that it's just the wheels and a bit of rust...well that's OK... I'm sure you'll find other little "bits" to restore....
Re: M Roadster or 2.8 wide body?
Good man, welcome to the club. I love my 2.8. Yes of course the M is a more superior car but it's horses for courses. You get what you pay for and the 2.8 represents fantastic value for money. Enjoy, I'm sure you will!
Cheers
Dave
Cheers
Dave
Re: M Roadster or 2.8 wide body?
Thanks Guys, Southernboy,I not saying the car is perfect =, its 17yrs old. So I'm not saying its nearly mint. Its just very good for a car that age. Serviced regularly, with BMW stamps. Nice clean oil, Garaged Last 2yrs, a woman owner, who never drove it. 'true!' Sure, I expect problems along the way! But it is a nice example, I've always liked the Z3 2.8, the M is the kiddie, and a totally different car. My bro' in law has a beauty in red, he's drove mine and likes it. I think he quite likes the black! This is plenty of car for me, I'm just gonna enjoy it! ...... thanks again guys, look forward to attending some of the meets!
Re: M Roadster or 2.8 wide body?
You could start by coming to shepshead In august.
Re: M Roadster or 2.8 wide body?
Dave, where is Shepshead? I live in Scunthorpe, North Lincs!
Re: M Roadster or 2.8 wide body?
Plus I've tried loading a picture, however, it keeps say the file is too big, is there another way?
Re: M Roadster or 2.8 wide body?
Near Loughborough, right?
Re: M Roadster or 2.8 wide body?
You can't load photos straight to the forum, you have to host them somewhere else. Have a look at this thread http://www.zroadster.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=7658eddie1 wrote:Plus I've tried loading a picture, however, it keeps say the file is too big, is there another way?
Re: M Roadster or 2.8 wide body?
Yeah near Loughborough. Click on forum at the top of the screen and read the link on how to download pics. You need to use a site such as photobucket but it will explain there what to do .
Re: M Roadster or 2.8 wide body?
'Shepshed, Leics'.......two miles west of Loughborough, just west of M1 (J23).......really nice venue, perhaps see you there? Cheers Pete. (and you Dave )
1997 Z3 2.8 (M52) Roadster Montreal blue
2013 330d (F31) M Sport Alpine White
Re: M Roadster or 2.8 wide body?
Any one going from my area fancy making a convoy (sy13)
Peter2b
Peter2b
Re: M Roadster or 2.8 wide body?
Your about 12 months too late
Re: M Roadster or 2.8 wide body?
I thought there was a meet this year at shepshed
peter2b
peter2b
Re: M Roadster or 2.8 wide body?
peter2b wrote:I thought there was a meet this year at shepshed
peter2b
Yes 16th August, you were replying to an old thread...
here is the one you need, Midland Meet. http://www.zroadster.net/forum/viewtopi ... =1&t=42111
Z3 2.8 Progress Journal (Mine)
Z3 1.9 Sport Progress Journal (Wifey's)
I have an element of 'M-styling' on my car, If that's a good enough reason for the manufacturers to adorn a 320 with the M badge, then its certainly a good enough reason for me..