Anyone give me any info on what to look for on a BMW Z3

[Vince70]

Well being that I've been down to one car for the last couple of months I thought it was time to buy something for the summer and bought myself a cheap low mileage if slightly tatty Z3 which I'm picking up during the week, so a colleckshun Fred is to follow shortly.

 

So the new car needs maybe a new roof or if lucky I may just get away with a rear screen but I wondered if there's anything I should also look for on the car, it's only a little engined 1.9 4 banger so it's not going to be quick and hair products won't be stored in the glovebox because I have no hair ( may need some factor 15 for my head lol)

 

But any info on what to look for will be greatly received before I pick the old girl up.

[spike60]

I have 2000 2.8, aside from a notchy gearbox it's been a good old thing. Door actuators, cam sensors are all to report after 3 years. Very twichy and tramlines like a bitch, regular complaints but you get used to it. Wider tyres exaggerate this. Rear suspension can wear giving excess negative camber.

I gather hoods are a bitch to change. I changed the rear window on mine, it's a twat on the later ones with roll bars. I bought a £70 window from Germany instead of the £240 BMW one, the only problem is the beading is narrower so after the roof has been down the fabric pulls out from under it. Doesn't leak, just looks scruffy.

[MrDuke]

I believe the latest PPC mag has an article about how to make one RLYRLYFAST, although I haven't read it, so it could be useless crap. A bit like this post. Sorry.

[320touring]

The 1.9 likes headgaskets. Rear bushes get wobbly with age.

 

Rear wheelbearings are an arm off press out job.

 

Rust , rust and thrice rust. Check the sills and floor carefully.

 

Lovely steer, slightly underpowered with the 1.9 but not too bad

 

Hope its a goodun!

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I saw a tall thin bald bloke in a shirt and tie sitting looking gloomy in a red one of these in a massive traffic jam in Warrington once, right near the horrible trading estate where the cinema and marks and sparks is. He had the top down. Worst advert for soft top motoring I have ever seen

[saucedoctor]

I nearly fell out of one during a hoonage session.

 

Heater resistors go pop, the fuel sender does the same although it's usually just the wiring.

Immobilisers can shit the bed

Torque converter failure on slushbox models, and as Spike says the manuals can be notchy - this is usually just the selector shaft locking pin sticking.

 

A mate had a 2.8 which I liked a lot,  and then a Z3M coupe thing which was a total riot, if a bit of a handful.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Depends which engine. The earlier one used the 1.9 M44 16v unit which is a good tough engine. Later ones (called the 1. use a 1.9 8v that likes a head gasket - make sure it doesn't leak coolant. Gearboxes are okay, diffs can whine power on/off. Running gear all E36 Compact so cheap and strong. Hoods are all manual, nay bother there. Rust is cosmetic. Front wings, rear wings and outer sills are all bolt on. Mirrors love to snap off and are very, very expensive so they need regular WD40.

Usual old E36 stuff - shagged ABS sensors etc.

[hazzalandy]

If you change the whole roof and frame( available from scrappies c.£100) it's half a days work. Doing a rear window is a pain in the fanny, as was mentioned. There's a guy on t'internet called Mike Fishwick who appears to know everything about these, maybe worth a look? 

 

(a random article by him:https://zroadster.org/articles/basic-bmw-z3-suspension-modifications-by-mike-fishwick.41/)

 

Oh, and Nikasil bores were never an issue with these before that comes up...

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Always check that its a real one and not a millimetre-perfect replica like this one

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mazda-mx5-1-6-modified-rare-body-kit-mx5-z3-spares-or-repairs-jdm-/181678562289

 

What a total heap of shit

[cort16]

That's surely the most pointless replica every made?

[twosmoke300]

What is the point of it?

[spike60]

Always check that its a real one and not a millimetre-perfect replica like this one

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mazda-mx5-1-6-modified-rare-body-kit-mx5-z3-spares-or-repairs-jdm-/181678562289

 

What a total heap of shit

Why bother?

[Barry Cade]

Check the indicators work. Common fault I believe. I've heard they also cause baldness.

[Bren]

I saw a tall thin bald bloke in a shirt and tie sitting looking gloomy in a red one of these in a massive traffic jam in Warrington once, right near the horrible trading estate where the cinema and marks and sparks is. He had the top down. Worst advert for soft top motoring I have ever seen

Warrington? He was probably on his way to pick up Kerry Katona

[New POD]

Always check that its a real one and not a millimetre-perfect replica like this one

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mazda-mx5-1-6-modified-rare-body-kit-mx5-z3-spares-or-repairs-jdm-/181678562289

 

What a total heap of shit

 

 

I am going to post that on MX5NUTZ and see what the nuttzers fink.

 

http://www.mx5nutz.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=194113

 

Seriously there are some interesting conversions on the MX5, but that takes the biscuit.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Why bother?

 

 

Because in 1996/1997 when this conversion was done, there were precious few Z3's in the UK and they were a LOT of money.

[purplebargeken]

DHL van driver was trying to do the world a favour. He succeeded...... almost. 

[Forty-two]

Not owned one, but I do remember something about the boot floor and the rear axle. I think the boot floor comes apart on the welds and the axle falls off or some other such comedy. There is a fix, I can't remember what. Google probably knows.

 

Now off to look at 2.8 Z3's to see what prices they are making...

[New POD]

Warrington?  Kerry Katona

 

 

Ah. The Widnes, Runcorn, Warrington, chemical industries biggest erm birth defect.  Not putting too fine a point on it, there's a certain sub-normality to the some of the residents, and the possible cause is either the Nuclear research that goes on, or the chemical industry (of which there is much)

 

No offence to those who live locally and are not affected.

[Vince70]

Well it the older 1.9 engine I imagine as the car I bought is on a P plate so it's a very early one and its got a manual gearbox.

I've been told it's a rust free example and its in the colour combo I wanted as its black with red leather so pictures will follow once I pick the old girl up and its only done 60000 so should last me a few years if it's a goodun.

 

I was looking into getting an MGF as its seems it's the bargain two seater of the century but Goldeneye was on the telly the other day and that done it for me as it seems the Z3 is now entering shed territory.

[KruJoe]

Fancy a Z3M Sport upgrade* ?
These rims are listed under the title "Car wheels", so are at a bargaintastic £5.50 :

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121582272307?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

 

[spike60]

I do fancy the wheels but already have 2 sets of wheels in very good nick with excellent tyres so may not bother. That and 273 miles one way to collect, that is.

[rrsix]

Recently got rid of an e36 coupe with the 1.9 m44 was on 190k when it left (30k by me) and ran perfectly even still on it's original clutch!

 

Heater resistor can be fixed the autoshite way by digging out all the potting compound on the base and resoldering some of the joints. I think it was a diode that goes. As ever google can reveal all.

[dollywobbler]

They're a surprising giggle to be honest. I was thoroughly upset at how much I liked even the four-bangers. Quite grippy, but can get very out-of-control very quickly when they go. As my mate learnt recently on a wet roundabout, though his is a six-pot. 

[UltraWomble]

A woman called Pat. Avoid at all costs.

[xtriple]

Do these have rear seats? I only need small ones for the mutts....

[dollywobbler]

Do these have rear seats? I only need small ones for the mutts....

 

Nope. Strict two seater. The Z3M estate-type-thing might have pooch space.

[xtriple]

Nope. Strict two seater. The Z3M estate-type-thing might have pooch space.

Thank you. Want a convertible 'cos I like them and so do the dogs. Also, I have an addiction to washing drool stains off the sides of cars!

[KruJoe]

Prettiest "four seater" contertible has got to be the 306. A late "80" shaped Audi Cabriolet in a nice metallic colour is a close second.

[beko1987]

I saw the top gear middle east special the other day, James had a Z3, As much as I'm sure* it shat its HG by coincidence, it seemed ok apart from the auto box