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

[Vince70]

Here's the car.

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=381164347647

As for the remote locking its a very easy repair as the remote keys on mine are dead due to leaky battery's in the remotes so the worse case scenario is buy a couple of second hand remotes and you can code them to the car very easily as there's a learn button on top of the alarm remote gizmo box so it should cost no more than a tenner to fix the car can take up to 9 remotes but I think that maybe taking it to far and two should suffice lol.

 

It really is a nice one I could change the rear window for £56 but I'm going to leave it to an upholsterer I've used before who is a real perfectionist so come May when the car is all sorted it will be a lovely immaculate low mileage motor.

 

I will be then to scared to take it out as it may get dirt or seagull shit on the old girl.

 

I wish I could take the seats out and fit them in my house as there the comfiest car seats I've ever sat in apart from old 60s Rovers from the p5/p6 period when I was a kid.

[Cavcraft]

Why has someone cut the seller's middle fingers off?

[EssDeeWon]

I do like that, and that oxblood interior is lovely. Didn't realise these were now in that price bracket, hope the 60,000 miles are genuine because that should be sweet for many more miles to come.

[Ghosty]

[Vince70]

I've got all the books stamped with a BMW full history up to 2009 then after that it's independent, it really does drive spot on I really was surprised myself when I got the car at that price as I've seen cars double that in nowhere near as good condition so I'm more than very happy with it.

 

It's spent all of its time in Essex and North West Kent and the BMW history is mainly Chelmsford with some services etc done in Ruxley and Maldon BMW dealerships and started out life on a personal plate but the plates on the car are BMW dealership plates ( Sytner ) so I think it may have stayed in the dealership network after the 1st owner.

 

And to cap it all the stereo in the car is a Kenwood Mask CD player from the late 90s which was top notch stuff back in the day so that's staying and I'm running a FM transmitter through it to play my iPod.

 

So jobs to do are remove the door mirror bases and give the a coat of etch primer and some paint then get the bumper painted and give her a service and Hammerite the boot area after giving it a go with a flap wheel.

 

Also when I get time I'm also going to take the rear liners out and clear out any dirt etc and also give the arches a coat of old oil for some protection.

 

I've already done the Audi 80 Cabriolet thing as in the earlier post and had a real nice one which had similar mileage when I bought it.

 

Also I've had quite a few roadsters and cabriolets over the years and it may be rose tinted glasses but this is my favourite and dare I say I prefer the driving position to the MX5 and looking over that long bonnet really is a nice and well appointed place to be.

 

It may not handle as well as a 5 but I find on our crappy roads it seems more forgiving over pot holes and bumps and I didn't get any tram lining or scuttle shake which to be honest I was expecting.

 

It even came with an unopened red canvas BMW bag in the boot which I think is a first aid kit but I've not looked in it yet as I'm away at the moment.

[Luxxo Waftybarger]

Post got deleted due to hack but mainly watch for rusty brake pipes, expansion tank cracks and suspension bushes. Also gear nob that comes off in your hand going round roundabouts. My 318i with same engine has done 160000 miles OK.

[UmBongo]

Make sure it's blue like the one in Goldeneye.

 

 

You probably won't look as cool as Pierce, mind you.

[Luxxo Waftybarger]

Also forgot to mention they have the worst hand brake of any car I've ever driven. The shoes go brittle and don't grip the disc. Also the actuator will rust and sick on, when that happens you have to rock the car back and with until it let's go with a massive BANG. Not one for early starts in a quiet street. I once got trapped facing a wall in a clients car park, had to take the wheel off there and then.

 

Ironically that's better than the handbrake when it's not sticking which struggles to hold the car on the slightest incline. Always park in gear.

[spike60]

Also forgot to mention they have the worst hand brake of any car I've ever driven. The shoes go brittle and don't grip the disc. Also the actuator will rust and sick on, when that happens you have to rock the car back and with until it let's go with a massive BANG. Not one for early starts in a quiet street. I once got trapped facing a wall in a clients car park, had to take the wheel off there and then.

 

Ironically that's better than the handbrake when it's not sticking which struggles to hold the car on the slightest incline. Always park in gear.

Why would the brakes be any worse than the other E36's or whatever shares the components?

Mine had been stood outside for a while when I got it and I treated it to £150 worth of Mintex pads, shoes and discs all round, both the foot and hand brakes are spot on nearly 3 years later.

Someone else commented the roofs are all manual, mine isn't! No probs with it aside from getting a bit ambitious at the lights.....

[Luxxo Waftybarger]

I've probably been unlucky on the 3 e46s and one e36 I've had/maintained for family all have had crap handbrakes. Maybe I'm doing something wrong? Even the courtesy e46 saloon my local independent bmw garage provides has a useless handbrake. Nothing wrong with the footbrake on any of them though, always very good.