Will Z3's become desirable/classic (expensive)?

[overrun]

I'd have a Clownshoe

 

 

Shame they have always been tits hot and hyper pricey!

 

Bond showed he had taste on occasion, too:

 

 

As for Z3's, just don't buy a 1.9. They are an affront to sports cars.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

That does look all right now you mention it. Better than an e36 convertible tho?

 

 

 

Different kettle of fish really. 

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

The other benefit of these is all four wings bolt on so if you biff it, replacement is straightforward.

 

Do these rot as badly as E46s though?

 

 

Not really - it's scabby neglect rust.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

"Cons?

 

You cannot be seen driving it with another chap in the passenger seat."

 

Is your grip on masculinity really that fragile?

 

 

 

As fragile as your grip on humour and sarcasm.....

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

This thread has prompted me to nip out and get mine from its near 2 year slumber. Other than mice nest in the footwell, and a little help with the booster pack all seems well.

 

image.jpegimage.jpegimage.jpegimage.jpeg

 

 

 

That's nice. I thought the Z3 was minging when they were new, but compared to what's being built now (the Fiat 124 - don't get that at all) and the general size and ugliness of many new cars, it looks good at last.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Years ago I saw a tall, thin, bald, middle aged, shirt-and-tie-wearing bloke sitting in a red one of these in Warrington with the top down, allowing himself to be gently gassed by the fumes from the massive traffic jam he was stuck in as he sat outside one of Warrington’s many god-awful retail parks. It burned into my retinas as a look I felt I must take massive care never to repeat myself. Just everything about the scene was miserable.

[SiC]

Years ago I saw a tall, thin, bald, middle aged, shirt-and-tie-wearing bloke sitting in a red one of these in Warrington with the top down, allowing himself to be gently gassed by the fumes from the massive traffic jam he was stuck in as he sat outside one of Warrington’s many god-awful retail parks. It burned into my retinas as a look I felt I must take massive care never to repeat myself. Just everything about the scene was miserable.

As long as he was enjoying the car (apart from stuck in traffic), then its all cool imo. I'm sure I look a right tit in my Smart Roadster, however I'm having fun driving it, so do not care about others may think about a 30yr old guy driving around in a tiny little poo coloured wannabe sports car that isn't actually very fast and very 'girly' looking.

[Dick Cheeseburger]

^ This. I'm more than happy to be judged driving a floppytop. Ultimately, I know that most anti-judgements are made by folk who've never owned one, or a crap one at most. We bought a shonky mk1 Eunos when I was thirty, and a slightly less shonky MR2 for my fortieth. The Mx5 lasted us four years as a fun car, which is unheard of ownership achievement for me. My average is 12 months. The MR2 has lasted two years so far, and is still used as a six speed go kart, purely for shits and giggles. I'm not convinced it'll be a popular choice on here, but if we sack off the MR2, I'd like to replace it with a Z4. I couldn't stand the Bangle design initially, but I reckon it's really come of age now, and has the aggressive edge that the Z3 could only have ever dreamed of.

[overrun]

^ This. I'm more than happy to be judged driving a floppytop. Ultimately, I know that most anti-judgements are made by folk who've never owned one, or a crap one at most. We bought a shonky mk1 Eunos when I was thirty, and a slightly less shonky MR2 for my fortieth. The Mx5 lasted us four years as a fun car, which is unheard of ownership achievement for me. My average is 12 months. The MR2 has lasted two years so far, and is still used as a six speed go kart, purely for shits and giggles. I'm not convinced it'll be a popular choice on here, but if we sack off the MR2, I'd like to replace it with a Z4. I couldn't stand the Bangle design initially, but I reckon it's really come of age now, and has the aggressive edge that the Z3 could only have ever dreamed of.

 

I am a big fan of the Z4. Only the other week I was shot down by a mate for remarking on how well they have aged, that I would own a 3.0 without complaint and they are a handsome car.

 

The SW30 on the other hand, pass! The only one I have driven had an SW20 turbo motor and TRD kit with ducktail and TE37's, so it looked the part and went and handled well (I bought the engine and box), but I wasn't feeling it, otherwise.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Years ago I saw a tall, thin, bald, middle aged, shirt-and-tie-wearing bloke sitting in a red one of these in Warrington with the top down, allowing himself to be gently gassed by the fumes from the massive traffic jam he was stuck in as he sat outside one of Warrington’s many god-awful retail parks. It burned into my retinas as a look I felt I must take massive care never to repeat myself. Just everything about the scene was miserable.

 

 

So what you're saying is never buy a pair of corduroy trousers?

 

I witnessed something equally tragic once, a convoy of Z3's leaving a BMW show at Gaydon to go on a fun run. I asked my best mate to shoot me if I ever did that.

[Chas4545]

Had one a while back, but I got nervous about the rear axle mounting, which is a number of spot welds easily seen in the boot. Some big failures have happened, which made headlines years ago  in Trumpland where they were built.  Search rear axle z3 failures.

 

The 1.9 is a lovely soft featherbed of a  thing , while the larger engined wider tyred versions get serious quite quickly. Fitted with ditch finders they are overly exciting

 

Mine eat my bank balance too. It was quite hard to own and smile at the same time.

[Station]

These are great, but don't like the front end too much. It looks like it was just squeezed to shape by a massive sphincter in the factory.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Another funky colour.

[Vince70]

Here's a cheap one at £795 I've not seen a straight one at that price for quite some time.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/222427001445

[Magnificent Rustbucket]

I see a 2.8 Z3 in this colour every now and again parked on the road on the way in to Knutsford. It has been parked in the same place on and off pretty much since it was new, so probably a 1 owner car. The Z3 was available in some great colours. 

[Kiltox]

Here's a cheap one at £795 I've not seen a straight one at that price for quite some time.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/222427001445

Stretching the definition of straight with a knackered clutch, battery, filth and "it is what it is" in the advert!

[keith777]

Had a z3 2.5 wide body lovely car no complaints whatsoever, looking in the door mirror reminded me of my wife's breast, just bought a z4 no complaints again, looking in the door mirror reminds me of my wife's arse ! It is 10 years on tho !!

[Vince70]

Did you get the car Rev.

I see someone got a bargain with that one I hope it's you.

[dome]

I test drove a 2.8 a while back when looking for something to mess around with. It didn't seem too bad an example but didn't feel very quick or that special to drive. A Z3M on the other hand would would be awesome

 

Last time I looked Z4Ms seemed to be getting cheap. If I had the cash I'd have one of them now before the prices go silly

[anonymous user]

They've​ never really appealed to me which is a shame, as the surest way for them to climb in price/sought after stakes is for me to buy an overpriced one, get fed up with it, sell it cheap and then watch the prices go through the roof.

[strangeangel]

I'd rather have a Rover 75, thanks.

[Dave_Q]

I'd rather have a Rover 75, thanks.

SHOTS FIRED

[Vince70]

Here's the cheapest Z3 I've ever seen at £195 but I think it's well past a quick mop and service but a good source of spares I imagine if anyone needed to odd facelift panel as you would get half your money back on the mirror alone.

 

But I can't see my neighbours being impressed with that sitting on the drive lol

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/222423653049

[vaughant]

Plenty of el cheapo ones on gumtree but in varying states of repair and mainly 1.9's.

 

Saw a lovely 2.8 in resale silver but with 264000 miles on it.

 

WOWSER.

 

One owner though and I'd guess at those miles in that condition well looked after.

[Vince70]

Here's one at £550 or it says make an offer on scumtree so the seller has most probably been offered £100 and a broken PS3 for it but the roof looks good and it looks fairly straight apart from the dented door.

https://www.gumtree.com/p/bmw/bmw-z3-classic-roadster-cheap-cabrio/1222739229

Or heres James Bonds car for sale for very little coin with low mileage

https://www.gumtree.com/p/bmw/bmw-z3-1.9-roadster/1222946409

 

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Did you get the car Rev.

I see someone got a bargain with that one I hope it's you.

 

 

No. I have to be good and not buy any more projects. Got enough going on!

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

The blue Pierce Brosnan spec one will creep up in value, but the films themselves have dated very badly. When they come back into fashion tho......

 

 

One guy had a silver E38 7 Series 'with 007 connections'. Thought it was one of the cars used in the film, but it turns out it was just a silver E38 that had 007 stickers on the door and used by his local dealer for a 'Tomorrow Never Dies' promotion FFS.

[Vince70]

I've got admit Rev I like that Pierce Bronson spec motor but not for the colour it's just the honest description of the car and the mileage plus the seller has listed the negative points such as the roof.

I needed I new roof on my car as when the window has gone basically it's time for a new roof as the material would of shrunk anyway.

I got a really decent quality roof fitted all in for £325 but I know what you mean about having too many projects as I'm the same and have to stop myself from scanning the net for more motors.

I've got to now tell myself I don't need another Z3 in blue lol.

[Dave_Q]

 

 

Absolute horror of a £195 shitter.jpg

Wow that is so, so rank.

 

Perhaps worse than the condition is that it has the 8v M43 donkey? Did BMW ever make such a thing or has it been engine raped?

[Vince70]

 

Must be a typo or someone's been at the glue.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/322456320259