Not joined yet? Register for free and enjoy features such as alerts, private messaging and viewing latest posts and topics.
Newbie looking for a 3.0 E85 - now found
- wonkydonkey
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1391
- Joined: Sat May 05, 2018 9:35 pm
- Location: Somerset
Newbie looking for a 3.0 E85 - now found
Evening forum folks I've joined the forum as I'm currently looking for my first Z4 Roadster, having ruled out the 350Z, S2000 and Boxster as "second car" options. I've been to see a few cars now but the search continues. Hoping to get my hands on a 3.0 manual for under £6,000 if possible. See you all around!
Last edited by wonkydonkey on Mon May 07, 2018 8:01 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Previous:
~2006 Z4MR in Silver Grey
~2003 3.0i E85 in Sterling Grey
Click here for the Sticky Steering thread
<My name is James>
~2006 Z4MR in Silver Grey
~2003 3.0i E85 in Sterling Grey
Click here for the Sticky Steering thread
<My name is James>
- buzyg
- Legend
- Posts: 26423
- Joined: Fri May 20, 2011 6:11 pm
- Location: Cornwall
Newbie looking for a 3.0 E85
Sensible budget. You should find a decent 3.0 with a little patience. Mind this sunshine will add a few quid to your bill. Welcome on board.
- Mr Tidy
- Legend
- Posts: 23608
- Joined: Wed Jul 02, 2014 12:18 pm
- Location: North West Surrey
Newbie looking for a 3.0 E85
Hi and welcome to the forum.
You shouldn't have a problem finding a good 3.0 manual within your budget.
But bear in mind there was a facelift in early 2006 and you might struggle to find a facelift model, unless you don't mind it being a bit leggy.
The most significant difference was the change of engines.
Pre-facelifts are designated 3.0i and use the M54 engine with 231 bhp.
Facelifts are designated 3.0Si and use the N52 engine with 265 bhp.
I think the later engine suits the Z4 better - it revs higher and produces more power! But it has a couple of irritating foibles - there is no dipstick, you check engine oil level via a sensor by pressing a button on the dash. And it has an electric water pump, so when it fails it tends to just stop and wherever you buy a replacement it will be the wrong side of £200.
There are usually a few cars for sale on here, and they're more likely to have had an enthusiast owner so it's not a bad place to start.
Anyway good luck finding the right one for you. And when you have don't forget we like photos!
ETA I just read your post on "bbrys" thread - you could always consider a facelift 2.5Si. It's got the newer N52 engine just in 2.5 litre form and 218 bhp so not much behind the older 3.0i - just make sure you avoid the facelift 2.5i as it's got 177 bhp IIRC!
You shouldn't have a problem finding a good 3.0 manual within your budget.
But bear in mind there was a facelift in early 2006 and you might struggle to find a facelift model, unless you don't mind it being a bit leggy.
The most significant difference was the change of engines.
Pre-facelifts are designated 3.0i and use the M54 engine with 231 bhp.
Facelifts are designated 3.0Si and use the N52 engine with 265 bhp.
I think the later engine suits the Z4 better - it revs higher and produces more power! But it has a couple of irritating foibles - there is no dipstick, you check engine oil level via a sensor by pressing a button on the dash. And it has an electric water pump, so when it fails it tends to just stop and wherever you buy a replacement it will be the wrong side of £200.
There are usually a few cars for sale on here, and they're more likely to have had an enthusiast owner so it's not a bad place to start.
Anyway good luck finding the right one for you. And when you have don't forget we like photos!
ETA I just read your post on "bbrys" thread - you could always consider a facelift 2.5Si. It's got the newer N52 engine just in 2.5 litre form and 218 bhp so not much behind the older 3.0i - just make sure you avoid the facelift 2.5i as it's got 177 bhp IIRC!
Last edited by Mr Tidy on Sat May 05, 2018 10:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Coupes because stunning!
Current - Silver Grey MC, Imola Red heated Nappa & carbon trim. Aeros, H & R Coil-overs, 224s, OE Strut brace, Nav, cup-holders, DSP Hi-Fi, pdc, cruise, MFSW, no CDV! E90 330i daily
Gone - Montego Blue
Gone - Ruby Black
Current - Silver Grey MC, Imola Red heated Nappa & carbon trim. Aeros, H & R Coil-overs, 224s, OE Strut brace, Nav, cup-holders, DSP Hi-Fi, pdc, cruise, MFSW, no CDV! E90 330i daily
Gone - Montego Blue
Gone - Ruby Black
- wonkydonkey
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1391
- Joined: Sat May 05, 2018 9:35 pm
- Location: Somerset
Newbie looking for a 3.0 E85
You're not kidding about the sunshine tax! Curses! Thanks for the welcome
Previous:
~2006 Z4MR in Silver Grey
~2003 3.0i E85 in Sterling Grey
Click here for the Sticky Steering thread
<My name is James>
~2006 Z4MR in Silver Grey
~2003 3.0i E85 in Sterling Grey
Click here for the Sticky Steering thread
<My name is James>
- wonkydonkey
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1391
- Joined: Sat May 05, 2018 9:35 pm
- Location: Somerset
Newbie looking for a 3.0 E85
Thanks for that. I've driven the 3.0i and 3.0si now and do prefer the facelifted car overall, but in truth would be happy with either. At my budget it's a general juggling act between age, mileage, spec and condition. Good history is a must, but when it comes to those other four attributes I can't have them all!
Previous:
~2006 Z4MR in Silver Grey
~2003 3.0i E85 in Sterling Grey
Click here for the Sticky Steering thread
<My name is James>
~2006 Z4MR in Silver Grey
~2003 3.0i E85 in Sterling Grey
Click here for the Sticky Steering thread
<My name is James>
- Mr Tidy
- Legend
- Posts: 23608
- Joined: Wed Jul 02, 2014 12:18 pm
- Location: North West Surrey
Newbie looking for a 3.0 E85
Yeah, that's always the problem!wonkydonkey wrote: ↑Sat May 05, 2018 10:27 pm Good history is a must, but when it comes to those other four attributes I can't have them all!
FWIW the N52 engine in the facelift doesn't seem to have problems with high mileages, so I wouldn't worry too much about 100K+ so long as it has good service history.
My Coupe has the 3.0Si N52 engine, is on 85K and doesn't seem at all lacking in performance!
I changed my daily in March for an E91 (3 Series Touring) 325i which has the same N52 engine as the facelift 2.5Si Z4, and it's on 133K now and still pulls really well. Mind you it has only had 3 former keepers, and over 15 visits to main agents - plus it was in really clean condition which made me think it had been well looked after!
Since I've had that car I'm starting to think spec, condition and history are going to be the main factors in any future searches!
And as yours will be a 2nd car mileage should be less of a problem.
You could always wait a few weeks to avoid the sunshine tax - we're surely never going to get 2 consecutive Bank Holidays without some rain!
Coupes because stunning!
Current - Silver Grey MC, Imola Red heated Nappa & carbon trim. Aeros, H & R Coil-overs, 224s, OE Strut brace, Nav, cup-holders, DSP Hi-Fi, pdc, cruise, MFSW, no CDV! E90 330i daily
Gone - Montego Blue
Gone - Ruby Black
Current - Silver Grey MC, Imola Red heated Nappa & carbon trim. Aeros, H & R Coil-overs, 224s, OE Strut brace, Nav, cup-holders, DSP Hi-Fi, pdc, cruise, MFSW, no CDV! E90 330i daily
Gone - Montego Blue
Gone - Ruby Black
- wonkydonkey
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1391
- Joined: Sat May 05, 2018 9:35 pm
- Location: Somerset
Newbie looking for a 3.0 E85
Haha definitely a worthwhile point to make!
Do the M54s tend to get a bit grumpy over 100,000 miles then? The power hike on the facelift 2.5 and 3.0 engines is really impressive. You can certainly tell a lot about a car by its cosmetic condition. It goes beyond skin deep
Previous:
~2006 Z4MR in Silver Grey
~2003 3.0i E85 in Sterling Grey
Click here for the Sticky Steering thread
<My name is James>
~2006 Z4MR in Silver Grey
~2003 3.0i E85 in Sterling Grey
Click here for the Sticky Steering thread
<My name is James>
- Mr Tidy
- Legend
- Posts: 23608
- Joined: Wed Jul 02, 2014 12:18 pm
- Location: North West Surrey
Newbie looking for a 3.0 E85
Not necessarily - I sold my E46 325ti with the same engine as the M54 pre-facelift 2.5i at 103K miles and it was still going strong.
Coupes because stunning!
Current - Silver Grey MC, Imola Red heated Nappa & carbon trim. Aeros, H & R Coil-overs, 224s, OE Strut brace, Nav, cup-holders, DSP Hi-Fi, pdc, cruise, MFSW, no CDV! E90 330i daily
Gone - Montego Blue
Gone - Ruby Black
Current - Silver Grey MC, Imola Red heated Nappa & carbon trim. Aeros, H & R Coil-overs, 224s, OE Strut brace, Nav, cup-holders, DSP Hi-Fi, pdc, cruise, MFSW, no CDV! E90 330i daily
Gone - Montego Blue
Gone - Ruby Black
-
- Member
- Posts: 173
- Joined: Wed Apr 25, 2018 7:47 pm
Newbie looking for a 3.0 E85
I have a facelift 2.5si sport and there really is nothing between it and the pre facelift 3.0. In fact, the car has a more free revving nature and encourages you to push on more. Post facelift 3.0
manuals are harder to find, but a 2.5 si sport has the slightly lowered sports suspension and really nice seats! Mine has 84k on the clock and looking at the annual mileage has only done 15k in the last 4 years. It's needed a few hundred miles of spirited driving to loosen it back up but it's back on song now and a pleasure to drive.
I wouldn't dismiss a later 2.5si if you can find a good one!
manuals are harder to find, but a 2.5 si sport has the slightly lowered sports suspension and really nice seats! Mine has 84k on the clock and looking at the annual mileage has only done 15k in the last 4 years. It's needed a few hundred miles of spirited driving to loosen it back up but it's back on song now and a pleasure to drive.
I wouldn't dismiss a later 2.5si if you can find a good one!
E85 2.5si Sport in dark blue. Calibre CC S wheels
What could possibly go wrong!
What could possibly go wrong!
- wonkydonkey
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1391
- Joined: Sat May 05, 2018 9:35 pm
- Location: Somerset
Newbie looking for a 3.0 E85
Thanks for the insight I would definitely consider a good 2.5si but have only found them with the cheaper seats so far. Sounds like you're enjoying yours!noiseboy72 wrote: ↑Sun May 06, 2018 7:04 am I have a facelift 2.5si sport and there really is nothing between it and the pre facelift 3.0.
I wouldn't dismiss a later 2.5si if you can find a good one!
Previous:
~2006 Z4MR in Silver Grey
~2003 3.0i E85 in Sterling Grey
Click here for the Sticky Steering thread
<My name is James>
~2006 Z4MR in Silver Grey
~2003 3.0i E85 in Sterling Grey
Click here for the Sticky Steering thread
<My name is James>
- wonkydonkey
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1391
- Joined: Sat May 05, 2018 9:35 pm
- Location: Somerset
Newbie looking for a 3.0 E85 - now found
Well I collected my 2003 3.0i E85 today. Perfect day for a drop top, though it was slightly marred by my discovery of the dreaded sticky steering. It wasn't apparent on the test drive but wow, what an unpleasant experience Cue a load of time researching/lubing/drilling to see if I can fix it.
Not the best start to my ownership experience, but here is the car. It has 107,000 miles on it and a few marks around the bodywork but I've bought it more for the "go" than the "show". Guess I'll be spending some time in the problems forums for a while!
Not the best start to my ownership experience, but here is the car. It has 107,000 miles on it and a few marks around the bodywork but I've bought it more for the "go" than the "show". Guess I'll be spending some time in the problems forums for a while!
Last edited by wonkydonkey on Mon May 07, 2018 8:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Previous:
~2006 Z4MR in Silver Grey
~2003 3.0i E85 in Sterling Grey
Click here for the Sticky Steering thread
<My name is James>
~2006 Z4MR in Silver Grey
~2003 3.0i E85 in Sterling Grey
Click here for the Sticky Steering thread
<My name is James>
Newbie looking for a 3.0 E85 - now found
Me too, nice colour
- Attachments
-
- 20170206_153900.jpg (125.11 KiB) Viewed 952 times
- wonkydonkey
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1391
- Joined: Sat May 05, 2018 9:35 pm
- Location: Somerset
Newbie looking for a 3.0 E85 - now found
Previous:
~2006 Z4MR in Silver Grey
~2003 3.0i E85 in Sterling Grey
Click here for the Sticky Steering thread
<My name is James>
~2006 Z4MR in Silver Grey
~2003 3.0i E85 in Sterling Grey
Click here for the Sticky Steering thread
<My name is James>
-
- Member
- Posts: 789
- Joined: Sat May 05, 2018 8:08 pm
- Location: Bridgend South Wales
Newbie looking for a 3.0 E85 - now found
Love Sterling grey. Same as mine.
Z in da Head.
3.0i Z3 sport,sapphire black,3.0i Z4 roadster Sterling grey,auto,Z4 3.0si Coupe Titanium silver,Stubby &B06 Plus some other German beauties!!
3.0i Z3 sport,sapphire black,3.0i Z4 roadster Sterling grey,auto,Z4 3.0si Coupe Titanium silver,Stubby &B06 Plus some other German beauties!!
- jabber
- Lifer
- Posts: 3137
- Joined: Mon Jul 05, 2010 9:23 am
- Location: Hampshire
Newbie looking for a 3.0 E85 - now found
Welcome same colour as my first z4
Z less again
14 E89 Z4 2.0 msport grey gone now
10 E89 Z4 3.0 Black auto now. Very sadly gone
Gone 04 E85 z4 3.0 Maldives blue smg
14 E89 Z4 2.0 msport grey gone now
10 E89 Z4 3.0 Black auto now. Very sadly gone
Gone 04 E85 z4 3.0 Maldives blue smg