Thoughts on Z3 ///M roadsters

[mr wilks]

Not for me :wink: a pal is on the verge of getting into one & has this 89k 1999 model for £11500 in his sights
I know a few members have been there so any thoughts welcome & i'l pass them on

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201510137772466?model=z3m&onesearchad=used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew&sort=default&postcode=bb120hr&radius=1501&make=bmw&search-target=usedcars&page=1&quicksearch=true&logcode=p

 

[srhutch]

I'm not sure why you would go for one of those over a Z4 ///M. Bread van would be a different story of course.

 

[Spikey]

Very old technology

I had a Z3 but not an M - it definately feels like an old car

Still an M though but at that price too close to Z4M money

They are going up in value though

 

[srhutch]

Very old technology

I had a Z3 but not an M - it definately feels like an old car

Still an M though but at that price too close to Z4M money

They are going up in value though

Exactly with the £12k that went on here the other day with extended leather and other nice touches.

 

[MattHall91]

Exactly with the £12k that went on here the other day with extended leather and other nice touches.

This.
Really not sure how they can be compared when both are the same price.

 

[TitanTim]

How a classic Roadster should be which I hate to say it the Z4M for me never quite cut it and doubt it will achieve that cult status. Yes the Z3M is old school, no driver aids etc and dated but thats the whole point and its charm. The Z4 whilst great in its own right lost all of that as most modern cars have. Bag one while you can especially in good nick. Only wished I'd bought one 2/3 years ago when prices were more sensible especially the Z3M Coupe. The S54 models are making silly money now

Always preferred being in the Z3 than the E89 I had as it feels like a proper roadster. Less is more

Tim.

 

[mr wilks]

Exactly with the £12k that went on here the other day with extended leather and other nice touches.

This.
Really not sure how they can be compared when both are the same price.

Eeerrrrr cause he's just sold his Z4Mcoupe & doesn't want a Z4M roady :?
Personally i wouldnt go near either of the 3Ms but what suits one doesn't always suit another :wink:

 

[buzyg]

I certainly prefer the look of the Z3MR interior over the Z4MR and the lack of modern electrics is a huge plus. If I was looking to try and invest in a Zed, then that would be my pick at the moment.

Fortunately I prefer driving my Zed though and they are chalk and cheese, as a driving experience, from my limited drives in the Z3MR. The thing would not go around a corner, without a change of underpants. I'm sure that appeals to some, but I'll take my corners in the Z4MR.

 

[philip27]

I'd pick a Z4M over one but I do actually think the look better now. They are ageing well and certainly going up in value so a good investment.

 

[DPG]

Love them, prefer the look to a Z4.

Was looking to buying one when prices were reasonable back in 2008/09

Is it an S54 M Roadster?

 

[mr wilks]

Love them, prefer the look to a Z4.

Was looking to buying one when prices were reasonable back in 2008/09

Is it an S54 M Roadster?

No idea on the specifics of the Z3M , never studied them or looked at values
What do you call "reasonable" Dan ?
I would have thought they'd reach collectors car status before the Z4Ms so i thought the ask was pretty OK :?

 

[srhutch]

Exactly with the £12k that went on here the other day with extended leather and other nice touches.

This.
Really not sure how they can be compared when both are the same price.

Eeerrrrr cause he's just sold his Z4Mcoupe & doesn't want a Z4M roady :?
Personally i wouldnt go near either of the 3Ms but what suits one doesn't always suit another :wink:

This you neighbour then?

 

[srhutch]

I certainly prefer the look of the Z3MR interior over the Z4MR and the lack of modern electrics is a huge plus. If I was looking to try and invest in a Zed, then that would be my pick at the moment.

Fortunately I prefer driving my Zed though and they are chalk and cheese, as a driving experience, from my limited drives in the Z3MR. The thing would not go around a corner, without a change of underpants. I'm sure that appeals to some, but I'll take my corners in the Z4MR.

What missing from the Z3M other than stability control?

 

[Z4M-2006]

The S50 engined Z3M roadies are always a lot cheaper than the S54 cars..

And prefacelift,less than facelift..

I have had 2 Z3 roadies and a Z3M coupe,and they are very old school...The suspension and chassis tech is in the dark ages,but it depends what you want out of the car..
For a weekender that you wanna cruise about in with no depreciation then i think its a good buy...

Buy a good one,rot and component failure is rife as they get older.....And they are not cheap to repair,especially the engine..


Wisely bought,its a blue chip car....But not sure a prefacelift S50 will ever burst the bank..

 

[mr wilks]

This.
Really not sure how they can be compared when both are the same price.

Eeerrrrr cause he's just sold his Z4Mcoupe & doesn't want a Z4M roady :?
Personally i wouldnt go near either of the 3Ms but what suits one doesn't always suit another :wink:

This you neighbour then?

It is Steve , he bought the Mcoupe because it was a great buy at the time & wanted to try ZM ownership but reality was he missed the open top days out he enjoyed with his previous Boxster
He's lived opposite my Z4M the last 9 months so i guess the allure is less hence his desire to get into something similar , quirky & possible increasing in value :?

 

[TitanTim]

rot and component failure is rife as they get older

New one on me to be honest, biggest gripe on all Z3s apart from the 1.9 was the boot spot welds popping and the boot floor splitting but easily fixable, rot is pretty rare unless really neglected and usually on the front and rear of the sills where mud can get trapped and around the rear boot lock but generally all Z3s are pretty bullet proof compared to cars of similar age. Vanos bolt failure were one of the major concerns on the Z3M. Only real problem I've had on mine is the boot loom failure which was a known problem on the Z3 and 3 Series of the time. A very realiable car all said and done.

Tim.

 

[DPG]

Love them, prefer the look to a Z4.

Was looking to buying one when prices were reasonable back in 2008/09

Is it an S54 M Roadster?

No idea on the specifics of the Z3M , never studied them or looked at values
What do you call "reasonable" Dan ?
I would have thought they'd reach collectors car status before the Z4Ms so i thought the ask was pretty OK :?

A couple of grand cheaper but half the mileage.

Didn't know much about the engines then so not sure if I was looking at 50's or 54's.

Don't these suffer from corrosion in the boot like the M3's of a similar age?

 

[Z4M-2006]

rot and component failure is rife as they get older

New one on me to be honest, biggest gripe on all Z3s apart from the 1.9 was the boot spot welds popping and the boot floor splitting but easily fixable, rot is pretty rare unless really neglected and usually on the front and rear of the sills where mud can get trapped and around the rear boot lock but generally all Z3s are pretty bullet proof compared to cars of similar age. Vanos bolt failure were one of the major concerns on the Z3M. Only real problem I've had on mine is the boot loom failure which was a known problem on the Z3 and 3 Series of the time. A very realiable car all said and done.

Tim.

Nothing drastic just typical 20 yr old BMW rot......

Seen the sills and chassis ends rotting,and of course the boot floor ripping out is never a great feature.All brake pipes and fuel pipes...

Seen S50's do pistons and rod bearings.... Vanos and camshafts....S54 failures also well documented.

All suspension bushes,struts and wishbones...But they are getting on a bit and all this stuff is to be expected i guess. But if your getting into one then it could easily have your pockets inside out if you dont know what your looking for...

I like them,but like any motor at that age.........Due diligence..

 

[jamesbond]

Hello

The main item to check on all z3m roadsters is rear spot weld failures. Open the boot lift the carpet and check the spot welds are still intact.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=z3m+rear+frame+failure&espv=2&biw=1920&bih=955&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj65bPo94jLAhXEVxQKHbKcCE8Q_AUIBigB#imgrc=jjKyjx_c5prE-M%3A

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=z3m+rear+frame+failure&espv=2&biw=1920&bih=955&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj65bPo94jLAhXEVxQKHbKcCE8Q_AUIBigB#imgrc=X0j0lATa1vR48M%3A

 

[jevans]

they're going up in value! more so because of rarity than performance obviously - like most classics, which is what it's becoming alongside the coupe version. i do think the z3 has aged well and in my opinion is pretty good looking.
It won't perform or feel like a z4m - not sure why people are comparing the 2

if i was splashing that cash and didn't intend on using daily i'd get a TVR and hire a mechanic