It has been over a year since I purchased a car, so despite having old mercs in various states, I was feeling the need to buy something.
I was looking at Peugeot 205 convertibles, and had chased down a couple to work on this week, trying to fit viewings hundreds of miles away into my 'working from home' conference call schedule.
Then last night, I started thinking about Z3s. Manual ones. There was a nice individual one listed on Facebook marketplace in a dodgy purple, but when I contacted the seller a massive 50 minutes after the ad went live, he had already had 4 enquires and two viewings booked.
Returning disheartened to Facebook, a Z4 popped up 7 miles away. No engine was listed, but from the pictures it was a manual, and from the underbonnet pictures a 6 cylinder.
I messaged the seller and he was clearly a solid chap. Pleasant, helpful and polite - makes such a difference and always gives me confidence.
I headed over first thing today, pretty sure I would be coming away with the car.
It's imperfect, having covered 155k miles, and needs a poor rust repair blow over done on the rear on the driver's side. But it drives really well. I was very surprised that it feels really tight, and rides well. Better than my Dad's SLK from the same generation.
The straight 6 engine feels very strong and sounds fantastic. I have always been a fan of BMW's old straight 6s, and this is the punchiest and nicest sounding '25 I have experienced (I think they get better with miles). I am told I need to do some valve thing to help the gear change - it's okay, but not great.
There are a few other bits and bobs - the headlights are cloudy, the driver's seatbelt retracts slowly, the BMW badge on the front requires renewal (ordered), it needs floormats that don't have an ///////M type logo on them.
But the alloys have been refurbed, the roof and roof motor replaced recently, and the interior is in great condition. And I rather like it. A nice car to zip about in over the summer. Hopefully.
I'm very impressed - these cars take the miles very well indeed!
I was looking at Peugeot 205 convertibles, and had chased down a couple to work on this week, trying to fit viewings hundreds of miles away into my 'working from home' conference call schedule.
Then last night, I started thinking about Z3s. Manual ones. There was a nice individual one listed on Facebook marketplace in a dodgy purple, but when I contacted the seller a massive 50 minutes after the ad went live, he had already had 4 enquires and two viewings booked.
Returning disheartened to Facebook, a Z4 popped up 7 miles away. No engine was listed, but from the pictures it was a manual, and from the underbonnet pictures a 6 cylinder.
I messaged the seller and he was clearly a solid chap. Pleasant, helpful and polite - makes such a difference and always gives me confidence.
I headed over first thing today, pretty sure I would be coming away with the car.
It's imperfect, having covered 155k miles, and needs a poor rust repair blow over done on the rear on the driver's side. But it drives really well. I was very surprised that it feels really tight, and rides well. Better than my Dad's SLK from the same generation.
The straight 6 engine feels very strong and sounds fantastic. I have always been a fan of BMW's old straight 6s, and this is the punchiest and nicest sounding '25 I have experienced (I think they get better with miles). I am told I need to do some valve thing to help the gear change - it's okay, but not great.
There are a few other bits and bobs - the headlights are cloudy, the driver's seatbelt retracts slowly, the BMW badge on the front requires renewal (ordered), it needs floormats that don't have an ///////M type logo on them.
But the alloys have been refurbed, the roof and roof motor replaced recently, and the interior is in great condition. And I rather like it. A nice car to zip about in over the summer. Hopefully.
I'm very impressed - these cars take the miles very well indeed!
