SIGforum.com    Main Page  Hop To Forum Categories  The Lounge    Any BMW Z3 owners?
Page 1 2 
Go
New
Find
Notify
Tools
Reply
  
Any BMW Z3 owners? Login/Join 
in the end karma
always catches up
posted
The GF is continuing her quest for a small convertible and has found a nice one near us at a decent price? I have a lot of experience with NA and NB Miata but I don’t know anything about Z3’s except they are probably expensive to repair. What are common problems? Timming belts? Any years or options to stay away from?

Thanks ed


" The people shall have a right to bear arms, for the defense of themselves and the State" Art 1 Sec 32 Indiana State Constitution

YAT-YAS
 
Posts: 3749 | Location: Northwest, In | Registered: December 03, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Raptorman
Picture of Mars_Attacks
posted Hide Post
They are a timing chain engine with a pair of VANOS variable valve timing gears. No timing belt.

#1 issue with my 325ci convertible has been the lower control arm bushings. Stupid easy to replace and cheap.

Vacuum leaks are a gremlin that will trigger a lean code.

Oil filter is a canister on top of the engine. Again, stupid easy to change.


____________________________

Eeewwww, don't touch it!
Here, poke at it with this stick.
 
Posts: 34562 | Location: North, GA | Registered: October 09, 2002Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Savor the limelight
posted Hide Post
My parents own a 1997 Z3 2.8 automatic with 17,000 miles. The driver's seat can become "loose", but there is a fix for in on the internet. Personally, I wish it were a manual transmission.
 
Posts: 11968 | Location: SWFL | Registered: October 10, 2007Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
Picture of cparktd
posted Hide Post
Sister and hubby have close friends who several years ago, maybe 10 or so, bought two. His and Hers. They kept them a few years and sold them both and bought two Miatas. Only thing I really heard was he got tired of the constant upkeep problems and cost. IIRC the last straw was a 1,200 brake job, for one axle. But he is an extreme neat / perfection freak. They also sold the Miatas off after a couple years and bought minivans... LOL!... when kids started coming along to tote around.



Collecting dust.
 
Posts: 4214 | Location: Middle Tennessee | Registered: February 07, 2013Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
posted Hide Post
Don't pull all of the way up to and run into parking stops with the front, it cracks the radiator and you'll end up losing coolant and blowing the motor. I had a tenant who's a dingbat. She blew the motor twice in her z3, once in her z4 that replaced it, and now she has a PT cruiser (even worse).
 
Posts: 21428 | Registered: June 12, 2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
Picture of sigmoid
posted Hide Post
Bought honey a Z4, runs great!
Water pumps are a regular replacement items at intervals
Her smiles are worth the upkeep


________,_____________________________
Guns don't kill people - Alec Baldwin kills people.
He's never been a straight shooter.
 
Posts: 1355 | Location: Idaho | Registered: July 07, 2010Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Rail-less
and
Tail-less
posted Hide Post
Tell her to get a 2003-2008 Z4. They are very basic cars compared to other bimmers. Not a lot of electrics and such. The engine and trans are bullet proof. Just remember that BMW 3.0 liter 6’s need the valve cover gasket replaced at about 60k miles. The convertible top motors and hydraulics tend to go bad in Z4’s due to water getting into the system but if it does you can still manually operate the top so no biggie.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Dusty78,


_______________________________________________
Use thumb-size bullets to create fist-size holes.
 
Posts: 13190 | Location: Charlotte, NC | Registered: May 07, 2007Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Dances With
Tornados
posted Hide Post
FWIW there is a guy on YouTube named Nathan. He's an independent BMW repair guy and likes to show people how to fix their own BMW cars, as well as how to buy used ones. I've learned a lot from him. If nothing else you learn what to look for when buying a used one, including how to find a good mechanic, parts, what services, how to avoid bound ripped off, etc Nathan's DIY BMW
 
Posts: 12063 | Location: Near Hooker Oklahoma, closer to Slapout Oklahoma | Registered: October 26, 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
Picture of heisrizn
posted Hide Post
Set on Z series?

Looked at Pontiac Solstice or Saturn Sky?


________________________
P229 Stainless Elite
P320 X-Five Legion
P320 X-Carry

 
Posts: 1549 | Location: Fayetteville, NC | Registered: April 05, 2011Reply With QuoteReport This Post
in the end karma
always catches up
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by heisrizn:
Set on Z series?

Looked at Pontiac Solstice or Saturn Sky?


For some reason those never did anything for me...... I will suggest that to the GF and see what she thinks?


" The people shall have a right to bear arms, for the defense of themselves and the State" Art 1 Sec 32 Indiana State Constitution

YAT-YAS
 
Posts: 3749 | Location: Northwest, In | Registered: December 03, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
Picture of Seayall
posted Hide Post
I bought a 1998 Z3 at an auction last November. Car had 77K miles on it. Other then a couple oil leaks to address the car runs good. Fun to drive, not tons of power but enough for the size car it is. I found a local shop that handles BMW's so I have not had to take to the local dealership so the costs have not been bad.
 
Posts: 681 | Location: Cape Coral, FL | Registered: January 26, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Mensch
Picture of kz1000
posted Hide Post
My dad bought one new. Got lemon lawed. Defective motor.


------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Yidn, shreibt un fershreibt"

"The Nazis entered this war under the rather childish delusion that they were going to bomb everyone else, and nobody was going to bomb them. At Rotterdam, London, Warsaw and half a hundred other places, they put their rather naive theory into operation. They sowed the wind, and now they are going to reap the whirlwind."
-Bomber Harris
 
Posts: 16148 | Location: Ivorydale | Registered: January 21, 2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Set out once to become the world's greatest procrastinator, but never got around to it
Picture of Fdan
posted Hide Post
You mentioned the BMW but has she considered a used Porsche Boxster? Might be worth a look...


___________________________________________
The annual soothsayers and fortunetellers conference
has been canceled due to unforeseen circumstances.
 
Posts: 1994 | Location: Southern California | Registered: January 16, 2003Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Let's be careful
out there
posted Hide Post
Barbie Car.
 
Posts: 7334 | Location: NW OHIO | Registered: May 29, 2006Reply With QuoteReport This Post
in the end karma
always catches up
posted Hide Post
I didn’t think about a Boxster. I really wanted to push her towards a Miata but there just aren’t many in the area that are in good shape for good prices.


" The people shall have a right to bear arms, for the defense of themselves and the State" Art 1 Sec 32 Indiana State Constitution

YAT-YAS
 
Posts: 3749 | Location: Northwest, In | Registered: December 03, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Rail-less
and
Tail-less
posted Hide Post
What is she looking to spend?


_______________________________________________
Use thumb-size bullets to create fist-size holes.
 
Posts: 13190 | Location: Charlotte, NC | Registered: May 07, 2007Reply With QuoteReport This Post
in the end karma
always catches up
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by Dusty78:
What is she looking to spend?


Between $6 to $8 k give or take a little.


" The people shall have a right to bear arms, for the defense of themselves and the State" Art 1 Sec 32 Indiana State Constitution

YAT-YAS
 
Posts: 3749 | Location: Northwest, In | Registered: December 03, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Rail-less
and
Tail-less
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by Valpo Fz:
quote:
Originally posted by Dusty78:
What is she looking to spend?


Between $6 to $8 k give or take a little.


Something like this would be good.

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/...ed#listing=203260256

The problem is that she is looking to buy a convertible at the wrong time. The worst time to buy is spring. Kate fall and winter is when all the deals pop up. I am on my 3rd convertible and I would see the same car that was $35k in winter selling for $40k in the spring.

Some other good options

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/...ed#listing=188392280

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/...tDirection=undefined

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/...ed#listing=193819127

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/...ed#listing=201309555


_______________________________________________
Use thumb-size bullets to create fist-size holes.
 
Posts: 13190 | Location: Charlotte, NC | Registered: May 07, 2007Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by Valpo Fz:
quote:
Originally posted by Dusty78:
What is she looking to spend?


Between $6 to $8 k give or take a little.


At that price range and age a BMW is going to cost a fortune at the mechanics to keep it going.
 
Posts: 21428 | Registered: June 12, 2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post
in the end karma
always catches up
posted Hide Post
She really likes the Z3, but the maint makes me nervous. I could probably do a lot of it my self but I am really comfortable with Miatas and since I will be working on it...... also there are a ton of Miata parts and support out there. I would like to wait until fall and that was the plan we had discussed. I have to replace my septic system and that is got me not wanting to contribute some $$.


" The people shall have a right to bear arms, for the defense of themselves and the State" Art 1 Sec 32 Indiana State Constitution

YAT-YAS
 
Posts: 3749 | Location: Northwest, In | Registered: December 03, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
  Powered by Social Strata Page 1 2  
 

SIGforum.com    Main Page  Hop To Forum Categories  The Lounge    Any BMW Z3 owners?

© SIGforum 2024