Oppo, what sort of horror would come from owning an old Z3/Z4?

"Honeybunchesofgoats" (honeybunche0fgoats) 11/17/2016 at 09:23 • Filed to: None

1

49

I’ve recently decided that I prefer commuting in small cars and I’ve noticed that I’m becoming more and more fascinated by Z3s and Z4s that I see on the road. They also seem to be in this sort of sweet spot of $6k–$10k.

The thing is, I know nothing about BMWs, and they sort of scare me, even though I daily an old Jag.

Let’s take this for example:

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

2003 3.0, 102k miles, manual, $6,495.

There are zero photos with the top down, which makes me think it’s broken. Also, that thing on the right that looks like an ash tray is clearly broken. Otherwise, it looks okayish, cosmetically, except for the red leather, which I despise.

How would a car like this try to bankrupt its next owner?

Arrivederci > Honeybunchesofgoats 11/17/2016 at 09:26

1

That red leather is grotesque, but I don’t think this thing would bankrupt you. I bet it would start nickel and diming you if you wanted to keep it 100%, but I haven’t heard any horror stories about these guys.

Nibby > Honeybunchesofgoats 11/17/2016 at 09:27

2

An ex-Jalopnik user has a 2006 Z4M coupe and she DDs it. Seems pretty reliable by BMW standards.

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > Honeybunchesofgoats 11/17/2016 at 09:27

4

If you have any problems... LS swap. But oh do I love that red BMW leather

Honeybunchesofgoats > Arrivederci 11/17/2016 at 09:29

0

I’m already close to $2k in the hole on suspension repairs for my Jag this year (with the rear shocks still on my todo list for next Spring), so I’m weirdly at peace with cars nickel and diming me.

E90M3 > Honeybunchesofgoats 11/17/2016 at 09:33

2

That car has an M54 in it, I haven’t heard really any horror stories about them.

EL_ULY > Honeybunchesofgoats 11/17/2016 at 09:35

11

Mine has been awesome!!!!

Engine is solid and likes to be revved. Drives and handles like a dream! Looks rad even today. Only known issues they tend to have on a 2.5 like mine besides regular every car maintenance* is random binding on the steering that i’ve felt a couple times but nothing to panic about and it was just through that drive cycle and didn’t come back. hydro roof top is actually pretty solid on these. When you break the car down, it is once of the least complicated BMWs.

All that radness at $7,000, what a deal!!!!!

*every car needs maintenance. Never be bummed out if someone says, “you need to replace the radiator and control arms, and rotors, and blah blah” EVERY car needs those things lol :]

S65 > Honeybunchesofgoats 11/17/2016 at 09:38

4

404 - User No Longer Available > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars 11/17/2016 at 09:39

0

Korallrot Leder Vereinen!

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Honeybunchesofgoats 11/17/2016 at 09:42

6

Who cares just do it. The E85 Z4 is one of the best looking cars ever made. It has aged so well and I’m convinced that it is a future classic. Even if it isn’t running it will still look fantastic sitting in your driveway and that is worth the price.

Honeybunchesofgoats > EL_ULY 11/17/2016 at 09:42

0

That’s awesome. I thought this was another bad idea of mine, but it’s starting to seem like the only good car related idea I’ve ever had.

Honeybunchesofgoats > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com 11/17/2016 at 09:44

3

I like your thought process, even though it’s exactly the sort of thing that will lead me to one day buying a Land Rover.

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > 404 - User No Longer Available 11/17/2016 at 09:44

0

So great. The dash needs to be all black or have matching red though. The wood with the red in that Z car is a really bad combo.

smobgirl > Nibby 11/17/2016 at 09:46

0

God I love those.

EL_ULY > Honeybunchesofgoats 11/17/2016 at 09:49

3

E85 in BMW world is the odd “actually pretty solid” car mostly because it’s so basic. A German NC MX5 basically. Just look after it well like any other car and you’ll be golden. Plus, they look modern still and once nice and shiny, it is indeed a looker compared to other cars on the road.

Honeybunchesofgoats > EL_ULY 11/17/2016 at 09:52

0

That’s what I was sort of hoping. Plus since the one I linked to is a 2003, it seems like it’s pretty spartan in terms of gadgets.

I also totally agree on the looks. I’m a sucker for cars that age well. Yours is gorgeous!

E90M3 > EL_ULY 11/17/2016 at 09:55

0

Wasn’t the E85 the first BMW to have electric power steering?

E90M3 > 404 - User No Longer Available 11/17/2016 at 09:56

0

Your F30 a 328i or a 320i? I have forgotten.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Honeybunchesofgoats 11/17/2016 at 09:57

0

Do it. I really really wanted one of these myself but manuals are impossible to find locally so I went with an NB instead. One of the best looking vehicles BMW has ever made.

404 - User No Longer Available > E90M3 11/17/2016 at 09:59

0

328i.

E92M3 > Honeybunchesofgoats 11/17/2016 at 10:00

0

Can’t be less reliable than an old Jag. Can you do your own maintenance?

E90M3 > 404 - User No Longer Available 11/17/2016 at 10:02

0

Ah nice, I’ve only driven a 320i from that generation, also with a 6MT, thought it needed a bit more power. Driven a 528i and a 228i, those felt pretty decent actually. Well, the steering in the 228i was kinda numb; the 5 felt pretty good despite being electric.

EL_ULY > E90M3 11/17/2016 at 10:14

0

yes indeed and it feels ultra kickass compared to modern cars and high end performance cars for the most part. I can still feel things even on the most eco of ecoboxes, but as far as the Z4, it is perfect :]

EL_ULY > Honeybunchesofgoats 11/17/2016 at 10:15

1

Thanks buddy. It’s hard to find an unhappy e85 owner compared to other cars.

Garrett Davis > Honeybunchesofgoats 11/17/2016 at 10:17

1

Do eet! They can’t be any worse than a comparable E46, besides the convertible top.

Ilike_cougars > Honeybunchesofgoats 11/17/2016 at 10:18

2

I have a 07 M roadster.. hit a curb sideways on a winter day, had to get new suspension components on 3 corners (no body damage). Costed me $8500, a normal Z4 will probably be less for the same scenario.. but if you can fairly diy some of the maintenance, it ma work out.

404 - User No Longer Available > E90M3 11/17/2016 at 10:19

0

I was actually thinking the other day maybe I should have went for the 320i instead of the 328i. It packs power but I can’t use it all with my 99.99% city use. The dealer got one later for a bit cheaper, wee bit more mileage but not outrageous and still low. Has the split fold seats I’m sorely missing. But no red seats, just your usual bland lease special white on black.

Or maybe I’m just getting old.

E90M3 > 404 - User No Longer Available 11/17/2016 at 10:20

0

Split fold seats aren’t standard?

for Michigan > Honeybunchesofgoats 11/17/2016 at 10:21

1

If you already daily an old Jag, I can’t imagine an E85 would be in any way worse from a reliability standpoint.

Honeybunchesofgoats > E92M3 11/17/2016 at 10:30

0

Basic things, but springs terrify me, so nothing suspension related.

Honeybunchesofgoats > Ilike_cougars 11/17/2016 at 10:32

0

Oof. That would be my worry, since I don’t do any sort of suspension work myself. I have a great Jag specialist who occasionally works on German cars, so I’m pretty confident I wouldn’t get taken on repairs, but that’s... a lot.

Honeybunchesofgoats > for Michigan 11/17/2016 at 10:33

1

Surprisingly, the Jag is actually super solid in terms of powertrain, which is the only thing that really concerns me.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Honeybunchesofgoats 11/17/2016 at 11:00

1

Miata miata miata miata miata miata. If its too slow, supercharger! Even with FI, it would be more reliable than the Beemer!

You could score a decent sub 100k mile NB2 for like $5-$6k, add a hard top, nice tires, and you would be set.

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > Honeybunchesofgoats 11/17/2016 at 11:15

1

In all the research I did, people had almost all good things to say about the reliability of the Z3. I believe they have less electronics than other bmws of the time frame, and really that’s where you tend to see little frustrations. Otherwise, assuming you’re getting a manual and you do the scheduled maintenance on the cooling system, it should be fine.

finn's arm > Ilike_cougars 11/17/2016 at 11:18

0

Jeez, did you need a new front & rear subframe and some welding work done? What cost so much?!?! (I am presuming labor)

404 - User No Longer Available > E90M3 11/17/2016 at 11:36

0

Nope, not until last year with the LCI.

CaptDale - is secretly British > 404 - User No Longer Available 11/17/2016 at 11:38

0

Too much red, but that’s just my take.

CaptDale - is secretly British > Honeybunchesofgoats 11/17/2016 at 11:39

0

PAGING TFRITCH

404 - User No Longer Available > CaptDale - is secretly British 11/17/2016 at 11:42

0

CaptDale - is secretly British > 404 - User No Longer Available 11/17/2016 at 11:47

0

MyJeepGetsStuckInTheSnow > Honeybunchesofgoats 11/17/2016 at 11:51

1

Mmmm. Not so much. When you do a little more research you will find 3L with sport package in good shape is kinda hard to find for cheap. This is a good find. Spartan relatively yes but this one looks optioned ok.

404 - User No Longer Available > CaptDale - is secretly British 11/17/2016 at 11:53

0

Lol. Believe it or not, it was that car that triggered me to get a red interior for Valka. My sis had a 1990 Corsica LT in that very colour combo. Just an older version of the interior.

RallyWrench > Honeybunchesofgoats 11/17/2016 at 12:14

2

The Z4 is actually a damn fine little car, great to drive and pretty easy to work on. You can actually bear hug the engine, there’s heaps of room under the hood. The top motors can get submerged with water and die, which is expensive, but not a lot goes wrong with cars in general. If I was into convertibles, I’d get a 3.0 (M54) with a manual.

I don’t much care for Z3's, they lack in quality and don’t feel good to drive to me, a lot of cowl shake. The newer the better, though. The M roadsters are a riot because that kind of power and grip in a car that size always will be, and the facelifted (more a buttlift) cars, particularly the 3.0, can be fun, but cramped. None are unreliable though.

Honeybunchesofgoats > MyJeepGetsStuckInTheSnow 11/17/2016 at 12:27

0

I actually see relatively spartan as a plus, honestly. Not a day goes by when I’m not happy that my old Jag wasn’t optioned with a car phone or 2001 GPS system.

CaptDale - is secretly British > 404 - User No Longer Available 11/17/2016 at 12:28

0

NO! Red should only be an accent color like the stitching and seat belts. Maybe an insert here and there, but never ever ever ever a main color to any vehicle interior.

Honeybunchesofgoats > RallyWrench 11/17/2016 at 12:29

0

This is really encouraging!

MyJeepGetsStuckInTheSnow > Honeybunchesofgoats 11/17/2016 at 12:44

0

Lol. Yeah I agree. I am living the nightmare of a well optioned FCA product right now. Electrical and programming faults everywhere.

Ilike_cougars > finn's arm 11/17/2016 at 16:32

0

If I remember right it was the upper and lower control arms, the shock, and other odds and ends for the front left. Lower control arms for both rear sides. the tie rod had sheared both connecting ends. There was a few more things that got changed. but these were definitely the high cost parts. And btw its still not fixed completely after 2 years..I had new brake rotors at the time and the front left got warped, which I still have to get changed, probably going to cost me another 600-700 more if I do it on my own..

I got the repair done at a BMW dealer so the labor was probably a good chunk. and my insurance only covered about 6500 the rest was out of pocket. So a lot to think about.

Ilike_cougars > Honeybunchesofgoats 11/17/2016 at 16:37

0

Yeah make sure you have a local guy that wont rip you off.. and I have had a lot of trouble with shops not willing to put on OEM parts if you bring them in. also look at my response for finn’s arm for a break down of what needed to be done, to get my car back on the road. But remember, most of the suspension on the Z4m are specific to the car, and had to be imported from Germany directly from the factory. May not be the case with a regular Z4.

finn's arm > Ilike_cougars 11/17/2016 at 18:20

0

It’s gotten easier to source parts and get OEM or OEM+ for great prices since I started on BMW’s back in the day. A lot of parts are cross listed for different models b/c BMW’s are sort of parts bins cars.