Engine size......What size suits all ?????

[sata]

Well, thanks again to all the folk who took the time to help me on my quest..... sure is appreciated....

As I said earlier I am going to have a look at a 2.8 over the weekend, at a BMW specialist that is only 10 miles away from where I live.... its way overpriced but am hoping it will give me the goose bumps like so many have said the 2.8 does..... so looking forward to that....

Also, for me its not about MPG its about which is the "best suited" for what I want to do with it..... feeding the donkey doesn't bother me as its a 2nd car anyway... and will get more attention throughout the week than the daily driver as I do like a "nice clean car for the weekends sir"

One other thing I wanted to ask, was, when BMW did the facelift did they change/add new colours, etc for the exterior, and also did they do options for different wheels etc..... have been trying to find a bit more info out so that when I see something, I can see what is in front of me.... "properly" and know what I am getting....

Thanks again to all ...it really does amaze me how friendly and helpful this forum is....

rgds

Lyndon...aka Sata

 

[roadvoyager1]

Hi Guys n Gals.
I am creating this thread so we can all add links that would be usefull in relation to the Zeds.

http://www.carbibles.com/tyre_bible.html This is usefull for anyone wanting to calculate Different Tyre and wheel sizes.

http://users.belgacom.net/bmw_z3/bmw_z3 ... ations.htm All the models and Specifications of the Zed range

Have a look at the menu and find the Z3 roadster and coupe section.
The quote above is from a thread " Useful bits" which as you go down the list will give links to brochures for various years.
Happy hunting.

 

[steveyorks]

I had a 98 2.8, then a couple of Z4s and am now back to a Z3 with the 2.2 engine. Personally the Z4 does not do it for me at all. the quality was not as good as the z3 and I hated the electric steering on the motorway even after changing from the runflats which is essential. I was looking for another 2.8 but liked this particular 2.2 and to be fair I love it. What others say about the engine noise is very true and for me it makes up for having less grunt than the 2.8, for others it may not do.

 

[Nodzed]

Depends what you want out of the car, they all provide top down fun motoring, if you like performance / torque 2.8 or 3.0. If you want to tootle around enjoying the scenery I suspect the engine size is probably not a real concern. Condition is (more) important probably better a really nice 1.9 or 2.0 than a dog of a 2.8 thats going to cost a fortune to put right. As has been said try as many different types as possible and I suspect you will find the one you prefer.

 

[madleemark]

on the subject of fuel, i had a holiday down in cornwall, did 1100odd miles,some motorway, cruising and some blasting it, i carnt resist sometimes and still got 30+ mpg, thats using the trip to measure not the computer, i thought that was quite good

 

[Nodzed]

on the subject of fuel, i had a holiday down in cornwall, did 1100odd miles,some motorway, cruising and some blasting it, i carnt resist sometimes and still got 30+ mpg, thats using the trip to measure not the computer, i thought that was quite good

You weren't driving it fast enough

 

[madleemark]

who needs fast when you have z3 style lol

 

[katkwak]

Ok 1 i,m a bike rider Kawasaki z750 love bike but i,m getting old &
wanted a sports car open top seen a 1.9 m44 in black good nick & cheap
so if it did not suit me nothing lost & sell it again
but i love it spent the money i saved on extra,s
fast no but sticks to the road like s*** on a shovel
throw it around like the bike it just sit there saying is that it
want a fast car nope i want you to see me & go green with envy
just like the rest of the street who now some how want to chat with us for some reason
so during the lastest heat wave
was i out on the bike tearing along the roads
or in the Z driving along the lanes town see who was looking at me & the z
the z was out every day & boy do you get people looking
young hoodie,s in there fast hatch back boy racers am , i bothers look at the face nah
did the snake pass with the hood down throwing the z into corners
& 80,s music ringing in my ear grinning like the cat who got the cream
just over 3 weeks ive had the car love every second of it
met a bunch of reprobate,s last sunday my kind of people total nutters & then some but what a gang
test drive the z & if your like me will know straight away which ones for you
there was some beautiful z4s 1.9 2.0 2.2 2.8 there then there was just 1 i loved & its was mine
pete (katkwak)

 

[madleemark]

wow katkwak, you hooked on z3 then! my z3 gets more use than my mobykes, still love to ride my bikes and hope to keep riding, but find my z3 so much fun,

 

[steveyorks]

katkwak has got it nicely there. Get your type of music on, go at your speeds...as long as it does it for you then that's all that matters!

 

[Mike Trident]

Sata has not been back! must have had a go in one over the weekend and thought they were Sh**e

 

[katkwak]

or still driving it

 

[Mike Trident]

possibly lol. However, if you get in one and expect it to be like driving a modern car I think you would be in for a serious shock. You have to remember it was designed 25 ish years ago, last century even lol

 

[t-tony]

possibly lol. However, if you get in one and expect it to be like driving a modern car I think you would be in for a serious shock. You have to remember it was designed 25 ish years ago, last century even lol

But if driving one doesn't put a smile on your face in minutes you're wasting your time!

Tony.

 

[sata]

Not vanished yet, lads......

So I had better tell you what I found out whilst having a look at a couple of Z3's eh....

Well, the 2 cars in question were a 2.8 on a "r"plate with 134k on the clock.... selling locally at a sports car specialists for a tad over 4.5k, and a 1.9 120bhp or there about.... on a W plate with 80ish K on the clock, again selling at a Beemer specialist, selling for a tad over 2.25k....

Maybe not a fair comparison, but I may as well tell you what I thought anyway.... drove the 2.8 first, and it felt really nice engine wise but also felt like it could do with a suspension re-furb as it felt "sloppy" and not as tight on the steering as it should be.... the engine was lovely and that burble and roar was all there.... very torquey... and like others have said... 30mph upwards it just kept going .... wanting to be driven and revved really easily, maybe it was the suspension letting it down but it failed on cornering... trying to sum it up... its a "thug of a car" and again maybe just this one but you did have to ease off quite a bit when cornering... slip it on top on the dual carriageway and it was very nice as a cruiser.... the best I can describe it is that it felt really heavy on the front.... maybe due to the weight of the straight six...

Moving on to the 1.9, well it was no roarer and no where near as revvy as the 2.8 and obviously it did not have the "get up and go" that the 2.8 had.... but.... it did handle like a dream.... it cornered like it was on rails and although you did have to "work at it" it was a really nice drive.... the balance just seemed to be right, just what you need from a sports car,.... it felt more "finessed" if that makes sense..If I was to choose one then it was obviously the 1.9..... maybe the 2.8 was a bad one.... so I am going to go for another one and see what that drives like.... notice that I didn't mention money when it came to driving one.... as that wasn't the issue here.... I wanted to find out what the difference was between the models... engine wise.... am I any closer to seeing and making up that list of what I want from a BMW Z3.... yes I am... I would not buck from having a 1.9 at all, BUT it would have to be the right colour, interior, low mileage, fsh, as once brought I would not want to be bothering with upgrading or anything late on... I would like to get "just the right one"....and I am sure that once I see it ....it will talk to me and tell me to buy it.... lol.....

On a different note, one thing I did like was the build quality ... it just oozes from both cars...even the r plate one was really nice body wise and looked lovely and also you can tell if it has been put together right and like I say... they have.... and I was very impressed, it certainly didn't feel like a car designed 25 yrs ago.... would I give one garage space.... you bet.... the looking goes on.... cheers for reading... hope this makes sense to the guys and gals who own these beautiful cars....

rgds


Lyndon aka Sata

 

[andyglym]

Not vanished yet, lads......

So I had better tell you what I found out whilst having a look at a couple of Z3's eh....

Well, the 2 cars in question were a 2.8 on a "r"plate with 134k on the clock.... selling locally at a sports car specialists for a tad over 4.5k, and a 1.9 120bhp or there about.... on a W plate with 80ish K on the clock, again selling at a Beemer specialist, selling for a tad over 2.25k....

Maybe not a fair comparison, but I may as well tell you what I thought anyway.... drove the 2.8 first, and it felt really nice engine wise but also felt like it could do with a suspension re-furb as it felt "sloppy" and not as tight on the steering as it should be.... the engine was lovely and that burble and roar was all there.... very torquey... and like others have said... 30mph upwards it just kept going .... wanting to be driven and revved really easily, maybe it was the suspension letting it down but it failed on cornering... trying to sum it up... its a "thug of a car" and again maybe just this one but you did have to ease off quite a bit when cornering... slip it on top on the dual carriageway and it was very nice as a cruiser.... the best I can describe it is that it felt really heavy on the front.... maybe due to the weight of the straight six...

Moving on to the 1.9, well it was no roarer and no where near as revvy as the 2.8 and obviously it did not have the "get up and go" that the 2.8 had.... but.... it did handle like a dream.... it cornered like it was on rails and although you did have to "work at it" it was a really nice drive.... the balance just seemed to be right, just what you need from a sports car,.... it felt more "finessed" if that makes sense..If I was to choose one then it was obviously the 1.9..... maybe the 2.8 was a bad one.... so I am going to go for another one and see what that drives like.... notice that I didn't mention money when it came to driving one.... as that wasn't the issue here.... I wanted to find out what the difference was between the models... engine wise.... am I any closer to seeing and making up that list of what I want from a BMW Z3.... yes I am... I would not buck from having a 1.9 at all, BUT it would have to be the right colour, interior, low mileage, fsh, as once brought I would not want to be bothering with upgrading or anything late on... I would like to get "just the right one"....and I am sure that once I see it ....it will talk to me and tell me to buy it.... lol.....

On a different note, one thing I did like was the build quality ... it just oozes from both cars...even the r plate one was really nice body wise and looked lovely and also you can tell if it has been put together right and like I say... they have.... and I was very impressed, it certainly didn't feel like a car designed 25 yrs ago.... would I give one garage space.... you bet.... the looking goes on.... cheers for reading... hope this makes sense to the guys and gals who own these beautiful cars....

rgds


Lyndon aka Sata

Good skills mate, time is on your side as there are plenty out there and with winter on the way you are holding more cards than normal. Good luck and hope you get the right one for you.

 

[Grumps]

That 2.8 is quite dear with 134k up it. You can do better for less. Shop carefully mate.

 

[handsomejackuk]

Drove my brothers 1.9 he picked up cheaply last year, and loved it, i was on the look out for something similar, and almost bought a megane convertible, but so glad i didnt, then this Montreal Blue 1.9 turned up. supposedly previoulsy owned by Owen Moneys Daughter ( welsh comedian) certainly has got a lot of bills with it for work that has been done, and had a new blue roof fitted air con, heated seats and lovely wood veneer dash gear knob, and beige entended leather. no history on the first ten years, but plenty after, anyway have had the 1.9 for 3 months now and still not really pushed it too hard, but love the fuel consumption, plenty of low down torque through the gears no real need to rev it out, but if you let it rev out it goes real well... would like to try a bigger engine z3 like a 2.2 but for the moment quite happy with this.... just my opinions so far....

 

[Jonno Bee]

I went for the 2.8 six pot for the exhaust note and the grunt when required. I love the the pre face lift shape. My preference was to buy non trade, an unmolested example I could improve. You should leave some money in your budget for re bushing suspension, replacing shocks etc as these cars are approaching 20 years old. Its work you can do as a rolling restoration if you like and will improve what is already a great drivers car regardless of engine size. Happy hunting!

Jonno

 

[Mike Trident]

But if driving one doesn't put a smile on your face in minutes you're wasting your time!

I agree Tony, my beemer certainly does that. It is exactly what I expected it to be. Unfortunately since I got my Z in April, my bikes are not getting much use lol.