Early Z3 bought!

[Andyboy]

January 1997 built, first owner BMW GB so might have been a press car. 17 inch wheels, leather, 'oops, heated seats and computer. I bought it to break but it seems a shame - I'll know more when I get it back and have a good dig. It's got the original BMW radio cassette player, owners book pack and a stack of invoices so if it's not terminal I'll have to save it.

The rear window is a bit of a sod but the hood itself is in exceptional condition.

 

[Gatsoburner]

Get onto BMW parts dept if you know anyone. ( call in if you dont ! ) Get the build sheet, itll tell you in codes what it was built for, where it was planned to go and all the numbers for it's build.
Look into each code on Google.
Funnily enough I looked at mine today and it's come up with interesting facts on it's buil, quite a unique car.

 

[Ianmc]

Mine was built in April 97. First use was as a demonstrator (has all available factory extras fitted from new). Sold after 6 months (Jan 98) by main dealer for £26,500. Have all receipts following.
I do like the early cars. Has to be worth saving if as good as the pictures suggest!!

 

[Andyboy]

It's a tough call. I've now got it back.

The rear sill rust is 9/10 of bugger all. The last MOT was pretty harsh and it's nowhere near as doom and gloom as it suggests. It's actually tidy underneath and the trailing arms are clean.
It starts, runs and drives well enough. Everything works. Both mirrors have the plastic bases and it has the original owners handbook and wallet. The heated seats seem to work.

But:

It needs a drivers door lock as you can't lock it from the key and the drivers door pull has had an interesting repair which to be fair works well enough but the door card is a bit distressed. The intake boot is more insulating tape than rubber. Lots of small annoying fixes plus one big one - the rear window. That's the killer.

I can break it to £2500+ easily and what is a P reg 102,000 mile Z3 worth as an MOT'd car? About £2500 on a very good day and you have to deal with countless idiots. I don't want to pull this apart but...

 

[colb]

Shame to break it if what you describe needs doing, sounds like it wouldn't clean your wallet out.

 

[Andyboy]

If anyone wants to save it, it’s £1000 as it stands. I already have someone on the roll hoops.

 

[Paul Rice]

I had the same delemer, mine was a car i had owned for several good years but the simple fact was it was worth about £1400 and the hassle of selling. alternatively stripping and selling the parts i chose the latter. Yes it was a sound financial desition to strip and the big benefit all the parts were sold through the forum and i still get to see Zeds running around with parts from my old Zed, As you say Andy it doesn't really make financial sense.

 

[Andyboy]

I worked out that parts from the last Z3 I dismantled were used in 34 other Z3's. The engine went to South Africa to be used in an E30. Lots of parts such as the trailing arms are NLA new and many are rotten now.

Nothing is wasted here.

It's unfortunate that the narrow body 1.9's, as good as they are, just aren't worth a lot.

 

[Duncodin]

I had the same delemer, mine was a car i had owned for several good years but the simple fact was it was worth about £1400 and the hassle of selling. alternatively stripping and selling the parts i chose the latter. Yes it was a sound financial desition to strip and the big benefit all the parts were sold through the forum and i still get to see Zeds running around with parts from my old Zed, As you say Andy it doesn't really make financial sense.

After nigh on 20 years of ownership I was looking at mine through the same eyes. Completely beyond economical repair.

So I did this to it.

I know many zed'ers think that rebodying a classic z3 is sacrilege and we should be excommunicated. But it saved this z3 from the breaker.

 

[Paul Rice]

After nigh on 20 years of ownership I was looking at mine through the same eyes. Completely beyond economical repair.

So I did this to it.View attachment 368131

I know many zed'ers think that rebodying a classic z3 is sacrilege and we should be excommunicated. But it saved this z3 from the breaker.

Excellent

 

[Andyboy]

This is why I'm not saving the black one - 42,000 miles, hardtop and £2900.

 

[Ianmc]

Assume that's the reserve?

 

[Andyboy]

Sold price.