2.8 envy.

[oldcarman]

Sadly Connor, your logic may not be quite as sound as you think...

Once you have saved up and got your 2.8 you will look at it and think.... "new exhaust, new suspension, air filter and other bits and pieces..."

Thanks Dad, you put it out there exactly as I was going to!! Jr.

 

[Jack Ratt]

I got 32mpg from my car on a trip to York last year, motorway most of the way at 70-90mph which I think is ok for an auto

 

[Dino D]

Sadly Connor, your logic may not be quite as sound as you think...

Once you have saved up and got your 2.8 you will look at it and think.... "new exhaust, new suspension, air filter and other bits and pieces..."

Yes but then at the end you look at your 1.9 and think I've spent so much I could have bought and 2.8 and added on slowly to that...!!
I look at my 2.8 and think it's had more spent on it than what would have cost to buy an M...it never ends!
However that is over a period of time and a lot of it was refreshing old parts which I would have done to a similar mileage M anyway.
And to further console myself I tell myself an M is just too much power anyway...and I make sure I never drive one so I am non the wiser!!

Or look for one that already has some of the bits that you want done, typically modified cars sell for less than original (which is funny because original cars now wallow like boats compared to one with fresh set of coil overs etc!).

My view is to Get a 6cyl and if you short on funds after purchase just modify the exhaust and air intake (there are cheap/free ways) and liberate the sound then the rest doesn't matter much after that! The big fun for me is the sound with roof down, just great.
Then save up and add the mods you want over time.
But get a 6cyl!

 

[TaffZee]

Hi David, I run 36 psi in all my tires as 99% of my driving is hiway. Try upping your's next time and you should hit 40 but don't tell Taffzee. He won't believe there are two Zeds that hit the 40mpg Mark and one a 2.8 no less!!! lol JIM

Its not that I dont believe you, but on average my 2.8 does around 28mpg this has been reported by various owners, I have never been able to get mine much over 28mpg, I have had it showing 38mpg on the computer but as we all know you can not trust the reading from these are they are not consistant, my calculations are based on mileage done and fuel used, During a cruise the mpg will drop to around 22mpg (if I am lucky) the worst I have ever done is 180 miles from a full tank

But you have to take into consideration who attends my Cruises around North Wales. As they are mostly Road Hooligans anyway (Including Myself)

 

[Mint]

But you have to take into consideration who attends my Cruises around North Wales. As they are mostly Road Hooligans anyway (Including Myself)

Jim, I'm only trying to keep up with you on your (brilliant) cruises

 

[Connor]

So there's one on eBay right now about 50 miles from me looks in good condition, 80000 miles they've owned it since 2002 just needs new mirrors as the others have corroded. Any one want to make me an offer?

90,000 miles 1.9 good tyres all round (not matching though) have new seat bushes ready to fit, have a new screen to fit (kindly gifted by frankie), couple of small dents in the bonnet, no leaks or anything. Other than that all is great with the old girl. Just wondering how much I should be asking.

Has service history, last owner serviced at a couple of thousand miles ago.

Connor

 

[Hugo]

3.0 litre all the way. Over 30bhp more than the 2.8 and a Limited slip diff.

 

[Dino D]

3.0 litre all the way. Over 30bhp more than the 2.8 and a Limited slip diff.

The 30bhp extra is nice but the price difference and availability when comparing 2.8 to 3.0 make it an expensive way to get 30bhp due to availability.
There are plenty of 2.8's out there but a lot less 3.0's and of course they are newer being at the end of the model life.

Good point on LSD, gotta have one.
I believe all 2.8's have an LSD anyway. Mine certainly does.
Not sure about the 2.0 and 2.2 6cyls.

 

[GazHyde]

My 2.0 didn't have a slippy diff, but my 2.2i does because it's a factory Sport model

 

[roadvoyager1]

And back on the topic of Conner getting a 2.8ltr...... If you can afford it, then do it!

On that note how much mpgs are we talking?
I've been getting about 30 because a lot of my day to day driving is a 2 mile drive to work, when the car only just warms up.

I agree that 28-30mpg on a run is realistic (I believe this is pretty typical for all of the non-M 6 cyl models). Push on a bit, or drive in heavy city traffic and you will be below 25mpg. Your 2 mile drive to work will not be good for the car or fuel consumption. Find a longer route to work, get the engine up to temperature and enjoy the drive whenever you can. OK so you will use more petrol, but your mpg will be better and you will have fun. Alternatively get a bike for the 2 mile trips and save the car for when you can use it properly.

As far as I am aware LSD was standard on 2.8ltr. Later cars (after Oct. 98) got the M52 twin Vanos engine which is supposed to improve power delivery above 3,000rpm. 2.2ltr/3.0ltr came in with the facelift and use the M54 engines, which I believe tend to like a little more oil (according to a reply to a letter in BMWCC Mag, page 45 - the BMW limit for an M54 engine is 1 ltr/620miles). Perhaps relevant owners will chip in with personal experience.

Enjoy the search and get a good one.

 

[roadvoyager1]

After posting yesterday I noticed a 2.0ltr and 2.8ltr on Autotraders which were year 2000 and facelift models. Seems that the engine change to 2.2/3.0ltr was 2001. Apologies for inaccurate info. More on the history in this article https://zroadster.org/articles/bmw-z3-history-by-mike-fishwick.18/

 

[reddyzeddygo]

He did the 1.9

Ditto from me - the 1.9i is just plain awesome!

 

[DivideBYZero]

The 2.2 has a nice sound, enough power to get down the road at a fair pace and still returns an average MPG of around 30 odd. With the price of fuel being at 2001 prices, why not go for the biggest you can, I'd look at the 3.0 if I could find one in the same condition and option set as my 2.2.

 

[Tinman]

25% lsd standard on 2.8. Honestly I think the power delivery from my old thing is more than enough to get me in trouble so a phase 2 or 3litre don't have more than cosmetic appeal as for an MZ well in my case Suicide but an M coupe hmmm, now where did I put that winning lottery ticket?

 

[roadvoyager1]

With the price of fuel being at 2001 prices, .

Where are you getting your petrol from?

2001 prices ranged from 70p tp 80p per litre. http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/fuel/fuel-price-archive.html.

Maybe in a few weeks we will be see these prices........we can but hope. For comparison in the US price for a gallon (us gallon 3.78 ltr) was around $1.50. Nice.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Where are you getting your petrol from?

2001 prices ranged from 70p tp 80p per litre. http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/fuel/fuel-price-archive.html.

Maybe in a few weeks we will be see these prices........we can but hope. For comparison in the US price for a gallon (us gallon 3.78 ltr) was around $1.50. Nice.

Haha, OK, you got me, I have had a fuel card since 2000, so maybe I'm not as in touch as I could have been.

2007, then!

 

[oldcarman]

Where are you getting your petrol from?

2001 prices ranged from 70p tp 80p per litre. http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/fuel/fuel-price-archive.html.

Maybe in a few weeks we will be see these prices........we can but hope. For comparison in the US price for a gallon (us gallon 3.78 ltr) was around $1.50. Nice.

Price has just gone up to $.85.9L in town here. Winnipeg is still lower. Don't understand why if the price of oil is still dropping the need to raise the price. Getting gouged by oil co. Is just a way of life we all live with. JIM

 

[hard top]

They can do what they like Jim. And these guys pay my salary.........

 

[oldcarman]

They can do what they like Jim. And these guys pay my salary.........

Actually we pay your salary then??

 

[hard top]

No Jim, you are paying the government.