Hi Zroadster.org!
It's been over 3 weeks since I did the bravest (or daftest) thing I've ever done and bought a Z3m unseen on EBay and thought you might be interested in how it all worked out. Also I have some basic questions that you experienced owners might help with.
Armed with only my train ticket, I travelled 3 hours to collect my winning bid. I was able to do a HPI which confirmed it wasn't a write off, a Cat C or D and that it was debt free. Also I was able to pick up some info from a friendly BMW dealer who suggested it had only done 2000 miles in the past 2 years. The existing owner had decided to let go after 12 months/500 miles due to lack of time.
The facts: its a 2002 build and seems to have every possible option bar a hardtop. It's done 82000 with 5 owners 2 of whom had ominously been and gone in the last 15 months. I drove it home with a huge grin on my face - a very different and much easier car to drive than the 911 albeit some may say less characterful. It certainly feels quicker although on paper there's not much to separate. Handling is a delight - so balanced!
I made it home to Somerset having driven it more miles in one day than it had been driven in almost a whole year! However- problems lay ahead as the next morning I backed it out of the garage only for it to start misfiring and for the engine management light to stay lit!! Oh dear - the look on my wife's face said it all!!!! I had to get the local garage to come and recover it on the Monday am and spent 2 days regretting my impetuosity. The call came 2 days later - "all fixed" and not the nightmare scenario I had feared. The ignition coil had broken on cyl5. Phew!
Equally interesting facts emerged as I went through the history. It appeared that the car was the recipient of a brand new engine at the Windsor dealership on warranty at 51000 and just over 4years old. My friendly local dealer confirmed this was the case and that the cause was a broken con rod! Therefore the engine has only done 31000 miles which has to be good news? Coincidently I took the car into the dealer to be checked over and they were very impressed with the car. A new S54 engine would apparently cost £14000 and there's only one in stock - in Germany! The car has a mainly BMW dealer history and every single MOT cert to verify mileage etc.
Couple of questions:
The gears are usually very slick but on a couple of times have become quite notchy. Usually when the car is hot. Is this common? Does the tonneau cover fit over the windbreak - I can't make both fit on the same catch. How do ou guys ensure your hoods are waterproof (not that I'm looking to get it too wet!)? My 911 lives in a carcoon in the winter and I'm a massive fan of them. Do any of you use cartoons and is there any reason a z3m shouldn't be kept in a cartoon ( I'm wondering about the more advanced electrics etc)
Excuse the lengthy note!
It's been over 3 weeks since I did the bravest (or daftest) thing I've ever done and bought a Z3m unseen on EBay and thought you might be interested in how it all worked out. Also I have some basic questions that you experienced owners might help with.
Armed with only my train ticket, I travelled 3 hours to collect my winning bid. I was able to do a HPI which confirmed it wasn't a write off, a Cat C or D and that it was debt free. Also I was able to pick up some info from a friendly BMW dealer who suggested it had only done 2000 miles in the past 2 years. The existing owner had decided to let go after 12 months/500 miles due to lack of time.
The facts: its a 2002 build and seems to have every possible option bar a hardtop. It's done 82000 with 5 owners 2 of whom had ominously been and gone in the last 15 months. I drove it home with a huge grin on my face - a very different and much easier car to drive than the 911 albeit some may say less characterful. It certainly feels quicker although on paper there's not much to separate. Handling is a delight - so balanced!
I made it home to Somerset having driven it more miles in one day than it had been driven in almost a whole year! However- problems lay ahead as the next morning I backed it out of the garage only for it to start misfiring and for the engine management light to stay lit!! Oh dear - the look on my wife's face said it all!!!! I had to get the local garage to come and recover it on the Monday am and spent 2 days regretting my impetuosity. The call came 2 days later - "all fixed" and not the nightmare scenario I had feared. The ignition coil had broken on cyl5. Phew!
Equally interesting facts emerged as I went through the history. It appeared that the car was the recipient of a brand new engine at the Windsor dealership on warranty at 51000 and just over 4years old. My friendly local dealer confirmed this was the case and that the cause was a broken con rod! Therefore the engine has only done 31000 miles which has to be good news? Coincidently I took the car into the dealer to be checked over and they were very impressed with the car. A new S54 engine would apparently cost £14000 and there's only one in stock - in Germany! The car has a mainly BMW dealer history and every single MOT cert to verify mileage etc.
Couple of questions:
The gears are usually very slick but on a couple of times have become quite notchy. Usually when the car is hot. Is this common? Does the tonneau cover fit over the windbreak - I can't make both fit on the same catch. How do ou guys ensure your hoods are waterproof (not that I'm looking to get it too wet!)? My 911 lives in a carcoon in the winter and I'm a massive fan of them. Do any of you use cartoons and is there any reason a z3m shouldn't be kept in a cartoon ( I'm wondering about the more advanced electrics etc)
Excuse the lengthy note!
