Anybody want to buy my old car?

Christ87

Christ87

Zorg Addict
British Zeds
Joined
Jun 17, 2019
Points
58
Location
Belton, North Lincolnshire
Model of Z
Z3 2.0
Just come across my old Smart which I sold about 6 months ago. I wasn't expecting them to keep it long. I asked if they've driven a car with auto/paddle shift previously. He stated ye be just like my Range Rover....erm I guess so....ten minutes of finding "drive" later....
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/283790948319

Anyway mixed emotions. Loved this car when the stars aligned. Cornered better than any similarly priced roadster. And spent many months hard graft on it. I hope an enthusiast looks after her.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20170822_154736664.webp
    IMG_20170822_154736664.webp
    38.8 KB · Views: 126
  • IMG_20181001_104158_298.webp
    IMG_20181001_104158_298.webp
    226.6 KB · Views: 145
I always used to hire a Smart Roadster at the airport instead of getting a taxi when I got home from working abroad.
They were great fun :thumbsup:

Did you ever get to drive the Brabus Xclusive model ?
I just had a look online, there is one up for sale over here for Euro 14.000,-
 
hard top said:
I always used to hire a Smart Roadster at the airport instead of getting a taxi when I got home from working abroad.
They were great fun :thumbsup:

Did you ever get to drive the Brabus Xclusive model ?
I just had a look online, there is one up for sale over here for Euro 14.000,-
Click to expand...

Yep, they're so good my mate bought one so we could drive around Scotland. Best roadtrip I've done this far.
My Smart was the Brabus Xclusive. 101bhp from 700cc.
 
I really like these cars, very nearly bought one. trouble is I'm the same size as the car.
 
Lee said:
I really like these cars, very nearly bought one. trouble is I'm the same size as the car.
Click to expand...

I absolutely loved it. It's a car full of noises and whistles. You are positioned so close to the road that when you think you are doing a million mph you're still under the speed limit...cough. And they are pretty reasonable on fuel. I had a few scoffs about it's size and often remarking how slow it must be. I've read people moaning about the gearbox, which in auto was pretty bad. But if you changed up on stick or paddles yourself I couldn't fault it. Everybody I took for a spin in always would change their opinions.
The same mate who bought one to go around Scotland with me had an Aston Martin V8 Vantage previously. I'll never forgot losing him in my mirror around tight corners for him to blast up behind me on the straights. I won't say fast I got up to but I was surprised. Shortly after that my wheel fell off but that's another story and one I've blocked from memory.
Engines and gearboxes are remarkably strong.
Starter motor is in a ridiculous place, they get cooked and to to change you have to strip rear bumper and windows (on coupes) and drop the engine on one side. Then contort your hand into something not human to remove.
Brabus Chargecoolers are positioned at the lowest point under the car and have to be ordered from Germany at £350 which I found out.
They leak really badly into the SAM unit which kills all power to the car and they're £600 to replace.
Garrett no longer make turbos for them. And Brabus models have lovely low skirts that do not like sleeping policeman or anything that is not silky smooth. Brabus monoblock wheels are made of cheese so buckle easily.
If I bought another I'd buy a standard Roadster just so I don't have to deal with another Brabus bodykit, skirt,alloy and chargecooler again (standards have intercoolers which are £80 and positioned on top of the engine).
Anyway BMW Zeds.....
 
Just to add. Below are two photographs I took up in the Cairngorm Funicular Railway (currently under repair), both years apart.
The top photo (it's very sunny) I took on a fantastic solo trip. The weather was perfect, I was off to visit my parents in Cullen. After taking this shot I got back in the car to the sound of nothing but a clunk. What proceeded was googling how to jump start a Smart Roadster (which is not that straightforward) and a lot of attempts down off the mountain. It bump started and I had to repeat this the following day on my way back home south. Having to fill up at petrol stations with it running.
Long story short after about a year of me changing starter motor (which spiralled into a huge project of suspension, brakes, coolant system, chassis refurbishment) I returned again to the same spot to relive the experience without the consequences. The car was faultless. I plan on repeating this trip in the Z3. A trip I am very confident will go swimmingly (touch wood).
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20170502_142908022.webp
    IMG_20170502_142908022.webp
    123.8 KB · Views: 102
  • 20180929_153119.webp
    20180929_153119.webp
    198.7 KB · Views: 113
Christ87 said:
I absolutely loved it. It's a car full of noises and whistles. You are positioned so close to the road that when you think you are doing a million mph you're still under the speed limit...cough. And they are pretty reasonable on fuel. I had a few scoffs about it's size and often remarking how slow it must be. I've read people moaning about the gearbox, which in auto was pretty bad. But if you changed up on stick or paddles yourself I couldn't fault it. Everybody I took for a spin in always would change their opinions.
The same mate who bought one to go around Scotland with me had an Aston Martin V8 Vantage previously. I'll never forgot losing him in my mirror around tight corners for him to blast up behind me on the straights. I won't say fast I got up to but I was surprised. Shortly after that my wheel fell off but that's another story and one I've blocked from memory.
Engines and gearboxes are remarkably strong.
Starter motor is in a ridiculous place, they get cooked and to to change you have to strip rear bumper and windows (on coupes) and drop the engine on one side. Then contort your hand into something not human to remove.
Brabus Chargecoolers are positioned at the lowest point under the car and have to be ordered from Germany at £350 which I found out.
They leak really badly into the SAM unit which kills all power to the car and they're £600 to replace.
Garrett no longer make turbos for them. And Brabus models have lovely low skirts that do not like sleeping policeman or anything that is not silky smooth. Brabus monoblock wheels are made of cheese so buckle easily.
If I bought another I'd buy a standard Roadster just so I don't have to deal with another Brabus bodykit, skirt,alloy and chargecooler again (standards have intercoolers which are £80 and positioned on top of the engine).
Anyway BMW Zeds.....
Click to expand...

and there I was about to click’buy it now’ then read all this!!

just kidding- I’ve lots of want for these, the seating position is great. It’s all the specialist stuff that puts me off. This car at 4K would be a good bet though as the Brabus bits will be worth a fortune if it suffered something terminal - especially on the mainland where the love these - in Greece they have properly quick ones (and the for2). Still plenty about there.
 
Dino D said:
and there I was about to click’buy it now’ then read all this!!

just kidding- I’ve lots of want for these, the seating position is great. It’s all the specialist stuff that puts me off. This car at 4K would be a good bet though as the Brabus bits will be worth a fortune if it suffered something terminal - especially on the mainland where the love these - in Greece they have properly quick ones (and the for2). Still plenty about there.
Click to expand...

They're hardy little cars. Just not great to work on. Though like everything you just get used to them. I must of taken the bumper off and dropped the engine 3 or 4 times during ownership. First time took me ages and I was super cautious. By the fourth I could do it with my eyes closed.
It's interesting it's up for £4k. The values for these are all over the place. I wonder what it'll go for.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lee
Christ87 said:
Just to add. Below are two photographs I took up in the Cairngorm Funicular Railway (currently under repair), both years apart.
The top photo (it's very sunny) I took on a fantastic solo trip. The weather was perfect, I was off to visit my parents in Cullen. After taking this shot I got back in the car to the sound of nothing but a clunk. What proceeded was googling how to jump start a Smart Roadster (which is not that straightforward) and a lot of attempts down off the mountain. It bump started and I had to repeat this the following day on my way back home south. Having to fill up at petrol stations with it running.
Long story short after about a year of me changing starter motor (which spiralled into a huge project of suspension, brakes, coolant system, chassis refurbishment) I returned again to the same spot to relive the experience without the consequences. The car was faultless. I plan on repeating this trip in the Z3. A trip I am very confident will go swimmingly (touch wood).
Click to expand...
Great blue sky pic and what a quirky looking car: it’s great! I can imagine it was hard to part with it @Christ87
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top