banjobob with with a BMW

[BOB1948]

HI All, I'm from Michigan and just bought my first fun car. It's a 1998 Z3 2.8 L with a 5 speed manual but I'm a bit confused. The car has a M on the side behind where the fake air vents are located. What does the M mean. Thanks for any help. The car also has fog lights and only 2 exhaust outlets on one side.

Bob

 

[oldcarman]

Hi and welcome from mid northern Canada! JIM

 

[hard top]

Welcome from me too @BOB1948
To answer you question, the previous owner has replaced the original gills (fake air vents) with ///M gills.

The original type.

 

[BOB1948]

HI All, I'm from Michigan and just bought my first fun car. It's a 1998 Z3 2.8 L with a 5 speed manual but I'm a bit confused. The car has a M on the side behind where the fake air vents are located. What does the M mean. Thanks for any help. The car also has fog lights and only 2 exhaust outlets on one side.View attachment 9790
Bob

Thanks the for the information and the welcomes. Next project is seat play. I need to order the shims.

 

[Cooper]

Welcome! Many car owners badge their car with ///M props. ///M is a special edition of the Z3 often refereed to as Z3M. They are a 3.2 litre powerhouse with 370 BHP and as you can imagine, a whole lot more expensive. They have several modifications over the standard 1.8, 1.9, 2.0, 2.2, 2.5, 2.8, 3.0 Zeds. Hope that helps.

 

[Shelly]

Welcome to the forum Bob

 

[GazHyde]

Welcome Bob,

As the guys have already stated it's common for parts to be switched between models. The gills are possibly the easiest to switch out, but you occasionally find transplanted interiors (seats, door cards, centre consoles) as well. Some even transplant the engines as well!

What you have got is a very nice condition shiny red Z3

You can get the seat bushes from Aceman on here as he ships internationally. Process is pretty straight forwards although a bit long winded - https://zroadster.org/pages/BMW-Z3-Z3M-Seat-bushes-for-Roadster-Coupe/

Cheers, Gary

 

[Rev]

Looking good!

Welcome along.

 

[jonco]

from me too. Nice looking motor - love the colour but I am biased.

 

[badman gee]

Welcome

 

[oldcarman]

Hi Bob and welcome from your northern neighbour here in Canada. Love the colour of the car and Bonzo should be along shortly to welcome you to the beige/ taupe segment of the forum. JIM

 

[zedwheels]

Hi Bob good to have you join us. Really nice looking bit of fun you have there

 

[zedonist]

Welcome Bob, M stands for "Mans Car" however have a look here, but dont feel pressured to remove them i think they look just fine:

https://zroadster.org/threads/it-makes-me-mad.5877/page-4#post-73040

P.S. Love the Camel interior

 

[bonzo]

From Bonzo and Z3lda. Super interior colour, another gentleman of impeccable taste. One instinctively knows when something is right! Welcome to the club Robert, and 1948, a superb vintage! I raise my glass to you sir.

 

[BOB1948]

Hi Bonzo, what year is your BMW. I just bought mine 3 weeks ago, it's a 98 with 59,000 miles on it. I took it to the BMW dealer and had the brake fluid replace and the coolant flushed. No idea on other maintenance. I will have the fuel filter replaced and new spark plugs put in. I will replace the air filter .
The steering wheel is off center so I will have the front end aliened . Any thing else I should have checked. My son just went to the Detroit Lions foot ball game in England . He had a great time.
Thanks a bunch
Bob

 

[bonzo]

Hi again Bob.Check when the engine oil and filter were replaced, if in any doubt change them. I change mine every 1.5 years irrespective of the mileage, which isn't a lot. Mine is a 98 with 74k miles at present. Check out the knowledge base section on the website and on zroadster.net All you need to know will be put before you. I would check the spot welds under the boot, sorry trunk carpet for any failures. These locate the rear differential and can fail if tyre squealing take offs were partial to any previous owners. This is covered fully with pics in the knowledge bases. Also check the rubber pipes and hoses in the air inlet system especially on the bends, these can hide splits and cracks which will cause poor engine performance
All the best,
Bonzo.