BMW Z3 2.8 Or 3.0

Kyle auty

Zorg Guru (II)
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
Apr 25, 2020
Points
113
Location
Huddersfield
Model of Z
3.0i Sport
You don't need £18k+ to buy a Z3M anymore. They can be picked up for £12-15k. And I wouldn't necessarily assume you'd be getting a better car paying £18k+ than £12k. Some people just try it on with the price.
I wouldn't want a high mileage car, i have seen Z3m's for around £11k with around 80k on the clock but they are a bit untidy. you have made me think, should i spend the extra and go for the ultimate Z3 -- The M.
 

Kyle auty

Zorg Guru (II)
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
Apr 25, 2020
Points
113
Location
Huddersfield
Model of Z
3.0i Sport
You don't need £18k+ to buy a Z3M anymore. They can be picked up for £12-15k. And I wouldn't necessarily assume you'd be getting a better car paying £18k+ than £12k. Some people just try it on with the price.
I wouldn't want a high mileage car, i have seen Z3m's for around £11k with around 80k on the clock but they are a bit untidy. you have made me think, should i spend the extra and go for the ultimate Z3 -- The M.
 

mrscalex

Zorg Guru (IV)
Supporter
British Zeds
3rd Party Trader
Joined
Jun 10, 2016
Points
165
Location
Swindon & Swansea
I wouldn't want a high mileage car, i have seen Z3m's for around £11k with around 80k on the clock but they are a bit untidy. you have made me think, should i spend the extra and go for the ultimate Z3 -- The M.
80k is not high mileage for a Z3! In fact it's very modest mileage. I think I can safely say most people on here would fall over themselves for an 80k mile Z3, especially a Z3M at £11k. Untidy is untidy though, regardless of mileage.

My own line in the sand to call something high(er) mileage is 110k. And even then if it's been maintained well there is nothing to fear and some screaming bargains. Just be aware chucking money at a high mileage car is unlikely to come back to you when you sell it.

The best driving 2.2 I've known is at 135k. And the best driving 3.0 was 130k. Those 2 cars drive beautifully, sound terrific and go like the clappers knocking spots off lower mileage cars. That 2.2 (Sport) is on the verge of finding a new owner for the princely sum of £2k. And it's lovely all round, not just the engine. If that was an 80k mile car I would want £4k+ for it. And honestly, it would be £2k that someone really doesn't need to spend if they just want a nice car to own and drive.

Of course if you have an eye on rare/investment that's different. But my personal advice would be it's a very risky game to play. Better to just find a car you like and pay sensible money.

You could spend £12-15k on a Z3M and end up with the same multi-thousand maintenance bill as an £18-20k car. That said £11k for an 80k mile Z3M sounds a little suspicious to me (might be a true bargain of course). I've seen them as low as £10k and it was almost too cheap to be credible.
 

Kyle auty

Zorg Guru (II)
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
Apr 25, 2020
Points
113
Location
Huddersfield
Model of Z
3.0i Sport
If you happen to decide to go on to buy a 2.8 I have a very very tidy one for sale advertised here have a look

https://zroadster.org/threads/bmw-z3-2-8-pre-facelift-boston-green.35031/#post-574961

Well within your budget and it needs nothing in principle - clean MOT and lots of extras.
The car is nice but looking at all the advise I have had of all you kind people i think i will be looking for a 2.8 face lift or a 3.0i I would love the 3.0 sport but the price seems to be a lot more. I have found a Silver 3.0i with only 60k its up for £5900 if anyone has anything simulator I am very interested.
Thanks for all your help on this topic and i have learnt loads - like i must get rid of the joint account ;) -

Kyle
 

mrscalex

Zorg Guru (IV)
Supporter
British Zeds
3rd Party Trader
Joined
Jun 10, 2016
Points
165
Location
Swindon & Swansea
The car is nice but looking at all the advise I have had of all you kind people i think i will be looking for a 2.8 face lift or a 3.0i I would love the 3.0 sport but the price seems to be a lot more. I have found a Silver 3.0i with only 60k its up for £5900 if anyone has anything simulator I am very interested.
Thanks for all your help on this topic and i have learnt loads - like i must get rid of the joint account ;) -

Kyle
£5.9k is a very fair price for a 60k 3.0 Sport. Assuming the condition matches.
 

Kyle auty

Zorg Guru (II)
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
Apr 25, 2020
Points
113
Location
Huddersfield
Model of Z
3.0i Sport
£5.9k is a very fair price for a 60k 3.0 Sport. Assuming the condition matches.
The car at £5.9k with 60k is not the sports model unfortunate.
I have posted a message in Wanted if any body come across 2.8 face lift or a 3.0i i am very interested.
 

mrscalex

Zorg Guru (IV)
Supporter
British Zeds
3rd Party Trader
Joined
Jun 10, 2016
Points
165
Location
Swindon & Swansea
The car at £5.9k with 60k is not the sports model unfortunate.
I have posted a message in Wanted if any body come across 2.8 face lift or a 3.0i i am very interested.
Still a reasonable price as it's only got 60k. But I would want a Sport version too (and have).
 

DrWong

Zorg Guru (III)
Joined
May 8, 2017
Points
125
Model of Z
3.0i
Very reasonable price. Just for balance (hi Rob:)) I don’t have the Sport but never found myself yearning for it. Key differences are staggered wheels (not really fussed) and slightly lowered suspension (would be nice, but causes all kinds of ball-ache if you wanna replace like-with-like, cos only BMW sells the springs at silly £)

I believe the big ticket LSD was standard on all 6 cylinder facelifts (i.e. wasn’t limited to sport spec)
 

mrscalex

Zorg Guru (IV)
Supporter
British Zeds
3rd Party Trader
Joined
Jun 10, 2016
Points
165
Location
Swindon & Swansea
Very reasonable price. Just for balance (hi Rob:)) I don’t have the Sport but never found myself yearning for it. Key differences are staggered wheels (not really fussed) and slightly lowered suspension (would be nice, but causes all kinds of ball-ache if you wanna replace like-with-like, cos only BMW sells the springs at silly £)

I believe the big ticket LSD was standard on all 6 cylinder facelifts (i.e. wasn’t limited to sport spec)
You’re not wrong. But I’d take the Sport for the seats and wheels alone. I think it sits nicer at -15mm despite the agro getting replacements. And maybe values in a falling market are a little better protected.
 

Dino D

Zorg Guru (V)
British Zeds
Joined
Mar 28, 2014
Points
176
Location
Kent
Model of Z
2.8 Manual
Very reasonable price. Just for balance (hi Rob:)) I don’t have the Sport but never found myself yearning for it. Key differences are staggered wheels (not really fussed) and slightly lowered suspension (would be nice, but causes all kinds of ball-ache if you wanna replace like-with-like, cos only BMW sells the springs at silly £)

I believe the big ticket LSD was standard on all 6 cylinder facelifts (i.e. wasn’t limited to sport spec)
It appears that the LSD wasn’t standard on non sport (@Sean d can confirm as he has had play with one).

the lowered suspension can be sorted easily with a Bilstein kit (and some additional spring pads to raise it if the Bilstein kit is too low at the back)
 

mrscalex

Zorg Guru (IV)
Supporter
British Zeds
3rd Party Trader
Joined
Jun 10, 2016
Points
165
Location
Swindon & Swansea
It appears that the LSD wasn’t standard on non sport (@Sean d can confirm as he has had play with one).

the lowered suspension can be sorted easily with a Bilstein kit (and some additional spring pads to raise it if the Bilstein kit is too low at the back)
There may have been a production change along the way. But at some point the sales brochure showed the non-Sport as having an LSD.
 

Kyle auty

Zorg Guru (II)
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
Apr 25, 2020
Points
113
Location
Huddersfield
Model of Z
3.0i Sport
Before i buy anything I will check it out to see if it has LSD, It’s not showing up on Parker’s as a sport but it has got sports seats, wheels and m steering wheel and m gear knob also it has a blue roof with sliver body looks really well.
 

mwpe

Zorg Guru (V)
Supporter
Joined
Dec 8, 2011
Points
178
Location
Camberley
Model of Z
3.0
I don't know about the 2.8 but my 3.0 has an LSD listed as standard. The difference between the sport and non sport is very little, mainly seats and suspension height, the suspension is easily modded if neccessary and I find the standard seats extremely comfortable. i have driven up to 640 miles in a day with no problem.
 

Kyle auty

Zorg Guru (II)
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
Apr 25, 2020
Points
113
Location
Huddersfield
Model of Z
3.0i Sport
I think my mind is made up. It’s got to be buy a 3.0l for the weekends and then keep little silver my 1.9 for my day to day runner, she’s only done 58k so even if I do 6k in her this next year she will still be very low mileage for a 23 year old car.
 

Sean d

Zorg Expert (I)
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
Sep 29, 2015
Points
201
Location
Lincolnshire
Model of Z
Z3 2.8
Unless you are tracking the car you will never need an LSD
 
Top