Looking at 97 Z3

[97Z3]

Howdy all new to this forum. Looking to get my kid something fun to drive because he is doing so well in school. Looking at a 97 we drove yesterday. Third owner BMW nut, nice guy, not a mechanic but said he replaced the center bearing himself. He claimed it was was still clunking but only above 3k. I drove it and the clunk is much closer to 2k and significant. Hammering felt right by the gear shift. It's brief above and below 2k it's fine but you pass through it in every year unless you are very light on the throttle.

My question before I risk another disaster proj CT that I don't have the money for. Did he get a bad part or not install it properly? Sounds like he might not have pre loaded it? Just worried something else is wrong with the driveshaft or rear diff. But the Boise is very centered and isolated and I didn't get any axle whine or other noises outside the problem area.

Thank you all, if anyone would be so kind as to give a quick reply we might try and send the guy a deposit tonight.

 

[Stevo7682]

Got to say centre prop bearing is not something i hear getting talked about on hear clunky rear yes and also the rubber coupling at the front of the prop between it and the gearbox ( transmission) deteriorating.
Look what i would say to you if you are that unsure of what it may be and you cant get it into a garage and up on a ramp then you got 2 choices either negotiate a price that allows some repair cost or Walk away .
Always be another zed out there that will be for you.
Good luck with whatever you decide
Keep us posted

Stephen.

 

[97Z3]

Thank you for the reply I really appreciate it we took a shot on it picked it up yesterday. Got it insured plated, titled and just took my kid out for his first drive. I was pretty confident he would do well since he's wrote a dirt bike since he was 5 years old. Practicing the elementary school parking lot he stalled it four or five times but got better within 10 minutes and then drove it back through the subdivision to his house. The rear prop is clunky but only if you're heavy on the throttle right around 2,000 RPM in first or second gear pretty much every other gear and if you're lighter on the throttle you can pass through the problem area where the drive shaft is definitely clunking the tunnel. I'm going to let him have some fun with it for a few more days then I'm going to put it up and take a look. He gave me a new carrier bearing that his friend told him to buy but he never installed. I definitely plan on inspecting the flex coupling well and hopefully figuring out if he preloaded or installed the center bearing improperly. It's wild having power windows and power seats and something so small and heated seats.

 

[SV8Predator]

Well it looks as if you're enjoying it so far! Good luck with it and I'm sure it will all be easily sorted once you get a good look at it.