Looking to buy Z3M Coupe

[137699]

Hi guys - new to this forum, new to M-cars and new to BMWs!

Had some pretty hot metal over the years and came into some money so looking to revisit a car I missed in the past and scratch an itch that's been niggling me for about 15 years - a Z3M Coupe in Estoril Blue!

Been reading some of the "buyers guides" and note that the propshaft mount/boot floor is a weak spot, the VANOS unit (of course) another, and that many replace the rear shocks.

Anyone anything else to suggest?

This is one car I plan to go and see - looks like it may have been played with - judging by the wheels etc., but it's nearish to me and is at a Lotus dealer so I can get it up in the air and have a good poke around the chassis. If anyone knows of it, I'd be happy to hear from them with any insider knowledge...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201911224652446?postcode=so213ry&advertising-location=at_cars&sort=relevance&radius=1500&make=BMW&model=Z3M&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New&page=2

Will not buy the first - want to go see a few to get a feel for them but any pointers anyone can give, or indeed a "biblical buyers guide" that exists, would be very useful for me right now!

I would prefer an S54 engine car but they're commanding a total price premium so likely to go for an S50 for now.

And I hope to join you as a bone-fide paid-up owner before too long!

 

[t-tony]

Good luck in your search.

Tony.

 

[PHILIP BAXTER]

Hi, and welcome from me in Cardiff. Good luck with the search, I hope you find the right one.

 

[Pingu]

It looks very good.

My only comment is that the throttle cable looks a bit slack, but I can't zoom in on the images.

Check the thermostat. Confirm the temp gauge sits directly pointing up when you take it for a run. If thermostat is knackered, the gauge will go vertical if the car is left stationary, but will drop if driven. It's not the end of the world if it is knackered, but it can be used to get the price down.

Try to confirm that it has a service history. Servicing is often only done because the service lights tell the owner that it's time. The service interval is based on the number of litres of fuel used, or on time. If the car is driven hard, the interval will be shorter than if is is driven frugally.

It's done 72,000 miles. Using 9000 miles as the service mileage (it can be between 6000 miles and 12000 miles, depending on driving style), you should have...

<1200miles Run-in service and diff oil changed - if this is more than 1300, the diff could be damaged.
approx 9000 Oil Service
approx 18000 Inspection 1
approx 27000 Oil Service
approx 36000 Inspection 2
approx 45000 Oil Service
approx 54000 Inspection 1
approx 63000 Oil Service
approx 72000 2nd Inspection 2

The oil should be changed every two years, regardless of miles, brake fluid every two years and coolant every two years.

Gearbox oil is "lifetime", but lifetime is 100,000 miles or ten years. Your gearbox oil should have been changed in 2009 and is due to be changed again.

Fuel filter is also "lifetime", and should have been replaced at the same time as the gearbox oil.

http://www.porterbility.co.uk/Inspection_Sheets.htm

These are the M Roadster inspection sheets. There may be a few additional items relating to the coupe and some irrelevant roadster items in the sheets.


The propshaft is not a welding problem, but the giubo needs to be checked.

The welding / boot floor problem is around the diff bush. You need to completely strip out the boot (including tool tray) to check from above, or to check underneath on a ramp.

When it is in the air, check for an oil drip on the bell housing. It will be the constant pressure valve (CPV) seal. The CPV is behind the exhaust manifold by #6 cylinder.

A good upgrade to check for when underneath is a braided clutch hose.

Check that all the undertrays and thermal shields are present, including the air duct at the oil cooler (Item 15 below).

The car shouldn't be driven above 5000rpm until the oil is above 60°C.

 

[Tfp]

"The sale will be treated as a private sale"

Then why advertise it under the dealer name/website?

If you buy this car make sure you print the advert just in case it's hiding something.

Chances are it's fine as that dealer has a good reputation.

But they really shouldn't advertise it on a dealer website and then tell you it's a private sale.

It'll probably be because they don't want the payment going through the company books, which I understand, but are they going to give it a warranty?

If they tell you it's a private sale with no warranty then I'd be suspicious.

 

[petecossie]

Some good points to check seem to have been mentioned above. The Vanos, boot floor, suspension bushes/dampers and sill cover corrosion are the common issues that buyers look to see how they have been covered in the cars history. Condition and good service history is a good base to start from. Lots of info on the other forum that Martin Brennan and myself use, Z3MCoupe Forum.
As regards the advert it does annoy me when the vendors are supposed to be so knowledgeable that they then cut and paste general BMW verbage for other models i.e. Front/rear electric windows and computer.
Try to look at a few cars before committing to purchase (I looked at 5 cars when I bought my first Coupe - Edinburgh in the North and London in the South plus places in between)
Good luck with your search.

 

[137699]

Thanks guys - some excellent pointers there & exactly the sort of welcome & info I was hoping for!

I'm also suspicious of the sale not going through the company. Having spoken to the sales manager there he assures me it's quite normal - it's the owner's personal car and this is done for tax reasons but it does make me want to be extra vigilant - and certainly I will want to see 2-3 more before making a decision.

One of my "must have's" (along with Estoril Blue) is cruise control - as I plan to use the Z as my professional work car and that will mean a fair amount of motorway work. This one has cruise and I've only seen a couple of others that have it. I understand retro-fitting it on the S50 is a fairly involved job due to it not being "throttle-by-wire" so this is narrowing my search somewhat.

 

[Dino D]

car Is probably fine but the dealer...well whenever a car sales person ‘assures’ and say ‘quite normal’ you can be assured it is exactly the opposite!

It just a ruse to get out of the responsibilities under CRA 2015 (which are potentially tough on dealers, especially on the low end of the market) but if it a ‘private sale’ is it private sale money?

I don’t believe there has been case law yet but whatever they say they cannot make one sign away statutory rights so they cannot weasel out of the traders duties - the problem is that for you to enforce them if you needed something fixed under warranty would be costly legal work and aggro. This is why it’s quite ‘normal’ for them to get away with it.

If the car is good then treat like a private sale - if you expect any warranty you’ll probably be in for some grief even though it’s a trader..

 

[Nodzed]

Looks OK in the photos but they all do! Only obvious thing I can see is the gear knob is incorrect (assuming the coupe is the same as the roadster) should be a leather illuminated one, if originality is your thing.

Good luck with the search.

 

[137699]

My plan is to get it up on their ramp - inspect underneath for rust / tearing.
See how it drives & what it sounds like.

If it checks out, then make an offer with the intention of paying AT LEAST £3k less than the asking price - that way I have at the minimum covered the cost of VANOS replacement and a little over.

There's another in North Yorkshire which is the correct spec - half the mileage and full warranty for the same price.

 

[Pingu]

Condition is much more important than mileage.

The car is 20 years old.

35000 miles over 20 years means the car was sat a long time doing nothing, or was only driven short journeys. Neither are good for a car.

 

[langlands]

There is an Estoril for sale on Z3Mcoupe.com site that may interest