I certainly think we have enough members on here who have recently purchased to start compiling one, eh Liam? If people want to start posting suggestions/recommendations of what to look for in here then I will compile it in to a Wiki article. Gary p.s. Go on swamps, you know you want one!
Jonttt has compiled a write up taken from a book Living with a Z3M roadster/coupe but i am afraid you will have to nip to .net and put it in the search box, and then nip back
Try and buy one from a forum member like Liam has. There are some important things to check, including service history, boot welds, vanos issues. You can tell a lot by the overall condition to whether its been looked after. You need to be lucky too. I've had mine over a year, Ive had no problems yet (touch wood) Mark
They can sound like a tractor on tickover if they are worn. They can be tested by putting the car in 4th gear at low speed. Floor the throttle (if road clear ). Keep an eye on the revs, you should feel a power surge at round 4000rpm if they are working properly. I may be wrong on the revs but I'm sure someone will put me right. Mark
:ymapplause: good choice swamps! Yes you can call mate, as long as it's not to ask me to sell mine ) You need to find a good one.. Place a wanted add on here and .net and see if some members are looking to sell.. How I found my beauty :x
Its easier than that, rev to 2.5k and let idle back. If it sounds like a bag of marbles then the VANOS has a problem. These days its a sub £600 fix. Its more important that the bolts were swapped for the upgraded ones (it was a recall item and would show on the warranty report on the VIN from any dealer). If these fail its engine gone x_x These are highly tuned engines so will sound rougher than the 3 litres etc... until warmed up. If you get in one with a bad VANOS noise you will know it ;-) Otherwise most of the checks are the same as for a non ///M
just spoke to the chap and hes going to send me some more pics. iv quizzed him about the vanos issues which he says there are none. hes going to send pics of the boot welds and the hood. hes had it for 4 years with no problems but hes scratched the rear wing on the garage door. opinions please.. Devon's a long way to come back empty handed... viewtopic.php?f=15&t=490
Very good price, and a good colour. Re the wing, not a major issue. Bodywork can be sorted. Check the service history. Mark
Not a problem. I would rather use a good indie to a main dealer. I've got a cracker in Peterborough. Second to none. Very trustworthy and no fear of the car being marked in the process. Mark
If at all possible you need to have alook at a good example so you can compare.. I looked at one before I got mine and the condition was awful when I viewed it.. Even though the photos looked good.. Don't jump at the first one is all I can say.. if any alarm bells start ringing while viewing walk away. Hold out for a prime example.. They are out there
yep thats what im thinking Liam......but iv never had a good mooch around a M errr yep and no really Bill.......the thing is i keep buying mods to put on the 1.9.......and when i look at what i want its already on the M.....so im going to cut my losses and just buy an M i was pricing up the new brakes i want and it starts to get silly...then theres the suspention..and so on...you get what i mean