New 2.0 Z3 Owner :)

[Neil K]

Hi all from Durham

Just a quick hello from me and my new daily driver, a 2.0 litre Z3 (75k miles, Boston green & creme interior) which I picked up last week from Gumtree.

Thanks to this forum I had the confidence to walk away from my usual daily driver criteria; Japanese and N/A, which has meant I've had 2 MX-5s and a Corolla. I get the car next Saturday and already have a few preventative items I want to address before a big road trip in France this year, circa 4k in 10 days.

The car is affectionately known as Zoro and will join my other BMW, a DCT equipped M2.

I'll post up pics soon, but I'll head over and start posting questions and picking all of your massive brains!

Looking forward to speaking with you all and contributing

 

[Slam]

Hi and welcome from London, enjoy

 

[Grumps]

. I like France

 

[Neil K]

Hi and welcome from London, enjoy

Thank you very much!

 

[Mint]

Hi @Neil K, to the forum from me too in Staffordshire. We've taken our Z3s to France for a good few years now. You'll enjoy the smooth roads but not the 90kph speed limit on ordinary roads they've introduced

 

[Keet]

Hello and welcome to the forum

 

[Neil K]

. I like France

Thank you! This will be my first time going there and we're travelling to and around the South-West. Have you taken your Z there? Any tips for driving over there? I'm excited but equally nervous

 

[Neil K]

Hi @Neil K, to the forum from me too in Staffordshire. We've taken our Z3s to France for a good few years now. You'll enjoy the smooth roads but not the 90kph speed limit on ordinary roads they've introduced

Thank you for the welcome @Mint and for the heads-up! How did the Z handle the drive? I've been really lucky to have had minimal reliability problems in my previous cars so curious to find out how the Z handles big mileage

 

[Neil K]

Hello and welcome to the forum

Thanks @Keet love your e89, looks awesome!

 

[andyglym]

to the forum from West Cumbria. Enjoy France.

1. Comprehensive breakdown cover that will get your Zed home should the worst happen

All the rest is standard travelling stuff. Enjoy

 

[Stevo7682]

Hi and welcome from me in Scotland .

 

[benf]

Hi and

 

[t-tony]

Hi Neil and welcome from me too near Lincoln.

Tony.

 

[Mint]

...How did the Z handle the drive?...

No probs but as @andyglym says a good breakdown policy is the best backup

We're travelling to France, the Netherlands, Germany and Austria this year in the 3.0

 

[roadvoyager1]

Hello and welcome from Shotley Bridge. Good to have another member on board from the north-east. @Davyhoogy will be along soon to invite you to join the NE Z3 fb group, I am sure.
We are in Alsace at present, having done the Newcastle to Amsterdam crossing which was much easier than the standard cross-channel routes.
The car should look after you fine, however, if you have not done it before beware of the sun when driving with the roof down (the only way). It can be deceptively strong (30deg C and no clouds where we are) and it is easy to get sun burn without realising.
Enjoy your trip and the car.

 

[Grumps]

Thank you! This will be my first time going there and we're travelling to and around the South-West. Have you taken your Z there? Any tips for driving over there? I'm excited but equally nervous

Seriously Jealous! Been to France lots of times and once in the zed with a group off here. There are certain items you have to carry by law over there so Google that.
You can not have camera alerts on your sat nav either so make that's turned off. Other than that enjoy it and go get the bug!

 

[Jack Ratt]

Hello Neil welcome to the forum

 

[mwpe]

Hi and from Surrey, The Z3 is a great car for continental touring, I gohave been every year since I retired 5 years ago and am off to Italy on friday. As has been mentioned, a good breakdown policy is a must but the main thing is to give the car a good service, if they have not been done, change the water pump tensioner and thermostat and drive belts. They may be OK but it is good insurance.

 

[mwpe]

A bit old but some useful information here:
file:///C:/Users/mwpe/AppData/Local/Temp/Euro%20driving%20guide.pdf

 

[andyglym]

Thank you for the welcome @Mint and for the heads-up! How did the Z handle the drive? I've been really lucky to have had minimal reliability problems in my previous cars so curious to find out how the Z handles big mileage

I did a 2000 mile trip from Cumbria to Switzerland and back, didn't miss a beat.