New to the forum

[baku_mackem]

Hello all,

I am fast approaching retirement and wanted to scratch the itch of owning a beautiful soft top at a great price. My friend was selling his daughter’s 2001 1.9L with only 43k miles on it so too good an opportunity to turn down.

I am a confirmed biker and have to say this is close to the thrill of biking when the top is down.

usual niggles …. hesitation under acceleration (suspect vacuum leak), A-pillar water leak, blocked windscreen water jets, etc …. But nothing too drastic.

based on Ascot area but originally from South Shields in the North East of England.

if anyone is nearby and fancies talking crap about these wonderful cars please drop me a line

 

[Mazza]

Hi and welcome to the forum

 

[Ianmc]

Just so you are aware, the 1.9 M44 (twin cam) is a good engine in the earlier cars. However, the 2001 (M43?) is single cam and 20/30 bhp less. May not matter to you, but as you seem new to Z3s best you know before you commit.
Also, does the car have A/C?; essential in my view.
Welcome!

 

[baku_mackem]

Just so you are aware, the 1.9 M44 (twin cam) is a good engine in the earlier cars. However, the 2001 (M43?) is single cam and 20/30 bhp less. May not matter to you, but as you seem new to Z3s best you know before you commit.
Also, does the car have A/C?; essential in my view.
Welcome!

Thanks @Ianmc

I was aware of the difference in engines through various youtube channels (Moment of Zed is cheesy, but good info) but not the 20/30 bhp. Honestly, not sure it'll bother me that much as I get my high speed kicks via my bikes.

It does have A/C, but this is a 3rd car, so not the daily driver. I'll be picking and choosing when it gets unleashed but aim is to have the top down as much as possible. I picked it up in Berwick-upon-Tweed in December with temp at about 4degC (but dry) and drove it down to the north east where it stayed until recently; had the top down all the way and the wife and I loved it. Not fast, just fun

Currently looking at OBD readers, and likely going for the Creator C310 with the adaptor cable. Need to get the niggles sorted:
- acceleration hesitation
- EML on always
- air bag light on always

I suspect the first two are connected to either crap plug/leads or a vacuum leak (so looking for lean codes), but the air bag could be a loose connector under one of the seats ...... but who knows?


Thanks for the message.

BM

 

[Stevo7682]

Hi and welcome from me in Scotland .

C310 will do the job i have one works well.
Air bag seat belt pre tensioner wires can be a problem or someone has had a seat out and turned ignition on .

Hesitation will probably be air leak.
M44 the main intake boots split so does the little pipe that comes off it which goes to a splitter then 4 pipes onto the injectors which also split.
If you can get a loan of a smoke machine this is a good way to find the route cause.

You will find a ton of great information on here and a number of folk who are well versed in these cars and happy to help.

Stephen.

 

[Ianmc]

M44 the main intake boots split so does the little pipe that comes off it which goes to a splitter then 4 pipes onto the injectors which also split.
If you can get a loan of a smoke machine this is a good way to find the route cause.

Think the OPs car is M43 (8 valve soc). Don't know the detailed setup compared to the M44 (16 valve twin cam). Guess likely very similar?