Potential New Order - should I?

[David1989]

Ask if the bushes have been done if not that needs to be done on my my to shed in Basingstoke so I’ll ask Lee how much to knock off its its not been done.

OK great, thanks for the help! I'll certainly ask this...

 

[MuttyMax]

I’m also Surrey based so pm me

 

[AntStark]

Nice car..Jan 02 built so one of the last ones

 

[Pond]

Think I'll go take a look at this one today. 3.0L is a nice engine

Just FYI the 3 litre and 2.2 are the same M54 engine, just with different displacements....and power figures, obviously.

WBAC offering £1,930 on the 3 litre one. I know that is a desperation figure but that is a LONG way from £14,000.

Sorry but £13-14k is far too expensive for either. Those dealers are looking to make around 120-150% profit. That's obscene!

 

[andyglym]

Like the 2.2 you viewed, this 3.0 looks high quality but is massively overpriced, in my view. Same as my 2.2 post, this would need to be exceptional in every aspect with nothing needing doing. The fact that both cars have ultra low mileage is not necessarily the bonus it's perceived to be, unless all the perishable items have been changed (all rubbers and bushes etc) as they naturally degrade with age. My 97 build 2.8 would command about a 3rd of those prices at best (118k miles) but has literally had everything that can be done, done by the ZedShed HQ that have forgotten more than BMW Main Dealers know about the Z3.

 

[David1989]

Hi All,

Many thanks for your detailed replies. Really is appreciated.

I went to look at the silver 3.0 yesterday and it's in mint condition, with hard top roof and has very good service history.
However I took a video of the engine running and there was the occasional hissing sound, I think it stopped when I turned the air con button off (note the air con button was on but fan set to 0).
The sound happens at:
27 seconds
54 seconds
1min 8 seconds
1min 22 seconds
1min 36 seconds

Could this be linked to air con button?

I've uploaded the video to one drive to share here Z3, hopefully this is OK?

Thanks in advance for any technical wisdom!
David

 

[David1989]

Like the 2.2 you viewed, this 3.0 looks high quality but is massively overpriced, in my view. Same as my 2.2 post, this would need to be exceptional in every aspect with nothing needing doing. The fact that both cars have ultra low mileage is not necessarily the bonus it's perceived to be, unless all the perishable items have been changed (all rubbers and bushes etc) as they naturally degrade with age. My 97 build 2.8 would command about a 3rd of those prices at best (118k miles) but has literally had everything that can be done, done by the ZedShed HQ that have forgotten more than BMW Main Dealers know about the Z3.
View attachment 310561

Stunning car! Very jealous.

 

[Pond]

Hi All,

Many thanks for your detailed replies. Really is appreciated.

I went to look at the silver 3.0 yesterday and it's in mint condition, with hard top roof and has very good service history.
However I took a video of the engine running and there was the occasional hissing sound, I think it stopped when I turned the air con button off (note the air con button was on but fan set to 0).
The sound happens at:
27 seconds
54 seconds
1min 8 seconds
1min 22 seconds
1min 36 seconds

Could this be linked to air con button?

I've uploaded the video to one drive to share here Z3, hopefully this is OK?

Thanks in advance for any technical wisdom!
David

That's very bizarre. Sounds like a 'spitting' kind of noise, like something relieving pressure. It isn't the A/C that I do know!
The only help I can give is that my 3 litre doesn't do that!
Still, what do you expect for £14k?

 

[1955Davidr]

It looks great and if my 2.2 wasn’t the cracker it is I could be sorely tempted.

 

[David1989]

It looks great and if my 2.2 wasn’t the cracker it is I could be sorely tempted.

Thanks David! The one in your profile pic looks great!
I ended up test driving a 3.0L instead, any idea what this sound might be:

The sound happens at:
27 seconds
54 seconds
1min 8 seconds
1min 22 seconds
1min 36 seconds

Could this be linked to air con button?

I've uploaded the video to one drive to share here Z3.

 

[1955Davidr]

It sounds like an air valve opening or closing but nothing I have ever heard from the half dozen or so BMW sixes I have had. Apart from that noise it doesn’t sound as smooth as it should do. My tech skills are limited but will try and get a sound clip from mine after Lando wins at Spa!

 

[Brian James]

I was left a tad displeased after my dealing with this car dealer. Sorry to "pour rain on the party", but I would not deal with him (again).
I would rather buy from a fellow enthusiast and especially so if an active memeber here.

 

[1955Davidr]

Every day is a school day! Once the revs settled on start up and fan on 0 same noise every few seconds, fan on 1 every 30 seconds or so and fan on 3 never. Mine also sounds just as bad as the one in your clip, silky smooth when driving though!

Having trouble uploading clips, pm me with your e-Mail if you wish and I will forward.

 

[andyglym]

Every day is a school day! Once the revs settled on start up and fan on 0 same noise every few seconds, fan on 1 every 30 seconds or so and fan on 3 never. Mine also sounds just as bad as the one in your clip, silky smooth when driving though!

Having trouble uploading clips, pm me with your e-Mail if you wish and I will forward.

If you copy your clips to YouTube you can copy them by clicking on the 3 horizontal dots, select media, paste and post.

 

[David1989]

Every day is a school day! Once the revs settled on start up and fan on 0 same noise every few seconds, fan on 1 every 30 seconds or so and fan on 3 never. Mine also sounds just as bad as the one in your clip, silky smooth when driving though!

Having trouble uploading clips, pm me with your e-Mail if you wish and I will forward.

Many thanks for checking on your Z3 and good to know that your car makes the same noise, seeing as though your car runs fine

I have tried to send you a message as keen to here your engine but it keeps saying my message is spam...

Really appreciate you taking the time to check though.

 

[ChrisD]

Thanks David! The one in your profile pic looks great!
I ended up test driving a 3.0L instead, any idea what this sound might be:

The sound happens at:
27 seconds
54 seconds
1min 8 seconds
1min 22 seconds
1min 36 seconds

Could this be linked to air con button?

I've uploaded the video to one drive to share here Z3.

The sound is the AC compressor clutch engaging. Totally normal.
“they all do that, sir”

 

[MuttyMax]

Worth paying the AA to give it a once over?

 

[the Nefyn cat]

Don't think I've seen this mentioned, could be wrong, but all those years old and 18000 miles. Are they still the original tyres?They definitely need a good looking at, there'll be a build date on them just like this....

Anything over five to six years old is dodgy, doesn't matter about tread depth etc, they just might go bang, and you wouldn't want that, would you?

 

[id101]

I'm no expert bit will give my opinion anyway

Don't get hung up on mileage, condition is king. Lower mileage cars could still have perished rubber lines etc. !

I'd definitely go for the 3.0 and above. Maybe even with the higher budget find a nice tidy body and interior model at a lower price and take it to an indy and get the all lines changed in the engine, get any other preventative work done and you should end up with a largely trouble free car for a good while.

For info I've had 2 2.8s, a z4 coupe and now on a z3 3.0

 

[Sajk]

My aircon clutch sounds nothing like that. In fact it's hardly audible apart from the change in engine note. M52tu 2.8 which is pretty much and m54.

Edit. Does the aircon work or is it making that funny noise coz the gas is elsewhere.