The must have, and the must have not options?

[buze]

Are there absolute must have for a Z3, and in balance, are there 'must have not' as they've proven a problem in the long run?

As must have I understand the hard top (if at all possible)... Anything else?

What about must have not? For example, is the 'rear rack' useful, or more of a rust magnet?

 

[5harp3y]

Must have options for me

Heated seats
Sport seats
Staggered wheels
Roll bars

Not necessary

Hard top
Tonneau covers

 

[GazHyde]

For me roll bars, sport seats, wind deflector are essential.

Hard top makes the unnecessary list.

 

[Grumps]

If this thread is for a future purchase firstly decide if you want a pre facelift or facelift car. I personally prefer pre facelift but that's just me. Then you need to decide on an engine. The pre facelift comes in a 1.9 4 cylinder or a 2.8 6 cylinder. The 2.8 also gets the wide body back end which in my opinion is the best looking of the lot.
If your prefer the facelift you can get a 2.2 or 3.0. The 3.0 superseded the 2.8 and is a cracker of a car.
Running costs apart from the M and 1.9 are all very similar.
Sports seats and roll hoops seem to be the must now, I Don't have sports seat but they are great compared to standard seats. A hard top isn't cheap but if your going to use the car all year would definatley make it more usable come winter. With a £5000 budget you have a good choice available to you. I'd be looking for a 3.0 with as many bits a possible. Sports seats, heated seats, aircon, staggered wheels, stainless exhaust. If you decide to spend less i'd be going for a pre facelift 2.8. Happy hunting.

 

[BladeRunner919]

Surely that's all personal preference. I have zero desire for a hardtop but I like a car to have aircon. Some would say that's pointless in a convertible.

I'd say that the absolute 'must haves' are suspension and a cooling system that aren't the original, because they'll be well past their sell-by. Everything else is just preferences.

 

[Shelly]

A must have for me is a wind deflector

 

[DavidM]

Interesting - the individual tastes coming through. I'm of the opinion when trawling through lots of online photos and peoples' mods is to select the ones that I believe would suit my taste - then go about modifying over a period of time- I still haven't finished - after five years!

 

[lightning]

Never used my hard top.

Must have for me when l bought my Z3 were
3.0 litre engine
Aircon
M Sport specification

The most useful extra that l have bought is the wind deflector.
l also have the tonneau but never use it as it's such a pain to put on.

 

[Tfp]

My must haves.

Manual gearbox
Roll hoops
6 cylinder engine of 2.2cc or above
Black dashboard
A decent service history

And I'm currently waiting for a nice low mileage 3.0cc for me to buy if anyone has/sees one.

 

[Ianmc]

Air con, heated seats, wind deflector, cruise control, OBC, leather seats, manual gearbox are essential (for me).

Pointless items that both my cars have are electric seats and headlamp wash.

 

[oldcarman]

I think everyone will have a different wish list and a lot depends upon your intended usage. ie: if you'll only drive in sunshine a HT is unlikely to be used. A/C also is dependent upon personal preference, if you melt in summer then it will be a bonus if not just something to go wrong. I guess you see where I''m going so get seats that are comfortable. I find my standard seats are just fine but I''m slim and not overweight. Have a HT because I live in Canada!! So go looking with this in mind and good luck! JIM

 

[g8jka]

All of the above like heated seats, sports or ///M. Roll hoops and wind deflector.

Mods would be a nice set of wheels and a slight drop of the suspension. And a royal steering wheel

 

[mrscalex]

A black interior.

 

[Antm72]

I think any must have will be different for each person to suit their needs .What one classes as a must to another may have no interest at all.

 

[Faheem]

Must have- a Z3, a Z4 is also considered acceptable...

Everything else is an added bonus.

When I got my car everything was stock and basic. I've done a lot of modifications (which when I bought the car I said I wouldn't do...) but none of them are essential or must haves, they make the car look, sound or feel better but the car was every bit as good without them. Except a wind deflector.

You need a wind deflector. Definite must.

 

[Disky]

The only thing I would love for my zed is: SUNSHINE

 

[andyglym]

You like what you like and don't what you don't. Other than that, a good sound system and speakers to match and a Dashcam to pic up great roads and scenery.

 

[Sean d]

The parameters change month by month for me, I started out just wanting a 2 seater roadster, I got that and 3k later I have a car that I love.

 

[Bonzeau]

Surely that's all personal preference. I have zero desire for a hardtop but I like a car to have aircon. Some would say that's pointless in a convertible.

I'd say that the absolute 'must haves' are suspension and a cooling system that aren't the original, because they'll be well past their sell-by. Everything else is just preferences.

Air con. is great for demisting as well as cooling. When it's very hot, I have the air con. going with the roof down. I don't need a hardtop as it's not my every day car..Luggage racks IMHO spoil the looks of a Z3, so not for me! Heated seats are a bonus, but not a must. The LSD is great for traction etc., so I would say that's a great thing to have. Any visual thing, including wheels, exterior trim etc. (and Stickers Tony!), can only be down to the individual. I however prefer the pre facelift ( ass lift?) body shape, and the 2.8 motor is a wonderful thing.



Bonzo.

 

[Geophys]

Must haves, a six cylinder engine, any one is fine, I've had a 2.8 and now a 2.2 and to me in real world driving, no big difference, 2.2 has a slightly better sound. Sport suspension, wheels and heated seats and wind deflector, I like open top driving, so in cold weather hood down, seat heaters and heater on full blast. Red paint, it's a sports car!

Don't need, Air conditioning, takes power, adds weight, hey and it's a soft top! Power roof, it's no faster to take down than the manual one, and more that will go wrong.