Z3 3.0 Front grill

[Kyle auty]

Hi guys
As anyone seen a front bottom grill done like this before? It’s on the z3 3.0 I’m looking at buying but not sure why it’s like this?

 

[the Nefyn cat]

You'll probably find them on ebay, not to my taste at all. Likes a bit less shiny, I do.

 

[Kyle auty]

You'll probably find them on ebay, not to my taste at all. Likes a bit less shiny, I do.
View attachment 141035

It just looks a bit make shift it’s like wire mesh. Shouldn’t there be a black grill like the kidney grills on the front bonnet.

 

[the Nefyn cat]

The oem thing is just a fairly flimsy bit of mesh, and there's quite a few aftermarket ones out there. Without actually having a proper look at it it'll be impossible to tell, but a change of colour is only a few minutes and an aerosol away.

 

[Kyle auty]

It’s the only thing from the pictures that lets the car down. Just need to get out of lockdown so I can get a test drive sorted.

 

[the Nefyn cat]

If that's all you don't like about it, be happy and buy it.

 

[Synclare]

Is it a sport model - they have that style grille I think. Personally I would have thought the dented bonnet more of a let down

It’s the only thing from the pictures that lets the car down.

 

[DrWong]

Yeah, the wire looks cheap and chintzy to me personally

Is it me, or has the kidney grill been caved in at the middle??

 

[Dino D]

That looks like the original plastic sport mesh but seems to have some silver overspray. Bumper looks to have been repaired along the bottom (very common - long nose and people forget when going nose first into a bay).

what is the car behind it, Maserati?

 

[Dino D]

Looks ok for the price and has the hardtop in the pics so that is worth 1k if you sell it with the fitting kit.
The dealer looks interesting- seems to be a car warehouse type place - does delivery and takes bitcoin though - contactless sale
Interesting he doesn’t mention the stoved in bonnet though...could be missed if you don’t zoom in.

 

[the Nefyn cat]

And if that's a dent in the bonnet, it would explain what looks to be chrome slats in the kidney grilles. Ebay again.

 

[mwpe]

This is what an OEM sport lower grill looks like, the kidney grills are original but I fitted the sport grill because I prefer the look. Bought from Sopers.

 

[Kyle auty]

That looks like the original plastic sport mesh but seems to have some silver overspray. Bumper looks to have been repaired along the bottom (very common - long nose and people forget when going nose first into a bay).

what is the car behind it, Maserati?

It’s a Bentley, I think I need a good inspection of the car before I buy it. Can’t just go from pictures.

 

[Alan Godwin]

It’s the same as my 3.0L sport which is original. According to Wikipedia there were several variations included on the sport model which included white front indicator cover, m sport steering wheel and slightly lower control arms, I believe by about 12 mmm. Not sure how they achieved that! If it is a sport model it should have these modifications. If not, someone has been tweaking it.

 

[Alan Godwin]

I

 

[Kyle auty]

IView attachment 141081

Thanks Alan
I have saved that to my photos so I can have a good read. I think the issue I have is this car isn’t listed as a sport but has sport seats, m steering wheel gear knob and front under grill. So what I need to somehow find out is where all these parts fitted at factory or has it been altered. If it has been altered after factory have they done things correctly. Thanks again for your info.

 

[Dino D]

You need the VIN to check for sure.

It looks a lot like a sport that had the wheels replaced with those 16inch items.

Or the original owner wanted the the sport seats and specced them as an option (and didn’t want 17inch wheels and lowered height)
It has rear parking sensors (which are an acquired taste - don’t think that was factory).

The front bumper has definitely had paint work. The little covers next to the fogs are silver (normally unpainted)
The boot badges look off as well.

could easily be a regular one where someone retrofitted seats and front grill - both easy bolt ons.

If you get the last 7 digits of the vin you’ll know for sure.

 

[g8jka]

You need the VIN to check for sure.

It looks a lot like a sport that had the wheels replaced with those 16inch items.

Or the original owner wanted the the sport seats and specced them as an option (and didn’t want 17inch wheels and lowered height)
It has rear parking sensors (which are an acquired taste - don’t think that was factory).

The front bumper has definitely had paint work. The little covers next to the fogs are silver (normally unpainted)
The boot badges look off as well.

could easily be a regular one where someone retrofitted seats and front grill - both easy bolt ons.

If you get the last 7 digits of the vin you’ll know for sure.

It has the clear 3rd brake light also which is a sport feature. The centre console is usually brushed aluminium as well in the sports version, but that one has been covered so hard to tell. It is possible the wheels were changed as it looks like a sports version, even though it may sit higher than the sport? But then if it's needed springs at some point when they were NLA they may have had standard ones fitted.

Some models did come with colour coded covers next to the fogs. As you say the vin will confirm all.