Z3 or Z4? I'm weighing things up....

[BoxClever]

I'm new to Z ownership and recently bought a great early 16V car and am absolutely loving it... apart from the lack of grunt that i'm used to. When I bought the Z3 it was with the idea of having a cheap runabout that I may or may not keep after the summer and I've definitely caught the Z buzz, but I also had two other BMWs (a 3 litre petrol and a 3 litre diesel) that could satisfy a heavy foot when needed. In a moment of being far too sensible I sold my E92 diesel as ULEZ is coming to Bristol and didn't qualify, while my 3 litre petrol E46 is ULEZ fine.... but I'm thinking I may part with the E46 after 8/9 years of ownership as it's sadly become a money pit.

So I'm thinking out loud here but if I were to stay with the Z3 then I think I would want a pre-facelift 2.8. I prefer the look of the early wide body cars. Or I could go down the Z4 3 litre route and I really don't know what to do. I prefer the look of the early Z3 but would like the refinement of the later Z4.

I don't have a crazy budget in mind for this but for around £4k what do you lovely folk think? And this would become my only car for a while and I do about 500 miles monthly commuting. Is this budget realistic for either option?

Any thoughts or info or opinions are welcome and appreciated.

Thanks,
Rich

 

[t-tony]

My twopenneth would be an E85 30i Auto. Some good cars around at your budget.

Tony.

 

[the Nefyn cat]

What do you want the most? The looks of the Z3, or the ability to carry a set of golf sticks of the Z4?

 

[BoxClever]

Thanks guys. I'm trawling through Z4s at the moment.

@the Nefyn cat - I don't know!! I don't do golfing so that argument doesn't work!! But I just don't know!!!

 

[Duncodin]

This is possibly going to get me on a hit list, flamed or maybe banned from the forum.

I have a pre facelift 1.9 m44 and I like it. A lot.

But if I didn't have the m44 and I had the space I'd have a facelift 3.0 z3 "AND" an E89. Anything in between doesn't float my boat. At all.

If I had to choose one of the above. Don't know.

 

[Althulas]

I was going to suggest a look at a E89 best of both worlds with a folding tin top and just that bit newer but outside the budget. What ever you go for condition and proof of maintenance over a low miler unkept example. But I think you might need more than K4 to give you a wider net saying that you have time on your side as you have one already unless you sell all of the fleet to add to the pot.

 

[BoxClever]

I was going to suggest .......

Thanks dude. I could add more cash to the pot but i think £4k gets me a good 6 cylinder Z4 if i go that route. I buy and sell a few cars annually (mainly for fun) so have always bought on condition and proven upkeep rather than miles so we're on the same page.

I'm only at thinking about this at the moment, but I totally agree with @Duncodin as I've truly have fallen in love with my little 16V and that surprises me a lot!

 

[Duncodin]

I think the 1.9 16v is under rated. People don't appreciate how well balanced it is. 140hp in a car weighing around 1200kg. I've pushed it, unintentionally, into a corner and got perfect controllable oversteer. I think if I'd had a big heavy 6 up front I'd have understeered by way into the ditch.

But then again. I've never driven a 3.0Ltr z3. I'd love to have all that grunt. But I don't know whether I'd be able to handle it in anything too bendy. But I'd like to try.

And if a zed had to be my 'only' car then, by hook or crook (do people still say that?) I'd go for the e89.

 

[colb]

Have a 1.8 M43 engined 8 valve 1999 Z3 and a 2.5 Z4 2003, bought the Z4 a couple of years ago after running out of things to do on the Z3. Getting to the point where I am running out of things to do on the Z4 now. The Z4 has plenty of grunt and quite comfortable but I do prefer the Z3 for its looks above all else. The Z4 has a slabby look about it and not as plesant on the eye as the Z3 and the styling inside is rather plain, the Z3 interior is far nicer. Since the Z3 only has 43k miles on it its a keeper, the Z4 with 94k miles on it still runs like a wristwatch. If one has to go it will be the Z4.

 

[BoxClever]

Thanks @colb - I agree with you and I remember seeing both your cars and discussing this. I think the Z4 may be a better daily though ......

I'm not making any quick decisions on my 16Vs future just yet!!

 

[t-tony]

I think the 1.9 16v is under rated. People don't appreciate how well balanced it is. 140hp in a car weighing around 1200kg. I've pushed it, unintentionally, into a corner and got perfect controllable oversteer. I think if I'd had a big heavy 6 up front I'd have understeered by way into the ditch.

But then again. I've never driven a 3.0Ltr z3. I'd love to have all that grunt. But I don't know whether I'd be able to handle it in anything too bendy. But I'd like to try.

And if a zed had to be my 'only' car then, by hook or crook (do people still say that?) I'd go for the e89.

I think that's why I've ended up with my E89, nearly had it a year now and I really do love it. Having had a Z3 and the E85 Z4 I would agree re the looks of them but that's why I like the E89 so much. I love the "Clam Shell" style bonnet and also the centre console which hark back to the Z3 styling.

Tony.

 

[Duncodin]

Sorry. Just wanted to add. Any decent early z4 for around 4k is going to be not far of 20 years old. So can't see any reason why it would be a more reliable daily.

 

[BoxClever]

Sorry. Just wanted to add. Any decent early z4 for around 4k is going to be not far of 20 years old. So can't see any reason why it would be a more reliable daily.

I totally agree but I didn't say it would be more reliable, I said it may be better. But I don't know that either which is why I wanted to hear some thoughts of the forum.

 

[t-tony]

I totally agree but I didn't say it would be more reliable, I said it may be better. But I don't know that either which is why I wanted to hear some thoughts of the forum.

An E85 as a daily driver is a much more civilised ride than a Z3. If you're not sure try driving some.

Tony.

 

[Peter1450]

Agree with the above,my wife has 3.0 auto Z3 and my son has a manual 3.0 Z4, 2001 and 2004 respectively as you can imagine the same jobs have been done on both cars for the MOT,corroded brake lines in the main,crankcase valves,rocker cover rubbers, ( all the usual suspects).
Both daily drivers up around the 120K mark, I like them both but the Z4 is a much easier drive in my opinion.

 

[SYMZ3]

I loved my E85 2.0 and would have definitely had it as a daily driver. Very easy to live with and look after. IMO, the E85 has a fab rear end, but bland front aspect. Great drivers car, well balanced and a good cross country car. 150bhp in a small car with the right driver would be a real weapon and a lot of fun.
But like so many on here, the looks of the Z3…

 

[AntStark]

@t-tony is there a Z4 buyers guide on here? I’ve got my head around the Z3 models, engines and options etc…but Z4 is a complete mystery …E89s seem to be based on the 2l 4 pot..up to the 3.0l ..and then what is the Highline Edition? What is Sdrive ?

 

[GazHyde]

What is Sdrive

This badge is hilarious, basically means "single drive" or driven by one axle = "2WD". As opposed to xDrive which is 4 wheel drive.

 

[AntStark]

This badge is hilarious, basically means "single drive" or driven by one axle = "2WD". As opposed to xDrive which is 4 wheel drive.

They have to pay all those marketing people for something

 

[t-tony]

Also in the middle of the E89 range is the 23i, like mine, which has the 2.5 ltr. straight 6 N52 engine as opposed to the M54 in the E85 Z4. The performance is pretty good.

Tony.