BoxClever's Z3

[BoxClever]

Hello again,

I'm a new guy here and I posted on Saturday about my new purchase and entry into the world of Z3's and I managed to pick it up and drive it home tonight, and it drove like a dream. It's a January 1998 1.9 16V car in arctic silver. If you've read my other post then you'll remember it was a lockdown project for a retired BMW tech and it has been properly refreshed and updated and I got it for a song, an absolute song. I'd love one of you guys/girls to look at it and assess it with a knowledgable eye but I think I paid about half the market value for it.

Anyway, less chat and more pictures! What do you think? Apart from the added decals on the side (they're going soon) I think I have fallen in love with the little car! Now to sell either my E46 or my E92 to make room, three cars is overkill for a divorced dad with no garage!!

All questions and comments very welcome, I'd like to get to know you all a bit better.

Thanks, Rich

 

[t-tony]

Looking good Rich, enjoy mate. +1 re the decals if I'm honest., some will say the same about the stone guards too.

Tony.

 

[Shieldz]

Stunning looking car!!

 

[BoxClever]

Thanks Tony, I think I'm OK with the stone guards for now... but that may change in a week or two!

 

[BoxClever]

On the drive home I decided to look at the stereo for the first time... and did about five double takes as I couldn't believe what I was seeing. It's got a Nakamichi head unit fitted, fully working, and a good one too - a CD45Z. I think I need to buy a lottery ticket!! Were these a factory option or just a discerning previous owner?!?

 

[t-tony]

Thanks Tony, I think I'm OK with the stone guards for now... but that may change in a week or two!

If they're magnetic type stone guards, people say they damage the paint Rich so keep an eye on them. I brought some home from the USA for my Z3 some years ago and consequently brought some for other members. I didn't have my Z3 long enough to see any damage but others did. So please keep an eye on it. Head unit deffo not OEM.

Tony.

 

[Z Victor 1]

Looks like a very good buy. Yes,I'd remove the boy racer decals.

 

[Iamjonw]

Looks fantastic, well done - enjoy!

 

[AntStark]

Top end stereo at the time, nice addition that! I still have an old Nakamichi tape deck in the loft…too good to ever throw away…even though I no longer have any tapes.

 

[BoxClever]

Top end stereo at the time, nice addition that! I still have an old Nakamichi tape deck in the loft…too good to ever throw away…even though I no longer have any tapes.

Yeah, is an amazing find. I wanted one for one of E30's back in the day but couldn't afford one!! They are being listed online for around £300 but I wonder if they actually sell. I love the fact that I have one, and it's period correct, but it may have to go so I can have some modern connectivity

 

[colb]

Top looks very good not a fan of the Perfomance decals, stone guards are ok. Be interested in seeing if the underside is in as good condition as the top.

 

[BoxClever]

Top looks very good not a fan of the Perfomance decals, stone guards are ok. Be interested in seeing if the underside is in as good condition as the top.

Thanks. The guy I bought it from said he had it up on a ramp at Christmas and said it looks almost as good underneath. I'll be taking it to a friends workshop soon so I can see it on a lift too, and I'll let you all know.

 

[BoxClever]

Top looks very good not a fan of the Perfomance decals, stone guards are ok. Be interested in seeing if the underside is in as good condition as the top.

By the way, I bought this from a guy in Pontypool, not so far from you

 

[colb]

Yes, quite local to me, don't know the car be interested to know what you find when you get it on a ramp to see the underside. Usual things to look for are corrossion on rear subframe, brake backplate dust shields and brake pipes all round as well as the cover sills. Took my cover sills off and checked out the inner sills, wheel arch liners came out to do this and found my inners were as new. Treated all to a good thick coating of clear waxoyle before putting it back together. Mine is a 1999 1.9 but only 43k miles on it so its had an easy life, it gets Sorned over the Winters.

 

[BoxClever]

Nice, thanks for this. The car was a lockdown project project for a retired mechanic who has lovely refreshed it. I'll get some more pictures for you all to show how clean it is, when I first viewed the car I couldn't see or find any areas that seemed a problem. I've been owning and buying/selling BMWs for nearly 20 years so am getting better at spotting and walking away from problem cars so I think I've got a great car right from the off. Will update you when I know some more

 

[Lee]

Welcome to the nut house mate. Look forward to seeing what else you improve.

 

[BoxClever]

Welcome to the nut house mate. Look forward to seeing what else you improve.

Thanks Lee, I think the car is pretty up there in terms of condition and usability so I'm gonna drive it for a few weeks and then make a list of what i'd like to change/update. Just about to go out for a first drive in the Bristol rain, let's see if my ASC button does anything!!

 

[Ian&Sue]

Car looks great Rich, if it were me I'd remove the performance decals & the stone guards.

Ian.

 

[BoxClever]

Car looks great Rich, if it were me I'd remove the performance decals & the stone guards.

Ian.

Thanks Ian, agreed on the decals but I quite like the stone guards for now..... but they'll probably go too!!

 

[Z Victor 1]

Are the stone guards magnetic? If so I had them on my Z3 s and didn't have a paint problem, but I only put them on when I went out in the car.So easy to peel on and off.