My soon to be Z3

greisinb

Newbie
American Zeds
Joined
Aug 12, 2025
Points
3
Location
Poulsbo, WA
Model of Z
1.9
Hi everyone, in the near future I’ll be taking ownership of my Moms Z3, a 1997 with the M44 4 cylinder in Montreal Blue. It has nearly 200,000 miles on it but has been really well kept. It originally belonged to a family friend of ours who fitted a super sprint exhaust and then purchased by my parents who have taken very good care of it. Despite the age and mileage it’s quite the little gem of a car.

I have a fair amount of mechanical inclination (I keep a late 90’s Land Rover with over 200k on the road) and am excited to have this be my next project to tinker with!
 

Smudgemanuk

Zorg Legend
British Zeds
Joined
Dec 1, 2024
Points
73
Location
Bicester, Oxford
Model of Z
2.8l TU pre-facelift z3
:welcome: to the forum from Oxfordshire, England

However many miles, a really well kept z3 is a really well kept z3 and that's the one to have, so congratulations.

I bet it sounds decent as a sporty 4 pot with an exhaust!

It is not going to be quite as simple as your Land Rover! but still nice and simple compared to all the modern stuff, a good car to be able to learn lots from tinkering

Here is a part buying guide that may come in handy:

Chris.
 

greisinb

Newbie
American Zeds
Joined
Aug 12, 2025
Points
3
Location
Poulsbo, WA
Model of Z
1.9
:welcome: to the forum from Oxfordshire, England

However many miles, a really well kept z3 is a really well kept z3 and that's the one to have, so congratulations.

I bet it sounds decent as a sporty 4 pot with an exhaust!

It is not going to be quite as simple as your Land Rover! but still nice and simple compared to all the modern stuff, a good car to be able to learn lots from tinkering

Here is a part buying guide that may come in handy:

Chris.
Thanks, yeah it sounds pretty good with the exhaust, more sporty than the 4 cylinder probably has a right to! Thank you for the resource, that RealOEM website looks to be really handy! I've had the privilege of spending a week in Oxfordshire about 15 years ago- beautiful countryside.
 

Shelly

Zorg Expert (I)
Supporter
British Zeds
East Anglian Crew
Joined
Jul 9, 2013
Points
201
Location
Norfolk
Model of Z
Z4 2.0 20i M Sport sDrive

Mint

Zorg Expert (I)
Supporter
British Zeds
East Anglian Crew
Joined
Sep 23, 2012
Points
222
Location
Stafford
Model of Z
2.2 Sport Individual
Hi and :welcome: to the forum from me too in Stafford. Where are you based?
 

Smudgemanuk

Zorg Legend
British Zeds
Joined
Dec 1, 2024
Points
73
Location
Bicester, Oxford
Model of Z
2.8l TU pre-facelift z3
Thanks, yeah it sounds pretty good with the exhaust, more sporty than the 4 cylinder probably has a right to! Thank you for the resource, that RealOEM website looks to be really handy! I've had the privilege of spending a week in Oxfordshire about 15 years ago- beautiful countryside.
Good to hear! I am pleased you appreciated the resource, RealOEM is such a useful site! I wish I found it earlier!
I am looking forward to blasting around Oxfordshire in my z! It's a long way from Seattle! I too prefer the rural areas, luckily we are based outside of the bustle of Oxford city
 

Z Victor 1

Formerly "Ontiken1"
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
May 4, 2015
Points
194
Location
Ripley,Derbyshire.
Model of Z
E 89 Z4 S drive 23i
Hi and welcome from Derby, UK. :thumbsup: Small world, my next door neighbour here is from Seattle, married to an Englishman!
 

Ian&Sue

Zorg Guru (IV)
Supporter
British Zeds
The M44 Massive
Joined
Mar 30, 2019
Points
155
Location
North Yorkshire
Model of Z
1.9 Z3
:welcome: from North Yorkshire UK. Fellow 97 Montreal blue M44 owners.

Ian & Sue. :rally:
 

MattL

Newbie
Joined
Aug 22, 2025
Points
3
Hi everyone, in the near future I’ll be taking ownership of my Moms Z3, a 1997 with the M44 4 cylinder in Montreal Blue. It has nearly 200,000 miles on it but has been really well kept. It originally belonged to a family friend of ours who fitted a super sprint exhaust and then purchased by my parents who have taken very good care of it. Despite the age and mileage it’s quite the little gem of a car.

I have a fair amount of mechanical inclination (I keep a late 90’s Land Rover with over 200k on the road) and am excited to have this be my next project to tinker with!
Sounds amazing!
 
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